The holidays are a reminder to reflect on what's really important. And for me, one of those things is my family. And while you're out celebrating and dropping off gifts, please be responsible and don't drive impaired.
It's been 22 years since my life was forever changed around the holidays.
On December 23, 1998 my cousin Jennie Ramus was driving on Ryan Road in Oak Creek when she was hit head on by a man who had just left a holiday work party and decided to get behind the wheel, drunk.
Jennie did not survive the crash.
We were both only 17 years old. We were very close and earlier that day, she had asked me to go with her that night and I had a change of plans.
As the years have gone by, her spirit has lived on in photos and those of us that knew her sharing stories and through the Jennifer Ramus Endowment Fund at our former high school, St. Thomas More (STM). I'm proud to say this Fund has raised over $420,000 and over 350 scholarships have been awarded to students at STM.
I wanted to tell you about my cousin with the help of one of her best friends, Theresa Zaren, who was with her just minutes before the accident.
And I wanted to share with you how the "Jennie Fund" has left a positive impact on the STM community and beyond through the scholarship program. I want to thank scholarship recipient Dariana Rios for joining me on this episode and for sharing how the scholarship shaped her life. And you can help continue the mission my aunt and uncle started by making a contribution to the "Jennie Fund" which promotes awareness and prevention of destructive decisions by supporting young people involved in the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) program. A program I'm proud to have co-founded while I was a student at Thomas More.
This is a very personal episode. I appreciate you taking the time to listen.
Happy Holidays and I wish you peace in the new year!
To donate to the "Jennie Fund" visit TMore.org