As we are in the height of fundraising season at the Heart of Florida Hope Foundation, the fundraising arm for ARC Marion, it’s always interesting for me to pause and reflect on just how we can reach people with our message.  Sure, we have fun events in which anyone would want to be apart such [...]

I had the privilege a few weeks ago to hear a touching story as told by Bill Gaither, acclaimed southern gospel writer, performer and founder of the Gaither Homecoming concerts that is sweeping the nation.  I have since received permission from the William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys about whom the story was [...]

OK I’m going to say it.  John Travolta and Kelly Preston are just like me.  They call Marion County, Florida home, and so do I.  O.K. we aren’t neighbors (have you seen the layout of their house in Jumbolair?), and I haven’t seen them in Starbucks or Cold Stone Creamery or Target like I’ve heard [...]

Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to Boca Raton with my friend, Toni James.  During our trip, my six degrees of separation from the developmentally disabled concept was further solidified when she mentioned to me a story about her cousin.  This delightful woman named Katherine lives in Connecticut and is developmentally disabled.  Eight or nine years [...]

The phenomenon of “six degrees of separation” is real and focuses on the idea that every person on earth may actually be connected by as many or as few as six relationships.  Basically, all of your friends and family members have additional connections you may not know.  Then those connections have more connections and the [...]