Erica's incredible £100,000 Acorns donation leaves hospice boss speechless
An incredible £100,000 has been donated to Acorns Hospice by the charity’s vice- president.
Erica Brown, aged 69, made the amazing donation for the charity’s £2 million fundraising appeal.
The campaign was launched last month after a gap in NHS funding plunged the charity’s services in Walsall into doubt.
How you can donate:
Text ACORNS5 to 70025 to donate £5*
Text ACORNS10 to 70025 to donate £10*
Visit acorns.org.uk/appeal
Phone: 01564 825 037
*With texts you will be charged your donation, plus your standard network rate. Acorns receives at least 98 per cent of your donation as it will incur a two per cent admin charge for this service. By texting, you are agreeing for Acorns to phone or text you to tell you about our work and how you can help. If you wish to donate and not hear from Acorns again, text ACORNS5 NO to 70025. For more information call 01564 825 037. Acorns Children’s Hospice registered charity no: 700859.
Ms Brown presented the cheque yesterday to charity bosses, volunteers, staff and patients at the Walsall base off Walstead Road.
She said: “I have devoted my whole professional life to working with children.
“Acorns is in my blood. I joined Acorns in 1999 as the Head of Research and Development but I got made redundant after the financial crash.
“But I said ‘you are not getting rid of me’ so I stayed on as a volunteer.”
Ms Brown inherited the money from her parents after their deaths.
Her mother died last year aged 98 and her father, who was a prisoner of war in the Second World War, died 20 years ago.
She said her parents were “never rich” but spent their money wisely.
Ms Brown suffered heartbreak as a young mother after giving birth aged 23. Her twins, Jonathan and Juliet, died before their first birthday from a rare cancer.
That means she has no family to pass on her inheritance to.
However the cash donation to Acorns will help children and families for years to come.
'Speechless'
Toby Porter, chief executive, said: “I am speechless by Erica’s kind-hearted donation.
“I have had the privilege of working with charities for 30 years and over that time I have also had the privilege of seeing people make some enormous donations and charities, but I can honestly say I have never known anything like this where a former member of staff has donated a huge sum.
“She has gifted her entire inheritance on to the appeal.”
Mr Porter said: “It is goodness itself, it is remarkable. I was so happy to see the reaction of the staff.
“I think she is a remarkable, generous soul, and we are very privileged to be associated with her.”
Mark Lyttle, a parent whose daughter Isabella, 11, was cared for by Acorns before she died from cancer, said: “This donation is absolutely amazing.
“It just shows what Acorns means to all of us, whether that is parents, staff and the volunteers.
“Acorns never leaves you.
“Once you are part of the Acorns family you will always be involved.”
