If you’re looking for a feel-good movie about overcoming poverty, look no further than “The Blind Side.”
The movie chronicles the real-life story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a homeless and traumatized African-American boy from the “projects” who finds hope in an unexpected place.
The Tuohy family takes the youngster into their posh home, under the impression it will be temporary. At first Michael is treated more or less like a temporary guest, sleeping on a couch.
Although cautious at first, the Tuohys become fond of Michael, and before long consider him an inseparable part of their family. Mrs. Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) takes him under her wing and proves to be a force to be reckoned with.
A few weeks go by and its clear Michael does not have a home to return to. Michael came to the family with literally one outfit, so Mrs. Tuohy takes him shopping for some nice clothes. Later he receives a generous gift from the family in the form a brand new truck.
As the movie progresses, a bit of a conundrum unfolds. The more Mrs. Tuohy does for Michael, the more she realizes that his success does not hinge on material goods, but rather teaching him life skills. Michael struggled in school and needed an extra push to succeed. Mrs. Tuohy hires a tutor and Michael applies himself.
The point is that it’s not enough to give someone a fish; you must teach them how to fish. I have seen how CANI gives hope by being a support system for individuals and families who may not have their own. Through case management in Family Development and Head Start and other programs in the agency – we provide on-going encouragement. We give people the tools and the resources to succeed, as opposed to simply doing things for them.
In “The Blindside,” Mrs. Tuohy could pay for a tutor, but Michael still had to apply himself to pass his classes. It hinged on a conscious effort on his part, but it was helped by the loving support of a family who gave Michael hope.
I will tell you this story has a happy ending, but I won’t spoil it for you with any more details. Michael Oher’s life is a great example of overcoming poverty through strong support systems and a drive to succeed.
While we may not all have the means to adopt a young man like the Tuohys did, there are many ways to help. One way is to mentor a child. There are plenty of agencies who have children waiting to be “adopted” by a positive role model - in fact CANI is one of them! We are expanding our youth program. and looking for more professionals who can donate their time to mentor a child who has interest in their respective fields. For more information, contact Megan Kinney, megankinney@canihelp.org.
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