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Highlands Today

Mentoring Comes Naturally To Couple

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

David and Marie Alden of Lake Placid volunteer for multiple non-profit organizations and their RV resort when they come to Highlands for the winter. They have been volunteering in Highlands County for 16 years.

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Sue Ann Carpenter

Published: December 31, 2007

LAKE PLACID –– Dave Alden remembers his brother-in-law, Wendell, fondly, although he was only a child when his adopted sister married. It was partly because Wendell's life was a success story but more importantly he always made time for Dave. That mentoring of honesty and setting a good example made a lifetime impact.

Born in Vermont, Alden retired in 1989 as a project engineer with Kennicott Copper. He and his wife, Marie, traveled the United States and Alaska for two years before the snowbirds decided to find a warm place in Florida to land. While zigzagging across the state, they discovered Lake Placid and fell in love with this town of murals and caladiums.

Dave feels that their secret to being married 48 years –– besides luck –– is that they love each other and have the same goals. Marie was the type who wanted to help people and he was brought up the same way.

"There's no reason you can't have fun and still help others," he said. In Lake Placid they quickly immersed themselves with volunteering and helped build three houses for Habitat for Humanity.

However, Dave missed their four daughters and 10 grandchildren in Massachusetts, especially his "Grandpa's Day" –– a time for one-on-one time with each little one. That's when Dave and Marie decided Take Stock in Children was for them. It's a South Florida Community College program that promises children a college education if they can make it from sixth grade until high school graduation without disciplinary problems. These are kids from dysfunctional families who wouldn't otherwise have a chance.

"They must maintain good grades, perfect attendance and the right attitude – no smoking or sassing," Dave said.

Dave and Marie each chose a child who was 13. Later, they joined Big Brothers, Big Sisters in order to continue mentoring the same kids. Both are now 21. Today, the boy is in college majoring in computer engineering and the girl holds a job while studying to be a registered nurse at SFCC.

Dave and Marie feel it's vital to make good choices early in life. Because peer pressure is strong today, they try to influence these kids to make a careful choice of friends. They advise them to favor those kids in school who behave.

Marie feels mentoring is a wonderful opportunity and was like another grandchild.

"My girl is trying hard to do what is good. Maybe I inspired her because I'm a registered nurse," she said.

Starting with young kids and staying with them so that you can see them become adults is fulfilling. The recipient of Marie's nurturing calls whenever she has questions or important decisions to make. Because her mother no longer lives here, Marie feels she's her substitute mom. This girl has an older sister and two younger sisters who are raising themselves. Marie feels by mentoring her, she'll provide a good example for her sisters so a better life will be possible for them also.

Dave and Marie are involved in many other organizations and they often combine those benefits with mentoring. For example, with the Highlands Airboat Association, they were able to share an airboat ride and barbecue with a group of Littles (Brothers and Sisters.)

Dave is a member of the Lake Placid Aeromodelers Club, which has hosted get-togethers and given free lessons to children. He has built a 9-foot Piper Cub with a chainsaw engine, and has flown his float plane off area lakes. It's another hobby to share with the children.

Besides volunteering at Lake Placid Hospital, Marie gives free blood pressure screenings at their Sunshine RV Resort community. This couple is always on the go. They enjoy each other's company and sharing things. In the evenings they like to shoot pool at the clubhouse. "I beat him, and he taught me how to play," Marie said. "She wins because she had such a good teacher," Dave said.

If you'd like to make a difference in child's life, call Joyce Adams at 453-3133 (Take Stock in Children) or Tameesha Hudson at 402-9001 (Big Brothers, Big Sisters)

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