Love and Inspiration

Founder's Thoughts, By D. Frenkel

It's been quite a year of love and inspiration. Two people that I love very much passed on from brain tumors. One was a close friend, Larry Dunn and the other my cousin (sister), Toby Karp.

Through their passing I learned much more about this process of change that we all go through. Even more important, each left both me and the foundation with a great deal of love and inspiration. And, I want to share that piece of their stories with you.

I had worked for Larry for the past eight years at the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show for a yacht building company, out of Denmark. For years, Larry encouraged me to get my real estate license and to go get my piece of the American pie. However, after he was diagnosed, and I had already founded Freedom Waters Foundation, I was on the phone with him, telling him about a job that was being offered and he said, "Deb, don't sell your soul for stability. I see big things happening with you and this foundation." (He wore the Freedom Waters Hat often when he went for his treatment to MD Anderson.)

Toby, after her diagnosis, she was returning my call and left me a message on my voicemail that said, "Debby, as soon as I heard your voice and happiness of the words 'Freedom Waters Foundation', I knew that everything was going to be okay!"

Their words continue to echo in my heart and soul. I feel their love and am inspired to bring the same feeling to others. I am blessed by their presence and love in my life. And, I know they are always here with us.

Larry Dunn passed 3/11/07

Toby Karp passed 5/7/07