JACKSON, Tenn. — Dec. 19, 2017 —
Union University will host the first fundraiser for the Union EDGE program Feb. 15. The event, entitled “The Power of Friendship,” will feature Jim Bradford and HK Derryberry, authors of “The Awakening of HK Derryberry.”
The book tells the story of how Bradford, a middle-aged businessman, met Derryberry, a young boy with disabilities, in a fast-food restaurant and how they influenced each other’s lives. Bradford and Derryberry will share their story together at the event.
“It’s the story of a man who chose to invest time and effort into a person with special needs,” said Jennifer Graves, director of the Union EDGE program. “So it’s really the story of how you and I can make a difference in someone’s life. Are you willing to go out of your comfort zone to invest in another person?”
Derryberry was born three months premature in 1990 in Nashville, Tennessee, after an automobile accident that killed his mother. He is blind and has cerebral palsy.
Bradford and Derryberry met when Derryberry was 9 years old, living with his aging grandmother who worked at a fast-food chain. She brought him to the restaurant each day during her work shift.
Through Bradford’s help, Derryberry was diagnosed with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory, an ability that allows him to remember a vast number of life experiences. Fewer than 100 people have received the diagnosis, and none of them share Derryberry’s physical disabilities.
The Union EDGE program was started in 2015 and exists to give students with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to have a college experience. The students live and work on campus alongside students in traditional programs while learning life skills, employment skills and social skills.
Graves said most programs like the EDGE program have only existed a few years, so many parents do not have the funds set aside to send their children through the program. Since it is not a traditional undergraduate program, the students are not eligible for traditional academic scholarships, so the Union EDGE endowment fund was set up to provide scholarships for EDGE students. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to that fund.
The event will include dinner, the keynote speakers, a presentation from the EDGE program and a book signing. Individual seats can be purchased for $50, and tables are $300. Tables include seating for eight and a photo opportunity with the speakers.
“The Power of Friendship” event is sponsored by the Kappa Delta Pi education honor society. Tickets can be purchased online.