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Highlights

Below you will find some of the highlights of this journey of better understanding the lives of others. It's our hope that students are touched by these projects and want to change the world. Or, at least, their little corner of the world.

Understanding Works! Board members Maxine Russman, Deb Bowen, Cassie Holler and Marietta Castle	The Quad Cities Three Esthers These three ladies are the inspiration for A BOOK by ME. They started it all. When Deb Bowen saw them at a Holocaust Remembrance event in 2003, she could not let their stories die with them. Their stories were written and illustrated by kids for kids. The Jewish Federation received grant monies and put them in area schools. Feedback from teachers said "this makes the Holocaust more real to our students."
Jefferson Award 2019 Deb Bowen holds her Jefferson Award. It was a great honor to be nominated. Thank you WQAD!	KISS Gene Simmons In Spring 2018, Deb had the opportunity to meet and share the books with Gene Simmons. His mother was a Jewish Holocaust survivor. He was raised to be a very proud American and has a soft spot in his heart for veterans. Gene also does humanitarian work in Africa. He has a really good heart. Not the image most people have of him but Deb knows it's true.
My beautiful Mama Here's the little gal who started the purse project by modeling love. The adorable Lorraine. She raised eight children, Deb was her youngest, and worked hard as a farm wife. Many women would come to her kitchen table to talk about their life struggles. She had a loving heart. "Love Like Lorraine for Kids" is currently being written and illustrated by a student in Iowa.	Welcome Adela from Romania Fall 2019 Each year in August students arrive in America to greet their new host family and attend an American high school. Host families are always needed. Please email Deb at abookbyme@gmail.com if interested.
Beautiful Donors I can't do it without wonderful people who believe in my mission. A big thank you to my niece Jamie Heymann whose company donated $625 to Love Like Lorraine. Thank you American Marketing & Publishing Donations made to Love Like Lorraine will go toward the items we place in the purses. All empty purses are donated.

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