Community Champions: Sam Simons
Written By - Jonathan Bethely Monday, February 9, 2004
Written By - Jonathan Bethely Monday, February 9, 2004
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In 30 years as an engineer at Dana Corp.
and a lifetime of building things in his
father's garage, Sam Simons had never
built a lighthouse.
But that's exactly what Janet Walters,
executive director of the
soon-to-be-opened First Light Child
Advocacy Center, had in mind when she
approached the Jonesboro resident about
building a structure that would make and
impact when clients walked into the
agency located on the bottom floor of Dr.
Charles Kersher's office, 707 N River
Drive.
"He's a super guy, a very gentle person,"
Walters said of Simons. " I know he's had
to put hours and hours into this project."
Simons said it took three weeks to build
the 7-foot lighthouse that he worked on
mostly in his spare time after work and on
the weekends. Because the lighthouse will
be placed in the center of lobby where a
metal support beam exists, Simons had to
build the lighthouse so that is could be
installed around the beam.
and a lifetime of building things in his
father's garage, Sam Simons had never
built a lighthouse.
But that's exactly what Janet Walters,
executive director of the
soon-to-be-opened First Light Child
Advocacy Center, had in mind when she
approached the Jonesboro resident about
building a structure that would make and
impact when clients walked into the
agency located on the bottom floor of Dr.
Charles Kersher's office, 707 N River
Drive.
"He's a super guy, a very gentle person,"
Walters said of Simons. " I know he's had
to put hours and hours into this project."
Simons said it took three weeks to build
the 7-foot lighthouse that he worked on
mostly in his spare time after work and on
the weekends. Because the lighthouse will
be placed in the center of lobby where a
metal support beam exists, Simons had to
build the lighthouse so that is could be
installed around the beam.
| First Light 707 N. River Dr. Suite B Marion, Indiana 46952 Phone: 765-668-8082 Fax: 765-668-8087 |
| First Light Child Advocacy Center of Grant County |
"We shall have no higher priority than to protect our children."
He also built three levels inside the lighthouse that will be used as a doll house of sorts,
complete with miniature furniture, housewares and dolls. Visitors will be able to look
inside the structure through small windows that surround the lighthouse.
First Light is designed to minimize the trauma abused children face during interviews by
having them visit one location instead of many locations, which can cause undue stress
on a child.
"I was a Juror on a case with a child that was abused. Ever since then, I've had a soft
spot for children that were involved in child abuse," said Simons who didn't mind
spending time on labor and his own money on supplies.
The large-scale lighthouse complements the them of the First Light Child Advocacy
Center, which is decorated with smaller lighthouses throughout the office. Walters says
the structure is definitely a conversation piece.
"The lighthouse is symbolic because, in my opinion, this is the first place kids come to get
help," Walters said. "To me, it's the first light they see. For boats, a lighthouse is their
guide, and that's our idea for the kids, to show them there's a light at the end of the
tunnel."
Originally published Monday, February 9, 2004 - Chronicle-Tribune
complete with miniature furniture, housewares and dolls. Visitors will be able to look
inside the structure through small windows that surround the lighthouse.
First Light is designed to minimize the trauma abused children face during interviews by
having them visit one location instead of many locations, which can cause undue stress
on a child.
"I was a Juror on a case with a child that was abused. Ever since then, I've had a soft
spot for children that were involved in child abuse," said Simons who didn't mind
spending time on labor and his own money on supplies.
The large-scale lighthouse complements the them of the First Light Child Advocacy
Center, which is decorated with smaller lighthouses throughout the office. Walters says
the structure is definitely a conversation piece.
"The lighthouse is symbolic because, in my opinion, this is the first place kids come to get
help," Walters said. "To me, it's the first light they see. For boats, a lighthouse is their
guide, and that's our idea for the kids, to show them there's a light at the end of the
tunnel."
Originally published Monday, February 9, 2004 - Chronicle-Tribune
| Our Goals |
Sam Simons