As a guest presenter for the Women’s Philanthropy Fund, Leigh Anne Tuohy, adoptive mother of NFL star Michael Oher, spoke at the Amarillo Globe News Center Nov. 4 about community service and being “cheerful givers.” While I had my reservations about hearing another civic service speaker, expecting to hear the same self-righteous preaching of many others, I enjoyed listening to Leigh Anne’s stories about her family and about life.

Leigh Anne had a no-nonsense sort of attitude, but she accepted this about herself so whole-heartedly that it was impossible not to laugh at her attention-catching stories of mishaps within the Tuohy family. However, while amusing, she always brought her stories back to her reason for being there: service. Leigh Anne talked about her son Michael, whose homelessness was going unnoticed by others when she met him.

“What if someone as immensely talented as Michael Oher falls through the cracks?” Leigh Anne asked.

Leigh Anne said she believed that the person who will someday cure cancer is probably a kid living in a ghetto now. She warned that if we allow these kids to go unnoticed, they may never reach their potential, and the world will lose many brilliant minds. Instead of singling out the wealthy to give simply because they have more money, she proposed that we all have a duty to ourselves and to others as human beings to help those in need because it is the morally right thing to do.

When our group of editors could speak with Leigh Anne, we told her about the sophomore class’s recent service day. Leigh Anne said we ought to have all four classes working together on a project, not just sophomores. She proposed a “Great Day of Service” where every homeroom does something to impact the community. She said people in high school and college could influence the needy in our area the most, so we should all do our share.

“Amarillo, Texas has its share of Michael Ohers,” Leigh Anne said. “Don’t let them fall through the cracks.”