They say a picture is worth a thousand words; but the story is usually even better if you get all the facts and details behind it!
.jpg)
Such is the case with two photos currently up for auction to benefit the Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases - depicting Annette and a man surrounded by children in front of the instantly recognizable Disneyland Main Street Station.
The man in these pictures would be Father Lynn, and the children; underprivileged boys and girls Father took into his care.
Below is an excerpt from a short article that appeared in The Annette Funicello International Fan Club, Summer 1991 newsletter, which flushes out the story behind these pictures.
Glen and Annette have become very involved with helping a priest named Father Lynn and a friend of Glen's, named Spud Proctor. Father Lynn and Spud care for homeless children. Most of these kids have been abandoned. Father Lynn "finds" them, takes them in and tries to find homes for them.
Glen and Spud are friends from way back. Glen told me, "Spud used to be a harness horse driver and I've known him for a long time. About a year ago, Spud joined St. Elizabeth Anne Church and now he works with the homeless. He's a great guy and Annette and I can't do enough to help him. We gave him two horses to auction off and that helped, and well......we've done a lot to help."
When Spud asked a group of the children what their fondest wish was, like most kids, they said, "To go to Disneyland". Of course, he asked Annette and Glen if something could be worked out. Annette called Lorraine Santoli at Disney Studios and the wheels started turning.
In April, about 40 of the kids were treated to a day at Disneyland with Annette as their guide. "The children didn't know or care who I was, they just wanted to meet Mickey Mouse! It was such a pleasure to give those kids a day they'll always remember."
A Disney photographer took pictures of Annette with the kids. She asked for some copies and two weeks later a huge envelope arrived with 50 photos! One for each of the children and a few left over......
.jpg)
Of the few photos that were left over, Annette sent some to her Fan Club to be auctioned to benefit Father Lynn's work. In that same spirit, Annette's personal copies are currently available for bid, with proceeds also going to help others, through the work of her own non-profit organization.
Comments
Post a Comment