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Joyce Drakeley hailed for volunteer work
By Paul Singley
WOODBURY - February 3, 2005 - In common with our president, Joyce Drakeley wants no child left behind. She gets a call from Woodbury Middle School at the end of every school year, when eighth-graders are prepping for a class trip to Washington, D.C. or Boston. There are always a few children who cannot afford to go. That is until she steps up with a donation.
"She's always been wonderful. She's very willing to help out whenever we need anything," said Principal Ellen Solek, who said the local real estate agent has been the reason at least 20 former students have fond memories of their trips.
For such reasons, Drakeley was given the 21st annual Bernard Rosenberg award by the Planning Commission on Wednesday night.
The award is given to a Woodbury resident for volunteer work. Rosenberg was a longtime member of the Planning Commission who died in a car accident in the early 1980s. He was 64.
Surrounded by her husband of 43 years, children and grandchildren, Drakeley sat in the front row of the Shove Building conference room. With her hands folded in her lap, Drakeley listened to the words spoken by Republican Town Committee member Carl Braun, who nominated her.
"Her numerous volunteer efforts have enhanced the lives of many in Woodbury," he said.
Drakeley, a lifelong resident and owner of Joyce Drakeley Real Estate in Woodbury and Bethlehem, has donated more than $200,000 to local charities and youth organizations over the past 30 years. She also has raised at least that amount through various fund-raising efforts.
Among the many organizations Drakeley donates to are Woodbury Parks and Recreation, the Bethlehem Food Bank, Flanders Nature Center, Woodbury Community Services Council and the American Cancer Society.
Her son Tim remembers sitting outside banks and supermarkets on weekends as he and his mother tried to sell flowers to help fund cancer research.
"She was always doing something no matter how busy she was," said Tim Drakeley, one of five siblings.
Every year, Joyce Drakeley funds and sponsors a trip called Education at the Met. She brings about 50 Nonnewaug High School students to the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Currently, Drakeley is collecting supplies to send to U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, which she has done since the beginning of the war.
"I think if you have the means to help others you should," she said.
Drakeley has organized so many philanthropic events that it is hard for her to keep track or remember them all. Neither she nor many others who were in town in 1983 will ever forget one in particular.
That was when Drakeley first heard about 12-year-old Dennis Roberts Jr., a schoolmate of her son Rob. Dennis had aplastic anemia, a rare but extremely serious disorder that results from the unexplained failure of bone marrow to produce blood cells.
Because Dennis had numerous medical bills, his family could not afford much else. Drakeley decided Dennis and his family needed a vacation.
She packed up everything in her house that she no longer used and told neighbors and friends to do the same. On a Saturday morning, Drakeley held her first tag sale, where she raised enough money to send the family on a week-long, all expense paid trip to Disney World in Florida.
The Roberts were picked up in front of their house in a limousine and taken to the airport.
"He needed that," said Dennis' mother, Betsey Roberts, on Tuesday evening. "That was the only time in the five years he was sick that he got to enjoy himself and go someplace because he spent most of his time in hospitals." He died in August of 1986, at age 15.
"We thank her so much for doing such wonderful things," said Betsey Roberts. "(Dennis) really enjoyed himself on the trip."
Dennis Roberts Jr. was another child Joyce Drakeley could not leave behind.
Community Reaches Out to Boy In Need
Hundreds of people, linging up to help one little boy: 2-year old Deven Strief. Deven has been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder - Aplastic Anemia. He has had aggressive drug treatment but if that fails he will need a positive match for a bone marrow transplant.
"He's having a good day," said Deven's mother Mollie on Thursday. "We're going to Milwaukee tomorrow to see how his blood is doing. He's so strong and that helps us stay strong."
Mollie and Paul Strief are expecting their second child at the end of July. The baby's bone marrow has a 25% chance of matching Deven's. Although that is the ideal choice of doctors, Deven might not be able to wait that long.
"It is news that no one wants to hear," says Deb Hoyle of the Iowa Marrow Donor Program, "but if a match is not found for someone once they have reached the point of a transplant, it is known that they will die."
That is a reality that Mollie and Paul are all too aware of so they're holding marrow donor drives like the one on Thursday, encouraging people to register with the National Marrow Donor Program. A national database is already being searched to find a perfect marrow match for Deven.
"I thought it would be a great way to see if I could help Deven in any way," said donor Tracy White of Bettendorf, "but if not, there's always a chance that I could help someone else's life."
If you missed Thursday's event, St. Ambrose University will hold another marrow drive from 10am-4pm on April 18th, or you can call the Iowa Marrow Donor Program at 1-800-944-8220.
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