The Village of Childhelp West to be renamed Childhelp Merv Griffin Village
11/19/2007
“Childhelp and the children we serve are richly blessed because of Merv
Griffin’s benevolent heart and his unparalleled financial support,” said
Childhelp co-founder Sara O’Meara. “Merv loved the children of
Childhelp and always said, ‘Helping these children is probably the most
rewarding thing I’ll ever do.’ He was aware of our plans to rededicate
the village in his honor and we are heartbroken that he is not here to
celebrate with us.”
Of the many ways Griffin supported Childhelp
over the years, one of the more notable contributions came in October
2000 when he donated his 192-acre Wickenburg Inn and Dude Ranch in
Arizona to Childhelp as a haven for abused children.
“A legacy of
Merv’s love for the children will be eternally remembered with the
dedication of the Childhelp Merv Griffin Village,” said Childhelp
co-founder Yvonne Fedderson. “He also encouraged his son Tony and
daughter-in-law Tricia to work with the children at the Beaumont village
and they will join us for the dedication.”
The Dec. 9
invitation-only Childhelp Holiday Gathering and dedication of the
Childhelp Merv Griffin Village will feature special holiday performances
by the children of Childhelp with a “Way Out West” theme. Emceed each
year by actor John Stamos, the annual event has been a holiday tradition
at the Beaumont village for nearly 25 years.
Heather Defrancesco
