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Patrick's Story
Hollygrove and Mentor Turn a Boy's Life Around
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Four Years as a Marine and Now Giving Back to the Community, Patrick's Life Began in Abuse and Despair  | | Patrick tells his story to the regional board of governors. |
A child who is loved and protected can take his place in the world and go on to do great things. A bright future awaits him – higher education, a satisfying career and the ability to give back to his community are the aspects of “the good life.” But a happy future may be out of reach if a young life begins in chaos, family is badly damaged or broken, and the welfare of a child is not met.
One such child could have had a life of sadness, anxiety and depression; however, he had the good fortune of landing in a safe place at Hollygrove. Staff at Hollygrove became the family he needed, the love he craved, and became a part of a childhood he fondly remembers.
Patrick and his older, special needs brother were just toddlers and living in what Patrick calls a “crack house” with their mother who was drug-addicted Their lives were headed in a very tragic direction. His mother landed in jail and the boys were removed from their father’s care by Child Protective Services and placed with their grandparents, from whose care they were also removed. Finally, when Patrick was six years old, the brothers were placed at Hollygrove. At that time, Hollygrove was a children’s residence in Hollywood, with a rich history of rescuing orphans, and abused and neglected children dating back to the 1880s.
Patrick remembers his four years at Hollygrove as a happy time. As they still do today, Hollygrove provided Patrick with a safe, nurturing environment. ”I have big holiday memories at Hollygrove,” said Patrick. “Each one was a fun, special event.”
Not long after Patrick came to Hollygrove, he had a volunteer tutor at his school who proved to be an incredibly positive influence in his life – and who continues to be so. Deborah Oppenheimer transitioned right along with him while he was at Hollygrove. Their connection was strong and Patrick was allowed off-site visits with her. “She has been a huge blessing in my life.”  | |
(left to right) - Patrick Perkins, Felice Myers, Deborah Oppenheimer, Cathy Kort, board of governors Chair Brad Slocum and Darrell Evora, CEO & President of EMQ FamiliesFirst.
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Patrick’s brother went to a foster home, and a year later when Patrick was 10, he went to live at the same home, then adopted by the same mother at the age of 16. He was glad to have a home and be with his brother. And Deborah continued to tutor and mentor Patrick as he moved through adolescence and into his young adulthood. She recognized him from the earliest age as a natural leader.
With Deborah’s help, Patrick graduated from high school before entering the military. He has proudly served four years in the United States Marine Corps, including a seven-month tour in Iraq. “One of the things I learned while at Hollygrove was how to operate with more than one person, a skill you really need in the military,” he said.
A regular part of life at Hollygrove was counseling to help with his early childhood traumas. Patrick is now very open to counseling. “When Marines get out of the Corps, counseling is something they could really use, but most won’t do it. I know the good it can do.”
Currently, Patrick is attending college to study social work, and plans to become a police officer. “Deborah often told me that I had a lot of the characteristics of a good cop.”
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Patrick with the regional board of governors of EMQ FamiliesFirst.
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Patrick has now come full circle, and this summer he will be volunteering his time at Hollygrove. Hollygrove, no longer a residential program, now serves more children than ever before in the community. The annual Camp Hollygrove summer day camp provides fun and therapeutic activities to children healing from trauma, abuse or neglect.
Patrick’s experiences in Hollygrove’s “positive environment” have stayed with him. “Hollygrove opened so many avenues for me – being there was really a pivotal point in my life. It changed my life.”
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Confidentiality of EMQ children and families has been preserved
through the use of models. Some stories may be composites of multiple cases.
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We need to help the children and change the system so that these children—our children—can grow up with a brighter future.
