When the staff at the Beehive Assisted Living Home in Louisville asked resident Jean Woodruff what she wanted for her 95th birthday, they got a surprising response. Ms. Jean didn’t want anything for herself. Instead, she asked for birthday cards containing one dollar, so that she could send the money to a favorite charity.
Ms. Jean Woodruff has been a resident of the Beehive for about two years. She’s a retired English teacher with nearly four decades of classroom experience. Woodruff dedicated her life to children, and it is her love for children that inspired her to pay it forward.
Ms. Jean discussed her idea with staff members, and together, they came up with a goal of $20. The staff made the first contributions, totaling about ten dollars. Chief of Operations Melba Reed would decide to post Ms. Jean’s request to the Beehive’s Facebook page. From there, the idea “went viral.”
Ms. Jean says she’s received more than 200 cards from at least ten states. In addition, if a person gets the privilege of visiting her at the Beehive, a donation is required. Ms. Woodruff has received cards containing $5, $10, and $20. Each one goes in her donation jar and will be sent on to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, her charity of choice.
When asked why she chose to donate this money to St. Jude, Ms. Jean replied she was doing so “out of her love for children.” Ms. Woodruff was a teacher at Louisville High School for 38 years; she taught at Lobutcha school before the county schools all consolidated in the early 1950s. Ms. Jean has even received a “money rose” bouquet, which is displayed in her room.
According to the Beehive Facebook page, donations will soon hit the $1,500.00 mark! On Friday alone, Ms. Woodruff received 36 cards. During our visit, staff member Rita Eichelberger pinned a St. Jude button on Ms. Jean, and former student Larry Morehead visited. He remarked that Ms. Woodruff was a favorite teacher at LHS. It’s no wonder – Ms. Jean is still full of energy, laughter and fun!
