WSMV4 Surprise Squad blesses nonprofit that empowers children to thrive through education and mentoring
The foundation started as a tutorial program with about ten children in 2007 and quickly exploded in size, now helping at least 200 children and their families meet other critical needs.
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WSMV) - A Middle Tennessee nonprofit has been helping children in the Franklin area for decades, empowering them to thrive through education and mentoring. Retired teacher Evelyn Gentry Hickerson, affectionately known as “Aunt Evelyn” to students, is the woman behind Gentry’s Educational Foundation.
Hickerson said her parents instilled in her the importance of giving back and helping others in her community.
“When my mom died, I took every penny that she left as inheritance to my husband and myself and started Gentry’s Educational Foundation because I had taught for 39 years, and I could see there were so many deficits in the children, as far as the children that were homeless,” explained Hickerson. “How could they learn their ABCs if they didn’t know where they were going to sleep the night before? How in the world would they even be able to read a sentence,” said Hickerson, “If the parents couldn’t read?”
Bethany Wiseman, Family Engagement Specialist for Gentry’s Educational Foundation and reading interventionist at Johnson Elementary School, explained that the foundation started as a tutorial program with about ten children in 2007 and quickly exploded in size, now helping at least 200 children and their families meet other critical needs as well - from finding a family home - to counseling, rental assistance and more.
In operation for decades, the organization is now financially struggling thanks to the economy and a drop in donations.
“I’m very grateful for the partners that we have, but in order to take children and families to the next level, we’ve got to have support. I believe so much in Gentry’s, and what we’re doing, that... I have almost gone bankrupt myself as far as trying to pour into our families,” said Hickerson, “and I’m just asking anyone, whosoever will, if they would consider us as a partner, so that we can take our young people, our parents to the next level.”
“She’s the most selfless person I’ve ever known,” said Wiseman. “She goes above and beyond for every single person, honestly, that she’s ever met,” Wiseman explained that about a year ago, Hickerson had a serious health scare. “She lost a lot of her financial resources, and we watched her work tirelessly to try to supplement that, and that is what really caused her to become so ill and almost lose her life a year ago today.”
“I had to learn to walk again, to talk again. Every day my family had to hear, ‘Well she’s on a ventilator. I just don’t see her making it through,’ but the Lord, I just feel like I’m a Christmas miracle,” said Hickerson.
A miracle still on this earth, she said, to continue helping improve the lives of children and families. Hickerson described the foundation as financially hurting -- the economy taking a toll on donations, grant money, and sponsorships.
The WSMV4 Surprise Squad stepped in to help. Blair Durham, Surprise Squad sponsor with Bart Durham Injury Law, presented unsuspecting Hickerson with a check for $1,000.
“Oh, my goodness... Oh, my goodness... Oh my!” I’m speechless, but I’m overly grateful because this will help us," said Hickerson. “I don’t know what to say, thank you and may God bless all of you.”
“Your word ‘a vessel’ is such a great word because you’re a vessel for all these kids and families where it gets reinforced that I’m worthy, I’m able, I’m valuable. That, that is a blessing amongst blessings,” said Blair Durham.
“It means the world to me to be able to contribute even in a small way,” explained Durham, “to know that some kid’s life is going to be enriched because of what we did, but really what Evelyn does and her group. It’s amazing.”
For more information or to help Gentry’s Educational Foundation- link https://www.gentrysed.org/
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