Victoria Ruth Ercol
April 8, 1991 - June 8, 1992
During a birthday celebration, 14 month old Victoria, her sister and cousins were playing in the backyard. While the adults were distracted by flying a kite, Victoria toddled past them and fell into a large pond. Her uncle administered CPR and two nurses from the neighborhood arrived to help. She was taken to a local hospital, where after extensive life saving efforts, Victoria was taking breaths on her own. She was flown to the closest trauma center and after more heroic efforts, it was determined that Victoria had only 4% brain activity. She passed away 23 hours after the accident in her mother’s arms.
The Victoria Ercol Memorial Foundation (VEMF) was founded in 1992 in memory of Victoria Ruth Ercol. The foundation exists to build brighter futures through education and the love of Christ. VEMF is committed to educating the local community in water safety and drowning prevention. It does this through community events, speaking engagements, passing out Water Guardian Cards, and sponsoring swim lessons. Had Victoria’s parents known the truth about drowning, we may not have lost Victoria. Our hope is to educate the community so no one has to experience the pain of losing a loved one to drowning.
As devastating and life-altering as it is to lose a child, the Ercol family has assurance that we will see Victoria again! God tells us in the Bible how we can have eternal life. John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world. to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”
Prior to our involvement in drowning prevention, VEMF supported two schools in Ghana, Africa for over twenty-five years. Read about our work in Ghana below.
Our History
When Victoria passed away in 1992, her parents - Guy and Connie Ercol - wanted to honor her memory with the condolence gifts they received in her memory. Unsure how to best use these financial gifts, they were presented with an idea by their former pastor, Reverend Bob Dyer.
Meanwhile in Ghana...
Mary Kpeglar, a native Ghanaian woman, retired from her career as a midwife at the age of 55. Her dream was to start a Christian preschool that supported working mothers in her hometown of Ho. After retiring, Mary decided to use her lifesavings of $50 to make this dream a reality. While planning the opening of her school, Mary built a friendship with a missionary in the area, Bob Dyer. Bob was so impressed with Mary's dedication to serve God and her community, that he had an idea.
Back in the United States...
After returning to the U.S. from his time as a missionary, Bob Dyer contacted members of his former church, Guy and Connie. Personally knowing Victoria and understanding the loss her family was experiencing, he wanted to help keep Victoria's memory alive. He told the Ercols all about Mary and her work to open a preschool. Victoria's parents were so touched by Mary's passion to educate children and serve their hard-working parents, they prayerfully decided to help jumpstart Mary's preschool.
A Dream Turned Reality...
In the fall of 1992, Mary received a letter from two strangers in the United States. The letter told of Victoria's story and included a check to support her coming school. Shocked and grateful by two strangers' generosity, Mary decided to name her school the Victoria Memorial Preschool in memory of the Ercols' daughter.
Mary officially opened the Victoria Memorial Preschool in 1993, starting with just three students and meeting under a tin roof in her backyard. Throughout the following years, Victoria's family and friends regularly donated funds to the preschool. Guy and Connie founded the Victoria Ercol Memorial Foundation as a 501c3 to accept these donations. The school grew in students and staff members, and more and more Ghanaian families saw the benefits of the gospel-centered education the preschool was offering. As their children grew, they expressed their desire that Mary open a primary school so their children could continue to receive an excellent education.
Mary expressed this desire to open a primary school to Guy and Connie. Passionate to help the school grow, the Ercols planned a fundraiser in the United States to raise donations for a new primary school. In 1996, Mary traveled to the United States for the fundraiser and the foundation raised over $15,000.
The primary school, Victoria Memorial Christian School, was opened in 1997 and initially educated students from kindergarten through fourth grade. As the years went on and the schools grew, additional grades were added to the primary school, teaching children through ninth grade.
Some of Our Work in Ghana
State-of-the-art technology training, complete with a full computer lab
Bible training curriculum
A teacher workshop to introduce new teaching methods to the faculty
Materials and construction of playground equipment for the students
School bus for transportation
Fresh water well for the primary school campus
Home economics classes for students wanting to enter a trade
Excellent music and arts classes
Field trips throughout Ghana, giving the students first-hand witness to their country’s history
Community service program, teaching the children the importance of caring for and giving back to their community
Countless books, educational resources, and toys for the students
