LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Amy Bekemyer started a mission to help kids thrive. They are kids with special needs, ones who need help getting through a difficult subject, or just need a little kindness.

What You Need To Know

  • Amy Bekemyer quit her full-time job to devote all her time to children

  • Her organization helps kids with special needs, who need help in a subject, or just need kindness

  • Bekemeyer tutors and counsels youths for free

  • She doesn't pay herself so the program can survive

Bekemyer was a school counselor and started offering her own counseling in 2004. She eventually quit her full-time paying job to pour her heart and soul into what's known now as, "Family Matters Central Florida." It offers counseling, tutoring, and aftercare three days a week. All services are free of charge.

Some of her tutors are paid. Others aren't, and Bekemyer is not.

"I can't do that, because I have to sustain the tutors, you know?" Bekemyer said. "If I don't have the funds to pay my tutors, it goes away; I can't run it."

When she's not tutoring youths and helping them succeed in the future, she's glued to the computer — writing grant requests and hoping they're approved.

"Giving's not the best ... everyone's unsure. I've been turned down a lot and got pretty desperate about a month ago and told the tutors it might be their last week," Bekemyer said.

Money from an online crowdfunding page helped save the program, which was a help to Mary Ashbaugh, whose son is part of it.

"It's not only helped him with reading, it's also helped him with math, it's helped him with communications, helped him with social skills," Ashbaugh said.

Those social skills are also used on the playground, and Bekemyer helps with that, as well.

"Most kids are really motivated by reward, by praise, by acknowledgment," Bekemyer said.

Now, Bekemyer is the one being acknowledged.