Kim and I met Marielle and Jonathan as they were looking into St. Francis Elementary School for Brandt and Kara.  We were instantly enamoured by their loving spirit.  We knew of Marielle's illness back then, but we saw her focus and strength in her advocacy for her children's education.   Both she and Jonathan didn't want anything less for their kids.  

Throughout the years, Marielle, Jonathan, and their family have become dear friends.   We've learned that we valued similar things in life-- the love of our kids, the love of nature, and the importance of others in our lives.  She has told us may times... "It takes a village, right?"  And when it came to raising children, she was 100% right.  The mother and father alone couldn't do the job successfully.  

In the afternoons that Kim spent with Marielle in her last months, she's mentioned several times how important it was for her kids to go to a school that not only developed them as scholars, but she and Jonathan wanted a school to embrace their kids as individuals.  She's was looking for a school community just like her and Jonathan... smart, diverse, accepting, and just a little bit quirky.

Many of you have asked what you can do to help.  As I mentioned, one of the things that both Marielle and Jonathan focused on was education and, more importantly, the sense of community that the school provides.  Both Brandt and Kara are currently enrolled in St. Francis Elementary School and her wish was for them to continue to Christian Brothers High School.  

We've created an Education Fund for Brandt and Kara to help fulfill Marielle's wishes.  Currently, the cost of Christian Brothers High School is approximately $13,000 a year per child.  Hopefully, we can raise enough to help alleviate some of the financial stress this will put on Jonathan.

Because, as Marielle mentioned, "It takes a village..."  And we are their village...