Ms. Charmaney Bayton lives in a one-bedroom apartment in the heart of the war zone of South Central Los Angeles – and area which, with over 600 homicides last year, has been crowned “Murder Capital of the World”. She offers safe haven to 60 children who are running from gangs, dodging bullets, or seeking refuge from drug-addicted parents.

Charmaney offers classes on ethics, preparing for college, and finding one's potential. She takes hurting children into her home, drives them to church, and nurtures them as they struggle with terror just around the corner. Some days she'll just run into another needy family, and by the end of the week she'll have arranged for new shoes, school supplies, and a solid sampling of her home-cooked meals.

The staggering thing about "Miss Charmaney" – as she is called by the kids – is that she devotes 24/7 to her "adopted babies". FOR FREE. I like to describe Miss Charmaney as South Central's own Mother Teresa. But she doesn't see that. In fact, she is one of the most humble souls I have ever encountered. Her personal mission remains "saving the little ones" before they are sucked into a life of crime or poverty, or worse. Charmaney encourages every student to focus on his work, and aim for college. Her success stories are stunning.

For example: Last summer, 17-year old Lamar Taylor was confronted by gangsters in front of his own home and told never return – or he would be killed. From that day forward, Lamar has not slept in his own bed. Charmaney let him stay in her home (his own mother had died, and his 24-year-old sister was raising him and his brother). Within months, Lamar picked up his grade point average, excelled as a senior, and was enthusiastically accepted at El Camino College as a star track and field sprinter.

Miss Charmaney asks for nothing in return. But our non-profit organization, "Hope's Nest," tries to supply her with basics for the children, and donations for her daily critical needs. We are a very small grassroots public charity, but intend to support Charmaney's work as long as she draws breath.

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