One of many memorable lines from the movie “The Wizard of Oz” is, “There’s no place like home.”
WhitingThat is a recurring theme in Greenwood. And while Greenwood is referred to as “the Emerald City” by many, the “Oz” reference here is appropriately applied to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home.
Last week, Connie Maxwell had its annual summer trustee meeting on the Greenwood campus. Afterward, staff, board members, the children and guests were treated to a picnic-style lunch.
During the meal, a handful of trustees were introduced along with some of the guests. Some of the children performed a song, another played “Fur Elise” on the piano. She’s 13 and only took up piano a year ago. Her performance was quite good and was even more noteworthy considering she plays from memory because she doesn’t read music.
Children come to Connie Maxwell for a variety of reasons. Some are orphaned. Some are placed there temporarily because of family situations. Others wind up at Connie Maxwell for the whole of their childhood, possibly because the parent or parents don’t have the financial means to provide for them. And yes, some children come to Connie Maxwell because they are victims of abuse, abandonment or neglect.
No matter the reason children wind up at Connie Maxwell, there is no doubt each will be welcomed warmly into a loving and giving family environment.
Last week’s lunch – and previous visits to the campus – drive this fact home. The children absolutely love the staff there. When president and CEO Ben Davis asked the Connie Maxwell staff to stand and be recognized, the cheers from the children were enough to make you think a popular band had taken the stage. Hugs were in no short supply, either.
Even more telling about the abundance of love and feeling of family that flows on that campus is the number of children who return as adults. Year after year, alumni flock to Connie Maxwell in numbers that would make any college alumni weekend planner envious.
The number of alums who have served on the Connie Maxwell board of trustees over the years is equally astounding, and again a testament to the impact the facility had, and continues to have, on their lives.
Some children have grown up on the campus, finished school and returned to do the same work, share the same love that provided them hope and a bright future. The deep and abiding love they have for Connie Maxwell couldn’t be made more evident than through their desire to return to the campus and live among children who come from similar backgrounds and circumstances.
Success stories among Connie Maxwell graduates are also plentiful. While some have returned to give of their time and talents as employees or trustees, others know the home provided their pathway to a level of achievement and success they otherwise would not have experienced. Thus, they pay it forward by donating money and providing buildings to meet the campus’ expanding needs.
For 118 years, Connie Maxwell Children’s Home (and its satellite campuses across the state) has provided for the care, welfare, education and spiritual growth of many children.
Truly, the campus situated here in Greenwood is one of those emeralds many residents no doubt take for granted or forget about. We shouldn’t, though.
The undying love for and devotion to children that is given daily at Connie Maxwell has saved untold lives and had an impact beyond what many of us can ever imagine.
– Whiting is executive news editor of the Greenwood Index-Journal, where this article originally appeared. Reprinted with permission.