MARK WINGLER
Fort Pierce
Former foster child dreams of cooking up a fine future
Can there be anything more tragic than a child who is abandoned by his birth mother?
Yes.
A child who is abandoned by his birth mother and his adoptive mother.
Which is why Mark Wingler is such an amazing young man.
After being treated like yesterday’s newspaper by two mothers — first when he was 13 weeks old, then when he was 13 years old — and spending much of his life moving from foster home to foster home, he is still filled with hope.
“I’m really determined,” says Wingler, 20, of Fort Pierce. “I want to make something of myself.”
But to do that, he needs help.
Like every kid in foster care who turns 18, Wingler “aged out” of the system. One day, he had all his needs met by the state. The next day, he was on his own.
But thanks to the Transitional Living Program operated by Children’s Home Society of Florida, Treasure Coast Division, Wingler is receiving financial assistance, job training and mentoring.
“He’s been in foster care most of his life,” explains Patricia Jenkins, development director at CHS. “Now he doesn’t have anyone. We’re it. I really like him. He’s a good kid. He makes my heart melt.”
And he has a dream: to be a top chef, just like Emeril Lagasse.
To accomplish that, he rides his bike 4 1/2 miles from his tiny apartment to Indian River Community College, where he is just a few courses away from receiving his chef’s certificate.
“Did you know Emeril doesn’t have a chef’s certificate?” Wingler asks.
Now he needs a job. It is a requirement of the program that he get kitchen experience in a restaurant. He has applied at several places close to his home, but he needs a car to cover more ground. That means he also will need insurance and gas money. But he receives only about $1,000 a month from CHS, barely enough to cover rent, utilities, and food, much less pots, pans and special ingredients for his culinary experiments.
“I need a skillet, a double broiler, a sauté pan and a sauce pan,” he says.
He could also use prepaid Verizon cellphone cards (he keeps running out of minutes), and grocery gift certificates so he can get a bit more creative in the kitchen.
When he found out he had been nominated by his nonprofit for Season to Share, he was thrilled. “I never win anything,” he says, adding that without the help he’s been receiving from CHS, he’d be on the streets.
“My life would be down the drain. I’d probably be in a homeless shelter.”
Instead, he has a shot at proving something to all those who gave up on him, including his birth mother.
“I only know her name and the color of her hair,” he says. “My mom - my adoptive mom - said I’d never amount to anything. But I’m proving her wrong. It’s going to feel great when that happens.”
Mark Wingler’s wishes
What he asked for: Money for a car, insurance and gas so he can achieve his goal of becoming a chef. Also, Publix gift cards, a set of chef-quality pots and pans, and prepaid Verizon cellphone cards.
What he received: His choice of pots, pans, glasses, dishes, coffeemakers and more have flooded into the Children’s Home Society offices in Fort Pierce. Enough donations have come in to buy a reliable used car and insurance when he gets his driver license. Mark has also received many Publix, restaurant and phone-minute gift cards. His wish list is close to being filled.
What he said: “For him, it has been a wonderful experience that people read his story, cared about him and wanted to help him,” says Tricia Jenkins, director of development for the Treasure Coast division of Children’s Home Society. “He feels like he has won the lottery. He has beams on his face all the time.”
Nominated by: Children’s Home Society of Florida, Treasure Coast Division.
Address: 415 Avenue A, Suite 101, Fort Pierce, FL 34950
Phone: (772) 489-5601
Its mission: To break the cycle of child abuse and neglect through a variety of child-focused and family-centered programs.
Would you like to help? Click here to donate.
Please spread the word about this story:
Amanda on 26 Nov 2007 at 8:12 am #
Mark….you ARE an AMAZING man! All you have overcome, and you are still hopeful! WOW! I, too, am a CHS FL adoptee. I am GLAD to hear about CHS helping someone, since they have been no help to me. I’ve been trying to find my birth Mom and half brother. I know what you mean about your BM, how you only know a few details about her. I don’t even have a name. I am so encouraged by your desire to survive and THRIVE! Your soul SHINES….don’t ever let anyone put it out! Thank you for reminding me that HOPE still exists!
Ines on 27 Nov 2007 at 9:34 am #
Mark, no se escribir en ingles, espero que algun amigo te pueda traducir esto. Quiero decirte que tu ejemplo de lucha me llena de alegria y de esperanzas para que otros lo sigan. Cuantas veces por mucho menos bajamos los brazos y caemos en pozos imposibles de remontar. Gracias por tu leccion de vida.Todo mi apoyo y que Dios te bendiga.
Rosemary Stechschulte on 27 Nov 2007 at 1:29 pm #
Mark, I hope this holiday adds the things to your life that will help you on your path to being a chef. As a mother of three sons, I wish for you all that I wish for my sons. Merry Christmas, 2007.
Michelle on 28 Nov 2007 at 7:33 pm #
You make me smile, Mark! I am so impressed with your attitude. You will definitley go far and I will be looking for you on the Food Network!
Susan on 01 Dec 2007 at 1:16 pm #
Mark, You truly are an inspiration. In a time when it seems so many people expect to have things just handed to them without having to work or make sacrifices, it is truly heartwarming to read your story. You are working hard to achieve your dream and finding ways to surmount the obstacles that are in your path. I have no doubt that with your attitude, drive, and tenacity your road will lead where ever you want to go. Oh, and by the way, you’ve already proven your adoptive mom very wrong as far as her comment about what you would amount to. You already are a success at life. Now your just working in how to make a living.
Jeff on 08 Dec 2007 at 1:23 pm #
Mark,
Don’t give up the fight, it has been proven over and over that people can do anything that they set their mind to. Ignore the haters, work hard and smart, be good and you’ll succeed. And “success” doesn’t necessarily mean clocking big bank, in the end it just means reaching that point where you are happy with what you’ve done and where you are going.
-Jeff
Polly & Gene Albucher on 10 Dec 2007 at 2:21 pm #
Remember you have value as a human being and that there is a reason that you are here. Always care enough about yourself to stay healthy, learn as much as you can, and try to find something to be happy about each day. Don’t give up, Mark, because there are people who care about you.
Tracy on 16 Jan 2008 at 8:21 pm #
Mark…. It’s joey your sister and I am doing well. I am so proud that you are doing so great.
Laura on 05 May 2008 at 9:49 am #
mark, forward your story to emril’s website as well as other 5 star restaurants not only in Florida but nationwide. with that magnitude of networking, i am sure SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE will WANT to be help. also, forward a copy/application to the new reality show “hell’s kitchen.” the network/restaurant should feature a season to deprived but determined young adults across the country who, by no fault of their own, cannot fully realize their dreams due to some type of hardship. just “food” for thought………..good-luck
Laura on 18 May 2008 at 9:04 am #
MARK,
I AM NOT SURE IF YOUR READ MY MESSAGE BUT I REALLY URGE YOU TO TAKE AN INITIATIAVE AND GET YOUR STORY OUT THERE. IF I HAD PERMISSION FROM YOU, I WOULD LOVE TO HELP NETWORK FOR YOU. YOU NEVER KNOW UNLESS YOU TRY. AS FOR MONETARY HELP; MY CAR WAS RECENTLY REPOSSESSED, I WAS JUST SERVED FORCLOSURE ON MY LINE OF EQUITY, MY CREDIT HAS PLUMMETED TO 500 POINT (DOWN FROM 750+ 12 MONTHS AGO) CREDITORS CONTINUOUSLY CALL MY HOME, MY FAMILY (WHO HAPPENS TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF CASH) WILL NOT HELP, I CANNOT QUALIFY FOR FOOD STAMPS BECAUSE OF THE ZIP CODE I RESIDE IN AND WHO KNOWS WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING. WHAT OTHER BAD NEWS OR SINCE I TRY TO BE POSITIVE, GOOD NEWS. THANK GOD I PURCHASED SEVERAL PARCELS OF LAND IN S. CAROLINA 2 YEARS AGO. WITH THE REAL ESTATE MARKET SO SHAKY, I CANNOT UNLOAD EVEN ONE PARCEL. IF I COULD FIND ANYONE WHO WOULD LEND ME 25K, HOLD THE DEED TO ONE OF THE MORE EXPENSIVE LOTS AND PUT ME ON A PAYMENT PLAN FOR 36 MONTHS, I WOULD BE OK. I WOULD HAVE A POSITIVE CASH FLOW, BE ABLE TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE AND GET BACK TO WORK AGAIN. OH YEAH, AT&T ELIMINATED 90% OF ALL MANAGERS POSITIONS IN SOUTH FLORIDA TWO YEARS AGO. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A FINANCIAL CRISIS LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE. I ALSO HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND AM TRYING TO KEEP THIS FROM THEM SO THEY DO NOT WORRY. YOU ON THE OTHER HAND HAVE THE WORLD AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. PLS, PLS, SEND YOUR STORY OUT TO THE NEWSPAPERS AND TO TOP RESTAURANTS INCLUDING EMRILS AND CHEF RAMSEY’S FROM HELLS KITCHEN. YOU COULD CONCEIVABLY WIN AND BE FEATURED ON ONE OF HIS SEGMENTS. TOP PRIZE IS TOP CHEF (BEHIND HIM) AND THE PAY IS 250K PER YEAR. GO FOR IT, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOOSE. GOOD LUCK AND PLS EMAIL ME IF I CAN HELP YOU NETWORK.
THE BEST TO YOU ALWAYS,
LAURA