"It’s hard to wrap my heart around the math of a lifetime: it has been 16 years since Donna passed, and yet it feels like only yesterday that we had our first date when I was just 16. I was blessed with 37 years alongside my soulmate, and now we have been apart for nearly as long. Life certainly takes turns none of us can foresee.

In honor of that love and the life we shared, I’m coming to you again 'with hat in hand,' as my father used to say.

For the past year, we’ve gathered every second Friday to pack 40 lunches for homeless teens in downtown Springfield. While weekday meals are available, weekends are a struggle; these sacks provide a Saturday lunch and a Sunday breakfast for kids who would otherwise go without. Beyond that, we recently awarded two book scholarships to impressive young women from Wesley Youth to help them pursue their education.

As always, I personally cover 100% of the overhead. Every single penny you donate goes directly to these young people as they work to better their lives. Thank you for helping me turn a personal journey into a lifeline for others."