Our names are Jenny Evans and Donna Wilson, former teachers of an incredible individual, Olivia Kinker and friends of her family.
When Olivia was a student at Northport Public School, she fully embraced life in our small learning community. She is a talented artist, particularly in painting and sculpture. As a farewell gift to the community, she created an original frog sculpture that found its home on a local nature trail. This gift embodied her generous spirit and her love of the outdoors. Olivia was also a key member in the development of a drama program at the school, acting as a lead and student director in more than ten productions.
The visual and performance arts are not her only area of strength. Olivia is a global thinker and often chose to use her intelligence to improve or better understand the issues that affected both her community and her world. She utilized those skills to create a successful academic career, graduating as Co-Valedictorian. She is currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan in their Residential College Program.
We are hoping to set up a fund that will help this kind, creative and beautiful woman to recover from the financial impact of a heart transplant.
During this past summer, Olivia discovered that a heart defect she was born with had developed into something much more serious. She was hospitalized and diagnosed with an enlarged heart and a problem
with her heart’s electrical system as well. These complications would prevent physicians from the University of Michigan Hospital from repairing her heart. This left her with only one option, a heart transplant.
Just recently, on December 5th, she received the gift of a heart and in now on her way to recovery.
The length and seriousness of Olivia’s illness and hospitalization has created a significant financial strain for the family. She was hospitalized away from her home in Leelanau County, requiring her parents to travel to Ann Arbor to give her the support and care she needed.
The monies donated will help the family to recover from the financial costs of Olivia’s treatment and will allow them to focus on what is truly important, Olivia’s recovery. In order to ensure that the family can access the funds as soon as a need arises, any money donated will be directly deposited into a family account.
Sometimes in one’s career, teachers are given an opportunity to build a relationship with a student in which they find that the student helps you learn as much as, if not more than, you teach them. Olivia is one of those students. As her teachers, we have felt blessed to know Olivia and it has been both difficult and humbling to watch such an amazing individual and her family struggle with a life-threatening illness.
While we cannot change the circumstances of Olivia’s illness, it would mean a great deal to both of us to help minimize the financial stress that often accompanies such an illness.
Your donation will be greatly appreciated and will allow Olivia to start her new future as soon as she is physically able.
Thank you so much.
Donna Willson, Jenny Evans, and the entire Kinker family.
When Olivia was a student at Northport Public School, she fully embraced life in our small learning community. She is a talented artist, particularly in painting and sculpture. As a farewell gift to the community, she created an original frog sculpture that found its home on a local nature trail. This gift embodied her generous spirit and her love of the outdoors. Olivia was also a key member in the development of a drama program at the school, acting as a lead and student director in more than ten productions.
The visual and performance arts are not her only area of strength. Olivia is a global thinker and often chose to use her intelligence to improve or better understand the issues that affected both her community and her world. She utilized those skills to create a successful academic career, graduating as Co-Valedictorian. She is currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan in their Residential College Program.
We are hoping to set up a fund that will help this kind, creative and beautiful woman to recover from the financial impact of a heart transplant.
During this past summer, Olivia discovered that a heart defect she was born with had developed into something much more serious. She was hospitalized and diagnosed with an enlarged heart and a problem
with her heart’s electrical system as well. These complications would prevent physicians from the University of Michigan Hospital from repairing her heart. This left her with only one option, a heart transplant.
Just recently, on December 5th, she received the gift of a heart and in now on her way to recovery.
The length and seriousness of Olivia’s illness and hospitalization has created a significant financial strain for the family. She was hospitalized away from her home in Leelanau County, requiring her parents to travel to Ann Arbor to give her the support and care she needed.
The monies donated will help the family to recover from the financial costs of Olivia’s treatment and will allow them to focus on what is truly important, Olivia’s recovery. In order to ensure that the family can access the funds as soon as a need arises, any money donated will be directly deposited into a family account.
Sometimes in one’s career, teachers are given an opportunity to build a relationship with a student in which they find that the student helps you learn as much as, if not more than, you teach them. Olivia is one of those students. As her teachers, we have felt blessed to know Olivia and it has been both difficult and humbling to watch such an amazing individual and her family struggle with a life-threatening illness.
While we cannot change the circumstances of Olivia’s illness, it would mean a great deal to both of us to help minimize the financial stress that often accompanies such an illness.
Your donation will be greatly appreciated and will allow Olivia to start her new future as soon as she is physically able.
Thank you so much.
Donna Willson, Jenny Evans, and the entire Kinker family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Lynn Kinker
Beneficiary