The holidays can be an especially difficult time for grieving families. This year, to help ease the pain, DreamBIG Angel Network is making Christmas wishes come true for families who have been the victims of violent crime.
“For some children, this may be their first Christmas without one or both of their parents,” said Lynn King, a South Fulton resident and the organization’s founder. “It’s important for them to be able to experience the joy of Christmas, if just for a day, and remember what it’s like to have fun.”
DreamBIG Angle Network is raising money for its efforts with the Dream Royale Casino Masquerade Ball and Toy Drive hosted by Porsche Foxx on Saturday, November 24 at 7:00 p.m. The event will take place at Elysium Event Center at 1851 Hawthorne Avenue in College Park. Attendees will enjoy dinner, drinks, music, casino games and more. Mix 87.7 will broadcast remotely.
The event will mark the first presentation of the Randisha Love Award. Love, a 17-year old star student at Westlake High School, was murdered in 2016.
“For months I followed this tragic, unsolved homicide and observed her mother’s grief,” said King. “I created this award because I wanted to honor Randisha’s memory and I wanted her mother to have something to look forward to.”
WSB-TV’s Tom Jones is this year’s honoree. The award pays tribute to the care that he’s given to reporting tragedies in the metro area and the behind-the-scenes attention and support he’s given to impacted families.
“Our goal is to honor those in our community who may not be getting national attention for their efforts, but who are making a big difference in their corner of the world,” said King. “For all of us, our giving begins at home, in our own communities.”
King’s annual giving campaign began nearly a decade before she formally launched DreamBIG Angel Network. In addition to sponsoring families, the organization has also provided support for transitional homes and the Boys and Girls Club. King has even held “pop up” giveaways in the Old National area, surprising children with a slew of toys, including brand new bikes.
While it brings her great joy to see the reactions of all of the parents and children she’s been able to help over the years, King remembers one little girl with special fondness.
“She was six years old and when she said all she wanted was a bed, I nearly dissolved right there. She’d been sleeping on the floor. So I partnered with a business in the Old National Discount Mall and we got her a bed, and character pillows and pink curtains. When she walked into her room, she was so overwhelmed. The way she touched the comforter and the curtains, she couldn’t believe that it was all just for her.”
To purchase a ticket for this year’s Dream Royale Casino Masquerade Ball and Toy Drive, visit Eventbrite.com. Advance tickets are $50.
Photo Credit: DreamBIG Angel Network
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