Stephen Bray ('89): Random acts of kindness in California
By Rose Rementer
Stephen Bray (’89) of Monrovia, Calif., recently received the Iris Award from the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce, which is presented each year to a Los Angeles-area individual whose volunteer efforts have the greatest lasting impact on a wide base of the city’s citizens. To learn why Bray received this award, we need to first go back to his roots.
Bray was born in Paducah, Ky., and when it was time for him to attend college, he naturally chose the school right down the road—and up the Hill—Western Kentucky University. Like many college students, Bray struggled to make ends meet.
“I lived off student loans,” explained Bray. “But, I really lived off the kindness of my friends who had a food card and would share the pizza and burgers they bought with me.”
Bray said two of his friends who helped him the most were Kirk Coverdill (’90) and Dov Moore (’88).
“Kirk shared his food card with me during much of my early senior year, and Dov took me to his parents’ home for a free sandwich many times over the four years we were together at WKU,” said Bray. “While small, those acts of kindness have greatly impacted me over the years and have given me the desire to give back to others.”
With a degree in Corporate and Organizational Communication from WKU, Bray moved to Monrovia, where he has resided for the past 20 years with his wife, Jennifer, and their two children. He works as a Regional Sales Representative for the Masco Corporation and says the move to California has blessed them financially.
“Jennifer and I set a long-term goal for ourselves and as we close in on that goal, we have more flexibility to give back,” stated Bray. “We both want to influence others to act and make an impact on our community.”
After an unsuccessful run for city council, Bray decided to create random acts of kindness to make a difference in his community. From his own pocket throughout the years, he has paid for a quinceañera for a family who couldn’t afford one and bought tools to replace a business owners’ equipment and allow his employees to continue to work. He also always carries dollar bills to give to anyone who asks for money.
“Several years ago, I also started a fundraising effort in the city around Christmas to help those who were in a bad situation,” said Bray. “We have raised more than $20,000 in cash to help buy a car for a working mother in danger of losing her job because she didn’t have reliable transportation and bought clothes for children after their apartment burned down, among other things.”
His fundraising initiative focusing on asking each donor to simply give one dollar, greatly impacted their community.
“It brought our city together as a community, strengthened our bonds to our neighbors and gave those who have plenty the opportunity to help those who have very little,” he explained.
Bray says it’s rewarding to give back, and the reactions from those he partners with the community to help is the best part.
“While there have been many highlights over the years, the one that will always stick with me was our impact on the children of a mother who had been murdered earlier in the year,” Bray said. “We filled their aunt and uncle’s truck with bikes, toys and Barbie dolls for the kids. When they were about to pull out, I handed them a check for $1,300 to help with feeding and clothing the kids. The uncle was in shock that a perfect stranger would do this and started to cry. I hugged him and shed a few tears myself. I knew I was doing my part to restore faith in humanity.”
Bray says he’s grateful he wasn’t elected into city council because he’s making more of a difference in his community through his volunteer efforts. He encourages everyone to be leaders in their communities and to create change.
“There is a quote that goes something like, ‘be the change you want to see in the world,’” noted Bray. “You can’t wait for someone else to lead. If there is something you feel passionate about, jump in and start making an impact.”