Make the most of this MLK Day! Purchase gift cards to donate and stuff our Heroes Backpacks!
Today, Jan 20th is a National Day of Service. Use the day to do a gift card drive with your friends or family. You don't have to organize a whole crew of volunteers -- Just friends willing to purchase iTunes, gas, or grocery gift cards for our families.
- Give a gas card to a parent so he/she can fill up the tank and drive to the hospital to visit the child.
- Having coffee at Starbucks? Grab a gift card. Our parents can use it to treat themselves and/or their teen child.
- Donate an Amazon card and the child can go online to download a favorite movie to watch while getting chemo.
Once you have your cards, email Fran@connorsheroes.org. She'll be in touch so you can drop them off at our office or mail them directly to us.
How you can be a sponsor of the 2014 Heroes Art Ball from $500 or up to $10,000
The sponsors of the 2013 Heroes Art Ball were a who's who of well-respected businesses within a variety of industries. If your company enjoys giving back to the community, then consider being a major sponsor of the 2014 Heroes Art Ball on May 16. There are different levels from $500 to $10,000. All get you tickets to the Art Ball! You can meet other civic-minded business owners and the children and families of pediatric patients in Richmond. You can even purchase a patient's painting for your office. Supporting the Art Ball with a corporate sponsorship will say a lot about your company and you. Email lisa at connorsheroes.org or call the office at 804 897 1272.
Here's who's sponsored last year's Art Ball. https://www.connorsheroes.org/donate/heroes-art-ball/heroes-art-ball-sponsors/
Join our facebook event to keep abreast of the latest details: https://www.facebook.com/events/693371577363919/
Planning is underway for the 2014 Heroes Art Ball
Last year's Heroes Art Ball was a tremendous success, raising $65,000 to fund our programs like the Heroes Bags and Backpacks and decorating the hospital rooms of patients on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Close to 100 businesses donated items for our auctions and 23 well-known area businesses were major sponsors. We've been excited to grow this event every year since we began in 2010. Last year's event sold a record 325 tickets.
Share in a beautiful night with people from all over the area. You will meet the children and families of Connor's Heroes along with our board members, staff and volunteers. The main event is a live auction of beautiful paintings created by the patients. You can also bid in a silent auction of items and services donated from the area's top businesses. After the auction, you will celebrate with dinner and dancing. Click here for details on the event.
Happy Holidays from The Goodwin Family!
Lisa, Steve, Emily and Connor thank you for supporting Connor's Heroes! Whether you've given your time, donations, financial contributions or prayers, you are part of our "community of Heroes" who help our courageous Heroes. In 2013, you made all this possible:
- Provided 70 Heroes Bags & Backpacks to families
- Treated more than 70 families to special events like the circus, baseball games
- Supported 28 families with gas and grocery gift cards, meals, babysitting, and housecleaning
- Decorated the rooms of 12 pediatric bone marrow transplants
- Raised over $24,000 for pediatric cancer research in Richmond with more donations arriving in the mail every day
- Volunteered over 4,000 hours
Thank you for supporting the children in Richmond who are being treated for pediatric cancer, the #1 leading cause of childhood death from disease. Who knew one backpack would lead to all this? It is happening, thanks to you!
Companies reach out to CHF by holding charity and supply drives
Almost every week since Thanksgiving, an organization called our office to say they were hosting a benefit for CHF! We've had an amazing outpouring of generosity with in-kind donations as well as financial contributions. Here's how they supported our Hero families:
- American Tap Room picked Connor's Heroes as their first charity partner as they opened their first location in Richmond. Lisa, Steve, Emily and Connor invited their friends to join them for a meal in support of CHF. Lisa even rescheduled CHF's board meeting so the board could enjoy the Tap Room's new menu together. American Tap Room presented CHF with a check for $1,300.
- MassMutual presented CHF with a check for $2,000 as the beneficiary of their "Pearls of Wisdom" seminar.
- Richmond Claims Association members in Richmond held a backpack supply drive. They collected bikes, games, toys, and stuffed animals, plus they raised over $800 in cash and gift cards!
- Top Notch Cheer & Gym asked all of their teams to collect donations and they delivered box upon box of wonderful gifts for our Heroes.
- The Hurtubise Family threw their annual Christmas party and collected tons of gifts and donations to spread some cheer for our families.
- The Accounting Department at McGuire Woods, for the third year in a row, adopted one of our families for Christmas, showering them with presents.
- Last, but not least, RVA's music scene showed their support. Punks 4 Presents is a showcase of RVA's best punk bands happening at venues over town. Last year Punks for Presents raised over $5,000 for CHF. This year they hope to double it!
If you'd like to organize a drive for CHF, call Erin at (804) 897-1272. Thanks for all the love, RVA!
Save the Date—Friday May 16, 2014—for the Heroes Art Ball
As you open up a new calendar for 2014, add this date in May!
Friday, May 16, 2014 at the Science Museum of Virginia
The Heroes Art Ball is Connor's Heroes signature fund raising event. Over 100 businesses and 300 people attend this one remarkable night. Everyone enjoys meeting the children of Connor's Heroes and bidding on their beautiful pieces of art. This one night raises 20% of our programming budget.
Interested in being a sponsor? We have sponsor levels ranging from $500 to $10,000. Contact lisa@connorsheroes.org or (804) 897-1272.
Celebrating A Milestone in Treating Pediatric Cancer!
To celebrate the naming of the Connor's Heroes Pediatric Cancer Research Fund, Lisa, Steve, Connor and Emily gathered with the board members, supporters and doctors who are dedicating themselves to raising funds for research. It was a time to reflect on the successes of Connor's Heroes -- We have supported over 700 families as they navigate the world of childhood cancer. The Heroes Art Ball raised over $65,0000 this year. We worked with the VCU Massey Cancer Center to raise the money needed to support research by an endowed chair in pediatric oncology - $480,000 so far! The Board committed themselves to raise at least $100,000 more by 2018. You can help by making a tax deductible donation before the year's end. You can make a one-time contribution or commit to automatically donating every month. You can donate on our secure website www.connorsheroes.org
Eat, Drink and Fight Pediatric Cancer on December 11th
Come to the American Tap Room at The Shops at Willow Lawn on December 11th. Enjoy a meal as you raise money for Connor's Heroes! On December 11th, the American Tap Room will donate 10% of all proceeds to Connor's Heroes. Connor's Heroes' Board of Directors are planning a working dinner at ATR. Stop by and say "hello" if you see them.
You must tell your server that you are dining in support of Connor's Heroes. For more information about Richmond's newest restaurant, visit http://www.americantaproom.com/
Growing Up With Connor and Connor’s Heroes!
It's hard to believe that the little boy on the poster is now a healthy, middle school student. Yes, standing to the left of the poster is Connor with his parents, Lisa and Steve, and sister Emily. Connor's Heroes has grown as much as Connor! The organization has supported over 700 families. The Connor’s Heroes Pediatric Cancer Research Fund has over $480,000 to fund research of pediatric cancer. The Heroes Art Ball raised over $65,000 this year. The Goodwin family committed themselves to making sure every child being treated for cancer in Richmond has the opportunity to receive a Heroes backpack and support from its volunteers. Because they experienced cancer within their own family, they understood the anxiety, stress and hope families feel when they receive the diagnosis. You can help Connor's Heroes reach more families by making a donation before the year's end. Your donation will fund our signature programs such as the Heroes Backpacks, Parent Gift Bags, Superhero and Sidekicks, and Bone Marrow Transplant Room Decorations. You can also designate your donation for The Connor's Heroes Pediatric Cancer Research Fund. Simply click here to donate.
Thank you for helping Connor's Heroes grow!
Volunteers rally to decorate rooms of three children who were starting bone marrow transplants
We couldn't believe it - in one week three children were being admitted to the Bone Marrow Unit for treatment. Three families were preparing to live the next weeks (maybe months) in the hospital as their children receive bone marrow transplants. Connor's Heroes volunteers rallied for these kids! They hit the party stores to buy decorations and spent evenings getting the rooms ready. It was an amazing team effort. We are grateful for all our volunteers. They laugh, cry, listen and smile with our patients' families. If you know a Connor's Heroes volunteer, say thank you. Find out how they helped a family. It may inspire you to do the same. To learn more or to volunteer, visit https://www.connorsheroes.org/get-involved.