While there are several great nonprofits in this community, there’s one that stands out in the hearts of maurices’ customers. In honor of the The Plaza at Rockwall store’s one-year anniversary, customers were asked to vote for their favorite charity, with the top vote-getter receiving a $500 gift from maurices.
The responses were tallied and the winner is Nate Oxford, a 5 yr. old cancer patient from Rockwall. The money will go to the playroom at Cook’s Childrens Medical Center in Fort Worth where he has been in treatment for a rare form of brain cancer. Nate and his family were on hand Wednesday morning to present the check to a hospital representative at maurices on I-30.
For over three years, Nate, now 6 years old, has undergone a barrage of sugeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments for his condition. He has had over 30 blood transfusions and a bone marrow transplant with cells donated by his older brother Jake. Though his prognosis remains uncertain, his spirits remain high and determination is evident in his face. In a Facebook posting in 2009, his father Wes posted, “I have never witnessed anyone with such a will to live.”
Nate currently attends kindergarten at Pullen Elementary, where his mother Jackie teaches full time. She is helped at home by her mom, whom the boys call “Sugar Mamma”. Outside the family, the community has rallied over the last few years with fund raisers and events to build awareness of his disease. According to Wes, “The response from all over has been incredible.” About maurices, Jackie wrote, “What a great charity and example your business is to the community. Thank you for allowing him to be part of this!”
Readers can keep up with Nate’s progress through his website and Facebook page.
About maurices
maurices is a national retail clothing chain that offers everything young women need to fill their closets with the latest trends for school, work, evenings out and evenings in. In sizes 1-24, the store carries exclusive maurices brands of Studio Y and Wear @ Work, plus some of the best-known brands in denim, including Silver®. For store information and to shop online, visit maurices.com.
by Bob Lewis – Planet Rockwall
