Jamal

Jamal was only 4 when he was removed from his home. His mother was addicted to drugs, and her five children endured abuse and neglect. Jamal and his siblings were separated and lived with various relatives and foster parents over the next 10 years. At one time, they were even returned to their mother, but that didn't last long.

Jamal was 14 when he arrived at Brian's House, a residential home for teen boys operated by the Children's Home Society of Florida. He was 6'3", weighed 225 lbs., and was on both the basketball and football teams at the local high school. In addition to his athletic ability, his academic achievements landed him on the honor roll and in honors classes. All the staff and other boys at Brian's House like Jamal, referred to as the "Gentle Giant."

Six months after moving to Brian's House, Jamal had the opportunity to live with another relative. He was excited to be reunited with his family. However, a little over a year later, the relative could no longer care for him, and he was back at Brian's House. This time, he was 16 years old, 6'11," and weighed 325 lbs. He continued to excel in sports and maintained a 3.45 grade point average.

Currently, Jamal is under consideration for full athletic scholarships by three different colleges. We're proud of Jamal. He is an inspiration to us and the other boys at Brian's House.