A Big Heart for a New Home (Red Eye Weekly)(The Sitting Room, Featured interview column)

By Anne Browne

Hello Lamar, and welcome once again to the Red Eye’s Sitting room.

In the world we live in, so often you hear of people that are out only for themselves, abusing positions of power, selfishly squandering their fabulous wealth, and great potential left unanswered and unfulfilled. Today, I had the chance to interview a person that exemplifies everything that humanity can be, a beautiful, smart, and generous lady; Veronica Van Moore, the Founder and CEO of Four Walls and One Heart Foundation.

So, Veronica It is very nice of your to meet with me today. Please tell us about yourself. Veronica moved in her chair almost self-consciously, a touch of humility in her eyes.

"Well, I was born in Durham, North Carolina to a very giving family. My family has always been very involved in the community and many different charities. I graduated from Duke, with a degree in Finance and a minor in Family Services. Once I was out my father ask me to head up a new Charity that would create good housing for low income families. I came up with the name, and Four Walls and One Heart became a reality."

It seems that the charity has been doing very well. You started in Durham, NC and then you have moved to a number of cities until ending up here in Lamar, MO. What influenced the move to our fair city?

Veronica smiled, lighting up the room; she is a stunning person.

"The Charity has investigators that work for it and their job is to find areas in the US that could use the charity's help. There were a few places that were an idea but in the end we thought that Lamar could use the Charity's help. It seems that was the right move."

Which leads us to the grand ball that the Charity is holding at the end of the month? Can you please tell us more about the Ball?

"Yes, I can. It is very sad what happened to those brave men of Truck 21. This is going to be an evening to cherish the great lives of the fireman and build a future for the families they left so early in live. The owners of the Frederick Aimer Sheridan have donated the wonderful Twilight Room for the night's festivities. On February 27th, that fabulous room will be filled with the great and generous citizens of Lamar. The dinner will be prepared and served by Chez Jolie, I believe that they have the best food I have ever tasted. We will all have a great time and listen to some classical music, provided by the Lamar Philharmonic, also contracted through Chez Jolie. ”

Well, I am very much looking forward to attending this event. I am sure that it will be a big hit and that the families of the fireman will be most grateful. Saturday February 27th, at 8:00pm at the Twilight Room, this lovely Ball will be raising money for the Fireman’s Fund, and sounds as though it might be a wonderful evening even without such a noble cause. If you would like to purchase tickets for the Four Walls Ball, please call 342-7634.

Thanks for joining me today, Veronica.

And thank you, Lamar, for joining me again, in the Sitting Room.