Edward and Xavier are Scouts who love to serve. They have been in Scouts since the second grade at The Westminster Schools. These boys have endured the ups and downs, the successes and the challenges of life, but at every turn Scouting was there to teach them something new.
|
|
|
Presenting the Colors for the Mexican Consulate at Hispanic Heritage Day
|
Scouting has taken the boys all over the world; they have traveled from The National Jamboree to The World Jamboree in Japan and have loved every minute of it. However, these service driven Scouts did not earn their travel easily. Edward and Xavier earned their way to these camps by selling camp cards. They have been the top salesmen of Troop 197 for the last three years and sold 1700 cards in 2015.
Edward and Xavier were inspired to become Eagle Scouts from their Great Grandmother. She was one of their best friends, a nurturer, their merit badge confidant and their true hero. She was present for every Scouting event until she fell ill with cancer, and she soon became wheel chair bound.
Edward and Xavier obtained their Star rank just six days before their grandmother passed away. After her passing Edward and Xavier knew that they wanted to move full speed ahead towards keeping their promise to her by becoming Eagle Scouts. They did so by taking her advice for their Eagle Scout Projects and remodeled the men's and women's church bathrooms.
It was at their grandmother's funeral service where people who loved her came from near and far to share stories of this beloved woman. The story that touched their hearts was learning that their grandmother taught a 13 year old boy to read. Their grandmother purchased Hooked on Phonics for Edward and Xavier when they were young. Once they finished using it, she asked that they send it back to her so that she could take it to the church. It was that same material that she used to teach the 13 year old boy to read, and he came to their grandmother's service to share the impact this woman made in his life. Being so moved by the impact their grandmother made Edward and Xavier created their non-profit organization called
Brothers 4 Literacy & Life in memory of their Great Grandmother, Geraldine Holliday.
|
|
|
Promoting Brothers 4 Literacy & Life
|
In January 2015, Edward and Xavier were selected as part of the 7th Annual "20 under 20" by Atlanta INtown Paper.
They just had the privilege to help complete a Habitat for Humanity Home that they have been working on in South West Atlanta earlier this month.
Earlier this month the boys were awarded 2nd Place for
Teen Volunteer of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals on National Philanthropy Day at the Georgia Aquarium.
