Mark Firmin had been working as at Archbishop Rummel High School, where he had graduated from, when after 22 years, he took the position to be the executive director of Angels’ Place (angelsplacenola.org).
Firmin had been a math teacher at Rummel and helped students do service projects, something that had been spurred after his first year teaching at the school when, “I went to help raise money for a student who had a car wash and was raising money for a bone marrow transplant. After a few hours, I realized how much I enjoyed it.”
It led to him starting a service organization, Operation HeadStart, which allowed students to help different marginalized populations in the local area.
One of those organizations was Angels’ Place, which provides respite service for the families of children who are seriously ill.
We are looking for donors to adopt a child or a family and secure the requested gifts from our kids’ ‘wish-list’…If we do not bring them Christmaș I am not sure who will.”
The organization was founded by Anita Gilford in 1997 after her youngest son was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. While he was ill, she found out that there were few places her family could turn to ask for help.
She prayed to God to help her and her son, and if so, she would do something in return. Her son won his fight against cancer and Gilford fulfilled her promise and created Angels’ Place.
When Firmin left Rummel to become executive director of Angels’ Place, the school’s alumni started asking him why he was leaving.
“When they found out that I was going to help children with life threatening diseases and their families, it went from why are you leaving to what do you need,” he says.
“I talk to several alumni each week,” he notes. “All those relationships, including all of the supporters at Angels’ Place, help me continue this work. I could not do it without all of them.”
Angels’ Place is currently getting ready to bring Christmas to 80 children and their families.
“We are looking for donors to adopt a child or a family and secure the requested gifts from our kids’ “wish-list,” he says. “If we do not bring them Christmas, I am not sure who will.”
The distribution happens in the first part of December so the parents can have gifts and plan for Christmas morning.
Firmin admits he gets nervous that a child will not get what they want for Christmas or even have no Christmas morning.
“We always seem to get it done,” says Firmin. “It is really so heartwarming when we put out the request for Christmas and former students, friends, supporters and community have your back.”
Firmin and his crew also deliver gifts with Santa Claus and elves on Christmas Eve morning to Magnolia Community Services’ special needs adults who do not have any family.
“I have been doing that for over 15 years. It is fun and they really appreciate it,” says Firmin.
In addition to his work at Angels’ Place, Firmin is an adjunct instructor in the Mathematics department at Loyola University. He graduated from University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Master of Science in Statistics/Mathematics and a Master of Science in Math Education Curriculum and Instruction.
Born in New Orleans and raised in Metairie, he “could live off red beans, po-boys, beignets, Hubig pies and gumbo,” despite not eating seafood. He loves the personality of the city and the resilience of the people.
Firmin is a dedicated believer in giving back, as is his wife, Cherie, who he calls “Mrs. Angels’ Place.”
“I can give you all the cliché reasons like treat others like you want to be treated and everyone should pitch in and help,” he says. “I think the most important thing is that it is fun and a great feeling to reach out. Also, the gratitude that they give you back is just awesome. They appreciate your efforts.”
