Personally, I do not have children, but I do have my students who mean just as much to me as my own children would. When I think about any of them experiencing the slightest bit of pain.... ugh.... I can't take it. I get a lump in my throat and my eyes tear up. When I think of the pain that Joyce Guthrie and her family have had to endure, it breaks my heart.... and then.... makes my heart soar. We can all take a lesson from this lady and her family.
Joyce's 16-year-old son Joshua died in a car accident at the age of 16. Afterwards, Joyce founded "Joshua's Hands," a non-profit organization that was established in memory of Joshua. Just like fingers on a hand, "Joshua's Hands" has a five-fold mission: 1) Community Service, 2) Scholarships, 3) Young Drivers' Education, 4) The Annual Fall Festival, and 5) Education.
Once a month in Joyce's home of Loudon County, Virginia, court is held to distribute driver's licenses to excited teens. Joyce attends this ceremony each month to tell the tragic story of Joshua to teens and their parents and to encourage Louden County's newest licensed drivers to use their recently acquired privilege with caution and care.
In addition, "Joshua's Hands" has partnered with Panera to provide food to the elderly and needy once a week, which delivers a total of $25,000 of food annually. The organization also provides scholarships to deserving students throughout Loudon County and also holds an annual Fall Festival where Joyce's long time group, the Blue Ridge Thunder Cloggers, provide entertainment for their community.
The newest goal of "Joshua's Hands" is the "American Heritage Project." The organization hopes to acquire Wheatland Manor, a beautiful piece of Pre-Revolutionary War property, for educational purposes that emphasize America's history, heritage arts (including Clogging), and foundation of faith. In order to purchase this property, "Joshua's Hands" must gather a staggering amount of $5 million. This amount would deter many people, but not the folks of "Joshua's Hands." They are reaching out to ask for donations to reach their goal and purchase this piece of property. For more information or to make a donation toward purchasing the Wheatland Manor property please click here.
May the heroic actions of Joyce and her family and the memory of Joshua Guthrie inspire us all to turn life's lemons into lemonade.
Dorothy Stephenson, VirginiaClog.com Editor
The mother of seven children - three accomplished cloggers - Joyce Guthrie has been dancing since 1997. She recently received CCI (Certified Clogging Instructor) recognition through C.L.O.G., the national clogging organization.
A graduate of the University of Florida (Go, Gators!), Joyce spent some interesting years as a trauma nurse. She set aside her stethoscope to raise and homeschool her children. She now leads three nonprofit organizations, which keep her involved with home-education, teen safe driving, education, community service, organ donation, faith-based initiatives and clogging:-)
Since 2002, Joyce has been the president of BRTC. She guided the organization through incorporation and helped to secure its nonprofit status. She was pleased to coordinate fundraising and trip planning for BRTC’s Ireland trip in 2005. A dreamer at heart, she is always coming up with ideas for the group; some are met with enthusiasm - to her delight:-)
Joyce loves choreography and enjoys web design. She has created free websites for numerous clogging groups (including BRTC) to help clogging come into the 21st century:-) Her most recent clogging brainchild is iClog - which hosts the most comprehensive and up-to- date list of clogging groups on the web and offers a line of T-shirts and clogging magnets.