
No more shirts, no more ties — just gifts that matter
Parents’ lessons result in Lucy’s Children’s Fund
|
The 10 children of Lucy and Frank Beezat, shown in this family photo, have formed Lucy’s Children’s Fund, a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to assisting and providing opportunities for poor children around the world.
(Submitted photo courtesy the Beezat family)
|
Since childhood Robert Beezat’s parents, Lucy and Frank Bieszczat, taught him and his nine siblings to help others in need. With his 60th birthday approaching, Beezat, a member of St. Edward Parish in Racine, decided to honor his parents and their teachings.
When asked what he wanted for his birthday, the usual gifts, ties, bottles of wine and shirts were conspicuously absent from his list. His only wish was to have a fund set up to provide impoverished children around the world with assistance and opportunities.
Beezat’s wife, an accountant named Alice, honored his request and created a not-for-profit corporation. It was named Lucy’s Children’s Fund in honor of Beezat’s mother. Family and friends responded by generously donating to the foundation instead of buying birthday presents for Beezat.
Soon Beezat and his family replaced other gift-giving occasions with fund donations. Today a board of directors, comprised of Lucy Bieszczat’s children and grandchildren, oversees the fund and continues the Catholic stewardship Lucy and Frank started.
Read more in this week's Catholic Herald feature article.
|