Step right up and grab your mattress ... (l to r) Joe C., Frank O., Bennett O., Ross A., Liam M., and Jens J. unload mattresses to bring to the dorms. Frank O., father of FFS student Bennett, raised over $30,000 from a Super Bowl raffle and used the money to purchase 150 mattresses for FFS.
Raffle Gives FFS 150 New Mattresses
By Bennett O.
Frank O. started selling raffle tickets to the Super Bowl in his town to raise money for the students at The Family Foundation School. In just two months he raised over $30,000, which was more than enough to buy mattresses and pillows for the students.
The winner of the raffle got a chance to watch the Super Bowl live in Tampa, Florida. They also received round trip airfare, a hotel, and to top it off, a limousine to and from the game.
Thanks to Frank and many of his good friends, the students at FFS will be able to sleep better at night. On February 5, a tractor trailer pulled up ready to unload the mattresses.
“There is a lot of love in the hearts of those who are responsible for the gifts; some know the mission of the school and many gave freely only knowing that it is for children. Mother Teresa said, ‘It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.’ Thank you to Frank O. and to all who made this gift possible,” said FFS president Mike Argiros.
After a few laughs and good teamwork the mattresses arrived at the dorm. “I had never before been involved in such a large act of charity. I was amazed and inspired,” said Liam M.
The balance of the money raised will go towards buying and packaging goods for the victims struggling in Haiti. “I never do things alone. This wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the people who bought the raffle tickets, my friends, and God,” said Frank.
Frank’s gift was inspired by Mann House student, JT H., who gave him a tour of the school. As Frank went through the dorms, a student was complaining about the beds, and Frank decided to give back to the students here for their disciplined work.
“I did this for the students because I see how they work hard in everything they do and this is my way of paying it forward,” said Frank.
Frank is a recovering alcoholic and he enjoys the blessings and fellowship that he has found in AA; he wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.
“It feels wonderful to give back to the students. The message I want to send to the students is that I didn’t do it alone and there were many other people that helped,” he said.
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