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Honored Orphans
Story of Elijah |
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Honored Orphans
 Sam
Arcus, a former orphan of the Hebrew National Orphan Home (HNOH),
attended CCNY and Columbia University, practiced social
work for the next 55 years and still working for the Pima
Council on Aging in Tucson at age 79. He recently published
a book called: DEJA VIEWS
OF AN AGING ORPHAN: Growing Up in the Hebrew National Orphan
Home which "enables the reader to walk in the shoes
of a fascinating man, and re-live his development from an
orphan in dire straits to that of an impact individual who
has made strong contributions to our society." (Stan Friedland
author of "An Orphan Has
Many Parents") |
 Bazhe is an orphan from Yugoslavia who went on
a search for his biological mother. This search has been
documented in an incredible book called Damages.
Bazhe weaves his story in such a way that you feel you are
a part of his life. Not separate. It is so powerful that
you can sense his emotions - his anger, rage, hurt, pain,
and compassion as well as his keen sense of survival.
Author of: Damages is
a book that reveals a true sense of inner strength and courage that
Bazhe carried throughout his life. Although awful things happened
to him, it did not stop his desire to be more than his beginnings. |
 Several
years ago I attended a seminar hosted by the National
Speakers Association - Heart of Texas branch and met this
fantastic human being. Kay
Baker had been abandoned at birth,
was adopted by a loving family and now has a successful
business of her own. Her heart is big and her desire to
help others is strong. Kay Baker is a professional speaker,
trainer, facilitator and consultant. Her expertise in
motivation strategies assists you in discovering your
keys to long term change. Kay calls this The Science
of Long Term Motivation. And believe me when I say
that she practices what she preaches.
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 I have had the pleasure
of hearing Dr.
Dyer on several occasions when he was in
Austin, Texas. His words are words of knowledge, of love,
of caring for others, of wisdom, and spiritual common sense.
Through the years, he has written many outstanding books
which reach the heart and soul of people all over the world.
From time to time, he mentions in his talks of being an
orphan and how he achieved his goals despite his early years.
I believe his soul purpose in life is to be a healer, not
only for himself but for mankind. |
Dr.
Stan Friedland, Ed.D., became an orphan
at the tender age of 4. His father had a fatal heart attack
and his mother had Multiple Sclerosis. She was unable
care for Stan and his brother, Bernie, as her health deteriorated
quickly. After being placed in several foster care homes,
Stan, at age nine, was placed in the Pride of Judea orphanage
where he remained until he graduated from high school.
Although Stan's mother could not take care of her two
sons, they always had to visit her on a weekly basis because
she was institutionalized. Those weekly trips meant everything
to the boys. "Her influence on me (Stan), then and now,
is at the core of my being." Stan received his doctorate
degree from Columbia University. is now a retired high
school principal; had a very successful career in education;
presents workshops and seminars to teachers and school
principalsthroughout the United States; and is an educational
consultant for the TV show called "Inside Education" in
Long Island, NY. Stan Friedland co-authored the book, An Orphan Has
Many Parents along with his good friend,
Phil Craft. This book was written "to honor the institution
that helped them [the orphans] salvage a sense of the
future." (Newsday, Monday, August 3, 1998) |
 Ira
Greenberg lived in an orphanage from
the age of 8 to 18. He was a newspaper reporter and a 30-year
psychologist. He was in the Army during WWII serving with
the 11th Engineer Combat Battalion. With 35 other soldiers,
he completed the Navy's Amphibious Scouts and Raiders School,
thereby being among the few who can claim grandfather status
to today's elite SEALs. He served with the 11th in Southern
France and Germany, earned a journalism B.A. from the University
of Oklahoma, covered the Phenix City (AL) crime and politics
for the Columbus (GA) Enquirer, spent a year on the Louisville (KY) Courier-Journal, and five plus on
the Los Angeles Times, leaving in 1962 with a USC
M.A. in English. Then, with an M.S. in counseling from Los
Angeles State University and 1967 Ph.D. from Claremont (CA)
Graduate Hospital. Ira has written the following books: Psychodrama and Audience Attitude Change, 1968; Psychodrama:
Theory & Therapy, 1974, and Group Hypnotherapy and
Hypnodrama, 1977 and The Hebrew National Orphan Home:
Memories of Orphanage Life, 1977 (in press). He now
practices hypnotherapy and business coaching in Los Angeles. |
 Faith
Hill, an orphan from Mississippi, a singer in
the church choir and now a world famous singer. Faith Hill
reached for the stars and through hard work, tenacity, and
belief that what she was doing was what she was meant to do,
she is now the brightest star! She has won many awards including
the coveted Grammy and yet she stays to true herself. Faith
Hill is making a difference by listening to the hearts of
the people and creating songs that touch their soul. Although
she has a very busy schedule and is a mother of two, she was
able to find the time to found the Faith Hill
Family Literacy Project in 1996, along with
Warner Bros. Records and Time Warner. The project is designed
to help combat illiteracy worldwide |
 Doc
Noah "was 10 when his father left him alongside
a Georgia highway. The child waited alone for a bus to come.
It was to take him back to Florida, to home and his mother.
But Noah’s mother was living with a new boyfriend. Little
boys were no longer welcome. Noah was left to survive on the
streets of Tampa. Eventually picked up and sent to an orphanage,
he never saw his mother or father again. An abandoned boy
might be expected to grow into a bitter man. But Noah Kersey
has often exceeded expectations. At a time of year when we
give thanks for the good in life, Kersey also is thankful
for the bad. "God has been looking over me, protecting
me and providing me with opportunities that I never would
have had if I had stayed with my parents," Kersey
says. Today, he is a psychologist in Carmel, helping patients
overcome their own disappointments. He’s also a husband
and father, providing for his three children with the stability
he never knew." (Courtesy of The Indianapolis Star
(Friday, NOVEMBER 27, 1998) Read more about this incredible
person: http://www.lifecarecounselingservices.com/abou3.asp |
 Jean Stark,
an activist in the Nichols community of North Carolina, never knew
her father and because her mother was still alive she was considered
a "social orphan." She was sent to several foster homes before
the age of three. At the ripe old age of 13, Jean was placed in
the Oxford Orphanage Masonic Home for Children in North Carolina.
This is where life turned around for her and Jean credits this orphanage
for making her the person she is today. She "remembers the orphanage
as a wonderful place where she, her three sisters and a brother
lived." (Tioga Community Newspaper, 5/9/01)
Although Jean has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, she doesn't let that slow her down. Nothing gets by her in this little community! Here are some of her accomplishments: Has a business of her own called "Stark Essentials" which is a restaurant as well as a store. She is chairman of the planning board and president of the Lion's Club. Chairman of the steering committee for the Community Care Network in Nichols, a wellness program. She supports the Southern Poverty Law Center, a national organization that tries to teach tolerance by education. Has been active in the Southern Tier Independence Center in Binghamton, N.C. and is a strong advocate for the disabled. In 1997 she was given the David Beatch Advocacy Achievenemnt Award which honors someone "who has made significant changes for the disabled." (Tiogo Community Newspaper, 5/9/01).
Jean Stark is driven to make a difference in the lives of many. Jean truly walks the talk! What a gift the world has in Jean Stark.
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More Names Coming |
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