The Heart of Anastasia…
Giving thru the Eyes of the Child
By Chief Fred Maas

Today, I met the most incredible young lady who not only brightened my day but restored hope in our future generation that all will be “okay.”

Her name is Anastasia, she is 12 years old and a 7th grader in school. She attends school in Milan, Italy where she is from and is the daughter of the world famous ophthalmologist, Dr. Dimitrii Dementiev. Anastasia was visiting our country this week and is a close and personal friend of Elena Baronoff of Baronoff Realty and Director of Customer Relations for Trump-Dezer Developments. I can tell you, Elena picks her friends wisely and selectively and young Anastasia is a perfect example of that.

So why, was I so impressed and taken aback by this young lady? Well, I received a call from Elena, who is a longtime and generous supporter of police charities for the less fortunate and underprivileged. I met Elena almost 6 years ago and since that first day she has been a devoted sponsor and contributor to various charities. I am honored to call her our friend as well as a friend of the less fortunate. When Elena called she told me about a young lady she had met and was friendly with. In one of her conversations, Elena told Anastasia about the program in place to help the children of police officers who were killed in the line of duty. Anastasia was not only inquisitive, she was eager to jump on board. She wanted to know more.

Elena Baronoff patiently explained the charity program and how it worked; so that children who lost their mother or father in the line of duty would never be forgotten during the Holidays, EVER! She learned about P.O.A.T., the PBA Love Fund; the Sunny Isles Beach Police Toy Drive at Christmas.

That was all my new found friend had to hear. This incredibly beautiful, gifted and responsible young lady told Elena that she wanted to participate by giving to the programs. And “GIVE” she did. She donated all $200.00 of her collected allowances and earning for various chores, etc. to the PBA’s LOVE Fund.” She then added her donation with Elena’s to make one, generous and heartfelt contribution to the “Love Fund.” The fund that takes care of the children long after their parents’ ultimate sacrifice has become a distant memory. The P.B.A. never forgets as is proven by the Holiday Program each year.

When I walked into Elena’s office to meet Anastasia for the first time, there sat this smiling, radiant and beautiful young lady, all of 12 years old, but mature way beyond her years. I had a great day that day as I left feeling confident and my hope restored in the youth of today and the future of our charitable programs. Because if we run out of Elena Baronoffs, and the Dezers, and more importantly, the ANASTASIAS of the world, where will our hope come from.

I presented Anastasia with a few gifts, more about heart than value. She received the bronze coin of the L.E.O. foundation for charitable donations. She received the patch that SIB police wear proudly on their shoulder. She received the SIB “teddy bear” symbolic of our message that “WE CARE” about our kids.

I would have given Anastasia anything she asked for that day but she asked for nothing. Because she gave me a gift that cannot be duplicated or measured. The gift of “HOPE.”

I have written literally hundreds of articles for this newspaper and other magazines, periodicals, etc. But I must tell you, this was one of those articles I could not wait to sit down and write.

And all because of a child from another country, who was so moved and cares about others so much that she gave all she had to put a smile on their faces and to tell them “WE WILL NEVER FORGET what your mommy or daddy did for us.”

May each and everyone of you share the Love of Heart and Goodness of giving that is exhibited in the “HEART OF ANASTASIA.”

And Thank you Elena Baronoff, not only for what you do, but for the absolute privilege of introducing me to “your friend.”

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