Every child deserves to have their very own special blanket ...
Shirley J. King
P.O. Box 548,
Elk Grove, CA 95759
phone: (916) 685-9660
P.O. Box 548,
Elk Grove, CA 95759
phone: (916) 685-9660
"When you wrap a child in a blanket, it's like you are giving them a HUG!"
"When you wrap a child in a blanket, it's like you are giving them a HUG!"
Alumni Spotlight: Shirley King '60 and Gramma's Hugs International
Shirley King '60, founder of the non-profit Gramma's Hugs International, naturally greets visitors with a warm hug. One immediately feels a part of her extended family as she sits down and tells the story of how she came to California, became a student at Pacific, traveled the world, and began sending blankets to children in need through Gramma's Hugs International. Her life is a stunning mosaic of experience. She's called California, Hawaii, Virginia, Texas, and Kansas home. She's performed in six operas, sung and played piano for the Stockton Chorale, and performed as a pianist on an international cruise ship. Shirley's diverse experiences, along with her grandmotherly love, have taught her that all children deserve to feel loved and "hugged" and it is with great passion that she speaks of her desire to send "gramma's hugs," in the form of blankets, to children in need throughout the world.
In 1936 Shirley's family was part of the dust-bowl exodus from Kansas, moved to California, and settled in Stockton. In the late 1950's Shirley attended the University of the Pacific and received her bachelor's degree and teaching certificate. Two other members of Shirley's family, son Dean Richesin '73, and granddaughter Amy Richesin '96, followed in Shirley's footsteps and also attend Pacific. A young mother with three small children, Shirley completed her degree in an amazing two and a half years, taking 23 credits her last semester. When Shirley thinks of Pacific she brightens and exclaims that she "loved school!" especially Dr. Moule's history classes. She fondly remembers how Dean Betz, the School of Education Dean at the time, supported her while she was a student and was extremely proud of her when she graduated. For Shirley, her education at Pacific was just the beginning of a life which only continued to broaden her horizons.
After college Shirley taught high school in California for 5 years and Hawaii for 10 years. When the Stockton Chorale was founded, Shirley sung in the Chorale and was the group's first accompanist; she played piano for the Stockton Chorale for 18 years! A lover of travel, during summers Shirley took trips all around the world to research lesson plans for her students. When she retired from teaching, her passion for travel and music led her to accept an enticing offer from a cruise line: to be a piano performer for trips through South America. From 1989 to 2001 she played the piano on cruises which brought her through Buenos Aires, Argentina, Peru...one year being on the ship for over 9.5 months! Shirley's life has been one of great adventure.
A constant through Shirley's life story has been her love of handiwork and her generous spirit. She learned how to knit as as young girl and throughout her life donated knit and crochet projects to local charities. After leaving the cruise line in 2001, she dedicated considerable time to such projects and reached the point where every month she sent off blankets or other donations to people in need. As a mother and grandmother, children hold a special place in Shirley's heart. Her life has taught her that if a child grows up without feeling warm, comfortable, and "hugged," the resulting cold can influence the child's personality and future. This life lesson led her to believe in the importance of each child having a blanket of their own to keep them warm and provide them with a "hug" every day. In 2004, Shirley founded her non-profit, Gramma's Hugs International, to provide "hugs" to children all over the world. Since that time she has donated over 6,000 blankets! Requests pour in from Nigeria, Zambia, India, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and countless other countries. She sent blankets to Indonesia after the Tsunamis, earthquake, and volcanic eruption, and to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The more blankets she sends, the more requests she receives. Major International non-profits now list "blankets" as the third-most important donation, right behind food and clothing.
When Shirley was a young girl, she told her mother that she, "wanted to play the piano and be a grandmother." Her life's journey has enabled her to fulfill both dreams; Shirley has played piano on both land and sea and is now a loving grandmother to thousands of children throughout the world. Shirley says she "feels like the richest person she's ever met," and is "so grateful...not a day goes by that I don't thank God."
To continue spreading "Gramma's Hugs" throughout the world, Shirley needs your help! You can help make a difference by sending Shirley monetary donations (made out to Gramma's Hugs International) or donations of the following (new) items: flannel (1 yd min), fleece (2 yd min), cotton (1/2 yd min), ribbon (1/8" or 1/4" wide), shoe strings, small stuffed animals (under 12"), small toiletries (lotion, soap and shampoo), yarn, or crochet or knit blankets approximately 36" square.
Send to:
Gramma's Hugs International
P.O. Box 548
Elk Grove, CA 95759
Shirley King '60, founder of the non-profit Gramma's Hugs International, naturally greets visitors with a warm hug. One immediately feels a part of her extended family as she sits down and tells the story of how she came to California, became a student at Pacific, traveled the world, and began sending blankets to children in need through Gramma's Hugs International. Her life is a stunning mosaic of experience. She's called California, Hawaii, Virginia, Texas, and Kansas home. She's performed in six operas, sung and played piano for the Stockton Chorale, and performed as a pianist on an international cruise ship. Shirley's diverse experiences, along with her grandmotherly love, have taught her that all children deserve to feel loved and "hugged" and it is with great passion that she speaks of her desire to send "gramma's hugs," in the form of blankets, to children in need throughout the world.
In 1936 Shirley's family was part of the dust-bowl exodus from Kansas, moved to California, and settled in Stockton. In the late 1950's Shirley attended the University of the Pacific and received her bachelor's degree and teaching certificate. Two other members of Shirley's family, son Dean Richesin '73, and granddaughter Amy Richesin '96, followed in Shirley's footsteps and also attend Pacific. A young mother with three small children, Shirley completed her degree in an amazing two and a half years, taking 23 credits her last semester. When Shirley thinks of Pacific she brightens and exclaims that she "loved school!" especially Dr. Moule's history classes. She fondly remembers how Dean Betz, the School of Education Dean at the time, supported her while she was a student and was extremely proud of her when she graduated. For Shirley, her education at Pacific was just the beginning of a life which only continued to broaden her horizons.
After college Shirley taught high school in California for 5 years and Hawaii for 10 years. When the Stockton Chorale was founded, Shirley sung in the Chorale and was the group's first accompanist; she played piano for the Stockton Chorale for 18 years! A lover of travel, during summers Shirley took trips all around the world to research lesson plans for her students. When she retired from teaching, her passion for travel and music led her to accept an enticing offer from a cruise line: to be a piano performer for trips through South America. From 1989 to 2001 she played the piano on cruises which brought her through Buenos Aires, Argentina, Peru...one year being on the ship for over 9.5 months! Shirley's life has been one of great adventure.
A constant through Shirley's life story has been her love of handiwork and her generous spirit. She learned how to knit as as young girl and throughout her life donated knit and crochet projects to local charities. After leaving the cruise line in 2001, she dedicated considerable time to such projects and reached the point where every month she sent off blankets or other donations to people in need. As a mother and grandmother, children hold a special place in Shirley's heart. Her life has taught her that if a child grows up without feeling warm, comfortable, and "hugged," the resulting cold can influence the child's personality and future. This life lesson led her to believe in the importance of each child having a blanket of their own to keep them warm and provide them with a "hug" every day. In 2004, Shirley founded her non-profit, Gramma's Hugs International, to provide "hugs" to children all over the world. Since that time she has donated over 6,000 blankets! Requests pour in from Nigeria, Zambia, India, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and countless other countries. She sent blankets to Indonesia after the Tsunamis, earthquake, and volcanic eruption, and to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The more blankets she sends, the more requests she receives. Major International non-profits now list "blankets" as the third-most important donation, right behind food and clothing.
When Shirley was a young girl, she told her mother that she, "wanted to play the piano and be a grandmother." Her life's journey has enabled her to fulfill both dreams; Shirley has played piano on both land and sea and is now a loving grandmother to thousands of children throughout the world. Shirley says she "feels like the richest person she's ever met," and is "so grateful...not a day goes by that I don't thank God."
To continue spreading "Gramma's Hugs" throughout the world, Shirley needs your help! You can help make a difference by sending Shirley monetary donations (made out to Gramma's Hugs International) or donations of the following (new) items: flannel (1 yd min), fleece (2 yd min), cotton (1/2 yd min), ribbon (1/8" or 1/4" wide), shoe strings, small stuffed animals (under 12"), small toiletries (lotion, soap and shampoo), yarn, or crochet or knit blankets approximately 36" square.
Send to:
Gramma's Hugs International
P.O. Box 548
Elk Grove, CA 95759
