This alumna credits the children’s home for her success.
Surrounding yourself with good or bad company is usually a choice, and although it may not seem like it in the moment, it comes with a hefty price tag — your future.
Jessica Malone grew up in Philadelphia in an unstable environment and began following the wrong crowd during her pre-teen years. However, with the guidance of her grandfather, a Pennsylvania Mason, and the children’s home, she was able to regain control of her life and find the company she needed.
“I was 12 years old and had never seen a farm animal,” Jessica said. “On the drive to the children’s home, I felt like I moved to ‘Little House on the Prairie’ because there was only one traffic light in Elizabethtown at the time. It was so different than Philadelphia.”
While Jessica admits she was initially frightened of what awaited her at the children’s home and wished she could turn the car around, it did not take her long to welcome the change it offered and begin looking toward the future with more focused eyes.
Some of Jessica’s fondest memories from her years at the children’s home include getting into youthful shenanigans with her friends, going on vacations and being surrounded by a close-knit group of like-minded children and houseparents who understood her struggles and helped her find her way.
“I am most grateful that I was provided with a second chance — an opportunity to recognize my potential and the resources to further my education,” Jessica said.
Jessica’s past will always be a part of the journey that led her to who she is today, but the children’s home taught her that her past did not need to be a predictor of her future. Instead, it gave her the confidence to create a better life for herself.
After graduating from high school, donors provided Jessica with financial assistance as she attained a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and law enforcement at Penn State University.
During her college years, Jessica also worked as a teller and was asked to join the company’s management training program — an opportunity she accepted.
“It ended up being a wonderful decision,” Jessica said. “Twenty-three years later, I am still with the same bank, and they have given me many opportunities along the way to grow in my career and education.”
Without the children’s home, Jessica is confident she would not be in the same place she is today, and she is forever grateful for the life it gave her.
While Jessica never ended up in a criminal justice career, she gives back to society in her own way through her membership with the Masonic Homes-Patton School Alumni Association’s scholarship review board. Jessica assists in the scholarship selection process to ensure deserving candidates receive financial awards to fund their post-secondary endeavors.
“The mission of giving back to the community is embedded in me because I have witnessed firsthand the impact that charitable giving can have on people,” Jessica said.
The children’s home is able to continue changing the lives of children in need because of generous donors who realize that a good childhood foundation, for many, equates to a prosperous life.
“When one is fortunate enough to have resources to share, I think it is important to show thanks and pay it forward to others so they continue on similar paths,” Jessica said. “For children specifically, there is no greater gift than a chance to break the mold and achieve greater things. A gift to the children’s home provides this opportunity.”