Why would ROSIE Magazine include an article about a disabled grandmother
from a small town in Wisconsin? Why would Chicago's WGN-TV feature her on their
"Unsung Heroes" program?  Because this grandma's hugs
reach around the world, that's why.

When Marsha Jordan's grandson was badly burned, she learned first-hand how helpless adults
feel when their little ones suffer, so she can relate to parents who must rock their dying children
in cancer wards. After being temporarily struck blind by a connective tissue disease, Jordan discovered
that she could relate to the children's feelings, as well. She knows what it's like
to be sick, in pain, and afraid.

When Jordan was thrown into the world of disability, she found herself with time on her hands.
She determined to use that time to make a difference for suffering children. Jordan "adopted" sick kids
she learned about through Internet prayer groups. Each month, she sent hundreds of pieces of "happy mail"
across the country in an effort to put more joy into the lives of children who often have little to smile about.

What began in 2000 as this grandma's hobby of sending cheery cards soon mushroomed into a full time job
and eventually became a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity. In 2003, the HUGS and HOPE Foundation was born.
 The organization's web site, which started with one page telling the story of a little boy named Mikey,
now includes hundreds of pages featuring photos and mailing information for kids in every state.

Last year, seven-year-old Colton M., who has a rare disease that's stealing his vision,
dubbed Jordan "The Peanut Butter Queen." Why? Because he'd heard her philosophy often:

Love, hope, and joy are sticky -- like peanut butter!
When you spread them around, you can't help but get some on yourself.

"The Queen" likes to tell people about her Hugs and Hope Foundation,
"her kids" and her goal of putting a little more love into the world -- one smile at a time.
She encourages anyone who cares about children to log onto her web site at www.hugsandhope.org,
read the children's stories, and mail a cheery card or two.
As the Peanut Butter Queen says, "One of the smiles you create just might be your own."
Jordan has received many awards for her work with children and has been featured in several national magazines,
as well as on Wisconsin Public Television and Billy Graham's radio show "Decision Today."
She's had stories published in several anthologies, including "A Cup of Comfort."


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To learn about the children's charity Jordan founded, click here

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