RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — When 17-year-old Michael Silva-Nash told his mom he wanted to start a 5K run to raise money for charity, she gave him some sage, motherly advice.
“She told me,‘Don’t make it too big for your britches,’”
he recalled.
To her surprise, the first Great Gobbler 5K in 2008
for the Ms. Molly Foundation had 300 runners and raised
approximately $5,000, Silva-Nash said.Through the Ms.
Molly Foundation, the money was donated to Dorcas
House and Women and Children First, local organizations
assisting domestic-violence victims.
In 2009, Silva-Nash expanded the event to include the
Little Giblet 1K and had more than 400 people participate.
Approximately $10,000 was raised and will again be do
nated to Dorcas House and Women and Children First.
Silva-Nash became involved with the Ms. Molly Foun
dation through working with the family business, a local
franchise of Molly Maid Inc.
As the older brother with three younger sisters - Jennifer,
Samantha and Kimberly - he has a sense of protection forthem and his employees, who are mostly female, he said. And that’s why domestic violence is an important issue to him.
Silva-Nash wanted to help his mom with the family business and started out stapling, filing and cleaning; today his role has broadened to include office supervisor and overseeing the business’s advertising and charitable work.
Not bad for the senior at Academics Plus Charter School in Maumelle. At Academics Plus, the teen is senior class president and student wellness ambassador. He also is co-founder of the MJ Outreach Foundation, a Christian outreach organization he started with his friend Jason Bowyer. MJ stands for Michael and Jason.
“I try to share what I know and what I believe,” he said.
“My faith keeps me going.”
The foundation is planning an event for June, which will be held at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.Working with a carnival theme, Silva-Nash plans to have Christian recording artists, speakers and “bring out people to enjoy the rides and share the Gospel with them at the same time,” he said.
He’s trying to decide between attending Bethel College in Indiana or the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, but there are a few things he knows for sure.
“I do my best, but I leave it up to God,” he said.“I give him everything I have.”
Hidden talents: I am a good listener.Though many people always see me talking, leading and directing, most don’t know that I am someone who always has an open ear for any problem they might have and that I take it to heart.
Birthplace: Valladolid,Yucatan, Mexico
River Valley Ozark, Pages 196 on 01/31/2010