If you’ve been around me for any length of time, you’ve heard me talk about a young lady from Wanamie, Pennsylvania who one day packed her bags, boarded a Greyhound bus and got off in Passaic, NJ.
You’ve heard me talk about how she met the love of her life, got married and settled in Clifton, NJ where they had 3 sons. The oldest Pete still lives in Clifton, the middle son Dave passed in 1993 and because there is no one here to dispute it, there’s the 3rd and favorite son, me.
You’ve heard me tell about how she got her nickname Wildwood Annie that summer on the Jersey shore.
You’ve heard me talk about her kind and generous ways.
You’ve heard me talk about her Cancer diagnosis and her courageous battle, how she fought every step of the way.
And, you’ve heard me talk about how on Christmas night 2002 a good and gracious God sent his angels to take mom home.
While she was with us, throughout my life, without a doubt I gave her some grief, but I gave her joy too. I think she knows that she always had the most influence on my decisions. She shaped and molded me into who I’ve become, and I couldn’t ever repay her for that.
And so, I dedicate this charity to you. In your memory, in your honor, my prayer is that Annie’s Angels is able to affect many lives as you did mine, and lead many families from the darkness of life threatening disease, illness and disability and connect neighbor to neighbor, friend to friend and business to business as one caring, fundraising community.