In Dedication
A 75th D-Day Anniversary
Helping Heroes Help Others Thank You Luncheon Event
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE OUR SPECIAL EVENT A SUCCESS!
A Message From Bob Lowe
100-Year-Old War Hero Joseph Innes welcomed by our Saber Guards
A special thanks to all of you who helped make our Helping Heroes Help Others dedication to our beloved WWII Veterans so successful. Our theme of honoring heroes from the past, present and future hit the mark with our WWII warriors as, in their twilight years, they love to get together to have a good time, be remembered for their services and be assured that the American values they fought so hard for are being passed to future generations of heroes.
My feedback from the soldiers of WWII, about 30 of them and their caretakers, has been a resounding “mission accomplished.” They are anxious to be invited back to celebrate with us again. Many of them were mesmerized as they watched the America-loving patriots of Quail West honor our own family legacies from WWII, because the love we showed for our family heroes transferred directly to our guests.
I, myself, got a thrill watching our JROTC guests welcome and honor the WWII heroes, who were often 70 years senior to them in age. We as a community were so blessed to honor these folks while we still could.
But the luncheon was only a small event in our overall mission of passing on the legacy. Valerie’s House is not about an event, it is about a process. It is a process that helps turn suffering children into our heroes of the future, the very people who will be the soldiers, educators, healers, business leaders and charity workers of the future.
The mission of Valerie’s House is not to grow the charity, it is to grow the number of grieving families who are being healed so that “No Child is Left Behind” in Southwest Florida.
To help more families, we need more resources. The number one resource is loving volunteers who can individually affect lives. Of course, there are financial needs as proper facilities are upgraded, professional staff is added, and snacks are served at the kid’s group meetings. The art supplies the kids need badly to express their feelings are also a key part of the healing process as these projects really help with the essential bonding experiences between the children.
Our April, 2018 Valerie’s House luncheon created funds that were used wisely to expand the geographic breadth of the outreach to Naples and soon to be the Port Charlotte area. The Valerie’s House Gold Star Family program was also created, and Angela is working hard to create the same type of outreach for the families of Fallen Police Officers. Most importantly, the sheer number of families being helped has risen exponentially in the charity’s four-year existence.
Double the benefit of your giving with our matching funds! Affect twice as many lives!
We currently have an opportunity to help even more families. A wonderful Quail West couple with a special heart for Valerie’s House has made an anonymous offer to match the first $4000 in post-event gifts. Any gift on or after November 12 will therefore be doubled until the pledge is guaranteed. Last year, we had a second couple who stood tall to triple the match and actually created more than double the benefits from the luncheon itself.
God bless America and all who have served, are serving or will serve!!
Bob Lowe
For more information, please contact Bob Lowe at 260-402-5285 or hrlowe1105@aol.com
IN SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY’S GRIEVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
100% OF PROCEEDS GO TO VALERIE’S HOUSE
The mission of Valerie’s House is to help children and families work through the loss of a loved one together and go on to live fulfilling lives.
Special Guests Honored
⭐️ WWII Veterans ⭐️ Korean War Veterans ⭐️ Purple Heart Recipients ⭐️ Former POWS ⭐️ Wounded Warriors ⭐️ Gold Star Families ⭐️ Local Police Officers and Firefighters ⭐️Valerie’s House Families
Thank You Honored Guest Speaker Lt. Colonel Allen West
Veterans of Quail West
A special message from Angela Melvin, Founder & CEO of Valerie’s House
Dear Quail West Friends,
It was just over a year ago that Valerie’s House and a small number of Quail West Patriots scrambled to put together the first Helping Heroes Help Others luncheon with my great friend, Lt. Colonel Allen West as the featured speaker. The luncheon itself was a great success, but we at Valerie’s House had no idea how our relationship was going to grow from that single event in such a short period of time.
Post-event donations from the loving people of Quail West exceeded our donations from the lunch itself and those funds were instrumental in not only creating our program focused on supporting Gold Star families but also allowed us to expand our work in both Fort Myers and Naples to help even more grieving children.
Also important, I am especially grateful to have personally been able to develop relationships with so many of the fine people at Quail West. Our friends at Quail West have offered continued financial support for events like our children’s Christmas party, and they have generously volunteered their time and talent for programs like life mentoring for kids who simply need an adult to advise them on great life decisions. Our first three volunteer mentors in this program are all from Quail West!
I hope the close relationship we have with your community continues to blossom for many years and this new dedicated Quail West page is part of growing relationship.
Our children continue to be so thankful for the people of Quail West and their loving kindness! You are making a difference in their lives and mine!
Thank you so much!
Angela Melvin
Founder & CEO Valerie’s House
