Meet Shirley Raines, CNN’s Hero of the Year 2021. This article primarily explores what happened to her son Demetrius Jay Stephens Jr., her work with the non-profit Beauty2thestreetz and her story. We also cover her age and information related to her husband.
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Meet Shirley Raines, CNN’s 2021 Hero of the Year
Shirley Raines has bagged the title of CNN’s 2021 Hero of the Year. Along with the title, he was awarded $100,000 to be invested in community service. She is best known for her work with Beauty2thestreetz which was established in 2015. Speaking of Beauty2thestreetz, the non-profit company is fully funded out of Shirley Raines’ pocket.
Shirley certainly didn’t start a non-profit organization because she had more to give but her kind nature allowed her to do something extraordinary that earned her recognition. Through the non-profit organization, she was able to feed over 400 people and also offer them baths, provide hair washes, make-up, wigs, and most importantly human contact.
Additionally, by documenting people’s lives and their living conditions, non-profit organizations can raise awareness of the tragic situation of homelessness.
Shirley’s monthly trips to Skid Row include hair washes, hair coloring, beauty and makeup tutorials, in addition to staples like food and clothing. Although the parameters of Skid Row are constantly changing due to the insecurity of the homeless, it consists mostly of Third and Seventh Streets to the north and south, and Alameda Avenue and Main Street to the east and west.
The nonprofit cites those places as the center of LA’s homeless community with about 5,000 people experiencing homelessness in its corridors. This is where Shirley and her team carry out their operations.
The story of Shirley Raines
A personal tragedy in the life of Shirley Raines was the start of Beauty2thestreetz which has become something bigger than anyone could have imagined and has touched the lives of hundreds of people in the United States. He lost his son three years before that prompting him to find purpose in his life.
The CNN hero explained “This is driven from my pain. One of the most painful experiences of my life. This is a non-profit that is driven by pain. And that’s why I’m fighting so hard for it.”
When Shirley first started volunteering to help people less fortunate than herself, she found the spark she’d been missing. She shared, “I look at these broken people, and we make eye contact, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, they’re just like me,'” she told Glamor .
One of Shirley’s many charitable activities is donating make-up which she says is used to hide her trauma and pain. During that time, he volunteered with other organizations. With her six children to help her, she founded Beauty2TheStreetz.
Now in 2021, Shirley has a team of 30 people working widely.
Speaking to HI Lo he shared, “They call me an angel, but I’m not an angel; i’m broken Homeless? They are just like me: broken. The broken recognize the broken.”
What Happened to Shirley Raines’ Son?
Shirley Raines lost her oldest son Demetrius Jay Stephens Jr. just five days before his third birthday on September 6, 1990 due to an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. Shirley, 22 at the time, had him from a previous marriage. She and her husband at the time were staying in a hotel room after moving back to Long Beach from San Diego.
The hotel room they were staying in was cramped and Demetrius didn’t have enough room to play. One day, her grandmother Sally Logan offers to watch her great-grandson at her house so she can spend time outside.
Before Shirley’s relationship with her mother worsened, her relationship with her grandmother improved. He remembers her as the only person who made him find purpose in his life even though he believed he would mean nothing.
Shirley left her son at her grandmother’s house and let him spend the night which she had never done before. But, when he came to pick up his son the next day, he realized something was wrong as Demetrius was sleepy and couldn’t walk properly on his own.
Unbeknownst to Shirley and his grandmother, Demetrius got a prescription from a relative. Immediately, they took their son to the hospital while Shirley struggled to keep him awake. He picks her up and lets her sleep and tells her that he will always love her.
On the day of her son’s death, Shirley promised herself she would end her life. But, the level of depression made him forget his suicidal thoughts. She has been a real-life zombie at one point as she tells PEOPLE.
Shirley gets her first glimmer of hope when she goes to a local church, where the congregation convinces her that it’s time to see her grandmother. Logan sobbed when he saw Raines appear on his porch later.
Shirley forgave her grandmother and six months after the accident, she died of cancer.
Shirley Raines Net Worth
As of 2021, Shirley Raines reportedly has a net worth of nearly $300 thousand.
How Old Is Shirley Raines?
As of 2021, Shirley Raines is 53 years old.
Related FAQs
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Where Was Shirley Raines Born?
Shirley Raines was born in Los Angeles, California.
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Is Shirley Raines Married?
Shirley Raines was previously married to him husband Demetrius Stephens Sr. His current relationship status is unknown. But, on her Twitter she has shared about having 5 street husbands.
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How Tall Is Shirley Raines?
Shirley Raines stands tall to a height of over 5 feet 7 inches.
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Is Shirley Raines On Instagram, TikTok?
Shirley’s (@beauty2thestreetz) IG account has 250k followers. She is also on TikTok (@beauty2thestreetz) with 3.6 million followers and 72.8 million likes for her videos. Her Twitter account is (@beauty2streetz).
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Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
