Harkins Foundation makes a difference in community

MARGARET DOWNING PHOTO The Journal
Pictured at a recent Harkins Community Memorial Foundation meeting held at Park Towers are some of its board members. From left: Renee Mitchell, board member; Marva Brown, president and founder; (rear) ‘Su’ Gilbert, secretary; April Adams, vice president; and James Ponds, treasurer. There are a couple of great events being planned at Park Towers and the Clifford Johnson VFW Post!

By Margaret Downing
REPORTER
The board of the Harkins Community Memorial Foundation meets monthly the third Thursday of the month in the community room at Park Towers, 540 Clifford Ave. in Loves Park.
Some of the residents of Park Towers are involved in the Founda-tion and plans are underway for a ‘Bag Lady Bruncheon’ to be held at the Loves Park Clifford E. Johnson VFW Post No. 9759, 2018 Windsor Road Friday, March 24 from noon to 3 p.m. The charitable event is being held to benefit the Harkins Foundation. Tickets are $10. There will be raffles and door prizes.
Prior to that, Feb. 6 is pegged for bingo with snacks and games at Park Towers, and will be hosted by Foundation members. Another fundraiser will be held at the Roscoe Pizza Ranch on April 3 from 4 to 8 p.m.
The Harkins Community Memorial Fund was established by Marva Brown, grandmother of James Lesley Harkins. James lost his life to a tragic drowning. Marva and her family were forced into a world of intense emotion and grief over the loss of James. Along with such feelings of loss and sadness, Marva and her family had to take care of the business of paying for a funeral.
To help families faced with the death of a child, Marva Brown established a fund to assist with funeral costs. She enlisted the support of friends and family to establish the Harkins Community Memorial Fund. The Memorial Fund continues to work to raise funds to help ease the financial burden on families during a time of loss.
The Mission of the Foundation is as follows: The Harkins Community Memorial Fund’s Mission is to “Help allocate resources with kindness and identi-fying the need for supporting families in crisis.”
The foundation also continues to grow in its mission providing a cele-bration of Youth in the Rockford Area and their service to the community.
To date, the fund has provided financial assistance to the families of over 50 children; provided encouragement through the annual youth awards for numerous youth in the Rockford Area, and has supported countless others in their time of need.
The Harkins Community Memorial Fund will also be holding its Annual BBQ Fundraiser later in the year.
The Harkins Community Memorial Fund invites nominations for its 2017 Out-standing Youth Award in order to recognize the achievements of out-standing youth in the area of com-munity service.
Nominees must be students, ages 15-18 residing in Winnebago County, who have made a difference in their community by providing positive examples for their generation.
Those interested can also show support for the Harkins Foundation through a donation. To donate, please contact the Rockford Park District Foundation (401 S. Main St. in Rockford 61101) or call (815) 987-1630.