BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — A Boynton Beach father has turned his unimaginable loss into strength and hope.
Andre Desronvil lost his 8-year-old son, Jeremiah, in a car crash in 2017.
"It was one of the toughest days for me," said Desronvil.
Jeremiah was playing soccer and ran into the street to chase the ball. That's when he was hit.
"Everybody called him JJ," said Desronvil. "He was a funny guy, especially with me. He was my best friend."
Desronvil turned the loss of his son into helping other children.
Jeremiah 29:11 Children’s Ministry was created in his son's honor. It’s an orphanage that helps children go to school in Desronvil’s home country of Haiti.
"I have about 30 kids going to school this year," Desronvil said. "Come September, guess how many kids I am going to send to school? Close to 200."
Desronvil said be believes education is the greatest gift you can give a child. He treats the children he helps like they're his own.
Money from his Americlean Dry Cleaning businesses in Boynton Beach pays for the ministry, but Desronvil said he needs more help.
"If someone were to give me $50 right now, it would help me send two to three kids to public school," said Desronvil, whose goal is to send a million kids to school.
Jeremiah 29:11 is a promise of hope and a better future, a promise Desronvil will keep in his son’s memory.
"When I am around kids, I feel like JJ is with me and he is playing with me and this kids," Desronvil said.