 |
Trouble Viewing PDFs?
 To view PDFs, you need the Adobe Reader. Download here
|
|
|
Generous Donation from Young Oncology Nurse is Inspiration to Give Back
"Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege." This is a quote from John D. Rockefeller Jr. and one of the inspirations that led Stacy Horning to give back. Stacy, a pediatric oncology nurse, recently gave a generous donation of $9,000 to Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime (JBWL). Stacy heard about JBWL through a friend of the family who was a former patient. She researched and found that the foundation and Jeremy do phenomenal work for low-income seniors. During her work, Stacy sees children's wishes granted and feels that everyone in need, whether it be the elderly, children or people in their thirties and forties, should be able to have a wish granted.
"If you can do it and help out, it's an opportunity I am grateful to do," says Stacy. This shows through her work and through her giving heart. "I'm excited to see the outcome of the person who receives the wish," says Stacy. "I thrive to see people happy." Stacy is inspired by a smile brought to the face of a low-income senior after a wish has been granted because of the foundation.
Stacy's parents instilled great values in her while growing up as an only child. Her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was eleven. Going through the entire experience as an only child was terrifying. "I never imagined working with cancer patients," says Stacy. "The strength and perseverance they possess is such an inspiration. It puts my own life into perspective, and I am so much for grateful for everything and everyone in my life than I ever was before." Not only was she impacted by her mom's diagnosis but also by watching how her mom's friends helped during this time. "Seeing the help my own family was given during difficult times," says Stacy, "is why I want to give." She is also inspired to give because of her work in oncology. "You can be having a bad day, whether you are working with adults or kids, and realize that your problems are not that bad."
The recent donation of $9,000 is the first to Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime for Stacy. She also supports the Make a Wish Foundation and JSAK (Just Snowboarding Ambitious Kids), a non-profit organization founded by Professional Snowboarder Jesse Csincsak and former Bachelorette reality show winner, which helps snowboarders with Olympic aspirations raise money for training, travel and related expenses so they can reach their goals.
Born and raised in Vail, Stacy says she thinks it is important to keep her donations local. "It's awesome to have people like Jeremy take on starting a new foundation," says Stacy. "He proves that someone young can help make a huge impact on another person's life." Stacy hopes to make the same impact at work with her patients and at the foundation through her donation.
Through her own life lessons, Stacy has learned there is no price tag to be put on giving. A nursing professor had the following quote framed in her classroom. Stacy read it every time she walked into class and remembers it still today: Give your time, lend a listening ear, give a shoulder to cry on, and the least one can do is just show a smile. That small smiling gesture may change someone's life.
|
