/blogs/blog.atom imµçľşapp - Blog 2025-04-21T10:29:34-04:00 imµçľşapp /blogs/blog/thoughtful-thursday-the-gift-of-giving 2013-06-13T11:30:06-04:00 2024-01-31T11:01:38-05:00 The Gift of Giving Jomark Sorelo

Thoughtful Thursday
At McClure Elementary in Dallas, Texas, the students are taught and encouraged to perform acts of kindness. Last January 8-year-old Katelyn Indelicato and her friends approached their teacher about having the desire to help someone in need. Jodie McCloud, Katelyn’s third grade teacher had heard of a story on the about a 21-year-old being an innocent bystander that was severely injured in a drive-by shooting. This innocent bystander was Lukas Da Cruz, who can no longer walk and will need physical therapy to learn how to use his wheelchair. Lukas and his family are having a hard time paying for the cost of the physical therapy.

When Katelyn heard Lukas’s story, she felt the need to help him by donating money to assist him for paying for his physical therapy. First she donated $40 from her piggy bank, then she raised $250 by having a lemonade stand at her grandmother’s house, and then during Easter, she gave a speech to her friends and family about her mission. They were inspired by her desire to help so they contributed $400. There is even a retired woman that sends Katelyn money at the end of each month to help her with her cause.

All the money that Katelyn has collected has been donated to Lukas’s physical therapy sessions at Project Walk in Dallas. Katelyn began this journey of giving through simply hearing Lukas’s tragedy, however, after all of her donations, her mother Shala, surprised her by taking her to Project Walk to meet Lukas. At first, when Lukas had heard of Katelyn’s generosity, he was confused and did not understand why she wanted to help. Lukas’s aunt explained to him that she understood why Katelyn was doing this; it was because it made her feel good to help someone in need.

Upon meeting, Lukas presented Katelyn with one of his soccer trophies to show her how much he appreciated her efforts for helping him. This Thoughtful Thursday, we are showing our appreciation for Katelyn and her desire to help others through the gift of giving.

If you would like to make donations to Lukas’s therapy at Project Walk, a donation can be made to:

Project Walk Dallas
15046 Beltway Drive
Dallas, TX 75001

]]> /blogs/blog/thoughtful-thursday-remembering-fallen-students 2013-02-28T15:08:05-05:00 2024-01-31T11:01:14-05:00 Remembering Fallen Students Jomark Sorelo fallen students 2

A tragedy that hits close to home for imµçľşapp was the Chardon High School shooting that occurred one year ago. Although precious lives were lost, the community of Chardon has held strong during this difficult year. Yesterday, Wednesday February 27, 2013, the students of Chardon walked to Chardon Square in memory of the fallen classmates. This act of kindness shows the compassion and dedication of these young people when it comes to honoring students whose lives were cut short.

In addition to the walk yesterday, this Saturday there will be a fundraiser in honor of Danny Parmertor, one of the students that was killed. The money will go toward scholarships for students at Chardon High School and the Auburn Career Center who are interested in pursuing an education in the computer-related field.

The first winner of this scholarship will be awarded in May 2013. This would have been the year that Parmertor graduated. These acts of kindness prove the love this community has for one another. As the German and French philosopher, Albert Schweitzer once said, “Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”

*Thoughtful Thursdays will be a new segment on the imµçľşapp blog to honor people in the news that take time out of their lives to help others. Any act of kindness is inspirational and generous. This is a day at imµçľşapp, we would like to say thanks to the compassionate people of the world.

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