“My name is Jaden and my grandpa told me that you had a son who died. My father died so I know how it hurts to lose someone that you love. I miss dad but maybe he would want me to live with my grandpa. Some of the things that my grandpa wants me to do are wack but I just do them anyway. Sometimes he has some good ideas and the Sea Cadets was one of them. At first I did not really want to go but after I went to basic saw all the things and chances I could have I have decided that I like meeting new people that are different and having like, rank credit if I go into the military, and grandpa told me that there are more programs like the fire Cadets and the Police cadets. I never knew about these places and I know that grandpa could not have paid for all of this so I want to thank you for paying for me to go to the Sea Cadets, thank you very much. Grandpa said that I could send you my first set of bars when I finish (OCS) but I will be in the Army or Marines for your son in remembrance of him.”
If you were with us on Sunday, September 14, for the Experience Hope 5K you probably remember Sayra Stom reading this touching letter from one of the teens we sponsored this year -a grandson of a Veteran. As you can see, together we are making a difference in the lives of teens like Jaden… and hopefully saving a life.
Thank You
JSRF is happy to announce that the 2nd Experience Hope 5K Run/Walk was a huge success! We especially thank all of the runners and walkers -without YOU we couldn’t call it a 5K Race! We had runners and walkers from as far as Sandwich, IL, downtown Chicago and even the far North Suburbs. If you were with us on Race day, sponsored our event; donated to the Foundation, or simply said a prayer for a safe, sunny, and dry race we thank you. We had nearly 100 participants, 33 fearless volunteers, and a dozen spectators. Thanks to all of you JSRF raised just under $4,500 to continue its mission!
A very special thank you goes out to all JSRF committee members and those who volunteered on race day. This successful race would not have been possible without your help and dedication to the Foundation. Thank you! Gracias! Merci beaucoup!
As of September this year we have sent a total of 10 teens to camp. Five of those teens attended 2-week YMCA resident camps (average cost of $1,200 per teen); four attended Hoopsters Basketball camp; and one attended the Sea Cadet program at the Great Lakes Naval Base. We also found external sponsorship for a teen that we previously sponsored who desperately wanted to return to Camp Pinewood in Michigan for a second year in a row. A huge thank you to Cathy & Pete Wifler for sponsoring this teen and giving this 17-year-old a second experience of hope!
Finally, I leave you with this very moving note from Jaden’s grandpa….
“Mrs. Stom, I also thank you very much for what you have started in my grandson’s life and may God Bless you! This has made hopes of my grandson becoming a responsible, productive citizen, highly possible. There are battles to fight whenever a child precedes their parents in death. During this difficult time (which has no limit) parents have a need to feel that their child’s life had meaning, some achievement that they had been deprived of in that child’s life. Mine is to raise my grandson to honor his father’s memory and maybe do some of the things that I hope that his father would have done, but the void is still there. Through this foundation, Jeremy has done another awesome task even in his death; he lives on in the lives others like my grandson. This Grandfather wants to honor the memory and give thanks to The Stom Foundation. Thank You Jeremy!”
Peace, Love & Gratitude,
Ciri, Scott & Sayra Stom