Jeb Bridgeman Memorial Rubix Cube Donation

Over the years, we have heard thousands of stories of loss, devastation, and sadness that have compelled us to take action to make a difference and to help make someone’s life brighter in honor of a lost loved one. Sometimes, it hits a little closer to home.

 

 

Online communities are a modern way to forge friendships, and where we can meet someone who we connect with emotionally even if the miles between us keep us physically apart. Hallee Bridgeman joined a mother’s group years ago and we met and connected through this network. From there, we’ve followed each other’s life stories online and watched our children grow up together from afar.

It was devastating to see her share the news that her son Jonathan, also known as Jeb, passed away tragically in a vehicle/pedestrian accident on April 29, 2023. Jeb was less than a month away from his fifteen birthday- his two gift requests: a ventriloquist’s dummy, and a Bible.

Jeb was a child with above average intelligence and a mind for solving and creating. Though he excelled in all areas of life, such as becoming a blackbelt in taekwondo, playing the violin, and acting (his lifelong career goal), Jeb had a mind for math. He could recite without effort the first 100 digits of Pi, and was a whiz with a Rubix cube.

 

 

Such a whiz, in fact, that he was a nationally recognized speed cuber- meaning he could solve a puzzle at speeds of 30 seconds or less.

As only a freshman, we have no idea what Jeb would have done with his life. But already, he was living it fully. He was active in his youth group, Club Beyond, and was even a cadet with The Kentucky Wing of Civil Air Patrol. He grew up nurtured by his loving parents, adored by his two siblings, and loved by a church community.

When someone as special as Jeb leaves this world, they leave a mark- and we want to leave a legacy.

 

We are asking for donations for funds to purchase Rubix cubes for Boston Children’s Hospital, so that other children who think, live, and feel like Jeb can enjoy the challenge, creativity, and mental stimulation of this toy. While Jeb may no longer be here to continue his journey on earth, we would like to continue it for him by inspiring others to enjoy life his way- using their mind, encouraging their spirit, and having fun.

Please consider helping us reach our goal.

HOW TO HELP:

Donate through PayPal: cathy@sofiasangelsfoundation.org

Donate through Venmo: Cathy-OGrady 

If you want to learn more about Jeb, here are some links:

Obituary

Lex18 News

WinchesterSun

 

Jose Flores- 10

 

This random act of kindness will be in honor of

 Jose Flores, age 10.

Jose was a fourth grader at Robb Elementary. He loved baseball, playing with his sister, and helping his mother around the house. His father stated that he wanted to be a police officer when he grew up. An honor roll student known for his good behavior and kindness, we know he would have been an amazing officer.

In memory of Jose, we will be sending pizza to the

 Watertown Police Department.

Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez- 10

Xavior James Lopez - 10

Our next random act of kindness is in honor of two special children, who undoubtedly would wish to share the love.

Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez and Xavier James Lopez shared a special bond. Immediately smitten with one another, the two texted frequently, even exchanging “I love you”s at bedtime. Annabell wore a picture of Xavier around her neck to all of his little league games. Whenever it wasn’t on her, she kept it safely in her backpack.

The two children were so close in their short lives that their families agreed to bury them beside one another.

Annabell loved to spend her evenings painting her grandmother’s nails and braiding her hair. Xavier enjoyed stepping in as his grandmother’s dance partner whenever she needed him to. In honor of these two, their interests, and their special relationship, we have chosen to donate in their memory to Amarillo Angels. Amarillo Angels is an organization that provides support and resources to the foster care community. One of their ventures, the Fairy Godmother Project, helps to provide prom dresses, hair and makeup tutorials, and more, for kids who otherwise would not be able to afford prom. We hope that our donation can help support this worthwhile program in their memory.

Amerie Jo Garza - 10

 

Our first random act of kindness is in honor of Amerie Jo Garza, age 10. Amerie, whose favorite color was lavender, was an honor roll student at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas where her life was tragically cut short on May 24.

Amerie was known for her kindness and standing up for others, particularly protecting classmates and friends from bullies. On that fateful day in Texas, she attempted to call for help from a cell phone her parents had just given her. A Girl Scout, Amerie was posthumously awarded one of their highest honors, the Bronze Cross, which is offered for “saving or attempting to save life at the risk of the Girl Scout’s own life.”

Apart from kindness, Amerie’s passion was art, and she wanted to become an art teacher someday. In her memory, we donated craft supplies to Our Space, Inc. Our Space Inc hosts one-day creative arts programs, free of charge, in hospitals and in the homes of children with serious illnesses. Art bringing joy and healing to children is their passion and their mission, and we strongly feel that this organization is the perfect way to keep Amerie’s memory alive.

Uvalde Memorial Acts of Kindness

 On May 24, our nation was once again rocked with the horrific and tragic loss of multiple young children and their teachers. This senseless act of violence leaves us all feeling devastated, vulnerable, and helpless. As we struggle to comprehend the reasons, problems, and solutions surrounding an act such as this, we also cannot help but think of the lives directly impacted by the shooting, especially those that were lost.

Whenever we try to find footing again after horrors such as this, it feels only right to acknowledge those lost, particularly in ways that honor who they were. We want to take the time to look at these beautiful children and educators as human beings, to see through their eyes how they lived and loved, what brought them joy, and what might impact the world today to keep their memory alive when their physical presence is so sorely missed.

Once again, with great sorrow that this even has to be a repeated event, we would like to do as we did with the Sandy Hook tragedy and honor those lost in Uvalde by spreading love, joy, and kindness in ways that are meaningful to each of them as an individual.

As we are working hard to collect funds and generous donations to be able to do this, we want to recognize the all-too-long list of lives that have been taken away from us before their time.

Jacklyn Cazares-9 Makenna Lee Elrod-10 Jose Manuel Flores Jr- 10 Eliaha Garcia- 10 Uziya Garcia-10 Amerie Jo Garza-10 Xavier Lopez- 10 Jayce Carmelo Luevaos-10 Tess Meta-10 Aithia Ramirez-10 Annabell Rodriguez-10 Maite Rodriguez-10 Alexandria "Lexi" Rubio-10 Jailah Nicole Silguero-10 Eliahana Cruz Torres-10 Rojelio Torres-10 Layla Salazar-11 Maranda Mathis-11 Eva Mireles-44 Irma Garcia-48

As we collect money to fund random acts of kindness in their memory, we are also attempting to research the interests, passions, and dreams of each person that was lost. Our goal is to make a positive impact in this time of suffering, so that the beautiful things about these people are not forever overshadowed the horrible way they were taken from us. Please, purchase, donate, and share- whatever you can do to help us reach this goal is appreciated.

We are currently selling stickers and donating all the money raised to fund these random acts of kindness. To purchase, please Venmo or Paypal and include your address. We are also accepting direct donation .

Venmo-Cathy-OGrady

Paypal- cathy@sofiasangelsfoundation.org

Small-$3

Large-$5

$7

Thanking Our Heroes.....

Whenever tragedy strikes as it did this week in Las Vegas, I find myself struggling to know where to begin or what to do. I feel helpless, like so many others, worrying about those directly and indirectly affected. I feel sorrow for those lost, those left behind, and the people I love who live in a world where we have to worry so much about things that should never happen. It's overwhelming to carry so many emotions and feel so powerless to change anything.


Sadly, nothing can undo this week's loss of so many undeserving people. Nobody can change the outcome and save them, as much as we would all love to do. All we can do, moving forward, is what we strive to do every day, which is overpower the bad with the good.


When so many people are seriously injured, the impact on first responders is great. They rush to the call of duty, suspend all fear and emotions, and help. While others run away, police and ambulance crews run toward the gunfire to save people and secure the scene. They transport people in critical condition to a hospital, where nurses and doctors face the harrowing task of trying to save people with limited space, resources, and assistance, often running on little to no sleep and no time to pause or take a break.


At the end of the day, after working such an unexpected and difficult job, there may not be time or people present to say thank you.


That is where we have decided to come in.



With all of the painful, difficult, frightened feelings that most people have after such a tragedy, it is hard to imagine what it would feel like to be there and face that in person. Yet these people do that, every day of their lives. And not only with mass casualties, but on a regular basis. These are the people who have to comfort the sick and dying, speak to the family members, find the courage to keep going, and turn around and do it all again the next day. They are heroes.



We are currently accepting donations to create thank you packages for first responders. However small a gesture this may seem, it is a tangible way to contribute and thank the people who never give up when times are tough. We are the voice of those who cannot express their gratitude, and the means for all those who still can.




If you are able, please send a donation through PayPal to cathy@sofiasangelsfoundation.org and remember that this is a gift and should be marked as such.


We will be hand delivering these packages, thanks to the generous assistance of friends who have helped make this and many other projects possible. Our goal is to reach as many of the first responders involved in the Las Vegas shooting tragedy as possible. However large or small your contribution may be, it will assist us in touching their lives and reminding them that we notice what they do, and we support them.


Please help us by sharing this blog entry with as many people as possible.

Thanksgiving outreach

Thanksgiving is only a few short weeks away, so it’s time for us to start preparing! Here, our idea of preparation is thinking of those in need of some help during the holiday season. A large meal is often a burden on families who are barely able to maintain a regular food budget, and we’ve had such success in the past with helping others celebrate Thanksgiving that we’d like to do it again!

In the last four years of our Thanksgiving outreach, we have helped over sixty families put a traditional meal on their tables and celebrate with their loved ones at no additional strain or cost to them. For just under $50, a family of nearly any size can enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, and hopefully have some leftovers, too!

If you are able to help donate toward providing for families in need this year, please send a donation via PayPal to cathy@sofiasangelsfoundation.org and mark it “Thanksgiving” so we know where the money goes! Don’t forget to select “gift” when sending money; this is a donation, and we don’t need PayPal to eat up your funds!

On the other hand, we need some suggestions of families who could use the help. If you know of anyone who could use the boost, please email cathy@sofiasangelsfoundation.org. We are asking that only families who need this apply or are nominated, and that if you have received help in the past, you allow others to be reached. Though we wish we could help everyone, our funds and resources are limited. We will help as many people as possible, but there are no guarantees. Please be considerate and patient with us!

All donations, nominations or requests are strictly confidential.