An unsung hero of Make a Miracle

Last week we lost a truly great man—Don Norris. Anyone who knew him would tell you that he was a proud husband, father and grandfather. But what they don’t know is that he is one of the reasons Make a Miracle is here today.

He achieved much in his life, and I was lucky to meet him during his retirement years in San Juan de Lurigancho, Peru, where he was living with his wife, Joy. God put it on their hearts to go minister to Peruvians, and they most certainly obeyed that call; they lived in Peru serving the people for many years. As I started taking trips down there, I got to know them both and found their hearts for helping others inspirational.

Don was a straight shooter, never one to beat around the bush. For years, every time I saw him, he’d tell me, “We need a scholarship program in Peru, and I want you to lead it.” He had a heart particularly for orphans and abused women and children. It pained him to see the kids aging out of Hope House (a girls' home) and Pat’s Place (a shelter for abused families) with no hope for establishing a more stable future. As anyone who has spent time in Peru can tell you, access to education is the key to upward mobility in this country.

I still don’t know why he picked me for this. At the time, my background was in mortgages, personal training and bartending—not exactly the kind of experience you’d think you’d need for starting a scholarship program. I wasn’t a leader, at least I didn’t see myself that way. But Don saw something in me that I couldn’t see.

As my love for the country of Peru grew, I knew that I had to help these people. So we started small—just one student named Basilia. From that one step, things slowly grew. The program Don envisioned began to take shape, and in 2015, Make a Miracle was officially born. Since then, we’ve awarded 215 scholarships, built over 200+ homes, and drastically changed so many lives, not just in Peru but in Colombia as well.

At Make a Miracle, we like to say, “It starts with one” meaning that one small action can create massive change. Well for Make a Miracle, it started with Don and then it started with Basilia.

Rest easy, Don. Thank you for believing in me and pushing me to make a difference. The impact you’ve made will carry on through those you touched.