Aslan is privileged to have over 200 dedicated volunteers who unselfishly give of their time and talents.  Many times the experiences a volunteer has while working with Aslan impacts their own personal life as deeply as that of the child they serve.  Cathy, George and Josh Klahre are 3 such individuals.  Cathy began tutoring for Aslan 5 years ago, and her son Josh became an Aslan tutor in his junior year in high school.  Their students, Mark and Troy, are brothers and come from a home situation all too familiar to Aslan.  Several years ago these young boys were permanently taken away from their mother and placed in foster care.  Realizing that in this world they are all that each other has, Mark and Troy are inseparable.

The Klahre's often take the boys out to dinner, bring them to their house, take them shopping at the mall and go to the beach together.  In many ways Cathy, George and Josh have become Mark and Troy's surrogate family.  Josh became so focused in his work with Troy, that he began investigating some form of public service as a future major in college.  In his research, Josh found that Providence College in Rhode Island is the only school in the nation with a "public service" major.  He also learned that Providence has a special Feinstein School Scholar's Program for high achievers wanting to major in public service.  In applying to Providence, Josh wrote his essay on his wonderful experiences working with Troy.  Providence was so impressed with Josh's enthusiasm and dedication to making a positive difference in our society that Josh was granted a sizable scholarship and designated a Feinstein Scholar!

Josh's leaving for college would normally have been just one more "letdown" for Troy.  However, that is not "the rest of the story," as Paul Harvey would say.  Josh's father, George, quickly stepped forward to tutor Troy, and Cathy continued helping Mark.  When Troy knew Josh was getting ready to leave for college, he wrote him the following note.  "Dear Josh, Thank you for being my best friend.  Love Troy."  Through the often rough times of adjusting to the stresses of college life, these words have been a real encouragement to Josh.

Cathy recently told us, "Of the many organizations George and I have volunteered for over the past 20 years, I cannot think of any volunteer experience that we have received more from than our work for Aslan with Troy and Mark.  If only more people knew of the rewards they could receive in volunteering for Aslan!"  Aslan is privileged to have caring and loving people like Cathy, George and Josh helping us change the world . . . one child at a time.
 

Most sincerely,

 Craig

Craig Bogard