Testimonials
"Thanks Vickie, boy you work fast and most graciously. Please know that this is truly a blessing from your family; both to me and to the students! With much thanks," Shannon
Thank you very much and have a wonderful weekend! This student truly needed your help. The family is going to have to file for bankruptcy. It’s a sad story, thanks again, Lucinda
Thank you so much, I will let them know today, this probably just made their world a whole lot brighter. Dad is raising both kids by himself and having a hard time. God bless you, Janet
Vickie, Thank you so much!! Aaron and his mom are going to be so happy to hear this. What a wonderful thing you all are doing. :-) Amy
Thanks, you are a shining star in a world that has become hard to stay afloat in. I have more children in need of glasses. May you remain save and in Gods favor. Rachel
I wish you could have seen her smile in the hall this morning with her new glasses! It was priceless and so is this program. You will never know....but thank you anyway. Kam
Sounds great.. I know that this family is really having a hard time and at one point a while back I think they were homeless so this will help so so much. Thanks again! Amy
I spoke to his Great aunt who just became a guardian for him and his sister. She said that she and her husband removed Landon and his sister from foster care. This family really needs the help getting started on taking care of these children. Once again thanks for all you do, Wendy
There are hard times for everyone. When I was younger, my father and I were really going through some hard times. I was in the first grade and every Friday I would be sent home from school with a backpack of food so I could eat something during the weekend. My dad often had to work late, and I really didn’t know how to cook, so I had this backpack of food that I could eat. When I was in the second grade, I broke my glasses. My dad worked a long time to save up money to buy the glasses. We were playing kick ball on the playground. The ball hit my glasses and broke them. I knew that my dad had worked so hard to buy the glasses for me. But a nurse put her arm around me and took me inside. She gave me a certificate from the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation to take to Walmart and get a new pair of glasses. So, because of the Burlsworth Foundation and Walmart, I was ok. The backpacks of food and the glasses helped me to Finish Strong! One day, I want to see Champions for Kids help millions of kids not just succeed, but to do their best to help other kids finish strong. Kids like me care. And we want to help. I’m a student at Central Junior High School in Springdale. On THIS Day, today, I will find a way to help kids Finish Strong. Each of us can do something to help others. I want to be a Champion for Kids. Eddie, 8th Grade
"The Brandon Burlsworth Way" - an essay by Sarah
What can I say about a man like Brandon Burlsworth? He was something special to a lot of people, and he was taken away from this world too soon. The world didn't get the chance to find out what a great person he was until he was already gone. And now, I must write an essay about why I should live my life "The Burlsworth Way." I must admit I am having trouble choosing only three reasons why I admire and respect him.
One reason why I should fashion my life after Brandon's, which struck me when I first started reading this book, is that he is a faithful and loyal Christian. I have always been a Christian, but he was more involved in the church at age 10, than I am today at age 16. That in itself gave me pause, and made me question how good of a Christian I am right now. Brandon never forgot God, just because he was famous. He never took very much credit for his success because he always remembered who gave him those talents in the first place. Brandon was so humble and modest when it came to his success, even when people teased him about how much fame and fortune he was about to receive. Brandon always made time to spend with his family and with God, because that's what mattered the most to him and that's what motivated him to do his best from day to day.
Another reason why I believe I should try to be more like Brandon Burlsworth is the fact that, no matter what, he never gave up. He put everything he had into his football career, even when the outlook wasn't too bright. No matter the odds, no matter who he was up against, no matter who said that he couldn't do it - he always did. When things got rough, Brandon just kicked it up a notch. And Brandon always had a higher goal to reach, a bigger mountain to climb. When he was just a kid, he set his sights on being a Razorback someday, and he was. Once he made the Razorbacks, he wanted to be an All-American, and he accomplished that as well. Once that was over, he was going to be an NFL football player, and that was that, no question about it. Even when he made the draft, before he had even played his first game, he had his eyes on Rookie of the Year. Even though he never got the chance to go for that one, I'm sure he would have conquered that one too. When Brandon wanted to achieve something, he did, no questions asked.
And last, but definitely not least, Brandon always had others on his mind, never just himself. No matter what he did, he never got egotistical about it; he only thought of how it could benefit someone else. Brandon wanted to help children more than anything. He wanted to set up a foundation for kids, to help them get a good education and things to that affect. That was done for him, when he couldn't do it himself. The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation helps hundreds of kids every year, including raising scholarship money for them. Helping others and making a difference in their lives was all he ever wanted to do. The only thing he ever thought about buying for himself was an apartment in Indianapolis. He wanted to buy a whole new house for his family. When asked if he was excited to be making so much money, he said, "No, I'm just really ready to go play." The money was never that important to him, unless he got to use it to help someone else. I believe we can all take a lesson from that.
To sum it all up - Brandon Burlsworth was a great guy who got called out of the game before his time. I'm just grateful that I read this book now, when I'm young, and I can still change how my life might turn out, all thanks to Brandon. This book really makes you think about how much time you have to accomplish everything you want in life. It makes you realize that, as Jeff Kinley said, "Not one of us is promised a tomorrow."
"The Brandon Burlsworth Way" - an essay by Bethany
I was sitting in Ms. Hutson's 1st hour class talking to all my friends. The morning announcements were being read. That is when I heard about this amazing opportunity to go to an Arkansas Razorback game. The first thing that ran through my mind was, "Free tickets to a Razorback game? And all I have to do is read a book?" So, selfishly I went to find out what this was all about. They told me that I had to read a book called "Through the Eyes of a Champion: The Brandon Burlsworth Story" and immediately I thought, "Great, another self-centered athlete who thinks he is number one, has wrote a story about his life." Little did I know, Brandon Burlsworth truly was number one.
Brandon Burlsworth was an average kid growing up. He had a mother and father who loved him, and two older brothers to look up to. He was taught a lot of things in his childhood that helped him be the person he became. Brandon was devoted, passionate, humble, caring, loving, respectful, determined, focused, and dedicated to living his life the right way, on and off the field. Not only did Brandon use all of these characters to make himself succeed in football and all sports he played, but he used these characters to succeed in everything he did, from school, to family, to friends, but most importantly to his God.
Brandon touched so many lives while he was alive, but it's through his death that he has touched mine. Reading this story about Brandon has made me realize what life is all about. Life is so much more than to 'succeed' as the world looks at it. I believe that Brandon succeeded more in his 22 years before death, than most do in their many years of life. I wish, hope, and pray that I can make the kind of difference that Brandon Burlsworth did in so many people. That, in itself, would be a great accomplishment.
Brandon is a wonderful role model not only for boys and kids, but for people of all ages. He certainly is one of my role models now. I look up to him because I want to make a difference. Brandon made me realize that not only do I need to put my God first but to put family next, and then friends. My God will guide me through my life and give me strength to do his will, but without the support of family and friends it would be pretty hard.
I was asked to write an essay on why I would model my life after Brandon Burlsworth, but I could go on for hours why I would. To be honest, I can't think of a single reason I wouldn't want to live like Brandon Burlsworth. I got a glimpse of the life "Through the Eyes of a Champion." Brandon was truly a champion and I pray that God allows me to excel the way that he allowed Brandon to, to touch the lives that Brandon touched, and to strive for my goals the way Brandon did. He accomplished so much and impacted so many people in such a short life. This is just a start to why I would want to live my life "The Brandon Burlsworth Way."