BEACHWOOD, Ohio — It's the end of the year at Beachwood High School, a time where summer break should be the only thing on students' minds. But not in Greg Perry's marketing class. His students are thinking big about their futures.
And their greatest inspiration? That's Mr. Perry.
"The thing that I really love about the class is the way that he teaches us. He makes it more like an actual business company rather than a class," said student Ozan Sasmaz. "He'll give us a project or he will give us a deadline to finish some achievement rather than an assignment."
"I'm always down in the trenches with them. So I sit down at their level. The classroom is not teacher driven. It is totally student driven," Perry said.
Perry says he wants to empower them to achieve their dreams, because at one point, he thought he may never achieve his.
"I caused a little accident where I pulled a beam down on me," Perry said. "That was April 19th, 1977 at 7:00 p.m. I'll never forget the time."
The accident left Greg paralyzed from the neck down at just six years old.
"It was a long journey. I wasn't supposed to live, would certainly never walk again," Perry remembered. "I could eat, I could chew food, and breathe. Beyond that, I had absolutely no mobility."
After 13 years of physical therapy and dedication, Perry gained much of it back.
"A pivotal moment in my life. Certainly taught me some grit, some resilience, goal setting, how to achieve results, and working with young people today, that's the same type of lessons I try to bring in," Perry said.
Lessons that twin sisters Allie and Sarah Berns can relate to.
"We were both born with congenital heart disease. Mine was severely worse, so I had to have two open heart surgeries," Allie said.
"I didn't really understand what was happening, but at the same time I did," Sarah said.
They understand what it's like to be in the hospital as kids and the anxiety you sometimes feel when you see needles. That's why this class project of Hope Heals is important to them. The goal is to provide Medi Teddy IV covers to pediatric hospitals all over Northeast Ohio.
Perry's students have raised over $160,000 by selling teddy-bear themed merchandise. In May, they donated Medi Teddys at the District Gallery in Van Aken.
District Gallery co-owner Karen Chaiken said when they heard about the project, they knew they had to get involved.
Renowned artist Geoffrey Gersten collaborated with the students on a marketing campaign.
"That's the mission of Hope Heals, is how do we make a little bit brighter spot for people that are being challenged," Perry said. "They're making a difference for people that they will never meet, that they will never know. That little Medi Teddy is going to make such an impact on children across the country and their parents."
Perry said the students' success is beyond rewarding.
"That is the success, is seeing them in action and knowing I was there behind them, pushing them and cheerleading for them and helping open doors for them, but for them to actually do it is the most exciting thing for me."
To apply for Greg Perry's marketing program, click HERE.
To learn more about the Hope Heals project, click HERE.
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