Touching Lives
March 26, 2009 by admin
The Wade Family Foundation, UpRise Youth Challenge, and several guest speakers joined the student body and staff at Pendergast Elementary School to celebrate “Red Ribbon” week on October 30, 2009!
Pendergast Student Council (pictured to the right) implemented activities throughout the week to demonstrate the schools support of the “Red Ribbon”
concept of making good decisions and being drug free. They also did a wonderful job leading the assembly in which we participated. We give a special thank you to Michael Woolsey, Principal of Pendergast and to the student council, excellent work!
The rally started off with a specail student recognition, follwed by a very entertaining ”student teaches teacher” dance contest! Soon it was time for Kenny Dobbs to impress everyone with his high flying stunts, but before he 
did James of the Wade Family Foundation shared how He and Bobby Wade, Founder and C.E.O., met Kenny. He spoke about how they met Kenny when he was a troubled young man and how they attempted to persuade him to make better decisions for himself and his future. Then Kenny spoke briefly saying that he agreed with them at the time but chose not to make a change at that time. Kenny had more to say but first “the slam dunk inventor” was scheduled to take flight! Kenny performed high flying stunts involving many including the Pendergast student council and several young children from the audience. The enthusiasm was amazing everyone was shocked and heartened by his performance! After Kenny shared his slam dunk skills it
was time to share more of his story. He spoke about his childhood growing up in gang and drug influenced neighborhoods and how making bad decisions in his youth resulted in unfavorable consequences. He also expressed how he learned from it and now chooses to live by the C.D.C. formula and share it with others. Kenny proclaimed how important it is for each student to embrace the concept and live by it now. Following the dunk show and Kenny’s speech the students were fired up and the lesson that the Wade Family Foundation 
came to deliver had just begun!
To read more about the guest speakers select, ”What We’ve Been Doing” from the side menu and read the write up dated 10/30/09!
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I have had the pleasure of James’ friendship since childhood. Words can not begin to express how very proud of him I am. To go from a vivacious little boy, who loved to dance, to being confined to a wheelchair in his prime would have been enough to break down the spirit and hopes of any ordinary person. Not, James! His desire to not only succeed but to also help others reach their potential is nothing short of phenomenal. He is an awesome person with a tremendous story to tell, he took a bad situation and made it a life’s lesson we all could learn from. His constant encouragement and guidance makes me a better person every day. I am proud to say I am one of privileged few that was able to watch this transformation from bewildered little boy to strong empowered grown man, but even more proud to call him my friend. Thank You James, you will always have a place in my heart.
Jada