Last Wednesday, Dec. 14, was just another normal Wednesday for most PCA students. The countdown to Christmas break was on, everyone was busy studying for finals, preparing presents for teachers, and making plans for the holiday. But for one third grader, Dec. 14 was anything but ordinary!
Dallas radio station WAY-FM 89.7 was holding a year-end pledge drive last week in partnership with Food for the Hungry. Each gift of $100 would unlock a month of meals for a child fleeing war-torn Sudan. PCA third grader Chanel Shuler and her mom, Dr. La Rochelle Shuler, were listening to the station on Wednesday and Chanel was moved by the stories of the Sudanese refugees. She asked to borrow her mom’s cell phone and the next thing her mom knew, eight-year-old Chanel was on the phone with the radio station.
Dr. Shuler had given her daughter $500 to spend as she wanted on herself for Christmas so Chanel had built a “shopping cart” on Walmart.com. While live on the air with WAY-FM, Chanel gave up her entire Christmas, emptied out her Walmart “cart,” and instead donated that money to the starving children in Sudan. By giving up her own gifts worth $500, she provided a month of meals for five refugee kids fleeing South Sudan! Chanel’s act was so inspiring that when other WAY-FM listeners heard her on the radio, they were then inspired to make gifts of their own, some even took her number of $500 and “added zeroes to it!”
“Chanel got it! She understands that it is more blessed to give than to receive!” said Chanel’s mom, Dr. Shuler. “My heart is overjoyed that her testimony is inspiring so many. We give all glory to God and the absolutely wonderful school she is attending, Prestonwood Christian Academy, with a well-rounded educational program grounded in God’s Word and Living principles.”
Serving others is a core value at PCA, and from PreK- through 12th grade, the school encourages students to follow Christ’s example of leadership through servanthood. PCA involves students in activities that require them to serve others, teaches students the value and joy of service before self, and trains students to glorify God through service in their local school, Church and community.
“We are so proud of Chanel,” said Lower School Assistant Principal Yvonne Valasek. “Praise God that Chanel has such a kind heart and responded in such a generous way. She inspires us all!”
Prestonwood Christian Academy is celebrating its 20th school year serving more than 1,600 students enrolled at three campuses: Plano (Pre-Kindergarten 3 through 12th grade), PCA North in Prosper (Pre-Kindergarten 3 through 7th grade) and PCAplus Virtual Academy. The school has been recognized as having one of the strongest Christian education programs in the country providing intentional biblical worldview training and integration. PCA places great value on the growth of students’ spiritual health in addition to their scholastic endeavors and co-curricular activities. In addition to PCA’s spiritual development plan, the school promotes a rigorous Liberal Arts academic program. The graduating class of 2016 was offered more than $15 million in scholarship for academics, arts and athletics from universities and other institutions of higher learning. PCA is currently accepting applications for the 2017-18 school year. Interested families are invited to a PCA Breakfast Preview on Jan. 20, at 8:30 a.m. in the Leadership Center, 6801 W. Park Blvd., Plano 75093. Online reservations can be made at www.prestonwoodchristian.org/admissions. Families may also call 972.930.4010 to schedule a Thursday tour.