Family of Six to Visit Caregivers in Phoenix, AZ, Who Saw Them Through a Mix of Joyous Celebration and Deep Sorrow
Contact: Michelle Borja, Porch Step, 865-329-9260, mborja@porchstep.com
LEXINGTON, Ky., Feb. 8, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Porch Step, a Knoxville, TN-based lifestyle media company has announced Phil Roberts, Lexington, KY as the winner of its Five Simple Things Challenge.
On December 20th, 2010, Porch Step asked Americans, "How could $2500 help you or someone you love accomplish a meaningful goal in 2011?" Roberts, whose story, "6 People, 2,000 Miles, 5 Simple Things" was among numerous entries from throughout the U. S., to share personal stories on how winning the Five Simple Things Challenge could bring about positive and significant change in their lives or the lives of loved ones.
In his winning Challenge submission, Roberts tells the story of flying to Phoenix with his wife, pregnant with quadruplets, and toddler to a high-risk pregnancy clinic in 2005. While in Phoenix, Roberts' wife delivered prematurely. One of the quadruplets died, leaving the family with a mix of deep sorrow over their loss and the celebration of their three newborns.
With the money, the Roberts family will return to Phoenix to thank the nurses, who cared for their infants and to visit the place where they lost their daughter, Emily.
"My wife and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to reunite our children with the wonderful nurses and medical staff, who took such loving care when our quadruplets were born five years ago," said Roberts. "We're also looking forward to thanking the community and mission house who took us in and saw us through the celebration of our children and the grief over losing our baby, Emily, one of the quadruplets. Few people have an opportunity to reach out, say thank you to those who may not realize the impact they had on the families who come and go from their lives. We are so grateful to have this chance."
From December 20, 2010 until January 24, 2011, visitors to www.5SimpleThingsChallenge.com cast their vote for the story they felt was most compelling. Roberts' submission can be viewed on the site. Porch Step will work with Roberts to document how his life has changed as a result of winning the challenge. A follow up to his story will be available on www.porchstep.com.
"My hope is that those who submitted their stories and those who voted for their favorite stories will use this challenge to continue to refocus on what matters most -- faith, family, community and the future," said John Tolsma. CEO of Porch Step. "The simple daily principals of thanking, doing, believing, reaching out and practicing random acts of kindness allow us all to experience a more meaningful and satisfactory life."
The Five Simple Things Challenge was born out of Tolsma's recently published book, 5 Simple Things, a journal and daily guidebook. For more information, visit www.porchstep.com.
About John Tolsma
The founder and president of Porch Step, John Tolsma also leads Knowledge Launch, an educational media company that creates learning and leadership programs across the globe. A graduate of Duke University, Harvard Law School and the Harvard Business School, Tolsma started his first multi-million dollar company straight out of school. Recognized as one of Tennessee's Top Forty Under Forty by Business Tennessee Magazine, Tolsma received the Pinnacle Visionary Award, which annually honors a young professional who represents leadership in business as a role model for other professionals.
About Porch Step
Porch Step is a lifestyle media company developing content focused on re-engaging and reinvigorating the values that are important in everyday life. With a community focused on Faith, Family, and Future, Porch Step connects people through the rediscovery of what matters most. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Porch Step is cultivating impactful resources around topics from parenting with purpose to impacting the world around you to managing your money. For more information, visit www.porchstep.com.
