The Rotary Club of Kernersville, NC

Eleven years ago, a businessman from Virginia was traveling through Kernersville. He read news reports about poor children at Kernersville Elementary School. When he returned home, he called school officials.

"He said that he had been poor as a child and knew what it was like not to receive any Christmas gifts," said Becky Lewis, the home-school coordinator at Kernersville Elementary. "He wanted to know what he could do to help.

The businessman then sent money and wanted to remain anonymous, Lewis said.

"I've talked to him on the telephone but have never met him face-to-face," she said.

This year, the benefactor retired and told Lewis that his financial situation had changed. He was no longer able to send money to Lewis and her Christmas fund.

"He was our largest donor. He gave $2,500 every year and often gave to Piney Grove Elementary School as well," Lewis said.

Arnold King of Kernersville heard of the program's plight and shared the loss of the benefactor with the Kernersville Rotary Club. The club voted to give Lewis a donation. This year, 66 Kernersville Elementary families will receive assistance through this program. Ron Greene, a former Rotary president, had adopted poor families through Lewis and Kernersville Elementary in previous years. He said he called former Rotary presidents and challenged them to contribute $100 and challenged other Rotarians to do the same.

"I just couldn't bear the thought of some kids not having Christmas," Greene said.

At the same time, Arnold King called Becky Lewis' husband, Mike, who serves as the president of the Kernersville Lions Club. King said he issued a challenge to the Lions Club to match a $1,000 donation.

"(The Lions Club) had an excellent year and had funds. Plus, I was in a unique situation being married to Becky and knowing that a whole lot of people weren't going to have Christmas because the benefactor was no longer helping," Mike Lewis said. "This was an easy way to give back to the community."

The rotary club invited Becky Lewis to its Wednesday breakfast meeting at First Christian Church. The Rotarians presented Lewis with $2,000, surprising her with twice the amount that she expected.

Kim Simser, the director of the Kernersville Downtown Preservation and Development Council, presented Lewis with a large box of toys that were collected by downtown merchants and from residents at the Downtown Holiday Open House on Nov. 27.

"People are so generous in Kernersville," Simser said. "There's just a lot of heart here."

• To make a donation to the Christmas fund at Kernersville Elementary School, call 996-1080.