Mathis Family Values Delight, Inspire Recognition Event Audience Oletha Mathis and her son, Jaguars Cornerback Rashean Mathis, have been there. Just like many of the clients helped by the Real$ense Prosperity Campaign during the past six years, single mother Oletha Mathis had to pinch many pennies in order to raise her four children right. But raise them right she did! “My house was where all the kids congregated and I wanted it that way, even if it cost the money to feed them that I had put aside to pay the next utility bill,” she told an appreciative audience of about 160-plus at the 6th Annual Real$ense Volunteer Recognition Event at Dave and Busters on May 1, 2009. And when her children began showing great athletic aptitude at an early age, former basketball star Oletha Mathis understood and appreciated their abilities and encouraged them, even when it meant self-sacrifice. “I had some rings that I would take to the same pawn shop every time,” she told the audience. “Those rings paid for a lot of summer training camp and sports equipment over the years and I always managed to buy them back eventually. The man at the pawn shop knew they meant a lot to me.” Today, she no longer has to pawn her personal treasures, but she hasn’t forgotten and she loves to give back to the community that helped her nurture her children. “I wish we’d had something like the Real$ense Prosperity Campaign back when I was raising my kids,” she said. “It might have saved me some trips to the pawn shop.” Oletha Mathis is a sparkling example of good parenting and good citizenship.We’re so grateful to Oletha and to her fine son, Rashean, for their help and support of Real$ense during the past two years. Their excellent example inspires and invites people to visit our sites, and our great volunteers do the rest!