Jessica R. McMaster, the woman who coined the term ‘ScrappleFace’ as a nickname for the family dog, died January 31, 2006. As she moved through the stages of dementia, she never knew that her grandson had borrowed her word to name his news satire website in her honor.

A living tribute to Jessica McMaster has been established to benefit foster children, and those being brought up by grandparents. Read on to learn why.

Jessica MacMenamin was a single working woman, with 25 years of service in quality control at the Budd Company in Philadelphia, maker of Amtrak railcars among other things. When she married her only husband, James McMaster, in 1967 she instantly became mother to four boys who were her new grandchildren. She left a comfortable lifestyle in a handsome apartment and lost most of her pension when she insisted that her new husband not hire someone to care for the boys. She would do it. They moved to an old house in the country, where for the next two decades, she poured out her life in service to those boys. She never had a driver’s license, she joined no clubs, she indulged in no luxuries. Almost every waking hour she devoted to preparing meals, laundering muddy clothes, cleaning messy rooms and occasionally wrestling on the carpet with her boys.

In the evening, they vied to sit closest to their ‘Nan’ on the elegant green velvet sofa which was a constant reminder of the life she had left behind.

As a result of the grace of God, displayed in James and Jessica McMaster’s efforts, four boys who were bound for foster care or an orphanage, have grown into four men: a Christian children’s camp director, a university professor, an airline pilot and a construction worker. There are currently 21 great-grandchildren.

As much as we treasure their sacrifice, we know that James and Jessica McMaster represent countless folks who fly below the radar of public recognition, but make all the difference.

As a tribute to their love, Victory Valley Camp has established the McMaster Fund for Foster Children, which will help to provide the Christian camp experience to foster kids, and those being brought up by grandparents.

You may make a tax-deductible contribution via PayPal, or by check made out to “Victory Valley Camp” and sent to:

Victory Valley Camp
McMaster Fund
7472 Sigmund Road
Zionsville, PA 18092

If you have questions, please contact the camp by phone: 610-966-5880, or email.
Thank You,
Scott Ott, editor, ScrappleFace.com
Executive Director, Victory Valley Camp