...firefighting

...and law enforcement (to name a few!)

A cheerfully dressed guest stops
to admire our balloon decorations.

Guests at the head table enjoy breakfast
before beginning their speeches.

Emcee Scott Cash welcomes guests and recalls what
he once wanted to be when he grew up. To his right are
Jack Ezzell of Zel Technologies and Robert Shuford of
Old Point National Bank.

DHCDC Board President Mary K. Wallace describes our mission and need.

Guests smile at Mary's story about wanting to be a teacher when she grew up (and coercing childhood friends into playing school).

Marsha Knox, of the Hampton Public Library, enjoys a discussion with her table during the breakfast break between speeches.

Mary Wallace describes the growing gap between what
our parents pay and the actual cost to DHCDC.

Keynote speaker Jack Ezzell, founder and CEO of
Zel Technologies, moves many guests to tears with
his heartfelt anecdotes and encouragement of volunteerism.
For speech excerpts, see bottom of this page.

Patty Long, mother of a DHCDC 4-year-old, tells of how her husband's layoff would have made child care impossible for her family if not for DHCDC's sliding scale.

Ms. Brylewski's class waits in the hallway
for their big moment to arrive.

Excited to sing their firefighter song soon,
the children get their smiles ready.

All of the wall decorations were created by our
(very creative!) students.

Ms. Brylewski and Ms. Taylor's 4-year-olds perform a catchy song about becoming firefighters.

Representatives from Hampton City Schools made a strong showing at their table.

DHCDC Board Vice President Amy Thorstad explains
the pledge card process.

DHCDC Executive Director Jaynelle Oehler thanks guests
for their support and shares a moving quote from Helen Keller.

Guests bid each other farewell as they recount their favorite parts of the breakfast (and, hopefully, declare their intention to come back next year).

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Speech highlights
from keynote speaker Jack Ezzell:

[Reading to 4-year-olds at a school] “One cute little boy comes up to me with a really SAD face and says: “Mr. Jack, I thought that you were going to read to us but YOU look like you’re going to church today.” I immediately recognized that I was dressed much as I am this morning—dark suit, white shirt, and dark necktie. The other kids just gazed and looked at me and waited for my response. Finally I said, “I am going to read; I’m dressed like this because I will be going to work after I finish reading.” He paused and then said: “I’ve NEVER seen anyone dressed like that for WORK.” I was taken back for awhile but then answered: “Maybe you will one day.” How absolutely exciting it is to see a child inspired by something that we all take for granted.”

"As a country we have looked to EDUCATION as a road to equal opportunity—EDUCATION as a path to gaining knowledge, developing skills and learning behaviors that prepare children to do well as students, workers and citizens . . . Here’s the problem: TOO many children arrive at kindergarten already behind; in fact, the latest statistics show that 1 in 5 kids enters kindergarten unprepared .”

“So what can we do to improve upon these DISTURBING statistics? We can recognize that all kids need special attention and some more so than others. We can treat EACH encounter with a child as a teaching moment. We can realize that they watch and listen to all that we do. They learn from us. We are fortunate to have volunteers for our program who give of their time and resources to positively influence the lives of our kids.”

“Today’s theme is What do I want to be when I grow up? ... I started out wanting to be Roy Rogers and moved on to Superman, but as I grew older, I just wanted to be like my father. He was my hero, my inspiration, he didn’t possess Superman’s Kryptonite but he could do anything ... He was always proud of me whether my accomplishments were small or large; he used to say 'You make the buttons pop off my shirt.' I think now how fortunate I was to have such a positive role model and how my Dad continues to influence what I do even today. Many of today’s kids aren’t fortunate enough to have the parental role models that most of us had, but that doesn’t mean that those kids can’t get role models elsewhere. I urge you to become a role model.”

“We each have time, talent, and creativity, all of which can be powerful forces for positive change. SHARE your blessings in whatever form they come and to whatever level you have been blessed ... we are but temporary trustees of our fortunes, no matter the size.”