Party honors life of youth on his birthday

By Frances Vanderploeg

Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008 | midnight

Crazy Pita, a small Mediterranean restaurant in The District at Green Valley Ranch that seats 50, drew about 500 people Oct. 5 to celebrate the life of Josh Stevens, who would have turned 13 that day.

Josh died after a golf cart accident Sept. 5 near his Anthem Country Club home.

For his birthday, family friend and Crazy Pita owner Mehdi Zarhloul held a fundraising event for the Josh Stevens Foundation. All proceeds from orders of the kefta pita — Josh's favorite dish — were donated, totaling $1,900.

Details of the foundation, including whom it will benefit and how funds will be issued, are being worked out, but Blair Stevens, Josh's uncle, said the intent is to ensure Josh's legacy.

"We want to replicate Josh's personality," he said. "He was the popular, athletic kid, but he really had a tender heart for the kids that were not the cool kids, not the popular athlete."

Josh's grandmother, Diane Stevens, said he was drawn to the children who seemed to need help, and he would comfort them or teach them something, like how to throw a football, if he could.

As another way to honor Josh, his youth group leaders at Green Valley Baptist Church, Hope and Art Vivas, set up a balloon release.

"We thought, 'How can we help them get through Josh's birthday?'" Hope Vivas said.

After the suggestion of a balloon release was made, the Vivases put the plan into action. A helium tank was donated by Party City at Sunset Road and Marks Street, and 300 balloons were purchased.

Everyone had the opportunity to take a balloon and write a message on it. Just before 1 p.m., they sang "Happy Birthday" and released the balloons.

"Everyone was so good and so patient," Hope Vivas said. "If we had more balloons we probably could have continued to blow them up all day."

Zarhloul said he plans to hold the fundraiser every year on Josh's birthday as an opportunity for friends and family to celebrate his life.

Frances Vanderploeg can be reached at 990-2660 or [email protected].