An Orland Park retirement planning company surprised Kruse Educational Center students and staff with holiday season gifts and financial support Wednesday afternoon, including announcing a year of mortgage payments for teacher Julie Drew, diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Owners of Dowling Legacy and Retirement, in partnership with the Gradient Giving Foundation, heard Drew’s story from a fellow teacher and Principal Kim Harnett, who set up a Go Fund Me page to help the fifth grade teacher support her family of three while battling cancer a second time.
“We heard about an incredible teacher here at your school, someone who despite facing an extraordinarily difficult journey battling cancer, continues to show up for students every single day with courage, dedication and love,” said CEO/President Karen Prescia Dowling.
The company, along with other community partners, worked together to cover Drew’s mortgage payment for the year, totaling $26,400. They provided her family with new backpacks and gift cards and announced plans to throw a schoolwide pizza party and pay all negative lunch balances.
After Drew was first diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer as a single mother of two, she struggled with her finances, leading her to move her family into her mother’s home.
Drew beat the cancer but was only able to move her family into their new town house several months ago, knowing she would struggle to keep up with hefty mortgage payments.
So when she was presented a surprise check following the school assembly, billed as a student choir concert, Drew was almost immediately reduced to tears.
“I thought something was happening,” she said after seeing members of the media in the gymnasium. “I thought we were getting something for the school. So I’m overwhelmed and very grateful.”
Drew said she chose to continue coming to work after both her cancer diagnoses, with the children she teaches serving as their own sort of medicine. Dowling Legacy and Retirement provided Drew’s entire class with backpacks filled with candy.
“These kids help me daily with everything — when I was feeling sick, or whatever the case may be,” Drew said. “They all deserve this too. I just am very grateful.”