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News Letter Article
- A Champion In Sesame's Donor Community
Written
- By Glenda Cadogan
It was a grey,
rainy evening when a family’s mix-up in
communications – with potentially dire
consequences – led to a beautiful show of the
human spirit and the establishment of a mutually
beneficial relationship. At the center of this
story is Debra Young, a young mother of two
boys, Ranand and Ryan. As a result of that
incident, Debbie emerged as a willing
participant of the Sesame Flyers Inc. donor
community and has been one of its most active
members since then.
She tells her story
best: “It was about six years ago when I first
enrolled my son Renand in the Beacon III
after-school program conducted by Sesame Flyers.
I worked in New Jersey but would always pick
him up on time. But this day, I left a message
for his father asking that he pick up Renand so
I could have an opportunity to attend to some
personal business after work. Of course cell
phones were not that prevalent at the time and
all my husband had was a beeper. I arrived home
around 9:30 p.m. and received a call from Ms.
Judy who was the director of administration at
the Beacon. ‘Did you forget to pick up Renand?’
she asked. I was flabbergasted! It so happened
that my husband had car trouble and was stalled
on the Belt Parkway in Flatbush on what was s
particular stormy day. I rushed down to the
school to find my six-year-old in the care of
the custodian, John who was happily doing his
cleaning. And Renand? He was quite comfortably
eating dinner which John had bought for him and
reading a paper. I knew then that this was
special place. I immediately signed up and
started volunteering,” she says.
The result is that
for the past six years, Debbie has put her
heart and soul into donating to the organization
and has inspired others to be part of the Sesame
donor community as well. “I was well aware that
I could have landed in the Precinct that night,”
she says. “But they gave me a chance.” And now,
if only because of Debbie’s drive and
determination, others have been inspired to make
financial contributions to Sesame which, to any
nonprofit organization, is like life’s blood.
“As an employee of
Prudential I am privileged that the company has
a program that rewards volunteering,” says
Debbie. “In one of its programs, employees can
be awarded from $250 to $5000 to volunteer at
different levels. In fact, the company
encourages employees to go out and volunteer.”
The first contribution made through the graces
of Prudential was a $250 check donated for a
Rising Star Award in sports. But Debbie, now
bitten by the volunteering bug wanted to do
more. According to her, she was encouraged by
the warm and courteous atmosphere at the Beacon
project and the enjoyment her children derived
on a daily basis. So she took it to the next
level. By getting 20 people to volunteer for 200
hours of work, Debbie earned a $1000 check from
Prudential for Sesame Flyers.
Another benefit of
Debbie’s activities is the annual Family
Challenge Day held on the first Saturday in
October every year. In this “Family Feud-type”
event, families compete in different
disciplines and at the same time, get an
opportunity to experience and learn about
programs that Sesame offers. In the addition to
the sports department, the arts and dance
classes at the Beacon Projects have all
benefitted from trophies, supplies and costumes
bought with the donations generated by this
energetic mother.
With her two sons
now in the program, Debbie continues to
volunteer and donate, not just because of the
personal fulfillment she receives, but because
of the rewards it brings to her kids. My
children enjoy being in the Beacon Project,” she
says, adding, “And that gives a real sense of
satisfaction to a mother. In addition, I have
the satisfaction of knowing that when I am able
to generate donations, that other kids benefit
as well even though their parents may not be
that involved.”
But above it all,
there is one reward that is like icing on the
donor cake that makes the eating even more
enjoyable. As part of the Parents’ Council at
Beacon III Debbie has found a virtual second
family. “There are 375 kids in the Beacon
Projects but just 12 of us on the Parents’
Council,” she says. “Being a single mom is hard.
But having an adopted family like the parents on
this Council is a joy beyond words. We look out
for each other 100 percent. I know that if I am
ever in a jam, I only need to blink and someone
will have my back,” she says. “It’s a very
comforting feeling.”
Now that Debbie is
looking to move to the next level, she
retrospects. In so doing, she singles out one
Sesame executive who stands out and has helped
to make the experience even more rewarding.
“Winston Munroe who was the director at the
Beacon III is the person who keeps us going,”
she says. “He has been a steady influence to us
as parents. But my hat goes off to the entire
Sesame family, who have not just given me an
opportunity to be a part of them, but have made
it worthwhile to me and my two sons. And through
it all, with this team effort, I too have been
able to grow as a person.”
By her actions, Debbie not only
epitomizes the Sesame motto: “Love a child today
and everyday” but gives life to the old adage,
“The love in your heart was not put there to
stay. Love is not love until you give it away.”
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