Proof that Generosity is Contagious

There is no limit on what a dedicated Mom can do when asked to support a team.

When Coach Roy Thompson and his Assistant Coach Greg Franco asked Debbie Cadenas to be Team Mom for the Blue Ridge Middle School Bulldogs, they had no idea what the power of love for her team and her determination to help could do.

"Since our coaches are all volunteers, I wanted to do my best to do my part and help with the details to lessen the burden on our coach. He tries to handle everything, and there is so much to do."

The Blue Ridge Bulldogs have never had fancy spirit wear but many of the teams they play have really cool warm-up jackets and matching travel bags. Debbie didn't want to put pressure on team parents to pay an additional fee for this because the registration and uniform fees are already costly for some families.

Coach Roy Thompson and his Assistant Coach Greg Franco were sure that Debbie would be a terrific Team Mom, but had no idea what her commitment would deliver for their Bulldogs.

"I decided we needed a sponsor for our Spirit Wear," Debbie said. "I immediately thought of Sheila Johnson because when my son attended Hill School, she was so generous. She loves sports and owns teams, so it might be possible that she would see her way to donate $1,500 to help."

"I also remembered that children living in the eventual Salamander Resort homes would attend Blue Ridge Middle School, and that might be helpful."

Debbie wrote to Dr. Johnson and a few days later her telephone rang. It was Dr. Johnson with a question.

She really wanted to help, but would it be ok if she helped the entire Western Loudoun Basketball League with a $10,000 Gold sponsorship?

"She told me she loves basketball," Debbie explained. "She really wanted to help kids play sports, and she knows very well how expensive it is to pay for court time."

"We were stunned and delighted by her generosity, and her kindness made a profound impact on both the players and their parents."

"When our coaches wives, Michelle Thompson and Shelly Franco, were told that a family had been displaced from their home, and that other families near us were without food a week before Thanksgiving, everyone was inspired to pay forward Dr. Johnson's kindness to us."

Email blasts were sent to everyone involved requesting that food for these families be gathered immediately.

Bill Owen, who heads the Catoctin Basketball team and is well known for his charitable endeavors, offered to lead his team in the food drive. Together, the Blue Ridge and Cactotin teams gathered over six vanloads of food and over $1,200 in gift cards for Loudoun Valley to help families in need at Thanksgiving.

Because many of the twelve Blue Ridge Bulldogs also play for the Catoctin basketball team coached by Bill Owen, they were natural and highly effective philanthropic team.

Recently, Dr. Johnson invited the Bulldogs, their coaches and families to Salamander Resort to meet in person and learn more about their plans for the year. She explained how honored and grateful she was to the boys for their pay it forward initiative to help families in need during the Thanksgiving holidays, and she told them how important it is to "give back."

"Dr. Johnson spent a lot of time speaking directly with the boys. She gave them a complete tour of the Resort. But, best of all, she invited them to be her guests in the owners box at a Wizards game and to meet the coaches that meant so much to her," Debbie added.

"This just shows that generosity is truly contagious," Debbie continued. "The impact of all that food on so many families in need will continue the kindness extended to us by Dr. Johnson."

"The impact of good really can extend beyond our dreams."