Getting To Know…
SONNY ATTEA!
“You never know a person until you get to know them.”
SONNY ATTEA!
“You never know a person until you get to know them.”
That’s what I believe! I was sitting in school looking at the school newspaper and saw something strange, there is no news about the outside world! There are no inspiring people in the news anymore! So I came up with an idea to interview someone that could get some of the school interested in becoming something in the world and I knew just the person interview…and I didn’t even need to leave my neighborhood.
He has done thing from donations to fundraisers. He helps children from other countries and here alike. Who is this man you ask?… Why it’s none other than Sonny Attea. So with a prompt greeting and a exchange of ‘how-are-yous’ I interviewed Sonny Attea. He was really excited about the interview needless to say. He is owner of Attea Bros. a wholesaler in Kasier Town.
Q: What does Attea bros. do?
A: “Attea Bros. is a wholesale store.” He told me. A wholesale store buys extremely large amounts of a goods and sale it to retailers.
Q: What year was Attea Bros. founded?
A: “Attea Bros. was founded 1917.” he said. This was about 93-years-ago.
Q: What made you want to enter the family business?
A: I had no choice. My father made me and by that I mean dragged into it kicking and screaming but soon found myself to sink in. It’s stressful, but hey! Stress is healthy for you.
Q: How was school when you where a kid?
A: It stunk same as it does today! But you see the secret is that what you learn in school, its all but preparation. From Pre-k to your senior year in high school it all development of the brain and getting you to think. Then when you go to college you learn the real skills in life which are ‘how to live independently’, ’adjusting to different people and cultures’ and ‘how to research and manage time.’ And lastly…How to Party! (I had to add it! ^-^)
Q: How were your grades?
A: I had average grades. Not great. I sure wish I did better though.
Q: Would you ever back to those days?
A: Yeah! Those were the bests years of my life! Why wouldn’t I!
Q: How did you become a coach and for how long were you a coach? What teams? Did you love it? Did you play a lot of sports?
A: I went to Bishop Newman High so I coach the basketball teams there. I also ended up coaching Mt. St. Joes High School team as well. We were the state champions! I coached for 30 years. I guess that’s where I developed my understanding for kids. I played in a lot of sports. Them being track, basketball and baseball.
Q: What makes you want to help kids? Especially from other countries?
A: There are 4 phase of life. The first is the time your born to when you end yours senior year in high school. The second is 4 years in college. The third is the work force because you know that after college you work your whole life trying to pay them back and get by. The 4th and final is your retirement to you passing away. The most difficult phase is the 1st. I want to make it so it’s a bit easier for kids…Besides I love kids because they are fun, innocent keep you feeling young!
Q: For how long have you given your time and effort to helping children?
A: I’ve worked to help kids for 50 years and I’m still at it. As I say “Kids are Priceless.”
Q: What advice can you give kids so that we have advice to live a better life?
A: I wouldn’t give advice to the kids I’d give advice to the parents. Kids learn from the parents and wither they realize this or not their problems as adults couldn’t even compete with the frustration and pressure that involves being a kid, so my advice is to make it easier on them. Take time listen and understand them Support them though these hard times in their lives and for Pete’s sake less cussing! (people wonder were it comes from, gosh!).
Q: I also heard the production you put together in the summer you donate some of the proceeds to help organizations to assist children? Is this true? If so then what organizations?
A: Yes I do a lot of fundraisers and things like that for the volunteer fire department and hospitals. In his wholesale store there are huge barrels filled with pennies and nickels. People come and give there spare change to hospital and they’ve collected well over $8,000 in just nickels and pennies! Not only that but altogether has given $20,000 yearly for 10 years to the volunteer Fire dept alone! And also he invested in campground in East Aurora we refer to as Buffalo Hills (Kind of like Beverly Hills). There are performances and loads of kids go there!
He has even agreed to help our school! It’s amazing who meet by just walking down the street!
