When Ashton Jordan asked his longtime mentor, Art Collins, for a ride to Turner Field on Wednesday afternoon, Collins didn’t hesitate. Collins, always there for Ashton, was happy to drive Ashton to the ballpark for a community service project.
But Ashton didn’t need a ride on this recent afternoon. There was no community service project.
Instead, Ashton and his mother, Dee Jordan, orchestrated a surprise for Collins — a VIP Braves experience, complete with a behind-the-scenes private tour, watching batting practice on the field, and primo, terrace-level seats for the game.
It was the Jordan family’s way of honoring a man they call “Mr. Collins,” a 79-year-old man who has given them so much.
“We knew that if we could pull this off, it would be perfect,” Ashton said. “We wanted to do something special before I go off to college.”
Last month, Jordan contacted Braves guest services and asked if they would recognize him in a special way. Braves staff read The Atlanta Journal-Constitution feature about Mr. Collins — "Mondays with Mr. Collins" — and happily agreed to treat him to a special experience.
On Wednesday, Mr. Collins, a die-hard Braves fan, watched every pitch in batting practice. And then Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez ambled over and shook Mr. Collins’ hand.
“Are you gonna get ‘em?” asked Mr. Collins, wearing a burgundy polo and Braves cap.
“Yes,” said a smiling Gonzalez.
And the Braves did just that — snagging a victory on a perfect summer evening with blue skies, wispy clouds and a warm breeze.
In the fall of 2002, Mr. Collins started mentoring Ashton, who was being raised by his mother, a single parent. Ashton was 6 years old, highly intelligent but struggling bitterly emotionally. Something as minor as a homework assignment or a teacher correcting him could set him off. Ashton barely said a word the first year. But Mr. Collins stuck with Ashton. He was a constant in his life, Monday after Monday, week after week, year after year. He was a constant source of encouragement, always telling Ashton, “I am mighty proud of you.”
One day he brought a cheeseburger from McDonald’s and then a checkers board in an effort to break through to the troubled child. The watershed moment came a few years later when Mr. Collins introduced Ashton to the game of chess.
Over time, they grew close. Mr. Collins and his wife, Betty Collins, attended Ashton’s sporting events, theatrical performances. Mr. Collins chipped in if needed. When Dee traveled for work, Ashton stayed overnight with the Collinses. Occasionally Mr. Collins chaperoned school field trips.
Little by little, Ashton grew more confident and began to display coping skills. He started thriving in school — and in life. Ashton, now 17, graduated from Dunwoody High School this past spring. He was awarded a coveted Gates Millennium Scholarship, which awards promising young people of color a full ride — tuition and expenses — to the college of their choice. Ashton heads to Elon, N.C., on Saturday to begin his freshman year at Elon University.
Mr. Collins plans to call Ashton — every Monday.
“What a sendoff this is,” Mr. Collins said Wednesday evening. “It’s mighty marvelous.”
To read the Personal Journey about Ashton and Mr. Collins and more personal journeys, go to www.ajc.com/s/news/personal-journeys/.
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