Our Featured Ambassador

Patches “Angel” Ambassador

 In the early morning hours of November 5, 1994, a 27-year old woman named Andrea O'Donnell was brutally murdered. Her badly decomposed body was discovered by another roommate in the apartment that she had shared with her boyfriend. A few days' later police arrested Andrés English-Howard, Andrea's boyfriend, and booked him on suspicion of murder. In the late summer weeks of August 1995, after only a two-week trial in San Diego Superior Court, Andrés English-Howard was convicted of murder in the first degree in the death of Andrea O'Donnell. The night before he was scheduled to appear in court for sentencing, Andrés ripped apart his bed sheets, and, in a series of gestures that eerily mocked the way he had killed his girlfriend, stuffed a gag in his own mouth, covered his head in a shroud and hanged himself in his prison cell.

(Excerpt from: “Living Between Danger & Love” By- Kathleen B. Jones)

 Andrea Is Lesley Lane 's daughter. Lesley is a special lady, an angel on this earth. She has endured so much and with her heart so broken by the loss of her daughter, she continues to bring God's light to those disadvantaged and disenchanted.

In 2004, in honor of her daughter, Lesley started an organization called Andrea's Attic, a discount store offering clothing and household assistance for needy families. She then takes the profits and puts them into the “Andrea O'Donnell Children's Trust Fund” (started in 1999) to provide scholarships for area students. She also has provided “Andrea's Free library books” for many of the schools in Delaware County Pennsylvania . Lesley's Logo is the Teddy Bear, again in memory of her daughter. With the trust fund and her love for helping children, Patches, immediately found a new home with Lesley.

 

Lesley has become our first “Patches Angel Ambassador”. With a caring heart, and a contagious smile, she has been on a mission to make sure Delaware County Schools, including private schools, are meeting Patches, and making him part of their communication to help children talk about their feelings. She has also found sponsors so that he has become a part of Children in Youth Services, Head Start, and the District Attorney's Office, all in Delaware County , Pennsylvania . The DA's office is currently handling a horrific sexual abuse case, where some of the victims were infant girls. Patches, will be in the hands of some of these little victims, to comfort and to help them deal with their emotions, from an ordeal that has changed them forever.

 

Bless you Lesley, for your love and devotion to children.
I wrote a little poem for Lesley when I first met her.
God sent me the words.

 “ Precious Light”

 Shinning Down From Heaven Above

Andi Is Sending You Angel Hugs

 She Will Always Be Your Precious Star, Shinning

Bright

 The One Who Guides You To Keep Children In The

Light

Andrea is Your Special Blessing, So Dear To Your

Heart

You Are Now Our Blessing, Giving So Much To Fill

Children's Hearts

(Chichester School District )