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| It ALL Began With One Little Boy! |
To Levi with LOVE!
December 1995 a young single mother named Jenny Sharah reached out in hope of finding support for her 3 year old son Anthony and 12 year old daughter Deseree’.Christams was near and she had few resources to make the holiday season special for her children. Jenny was referred to Kathleen DeSpain by a local television station aware of her contacts with socially conscious businesses.
As Kathleen carefully made note of what Anthony and Desiree may enjoy for holiday gifts she encouraged Jenny to also provide suggestions for what she may make use of herself during the season of giving. Jenny broke down, then shared that she had once been the proud mother of three. Her first son Levi was born with respiratory illness and passed away before his third birthday. What Jenny desired more than anything was a headstone for her little boy who was gone but not forgotten and a way for her, Anthony and Desiree’ to visit his grave site regularly to help cope with the agonizing loss.
Within a week Kathleen had mobilized the troops, finding sponsors to provide a beautiful granite marker for Levi,transporation for the family, gifts for Desiree and Anthony plus twelve other families and a commitment to continue this effort annually. The team decided a headstone was not enough to memorialize sweet Levi, that he would be remembered by helping families at Christmas and Easter every year so they may have hope, where there is none.
Thus Hope For The Holidays began! In 1995 the program reaches 23 children through 12 familes.In 2000 it spread to San Diego and helped more than 5,000 children state wide. Since it’s inception almost 60,000 youngsters in need have received support (stockings,gifts,cards,ornaments,trees,Easter baskets and MORE!
Today many of the families who once needed and accepted assistance from the program fuel it’s growth and gerously offer there time to ensure the magic lives on!
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