Press Release
Date: August 2011
Mamie meets idol, thanks to caring DSP
By LINDA D. SMITH, Public Relations Director
Champaign Residential Services, Inc.
Marysville: For 90 year-old Mamie Murphy of Marysville, a dream came true when she was able to meet Toby Keith at an outdoor July concert, thanks to a caring CRSI staff member.
Heidi Miracle, a direct support professional (DSP) in Logan County, knew of Mamie’s love for the country singer and tried for several years to find a way for her to meet him.
After many attempts with other sources, she put in a request for concert tickets in March with radio station 106.3 The Bear, located in her home state of Montana.
Utilizing family connections and a plea for a little lady who has even named her bird after Keith, Miracle received word from station DJ John Michaels that she scored not only tickets to the July concert, but back stage passes to meet Mamie’s idol.
“ I cried, I yelled, I jumped up and down” said Miracle of the e-mail she received from the radio station confirming her request. “I have always said, ‘I love my job’, and this is why...to know that I made one of my client’s dreams come true…”.
Miracle and Gail Rucker from the Union County Board of DD, traveled to St. Clairsville in Belmont County on July 15 to attend the concert with Mamie the next day. After the concert, the three were able to go back stage for a “meet and greet”.
“Doing good things for people pays off when you expect nothing in return”, says Miracle who indicated that she only had two back stage passes which she gave to Rucker and Mamie, but while standing in line, she was granted permission to go back stage also.
After the concert Mamie kept saying “Let’s go, Toby’s waiting for me”. Keith spent about ten minutes talking with her.
Heidi Miracle, a direct support professional (DSP) in Logan County, knew of Mamie’s love for the country singer and tried for several years to find a way for her to meet him.
After many attempts with other sources, she put in a request for concert tickets in March with radio station 106.3 The Bear, located in her home state of Montana.
Utilizing family connections and a plea for a little lady who has even named her bird after Keith, Miracle received word from station DJ John Michaels that she scored not only tickets to the July concert, but back stage passes to meet Mamie’s idol.
“ I cried, I yelled, I jumped up and down” said Miracle of the e-mail she received from the radio station confirming her request. “I have always said, ‘I love my job’, and this is why...to know that I made one of my client’s dreams come true…”.
Miracle and Gail Rucker from the Union County Board of DD, traveled to St. Clairsville in Belmont County on July 15 to attend the concert with Mamie the next day. After the concert, the three were able to go back stage for a “meet and greet”.
“Doing good things for people pays off when you expect nothing in return”, says Miracle who indicated that she only had two back stage passes which she gave to Rucker and Mamie, but while standing in line, she was granted permission to go back stage also.
After the concert Mamie kept saying “Let’s go, Toby’s waiting for me”. Keith spent about ten minutes talking with her.
“I think we were all very star struck”, says Miracle.