One of the most valuable lessons my mother ever taught me was to always help others without hesitation, fear, or resistance. 

I've always been proud of the fact that my mother was a Guidance Counselor in one of the poorest districts in Pennsylvania. She would come home with heartbreaking stories of how one child didn't have enough to eat at home or how another child didn't have heat in his house.

Through the years she would show many children at the school she worked at the love they yearned for but didn't always get. She would sometimes sneak food to kids in the morning to ensure they had something to eat - even though she wasn't allowed to by school officials. I was always proud that she was never afraid to speak her mind when the safety of a child was a concern. 

My mother made a positive impact to probably over 10,000+ children over many years. She didn't realize at the time how her work and personal beliefs made such an impact on my own life and the way I try to live. For this and for so many other reasons - I want to thank and celebrate my mother.