Category Archives: Fundraising

Little Princess Chesca

Posted on

I know many have read about the fundraiser that I’m currently running.

One special reason I am doing this fundraiser…  6 year old Chesca.

image

Look at this beautiful girl! She is so special, and from what I’m told, quite spunky. She loves princesses and dolls just like any other 6 year old girl. But sweet Chesca has something else about her…

She has stage 4 Ewing’s Sarcoma and we recently discovered that she has no further options.  The cancer has spread and chemo is no longer possible.

image

Maya’s Hope funds her care, and has been for quite some time.
This tough little angel has been through so much in her short life.  She has been an absolute inspiration for all who follow her journey… Being positively charming and strong through multiple rounds of chemo, pokes and tests, all while the cancer and her enlarged arm is causing intense pain. 

image

Now the focus is on giving little Chesca the most comfortable life possible for however long we still have her.  You see, in the Philippines, you must prove you can pay or you cannot receive medical care.  Without your help, her treatment and pain management will not be possible. And without medication, she is in unimaginable pain.
Please consider donating and helping a worthy cause. 
If you want to help Chesca and some other great kids, and maybe win yourself a nice prize, go here to learn more.

More on Chesca’s story here.

It’s Giveaway Time!

Posted on

**Go to the link below. How to enter this giveaway has been revised. Big changes!**

Back To The Drawing Board!

Every now and again I get time to focus on something really special…

So, I’m holding a giveaway! 

Who will benefit from this giveaway you ask?

First; the amazing Maya’s Hope

Maya’s Hope is a fabulous organization that works to improve the quality of life for orphaned children with special needs worldwide.  
Children like the sweethearts at   Kalinovka Orphanage, and precious lifesaving surgery for Joshua are just a couple. 
image

Joshua’s life depends on his getting the surgery he needs. Maya’s Hope has stepped in and provided for this need. However, his care greatly depends on the generosity of awesome folks like you!

UPDATED: The second, was Vitaly… image

Look at how sweet…  However, he was so malnourished, so tiny, he passed away sometime since my fundraiser began.  I just got word…  He was almost 10 years old and desperately needed intervention, but he just couldn’t hold on any longer. 

My heart is broken.

It is a matter of life and death for these kids.  

image

He waited in a crib for ten years.
 

And thirdly, Ben… My love!
image

This cute little booger is so tiny too, just like Vitaly.  He has waited 6 years for a mama to hold him.  6 years! Ben has no real life… He is a fighter though and his caregivers have reported that he has started smiling and cruising around in his crib! He’s a sparkly little dude who I hope to see flourish with a family of his own.

The last cause I’d love to help is a really amazing Oregon family bring home a very tiny, precious little girl named Hope who is desperately medically fragile and running out of time.
image

I know it sounds heavy, but she’s 7 years old and just 10 lbs! She needs help.  I know this family, the Horton’s, and they are amazing! There is just no better family for this angel to join, she will be so very loved. In fact, she is already.  The donation I hope you’ll help to provide is just to help nudge them along so they can get their sweet one the care she needs a quickly as possible.
 

That’s why I am holding a giveaway! 

What am I giving away?  This!
image

Oh yes…
image

That’s really…
image

A genuine Pandora bracelet! 
image

It’s a beautiful 7.5″ sterling silver Pandora clasp bracelet with a purple glass heart design charm.  This bracelet has been worn once and of course, for the photos.  It’s beautiful! This bracelet is valued at over $100! 

image

But wait!  There’s one more thing… The person who wins will not only get the beautiful bracelet.   They’ll also win a $150 Visa gift card!  Spend it anywhere!
image

That’s a total prize value of over $250! 

To enter into the giveaway:
**Go to the link below. This has been revised**

Back To The Drawing Board!

Remember, your donation will do so much to help some really deserving kids!  Maya’s Hope who helps kids like little Chesca. She has cancer.  She is a fighter.
image

Little 6 year old Ben,
image

And, sweet bity Hope.
image

The drawing will be video taped and will be done by assigning everyone a number on a piece of paper, and placing the corresponding amount of said number, reflecting how many chances the person has, into a large bowl/bag/vessel.  I will then reach in and draw a number, thus revealing the winner. Winner will be notified via Facebook and/or email.  If the winner does not respond within 5 days from the date of notification, a runner up will be drawn. This drawing will take place on July 20th, if we have met our minimum.   I will extend it only if absolutely necessary to reach my minimum goal of $1,500.
The drawing has been extended until we reach at least $1,500! I’d love to raise even more and really bless the socks off these people!    It sounds like a lot, but I think we can do this!   Thank you!

The Big Reveal!

Posted on

Not many words need to go in this post, a picture is worth a thousand words!

image

Thank you again, all of you who helped us by supporting us with donations, joining us for breakfast,volunteering to serve meals and more (Kelly Lee for being my cohort),  purchasing a t-shirt, raffle ticket, or bracelet, for helping make bracelets, folding brochures, or even helping building Athen’s booth (Ahem..Papa and Oma).    Thank you to our church for supporting us so much!  Thank you, thank you,  thank you everyone!

 

Because of your help, these sweet Ukrainian orphans will have help getting what they need!

 

So proud of my son and his heart for orphans!  Well, his heart for all people really.  He is an amazing kid!  He worked so hard on this and look how it’s paid off.  Wide Awake International, hope it helps!

 

If you would like to know how you can help, visit Wide Awake International.

Today Was a Good Day!

Posted on

Since April, my 13 year old son Athen has been trying to raise awareness, trying to make a difference in the lives of disabled kids in Ukraine.  It all came together last Saturday…

Let me rewind.

Athen has always had a tender heart.  I have always tried to be as real as I can be with him.  Even when it is uncomfortable.  I wanted him to see from a very young age that people make mistakes, they are all different, they are all important.  I taught him that if someone is mean to you, you forgive them and understand that they are that way because they are hurting in some way.  I taught him that he should not care what others think and to always be the one guy to lend a helping hand to someone in need. Even if that means people make fun of you.  And as the years have gone by, I have been rewarded for this lesson.  I have seen time and time again, my son being the only kid to go and ask a much younger kid to be his friend, I have seen him ask kids who are mentally and/or physically disabled if they want to play with him.  He has always done this with no regard for his peers and the possible judgment he may face for “befriending the outcast” as other kids might see it.

Athen has never cared about labels.  He has never cared what color someone is.  He has never cared where someone came from, or what your differences may be.  As a mother, this makes me proud.  He is the first kid to stop and pray for someone, again, not caring if others judge.  I love this about him.

So when Athen wanted to know about Heart of the Young and what I blog about, naturally I was eager to share.  However, with it all being so heavy, I was skeptical if he could handle the reality.  I made a call, and decided to share.

 

Naturally his heart broke. But then he stood up and said “Mom, I have to do something to help”.

 

We began to pray.

 

Then, I read a post about our friends at Wide Awake International and how they wanted to take the kids outside but only had enough coats and shoes for seven of them to go.  I told Athen about it and that is when he knew…

Athen had decided to get approval from school to begin fundraising every day at lunch.  He prepared by making bracelets to sell (his Oma and Mom helped too), getting help from his Papa to build a booth, drawing a logo, and making a t-shirt so he could represent well.  He began in April at the school fair, and continued to sell until school got out mid June.  He was so dedicated.

1509748_10202558990629167_8076083056858577889_n 10153642_10202500328842659_2660336004669705404_n 10250210_10202500329202668_2861657202367840205_n

 

Then, we decided that we wanted to do more…  We really wanted to bless Kim and Jed Jonhnson, founders of Wide Awake Int. with money to make a real difference.   So we paired up with a dear friend of mine who is currently adopting two kiddos from China and decided to hold a pancake breakfast benefit at our local Applebees.  We all posted fliers, blew up Facebook, shared with local businesses, collected donations for our raffle, and even shared at church.  When I say shared at church I mean, Athen got up and spoke to a few hundred middle and high school students at church about what he was doing and how they could help.  It was epic!  Takes a lot of guts to do that!

So the day came and we got up at the crack of dawn, kids in tow and headed to Applebee’s.  We had not sold our minumum 100 tickets so Applbee’s gave us a special deal and so with 54 tickets sold online, we held it anyway.  Well, all I can say is we are so blessed.  All the people who came to serve, help and just support us, we could not be more happy!   We did not sell many at the door tickets, but all in all we did well.  Athen stood at his booth selling t-shirts and bracelets.  The raffle was a hit too!

10483991_1448430162077883_6415593516739779025_n

Athen selling his t-shirts!

10463975_1448429348744631_6346943671819210030_n

My little 3 year old feeling too big for her britches!

10430362_1448429505411282_6702893559189669835_n

My husband and some amazing helpers!

10517997_1448430235411209_2612873273369364873_n

More amazing helpers!!!

10354584_1448429332077966_1909198741505900158_n

Trying…

10453368_1448429645411268_7401111877264812014_n 10455845_1448430272077872_1987205960369096371_n 10458386_1448429722077927_1202502958023153431_n 10462800_1448429768744589_1762706006084627982_n 10463006_1448429322077967_2591722288603974610_n 10464112_1448429855411247_1203125377170239958_n 10488063_1448429788744587_6380473594596673806_n 10502339_1448429478744618_199929771377402904_n 10516830_1448430055411227_1377819419045958366_n

10258768_1448430135411219_1971730689445118474_n

My cohort and her little…

 

We are excited to share how much we raised from all efforts, but not quite yet.   Why?   Well…

 

Athen T-shirt sign 10483991_1448430162077883_6415593516739779025_n

We are hoping for some more t-shirt orders.  Proceeds go to Wide Awake International to help orphans in need! We are trying to fill orders so that we can get a final tally on the amount that Athen (pictured) raised for them through school fundraising, the pancake breakfast and t-shirt sales. Anyone interested in buying a t-shirt to support Athen’s cause?  For $25 you can choose white or black shirt, men or women’s (women’s are v-neck) All have a solid red logo and the small letters H.O.T.Y. horizontal on the arm (If we can get them to do it for us! Otherwise it will be on the back.). Either way it will look cool! And H.O.T.Y. is a conversation starter! Heart of the Young! Wear your support for kids with disabilities and the message of Heart of the Young!  To order, go here http://mkt.com/heartoftheyoung

 

Stay tuned for the final number which we will be donating to Wide Awake!!!