TV journalist, singer reaches out to Alabama’s foster kids

Huntsville news anchor Lee Marshall leads what some would consider a charmed life. With her shock of red hair and broad smile, the Emmy-nominated Channel 48 WAFF journalist, successful recording artist and songwriter has become north Alabama’s sweetheart.
   
But her life would be much different if the Memphis Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home had not placed her with a “forever family” when she was 6 weeks old.
   
“I was one of the lucky ones,” said the first-time expectant mother. “Now I have a burden to do what I can to help the children who have not found a permanent family.”
   
Since Marshall and her husband, Jeff, moved to Huntsville six years ago, she has kept her promise to remember the more than 6,000 children currently in Alabama’s foster care system. Combining her testimony, talent and fame, the inspirational country singer has been a major contributor to the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries (ABCH) during the past three years.
   
Performing in a series of tribute concerts along with local music groups and high-profile artists, Marshall, a member of Willowbrook Baptist Church, Huntsville, has raised more than $50,000 for the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes in Decatur.
   
A portion of the proceeds from a recent concert held at Whitesburg Baptist Church, Huntsville, was given to the Decatur campus, where long-term and temporary homes are provided for up to 36 children at one time. Several of the children from the Decatur campus attended the concert where they met Marshall and the other performers.
   
ABCH development officer Steve Sellers said the ABCH relies heavily on donations from people such as Marshall. According to him, the ministry met the needs of 3,040 children and families statewide last year through temporary and long-term homes for children, foster care, 27 professional counseling locations and several educational seminars and workshops.
   
“To see her (Marshall) using her giftedness not only as a singer, but also as a media person to make people aware of these children makes my heart rejoice,” said Sellers, who directs church, association and major donor relations for the ABCH system. “Her compassion has made a big difference.”
   
All funds raised by Marshall will go toward food, clothing, medical bills, home repair and maintenance of four cottages and other needs at the Decatur campus.
   
To help more of Alabama’s foster children, Marshall created a foster care advocacy program called the Kids to Love Foundation five years ago when she convinced her station manager to showcase a different foster child on the news each week. Since the one-minute segments began in 1999, 137 foster children have been adopted.
   
According to Marshall, Kids to Love also provides funds to Department of Human Resources workers to help replace contaminated children’s clothing rescued from homes where crystal meth is produced — a growing epidemic in north Alabama, particularly in Jackson County.
   
In addition, the foundation for the first time granted a college scholarship for the 2004–2005 school year to a foster teen in the Alabama system. Marshall hopes this will be the first of many scholarships provided by her foundation.