Amazing People!

[Beachbummett]

My friend Wendy Prentice, who paints really funn mermaids (her art is at Gulf Place in the back in the little art shops) sent this email to me this morning. It brought tears to my ears. One person can make a difference! This kid is just 26 years old! Be sure to tune in. Here is her email, his link is:

http://www.plantingpeace.org/


No new mermaids today, but I have something MUCH more special to share...

My precious, precious son, Aaron Jackson, has been selected to be one of CNN's Heroes! Yes, CNN!!!!! Yes, HERO!!!!!

His story (a four minute documentary!) will be presented by Anderson Cooper on the Anderson Cooper Show, August 15 between 10pm and 12pm EST. If you miss the segment, it will also air several times throughout the day on August 21 and again on August 25 (his 26th birthday!). If you miss that, the video will be posted on CNN's website. If you miss that... well, I am sure I will have lots of copies!!!!

As many of you already know, Aaron has devoted his life to helping the hungry, homeless and HIV infected children of Haiti. He started his first foundation, the Chick Grant Foundation, six years ago and now runs and supports three orphanages in Haiti and has recently opened an orphanage in Ecuador and a homeless center in Guatemala. Two years ago, Aaron started a de-worming project in Haiti, the subject of the CNN documentary, and has now de-wormed 1.5 million Haitians!

I could go on and on... his story is incredible and his acts of love so selfless. He has touched and bettered the lives of so many children and his work has only just begun! He is a special soul and I feel very, very blessed to have such a loving and wonderful son.... truly blessed.

And proud!!! Oh my gosh, I don't even have the words to describe just how proud of him I am. (Tear, tear, lump in the throat, tear, tear!) I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOO PROUD!!!!

One person can make a difference.

THANKS FOR LETTING ME SHARE AND BRAG!!!

Wendy

[Chickpea]

My friend Wendy Prentice, who paints really funn mermaids (her art is at Gulf Place in the back in the little art shops) sent this email to me this morning. It brought tears to my ears. One person can make a difference! This kid is just 26 years old! Be sure to tune in. Here is her email, his link is:

http://www.plantingpeace.org/


No new mermaids today, but I have something MUCH more special to share...

My precious, precious son, Aaron Jackson, has been selected to be one of CNN's Heroes! Yes, CNN!!!!! Yes, HERO!!!!!


His story (a four minute documentary!) will be presented by Anderson Cooper on the Anderson Cooper Show, August 15 between 10pm and 12pm EST. If you miss the segment, it will also air several times throughout the day on August 21 and again on August 25 (his 26th birthday!). If you miss that, the video will be posted on CNN's website. If you miss that... well, I am sure I will have lots of copies!!!!

As many of you already know, Aaron has devoted his life to helping the hungry, homeless and HIV infected children of Haiti. He started his first foundation, the Chick Grant Foundation, six years ago and now runs and supports three orphanages in Haiti and has recently opened an orphanage in Ecuador and a homeless center in Guatemala. Two years ago, Aaron started a de-worming project in Haiti, the subject of the CNN documentary, and has now de-wormed 1.5 million Haitians!

I could go on and on... his story is incredible and his acts of love so selfless. He has touched and bettered the lives of so many children and his work has only just begun! He is a special soul and I feel very, very blessed to have such a loving and wonderful son.... truly blessed.

And proud!!! Oh my gosh, I don't even have the words to describe just how proud of him I am. (Tear, tear, lump in the throat, tear, tear!) I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOO PROUD!!!!

One person can make a difference.

THANKS FOR LETTING ME SHARE AND BRAG!!!

Wendy

I will be sure to tune in and watch -I spent 2 summers once working in Haiti and it is a tough place but people there are beautiful, sharing and in much need of help! Sounds like her son has accomplished quite a lot and she should be very very proud!

[Beachbummett]

I will be sure to tune in and watch -I spent 2 summers once working in Haiti and it is a tough place but people there are beautiful, sharing and in much need of help! Sounds like her son has accomplished quite a lot and she should be very very proud!

It absolutely amazes me! She has so very much to be proud of and so does he. I am that one person, I can make a difference! If we would just all say and do this.

[Mango]

What an incredible feat and such selflish actions for such a young man. :clap:

[DD]

Wow. Just Wow!:clap:

[30A Skunkape]

After having to endure the likes of Paris, Nicole, Britney and Lindsey, isn't it a great breath of fresh air to hear about our youth who actually matter!:clap:

[whitesands]

Wow! What an amazing young man! Beachbummett, thank you for sharing your friend's message :wub: What a stellar accomplishment at such a young age! Wendy, has every right to brag! I'm looking forward to watching CNN's presentation on Aug 15.

[Tootsie]

After having to endure the likes of Paris, Nicole, Britney and Lindsey, isn't it a great breath of fresh air to hear about our youth who actually matter!:clap:
:clap: yes, it is a great breath of fresh air to hear such stories - it is actually newsworthy and relevant. can't wait to see the documentary.

[seacrestkristi]

talk about giving...truly awe-inspiring :cool:

[LightWorker]

The world needs more of this.:cool:

[Miss Kitty]

The world needs more of this.:cool:

So true...plus, we need to hear about good things that are happening!

I love hearing from a proud mama!!! :clap:

[Mermaid]

Kudos to that young man for doing something that's not very glamorous, in a place that's not very beautiful, but doing it nonetheless because he has a heart that's full of love. Hurrah for Aaron!! :clap:

[mermaid arts]

oops... I had the wrong date! The date of Aaron's CNN Heroes deput is AUGUST 16. (not the 15th). Guess I got a little excited!

So...
Anderson Cooper 360
August 16
10 pm 12 pm EST

Thank you for all of your kind words! They made me smile! :D

Aaron's proud mom,
Wendy

[Paula]

Wow, Wendy. We definitely need more people around like your son. I'll be watching the show with the kids -- he'll be a great role model.

[sunspotbaby]

Wendy, Occasionally I watch Glenn Beck & Nancy Grace and the Heroes segment is always shown during the last 5 or 10 minutes of their shows too.
Congrats to you...I'm sure you couldn't be prouder and many thanks to people like Aaron who give of themselves so freely. There is a special place in Heaven for these individuals....that's right up there with Mother Theresa! ;-)

[Allifunn]

A special mom raises a special child!!!!!:clap:
Heart warming!:wub:

[Beachbummett]

oops... I had the wrong date! The date of Aaron's CNN Heroes deput is AUGUST 16. (not the 15th). Guess I got a little excited!

So...
Anderson Cooper 360
August 16
10 pm 12 pm EST

Thank you for all of your kind words! They made me smile! :D

Aaron's proud mom,
Wendy

:welcome: :welcome: mermaid art! You have so very much to be proud of.
Now...post some more! Use one of your grayt mermaid painting as your avatar.

[Mermaid]

:welcome: :welcome: mermaid art! You have so very much to be proud of.
Now...post some more! Use one of your grayt mermaid painting as your avatar.


Yes, Wendy, do that! There's never too many mermaids around SoWal!!! :clap:

and

:welcome:

[mermaid arts]

UGH!!! ANOTHER CHANGE IN THE AIR DATE !!!
It will air on the Anderson Cooper 360 Show on AUGUST 23!
Thanks for all of your kind words!!!

[mermaid arts]

It's official.... I am now the proud mother of a CNN HERO!

Yesterday, September 11, CNN posted Aaron's story and video on the CNN website. At one point during the day, it was the fifth most viewed article and the ninth most viewed video for the day.... Well, I am sure you can all imagine how that happened! Not only am I soooooooooooooo proud, I am officially a CNN website stalker!

The response was tremendous. Aaron received hundreds of emails offering words of encouragement and financial contributions... both being offerings that will further him along in reaching his goal of de-worming the world! Being honored in such a way has been so incredibly meaningful to Aaron, but bringing awareness to the needs of the Haitian children and to their horrendous living conditions is really what he has wanted most from this experience. After reading through some of the emails he received yesterday, I can say that he is another huge step closer to reaching his goals! People are good.

And then last night, during the Anderson Cooper 360 Show, Aaron Jackson (FINALLY) made his television debut as a CNN HERO! To all of you who know him, I know you are as proud of him as I am. To those of you who do not know him, with the biasness of a mother (I admit), the segment truly captured his spirit, his selflessness, his devotion, and the love he has for 'his' children. The segment made me cry but he makes me smile!

To all of you who have TEVO'ed Anderson Cooper's show so many times that you now feel you have a close personal relationship with Anderson, I appreciate it. I have loved reading your emails and laughing at your jokes at the expense of my CNN hero mom-wrong dates-postponed segment-insanity. You have been great! You have made all of this that much more fun!

OK.... one last plug....
The segment will air again on CNN and CNN Headline News throughout the day on September 18th and September 22nd!
You can also view the segment on CNN's website.... www.cnn.com/hero . I can't send you the direct link to the video, as the page flashes from hero to hero. So... you may have to do a little digging and clicking, but both videos are there. One is titled "CNN HERO: Aaron Jackson" and the other is titled "Safe Havens in Haiti".

If any of you are interested in learning more about his foundation and/or how you can help, please visit his website www.plantingpeace.org

Again, thank you for all of your love and your support.... this has been one heck of a ride! Thanks for taking it with me!

Wendy

[Curtis]

Congratulations! Here is the direct link:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2007/09/11/heroes.aaron.jackson.cnn

[seacrestkristi]

That is amazing, BB. We are so blessed to be born in this country. What an amazing :clap: young man!

[Johnrudy]

mermaid arts,
What a truly amazing son you have! Exceptional! :clap::wub:

[Mango]

What an exceptional young man with an admirable goal.
You must be beaming!

[Rita]

A special mom raises a special child!!!!!:clap:
Heart warming!:wub:

This is exactly what I was thinking! Love hearing this story. :D

.

[Minnie]

Thanks for sharing, I am sure you are so proud and rightly so. :clap:

[nowgirl]

Pappa Jackson rocks! Bless him and his life.

[LightWorker]

It was on last night! Wow, I cried tears of joy. It was so touching. Thank God for Aaron Jackson.

One person can make a difference.