The true meaning and spirit of Christmas enveloped the staff at Ocean View and the results were most gratifying.

The first evidence of that spirit started in July when Linda Hussey, Assistant General Manager, approached Mike Valleau, General Manager, with the idea of gathering toys to distribute to the children of mothers forced to take refuge in homes for battered women.
Mike and Linda soon developed various programs to gather funds, approached both the Men’s and Women’s Association for donations and in December offered to trade a green fee for an unwrapped toy.

The response to the effort to bring joy to children caught up in an unfortunate situation was overwhelming. Ocean View was able to purchase over $500.00 worth of toys with the funds that were raised and added another $250.00 worth of toys that golfers traded in for green fees.

The second instance of the “Spirit” surfaced after a conversation between Mike Valleau and Walter Wilkins, owner of the Bay Kia dealership in Norfolk. Walter told Mike about Lavetta Ryles, an active duty single mother of two, who had just returned from a seven month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier George Bush. Before Lavetta left on deployment her car was totaled in a crash, had minimal insurance and couldn’t afford to have her car fixed. Adding to her burden, Lavetta was also helping to pay for her mother’s cancer treatment.

Walter then told Mike that Bay Kia was going to present the young sailor with a completely refurbished car complete with a three year warranty. Mike asked if the Ocean View staff could join in and provide a Christmas for Lavetta’s children and he was given a very enthusiastic “yes!”

At the Ocean View Christmas party, Mike retold the story to the staff and asked for help. The result of that request was immediate. Enough money was raised to fill the trunk of Lavetta’s new car with toys for her children and enough food to make her holiday season one to remember.

Mike said “It was an honor and a privilege to welcome home a service member that stepped up for her country and it is an honor and privilege to be associated with the staff at Ocean View that embraced the real spirit of giving”