Kris Kinlin Scholarship Program remembers a great person

There is a great cause going on right now. There is a fund raiser for the Kristin Kinlin Scholarship Program happening at American Legion Post 515 in Middletown on March 17 starting at 5 p.m. Donation is $5 and there will be free corned beef and cabbage. For tickets call 732-671-8407.

I had the privilege of knowing Ms. Kinlin. She was employed here at The Courier as our classifieds and legals coordinator at the time when she passed away, in April 2006. Courier was her first job out of college after she graduated from Monmouth University.

She had many challenges she was born with, but none of them included her incredible sense of humor and joy. Kris Kinlin was a great employee and member of our team here and she is still very missed and will continue to be. She was a part of the family here but she was also a role model for many people who face physical challenges in life. People may have lived longer than her, but few have lived better.

Kris Kinlin was an example of what is possible with a lot of hard work and determination, and gave her 100 percent at whatever she did. She is deserving of being remembered through this scholarship fund her parents have created. Kris was always very aware of her being an example. Many people will still not hire people with physical disabilities, regardless of what the law says, because they are worried about costs and inconvenience. I am very lucky to be part of an organization that does not see physical disability, color or anything other than a person's ability to work. Kris proved her value every day, as a person and an employee and the good will she brought with her every day remains here still.

This is a good cause. I do urge people to call her parents for tickets. They can be reached at 732-671-8407.