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 Stephen A. Morente Memorial Fund
When Stephen and Jacob Morente were boys, they
discovered an old well on the property where their parents’ business
was located. They enjoyed throwing items down the well just to hear
the echoing sound.
Today, the 100 year-old well lies below a 10-feet deep
wishing well that was built in 1992 within the walls of Brandywine
Flowers. The wishing well is dedicated to the memory of Stephen Morente,
who ended his life in 1989 at the age of 21. Money collected from the
well is contributed to the Stephen A. Morente Memorial Fund at the DCF.
Stephen Morente struggled throughout his life with
dyslexia, at a time when learning disabilities weren’t recognized in the
mainstream, according to his mother, June. “He couldn’t concentrate, he
couldn’t achieve, and he was labeled as ‘bad’ by the school system,” she
said. Stephen’s family wanted to help other dyslexic youngsters lead a
more productive life, so within 24 hours of his brother’s death, Jacob
Morente started the Stephen A. Morente Memorial Fund.
“We believed that the little money we could donate
should go to this purpose,” Jacob said. At the advice of a neighborhood
banker, Jacob met with Collis Townsend at the DCF. “Collis was very
compassionate and accepting of what I was going through,” recalled
Jacob. The Foundation made it easy for the family to establish the fund.
Then the Morentes set to work building it, first with rock concerts,
then with the money that children and patrons of Brandywine Flowers toss
into the wishing well – “In loving memory, that will never be
forgotten.”
It took about six years for the memorial fund to
generate sufficient income to award its first grant. The DCF suggested
Centreville School as an appropriate recipient because it serves
youngsters with learning disabilities. When the Morente family learned
about the work of the Reading ASSIST Institute, which helps “unlock the
written word for children with reading difficulties,” they decided to
provide grants to both institutions, alternating the years in which they
are awarded.
Jacob Morente said he wishes he could do more. But he is
pleased that the Stephen A. Morente Memorial Fund will help assure a
brighter future for youngsters with dyslexia, while serving as a
memorial to his brother. |
