Giving thanks the write way

Jeff Benson

“I’m thankful I’m alive.�

Elizabeth Piercy, a fourth-grader at Christ Lutheran Elementary

School in Costa Mesa, read her emotional essay aloud to nearly 70

people shortly before she won top honors in Mimi’s Cafe’s 10th

annual, Thanksgiving-themed “Write Stuff� competition.

“I have a brain tumor, and I have had three brain surgeries, and I

was in the hospital for about a week in December,� Elizabeth read.

“So I’m going to lots of doctor visits and blood shots, too.�

Elizabeth, 9, was also thankful that Mimi’s awarded her a $1,000

scholarship, after a restaurant panel selected her essay from more

than 2,500 others written by students from all over Southern

California.

“I’m happy that I won,� Elizabeth said. “I wrote about my family,

my friends, being alive still and my third grade teacher -- how she

handled my surgeries so well.�

Mimi’s whittled the field to 15 finalists, each of whom read their

essays Wednesday at the restaurant’s Costa Mesa location.

Elementary school-aged children were asked to submit one-page

essays addressing the theme, “What I have to be most thankful for.�

The panelists selected five students each from three categories --

first and second grade; third and fourth grade; and fifth and sixth

grade -- to attend the Thanksgiving feast and to read their essays.

Some of the students gave thanks for being adopted, some for

doctors who saved their lives and some for supportive family members.

Leean Gill, a sixth-grader at St. Joseph School in Placentia, won

a $500 scholarship for her essay about her mom and grandmother, the

only family she has left.

“My mom has had to make a lot of sacrifices for me, but she says

that every one is an investment in my future,� Leean said.

Benjamin Williams, a second-grader from Rancho Mirage Elementary

School in Palm Springs, came in third and won a $250 scholarship for

his essay about growing up impoverished in China and being adopted by

an American family.

Each of the finalists and their families were treated to

Thanksgiving lunch. The finalists also received complimentary meals

for another date and T-shirts to commemorate the event.

“This was something to reach out to the community and the

schools,� said Mimi’s Cafe Costa Mesa manager Rich Rivera. “It’s an

ongoing thing to get Mimi’s involved in their education.

“It really brings us into the holiday mood the right way, and

that’s what it’s all about.�

The “Write Stuff� event has been held in other cities but only

drew responses from around 1,000 students per city, Mimi’s spokesman

Frank Groff said.

“Instead of spending money on glitzy ads, Mimi’s has devoted its

money to support education,� Groff said.