Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellen Shane.
Ellen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and lived in Montreal, Canada for the first 38 years of my life. My husband’s work was the reason for our big move to Los Angeles. At the time, we had two young children and I was pregnant with our third.
My life and that of our family changed forever when our third child, our daughter named Emily Rose, was tragically murdered on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on April 3, 2010. She was thirteen years old and was senselessly killed by an enraged driver, as she was walking to meet her dad following time with friends during spring break. It was the Saturday of Easter weekend.
We were consumed with the pre-trials and trials that ensued over a two year period. (The first trial resulted in a hung jury, the second resulted in the conviction of murder in the second degree.) I felt the man who killed her had to go to jail as he was utterly remorseless. I could forgive someone if they felt true remorse, or if it had been an accident. It was not.
About two years following Emily’s death, I had a dream. In it, I saw the entire children’s book. From the cover to the wording and illustrations, it was all presented to me. I woke up right away and felt I had to write the book. It was like a message. The book, Emily’s Gift: The True Story of Sherlock and Jackson, which is available now, is the true story of how Emily brought dogs to our family, which was something rather incredible as there was no possibility for any pets in our house as the story relates.
We started a nonprofit charity to honor Emily’s memory, which initially solely focused on helping others via posting good deeds, as acts of kindness reflected her persona. Later, I created the Foundation’s SEA (Successful Educational Achievement) Program, which is now my passion and life’s purpose. The good deeds are incorporated in the SEA Program.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I had no idea what I was doing when I started the SEA Program! I simply had a vision and felt compelled to help others with something Emily struggled with during her life – doing well in school. I realized that so many children fit Emily’s profile – struggling in the mainstream classroom.
Unlike Emily, many have no recourse due to financial limitations. In this day and age, everyone deserves the chance for a bright future. I approached a middle school teacher who taught for over 40 years and he helped me craft the protocols for SEA. He acted as an advisor to me as I put the program together. We needed the funds to apply for official nonprofit status. We had no idea how we could afford it.
Unexpectedly, the father of a friend of our oldest daughter who was very successful and a philanthropist stepped up to help our Foundation obtain the necessary 501(c)3 status. The Boys & Girls Club in Malibu, where Emily was a member, became our first site of operation. We continue to operate there. I forged ahead and learned as I went along.
While there were struggles, I am a person who seeks a path forward. I am solution-oriented and do what I can to make things happen. To me, a roadblock is a challenge to be tackled and resolved if at all possible.
Right now, we have our biggest challenge, as the pandemic forced the postponement of our annual fundraiser. The need for SEA will be even greater this year due to the dire impact of online learning on the very population we serve. I had to furlough our one employee. I am working away on sourcing grants and hoping the children’s book will serve to raise awareness about our mission and work, and ultimately lead to support.
Please tell us about The Emily Shane Foundation.
Our Foundation’s SEA Program’s sole focus is to provide intensive and individualized academic and mentoring support to middle school students in the mainstream middle school classroom who are at risk of failing their classes or truly struggling.
Only those students who could not otherwise afford outside support can join SEA. It does not matter why the child is failing. Sometimes it’s because they learn differently or are below grade level in one or more subjects. Some never understood math, for example, and were pushed ahead so they’re lost and give up. Others may have a combination of home life or social issues that come into play.
Each student is paired with a vetted, trained, caring mentor/tutor who is either a university student or recent grad. University students make ideal role models for middle schoolers. The age difference allows for a comfort level and rapport. The only “cost” to participate in SEA is for each student to perform one good deed or act of kindness for every session, typically twice a week during after-school hours. This embraces our Foundation’s “Pass it Forward” motto and we hope it inspires social consciousness in our youth.
I am the Executive Director of the Foundation. I am proudest of the results we attain. While academic improvement is our goal and a measure of our success, just as important is the marked improvement I have seen countless times in a child’s self-image. If we can help a young student believe in themselves, realize that with the right help, they can succeed, and know they are valued and cared for, that is the most gratifying and fulfilling result.
Everyone needs to hear “I believe in you” or “You can do this!” If a child is not getting that at home, it is important that they get it somewhere. There are countless studies on the effectiveness of mentorship. I have yet to find a program that matches and does exactly what we do. We are not just a homework help or tutoring program. We have an intensive and individualized approach. There is an emphasis on organizational skills and study skills. The secret for our success is the rapport and bond that develops between mentor and mentee. The consistency and accountability help drive results.
In addition to my work with SEA, I have a private grief support practice. I am not formally credentialed but studied grief extensively as I had to deal with a tragic, unexpected loss. I literally read hundreds of books written by a wide range of authors all with different approaches (religious, spiritual, scientific, etc.). I took a course for practitioners that was extremely helpful. At first, it was not formal.
For example, a woman who experienced a greater loss than I did was connected to me. As it was long distance, we spoke and emailed. I met her in person over a year later, and the first thing she said to me was “It is because of you that I am alive today.” I knew then that I could help others and do. I operate on a sliding scale, so I can support anyone who really wants and needs the help to navigate a loss, especially that of a child.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My dream is to have the funding to more effectively run the SEA Program. We have a replicable model and with the right resources, we could reach so many more children in need of our work. At this time, due to the pandemic, I am actively seeking grants.
My hope is that one day, someone well known will promote our work to gain a larger audience which would lead to increased support. The vast majority of our students are of color, and many come from households where English is not spoken. With the current climate shifting to address the needs of all people, my hope is that this will help draw attention to our mission. As I wrote previously, the pandemic has presented financial challenges to our operation, and I am doing my best to address this so we can pursue our work as effectively as possible. We have supported over 700 students to date and have operated across Los Angeles and Ventura counties at 13 sites of operation serving 15 middle schools. Our mission and purpose come from my heart. I love helping these students.
I would like to expand my grief support work. While my time is limited due to the SEA Program, this is a calling to me. In the future, I plan to create a website and promote my work in this area.
Looking ahead, there is an outline I created for a series of books to follow Emily’s Gift. They are all true stories about our dogs. I am currently working on the second book. I outlined the first six books after writing Emily’s Gift. Each book has a positive theme and message for children and each one will be true (as is this first book). I dream of an animated series about the dogs or seeing merchandise such as stuffed animals. I hope to make tv appearances and bring the dogs with me. This would draw animal lovers. It all ties in with the Foundation, as there is nothing more rewarding and fulfilling than helping others who need it, and would otherwise not have it.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.emilyshane.org
- Phone: (213) 290-5441
- Email: info@emilyshane.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyshanefoundation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilyshanefoundation/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/emilyroseshane
- Other: https://kp-pub.com/ellen-shane-emilys-gift-the-true-story-of-sherlock-and-jackson/
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