Family Events Return!
Connor’s Heroes kicked off summer with our first family event in such a long time. What a joy it was seeing hero families meeting other hero families. Our little heroes and siblings ran around together, playing corn hole, blowing bubbles and flying kites. Our team met families we are helping since their child’s diagnosis. Carrie, Tammy, Laura and Lisa from our Board Of Directors came out too. Tammy and Lisa talked with parents about their experiences as moms to brave childhood cancer heroes. Tammy’s daughter Emily was in treatment for a brain tumor. Lisa is mom to our namesake: Connor of Connor’s Heroes.
This event marks the return of family-fun events hosted by Connor’s Heroes.
“I still am smiling after spending Thursday afternoon with these amazing families. We can’t wait to host more events for our hero families. We are already preparing to safely bring back our signature Art Sessions at the Visual Arts Center this summer!” said Celia Tetlow Martin, Executive Director.
Kudos to Anne-Randolph, our new Program Coordinator. She thought about every little detail and made our celebration as safe as possible!! Thank you to Hardywood West for providing us with a great, wide-open space to host the event. King of Pops and Christopher’s Runaway Gourmet always are a hit with our families. And a big thank you to our supporters whose gifts made these special memories possible for our hero families.
Board Resumes In-Person Meetings
After over a year of meeting on Zoom, Connor’s Heroes Board of Directors finally (and safely) met in-person! Board Chair, Laura Markley, hosted the June Board Meeting on her back porch. The best part of the meeting was our Mission Moment. Celia shared stories of gratitude and hope from families who rely on Connor’s Heroes support throughout their childhood cancer journey.
❝The Board didn’t miss a beat when we switched to virtual meetings, but it just wasn’t the same as sitting around one big table together. At the start of the pandemic, the Board recognized our hero families need us now more than ever before. They were laser-focused on providing our families with the highest level of financial support in the organization’s history! I was thrilled to be able to thank our amazing board in person for all of the energy they poor into Connor’s Heroes every single day.❞
— Celia Martin, Executive Director
Today's Helping Hero: Trinity's Game Drive
Today’s Helping Hero is high school senior, Izzy. Izzy has been volunteering for Connor’s Heroes for many years. She recently hosted a Game Drive at her high school, Trinity. She and her friends were giddy with excitement when they dropped off boxes full of games to include in our Family Fun Packs. We can’t wait to send them to a child or teen who is in need of a pick me up!
Connor’s Heroes has opportunities for teens and children to volunteer and fundraise for our childhood cancer heroes. This summer, your child can join our Jr. Hero Squad. Or host a Family Fun Pack drive at the pool or summer camp. Check out all the opportunities at Ways to Give here on our website or email anne-randolph@connorsheroes.org
Today's Helping Hero: Erica & Matt
Today’s Helping Heroes are Erica and Matt: a wonderful couple who turned their wedding day into a giving day. They asked their wedding guests to donate to their favorite organizations instead of purchasing gifts. Erica has been a longtime volunteer and supporter of Connor’s Heroes and we were so grateful she chose us to receive these special gifts. Erica said:
“Our wedding was a reason to support the amazing work you do for the brave children who are treatment.”
If you have a special event coming up (like a birthday, anniversary, wedding day), you can turn your special day into a giving day. Email ceci@connorsheroes to learn how.
The Abandoned Tour
Local photographer John Plashal will guide a group of 20 for a private tour of four unique local landmarks:
Swannanoa Palace, Hamilton High School, Belmead-on-the-James plantation, and St. Francis de Sales High School for African American girls.
This is a VIP, special access tour paired with a narrative that will deepen your appreciation for these incredibly beautiful properties, which are not currently open to the public.
DATE: Saturday, June 12, 2021
PRICE: $150 per person
TICKETS: Secure your spot by contacting Leah Ball at hears2leah@gmail.com
LOCATION: various locations in/around Richmond area
This event is brought to you by Team Callen. Team Callen is a group of friends and family of Callen. Callen is bravely battling cancer and is one of the many families supported by Connor’s Heroes. Your ticket will support the mission of Connor’s Heroes.
The Ruins of Presidents Park
Experience the ruins of the renowned decaying Presidential sculptures at Presidents Park.
Presidents Park was an outdoor ten-acre sculpture park with 20-foot tall busts of the presidents of the United States from George Washington to George W. Bush. The park was opened from 2004 – 2010. The 42 giant heads have sat tucked away on a farm, which is private property and not open to tourists. Until now. On July 3 and 4, the property owner will allow people on the site. If you are a photographer, videographer, or drone photographer, this is your opportunity to photograph these internationally renowned decaying Presidential sculptures. TICKETS ARE LIMITED.
DATE: Saturday, July 3, 2021 (two-hour tours throughout the day) and Sunday, July 4, 2021
PRICE: $9.00 youth, $23 general, $59 VIP
TICKETS: online on www.johnplashalphoto.com (You will see multiple tours listed. You can scroll down to see the July 3 & 4th tours benefitting Connor’s Heroes)
LOCATION: Williamsburg VA (you will receive an email with the exact location and parking after you register)
Proceeds from your ticket will benefit Connor’s Heroes.
www.johnplashalphoto.com
The popular travel blog, Atlas Obscura, featured Presidents Park. Read the article here: [LINK]
This event is brought to you by Team Callen. Team Callen is a group of friends and family of Callen. Callen is bravely battling cancer and is one of the many families supported by Connor’s Heroes. Your ticket will support the mission of Connor’s Heroes. To learn more about Callen and Connor’s Heroes, you can read his story posted on our website.
Topping Out Ceremony
May 19th was a big day for our childhood cancer heroes and their families. We celebrated the virtual topping out of the final steel beam on the 16-story Wonder Tower. You can watch the ceremony video online [LINK]. Near the end of the video, our hero Becca and her mom tell you why they are excited about the Wonder Tower. The Wonder Tower is a 500,000-square-foot expansion of the neighboring Children’s Pavilion that opened in 2016. The new wing of the children’s hospital is expected to open in 2023.
Connor’s Heroes is raising money to open five rooms in the Wonder Tower. We designed each room with our childhood cancer heroes, their hero families, our staff, volunteers, and hospital healthcare teams in mind. Just as the Wonder Tower will transform downtown Richmond, The Connor’s Heroes ROOMS FILLED WITH HOPE will transform the care and comfort of a child with cancer in the new hospital. Visit our website to see the wonderful things that will happen in the ROOMS FILLED WITH HOPE.
We have an ambitious goal to raise $250,000 for our Rooms Filled With Hope capital campaign. We can thanks to the generosity of caring people like you! You can contact Celia Tetlow Martin. Executive Director, Connor’s Heroes Foundation at celia@connorsheroes.org or calling (804) 897-1272. She can discuss how you can make a legacy gift for the brave childhood cancer heroes in Central Virginia.
Today's Helping Hero: JLL
Connor’s Heroes board member, Zach Isbell, brought his colleagues from JLL (a commercial real estate services company with an office in Richmond) to volunteer at our office. They were ready to bring happiness to our hero families. They collectively put together hundreds of our signature hero notecards and packed up a bunch of Family Fun Packs! They are all ready to be delivered right to a family’s doorstep! Thanks JLL for all that you do!
Interested in volunteering? Email Anne-Randolph@connorsheroes.org
Today's Helping Hero: Johanna
I’ve always loved Usborne books and wanted to support my friend Christy’s book business. I’ve seen how much a new story or activity book could brighten my kids’ days. My hope is these books can brighten the days of children in treatment for cancer. So many people covered me in support during my cancer treatment, and I want to continue to pour that support back into the community.
Johanna can relate to our heroes as she continues to navigate her own journey with cancer. Together with her friends, they donated close to $1,000 worth of beautiful children’s activity and story books for all reading levels. We can’t wait to add these special gifts to our Hero Backpacks soon!
People like Johanna are finding creative and caring ways to help our childhood cancer heroes during this tough time. You can host a donation drive for our Heroes Bag and Backpacks.
This website – WAYS TO GIVE – shows you how! www.connorsheroes.org/ways-to-give/
Hiring Program Coordinator
Connor's Heroes is hiring! We are looking for a special individual to join our team as a part-time Program Coordinator. Interested in learning more? See the job description below or contact our Executive Director, Celia Tetlow Martin, at celia@connorsheroes.org
https://www.connectva.org/job/program-coordinator-18/