Before Grace Martin took the famed stage at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, she received quite the introduction from television star Christopher Meloni.
Meloni, perhaps best known from his role in the Law & Order franchise, described the Camden Catholic High School senior as “a young woman who won’t let anyone stop her from achieving her dreams, and who always carries herself with poise and grace.”
Moments later, following a video segment introducing Martin to the audience, the young woman delivered a heart-stopping rendition of Barbra Streisand’s “Don’t Rain on My Parade” as part of the Garden of Dreams Talent Show. Plus, she was awarded a $60,000 scholarship from the organization.
“It was the perfect song to perform at Garden of Dreams and on stage at the historic Radio City Music Hall,” Martin said. “I could even see her doing it there, too.”
Last month, Martin, who survived a battle with brain cancer as a teenager, joined other young people by participating in the Garden of Dreams Foundation’s talent show. The event is one of the organization’s programs to support young people struggling with illness, financial challenges or the death or injury of a family member in uniform.
“The kids were so inspiring, and everyone got along so well,” she said. “It was very special, and we all bonded and became friends. I hope to see them as Garden of Dreams alumni for future shows.”
The opportunity for Martin came about through Make-A-Wish New Jersey, which granted her a wish – a family trip to Hawaii – and offered her the chance to try out for their own talent show. She was later nominated by the New Jersey chapter to try out for Garden of Dreams, and her audition ended with a “golden ticket” to be in the April 8 show.
She participated in practice sessions once a week for five weeks leading up to the show, and got to meet a number of renowned performers. They included Chris Jackson, who played the role of George Washington in the play “Hamilton,” as well as Broadway directors and producers who helped her fine-tune her performance. She also met television star and retired professional football player Michael Strahan, whose daughter is recovering from brain cancer.
Martin has always felt called to help others, and her drive to support those experiencing unthinkable challenges began when she saw teachers and others in her young life affected by cancer. She wanted to do something to help lift their spirits, offering them hand-painted shells with messages of prayer and encouragement. That effort later evolved into an annual clothing drive, which grew steadily each year and helped even more in need in the community.
When Martin had her own battle with cancer – which led to her undergoing emergency brain surgery on the day she turned 17 – she refocused her outreach efforts to support other children fighting cancer, and to support cancer research through her “Shells of Hope” nonprofit organization that she founded with the help of her parents.
After graduating from Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill, later this spring, she will prepare to attend Villanova University on a full academic scholarship to study biochemistry. Martin, who is a Presidential Scholar, also hopes to continue pursuing her interests in theater.
“Theater is such a big part of my life, and I love performing and the kids I perform with,” she said. “It’s going to be hard to leave Camden Catholic High School with all my great teachers and the administration who supported me through all of this, and my friends for life, but I’m looking forward to what’s in my future.”
Grace Martin was featured in the Catholic Star Herald last November. Read that article here.
To learn more about Shells of Hope, visit shellsofhopenj.org.
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