Summer Tie-Dye
Thank you to the volunteers who helped the kids with this silly, fun & messy project. (Apologizes for all the tie-dye ink that landed on your shoes & clothes!)
Hero Artists & Volunteers: Anna, Cynthia, Patricia, Janis, Joe, Journey, Parry & NCL members: Kristen, Bartley, Elizabeth
Childhood Cancer Heroes: Alessa, Alvion, Bella, Charlotte, Dayanne, Everett, Holden, Isiah, James, Jonathan, Joshua, Kennedy, Meya, Zuri, Persephone’s sisters, Peyton’s brothers
Donate Dinner To A Hero
A hero family has so much on their plate. You can bring joy to the dinner table.
You can treat a childhood cancer family to dinner by donating a gift card to their favorite restaurant. We make it easy for you to choose a restaurant.
PURCHASE A GIFT CARD FROM OUR AMAZON WISH LIST
- Check out the link to our Wish List on Amazon:
https://a.co/5GMPhQO The Wish List is full of restaurants popular with our hero families. They are probably loved by your family too! - Select your gift cards. Add to your cart. In the notes section, comment with your name and email.
- Proceed to checkout.
- Ship the cards to our office at 1840 W. Broad Street Suite 300, Richmond VA 23220.
- If you include your name and email, we will send you an email to let you know your gift card arrived.
PURCHASE A GIFT CARD FROM YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT
- Buy a gift card from a restaurant your family loves. Chances are a hero family loves it too!
- Put your gift card in an envelope. Mail the gift card or drop it off at our office. The address is: Connor’s Heroes at 1840 W. Broad Street Suite 300, Richmond VA 23220.
- Email Anne-Randolph at anne-randolph@connorsheroes.org to let her know your gift card is coming or to arrange dropping it off at our office.
Imagine a parent’s surprise when Erin hands them YOUR gift card. You will bring joy to the table with something as simple as providing dinner to a family during a difficult time.
Thank you to Lisa G., Susan E., Kristie F., Gail & Wayne C., Margaret K. an Anonymous donor for purchasing gift cards to these family favorites: Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, DoorDash, Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, First Watch, California Pizza Kitchen, Chili’s, Bottoms Up Pizza, Darden (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Longhorn), Outback, Applebee’s, Krispy Kreme, Cracker Barrel, Jersey Mikes
Questions on how you can help? Email anne-randolph@connorsheroes.org
Connor's Heroes Night with Richmond Kickers
Connor’s Heroes Night with Richmond Kickers
DATE: Saturday September 24
START TIME: 6:30 pm EDT
PRICE: $15.00 per ticket + Fees ($5 from every ticket is donated to Connor’s Heroes)
TICKET WEBSITE: Purchase your ticket here – https://offer.fevo.com/central-valley-fuego-fc-ouuedjw-981749c
LOCATION: City Stadium 3201 Maplewood Ave Richmond, Virginia 23221
$5 of every ticket sold through our exclusive link goes directly to support Connor’s Heroes Foundation.
Hero Families, don’t hit that ticket button just yet. You can come to the game free of charge. Our donors will cover the cost of your ticket. Check your inbox for an email from Anne-Randolph.
Bubbles, Music, Games & Summer Fun
One thing we’ve learned in our 15 years of helping hero families, every child’s cancer journey is different. Our program team, Erin and Anne-Randolph, get to know a family. Like, knowing a teenager’s favorite flavor smoothie from Panera. What a mom likes in her coffee. The song a child sings with his grandfather at bedtime. It is the little things that make a big difference to a family.
You can see the personalized comfort in something as simple as our Summer Fun Pack. We send Family Fun Packs to a family when their child in treatment and needs a pick me up. We stuff our bright blue box with silly games, fun crafts, and items you donated from our Amazon Wish Lists.
To kick off the summer, Anne-Randolph packaged up a personalized Summer Fun Pack for 12 families. She filled every box with the perfect summer toys, games, and activities.
“One of our young heroes is seeing impaired. I gave her shakers, small drums and other musical instruments. She can make some noise while her older brothers play badminton together in the set they received. Two of our heroes have limited mobility. They will receive tactical sensory toys and craft kits they can do with their family. I can personalize a Family Fun Pack because of Erin. Erin makes the time to get to know a family and their circumstances. She has a list of what the family like (and even dislikes). I love shopping for our hero families!”
— Anne-Randolph Carter, Program Coordinator
You can help us shop for our hero families. You can hold a supply drive for our next round of Family Fun Packs. Contact Anne-Randolph at anne-randolph@connorsheroes.org She will follow up with a list of our families’ favorite games, toys, crafts, books. You should be proud of the fact your donations give a family exactly what they need at the right time.
Ice Cream Pop Up
Look who showed up for the Ice Cream POP UP at Gelati Celesti Stony Point Shopping Center! Gelati Celesti hosted a spirit night to raise money for the childhood cancer hero families. It was great to see heroes like Holden, Charlie, Valentin, Dayanne, Everette, Alvion, Nairoby, and Autumn. Their smiles brought much-needed summer sunshine on a rainy day. Thank you to Gelati Celesti Stony Point Shopping Center for hosting a Spirit Night to benefit Connor’s Heroes.
Are you a local company who gives back to your community, especially to help children? If you want to hold a fundraiser to benefit the children helped through Connor’s Heroes, visit our website to find your fundraising opportunity: https://www.connorsheroes.org/ways-to-give
In the comments section, tell us about your business.
Today's Helping Hero: Lila
Thank you to Lila for donating the proceeds from her art show to Connor’s Heroes. Lila set up a booth to sell her crafts. Every time she made a sale, she dropped a dollar in the donation bucket.
Noah was diagnosed with High Risk ALL in 2016. We featured Noah, Lila and their family at the 2019 Heroes Art Ball. Noah is out of treatment and returned to the 2022 Heroes Art Ball as a Helping Hero.
Reading Lila’s heartfelt note shows how much Connor’s Heroes remains a part of her family.
Oh What A Night
As I watched her on stage, her daddy, myself and those who love her all felt the same rush of pride. I saw the same pride on her face and the face of her siblings. Her dream of selling her art came true and for such a generous amount. She was thrilled.
— Elizabeth, mom to childhood cancer hero, Caroline
Your generosity at the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball blew us away. You made it the biggest night in Connor’s Heroes history. A record-breaking $517,000 raised. Your kindness at the gala validated the mission of Connor’s Heroes — that no family should face their child’s cancer alone. They will have a community of heroes by their sides.
9 CHILDHOOD CANCER HEROES
Ava, Aubrey, Caroline, Dayanne, Joshua, Kennedy, Meya, Sydney and Thomas are nine of the 86 children in active treatment who Connor’s Heroes is helping right now.
For many months, they came to the Visual Arts Center for our Heroes Art Session. Our Heroes Art Sessions provide a supportive environment in which childhood cancer heroes and their siblings can make art, and feel a collective sense of healing simply by creating and being together. You could feel their excitement when they finally got to take the stage with their artwork at the Heroes Art Ball. It was a magical moment as each child felt your gratitude when you put up your bid number to win their art.
A MOMENT WE WON’T FORGET
We featured Emily in the Heroes Art Ball in 2013. At the time of the 2013 Heroes Art Ball, she completed her treatment. She felt so proud when her painting raised $800 that night. Fast forward to 2022. Emily is excitedly preparing to graduate high school and go off to college. She continues to paint and volunteers as an Artist Mentor. At the Heroes Art Sessions, she collaborated with the kids on a massive painting called Sunset RVA. She guided the kids on how to add their favorite colors and brush stokes to a painting of Richmond’s iconic downtown by the river. Imagine her shock when Sunset RVA fetched $20,000 at the live auction. Proof of how Emily, Connor’s Heroes support for families, and your generosity have grown all these years. Thank you to everyone who raised their paddle during the live auction.
HERO OF THE YEAR AWARD
We named Ted and Mary Linhart as our 2022 Hero Of The Year. In her remarks, Connor’s Heroes Board Member and Founder, Lisa Goodwin, said “Ted and Mary have been quiet, yet dedicated supporters of The Heroes Art Ball since the beginning. They served on the Host Committee of the inaugural Heroes Art Ball in 2011. They have been sponsors ever since. Their commitment to Connor’s Heroes made a difference and touched our hearts.”
HELPING HEROES
Returning to the stage were our Helping Heroes. We featured these teens at a past Heroes Art Ball when they were in active treatment for cancer. Today, Aida, Anna, Campbell, Emily, Grace, Mireya, Natalie, Noah, Savanna, Wyatt, and Tay are out of treatment. They stood side-by-side (in so many ways) with the 2022 childhood cancer heroes.
PHOTOS POSTED ON FLICKR
You can see all the photos from the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball. We received so many great pics, we posted them on Flickr! Click the link to open the gallery of photos: https://www.flickr.com
If you came to the gala and posed for our Photo Spot, you can find your photo on Flickr, too. See all the pictures on our online gallery: https://www.flickr.com
BIG THANKS
Thank you to our sponsors, in-kind businesses, donors, and Artist Mentors. We are grateful to Hoot Media, Kenzi Flinchum Photography, Victoria Jean Photography and Jennifer Gavin Photography.
We were lucky to have a team volunteers helping at the gala: Katie Acker, Tom Block, Chandler Craddock, Kaetlin Collins, Samira Creel, Heather Dillon, Helen Dillion, Nickie Enos, Felicia Franco, Amy Franco, Afton Grossman, Taylor Jarrett, Kendall McQuillen, Blair Powell, McKinley Richard, Amanda Roach, Carlin Roach, Melissa Smith, Meghan Stables, and Jovany Vigil-Perez.
Hugs to the childhood cancer families who committed to coming to our Heroes Art Sessions.
And to YOU for caring about the childhood cancer community who need Connor’s Heroes.
Take a few minutes to meet the heroes you help with your support of Connor’s Heroes. You can read their profiles and watch a short video of each one: www.connorsheroes.org/heroes-of-rva
SAVE THE DATE: 12th Annual Heroes Art Ball on Friday, May 5, 2023 at John Marshall Ballrooms
Keysy & Taylor's Rooms
Taylor’s Room
15-year-old Taylor opened the door to a room filled with butterflies and her favorite colors, teal and baby blue. What made this room extra special was who the decorators were. They were a childhood cancer hero family. Their teenage daughter is in active treatment right now.
Keysy’s Room
Also on the unit is sweet Keysy. She has been in treatment for ALL for over two years. She is only six years old. The family needed a hero to be her bone marrow donor. Turns out her younger brother was her match. Volunteer Samantha made the hospital room feel like home so the whole family can be together as comfortably as possible. Erin brought gifts and cheer to Keysy and her hero sidekick, her brave brother.
Do you like to give back to your community by volunteering? Do you enjoy shopping? Do you enjoy decorating? Do you want to put a smile on a hospitalized child’s face? You may be the perfect volunteer for Connor’s Heroes room decorator team. Connor’s Heroes will give you a list of the patient’s likes and interests. You will receive a budget so you can shop around for the perfect decor. Connor’s Heroes will reimburse you for your purchases.
Fill out a volunteer application: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/volunteer_CHF
April Heroes Art Session
April’s Heroes Art Session was jam packed with creativity. Our childhood cancer heroes, their siblings (and some moms and dads) put the finishing touches on their masterpieces. This is the final Heroes Art Session before 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball on Friday, May 6, 2022.
We had special guests at this month’s Heroes Art Session. Meredith Burns, the Child Life Specialist with CHoR, met the families she can help in the hospital. Anna, Emily, Campbell, Tay, and Savanna met the young heroes who will be featured at the gala. These teens volunteered to be Helping Heroes. All five were featured at past Heroes Art Balls. They are gala pros (and an inspiration to the youngsters).
The 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball recognizes all the childhood cancer heroes with Connor’s Heroes and the community who supports them. You are invited to this magical night: 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball in May 2022! The Heroes Art Ball is Connor’s Heroes largest fundraising event of the year.
Our Heroes Art Sessions provide a supportive environment in which childhood cancer heroes and their siblings can make art, and build community with other hero families. At the sessions, they feel a collective sense of healing simply by creating and being together. We are grateful to The Visual Arts Center of Richmond for giving us the space for an open studio. And to our donors who allow the Heroes Art Sessions to happen at no cost to our families.
Childhood Cancer Heroes & their families: Meya, Sydney, Persephone, Gabby, Thomas, Kennedy, Bella, Dayanne
Hero Artist Leaders & Volunteers: Katya Herndon, Dale Knight, Jennike Duignam, Emily Griffin, Sarah Cross, Maddie Koerber
You will meet some of the childhood cancer heroes shown here when you come to the gala. They will be our guests of honor at the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball in May 2022!
March Heroes Art Session Was Big
Our March Heroes Art Session was our largest one so far – kids, parents, artists, volunteers were excited to create. Visual Arts Center’s massive outdoor patio was the perfect spot to get to work. Everyone focused on one thing: creating beautiful pieces of art for YOU, just in time for the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball. Friday, May 6 is coming up fast! [A limited number of tickets are still on sale: https://www.connorsheroes.org/11th-heroes-art-ball]
The heroes who will be our special guests at the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball were treated like celebrities. Jos. A. Bank fitted the boys for tuxedos. [The Heroes Art Ball is black-tie optional for our guests.] The kids sat for portraits taken by Nancy Parker of Cabay Photography studio (and mom to our hero, Owen!) Greg Wright set up a mini studio for video interviews with our Heroes. The best part was when their brothers, sisters and parents joined in. Some shed a few tears, but mostly they laughed and shared cute stories about one another.
In between the painting, marbling, sculpting, rolling, cutting, crafting, quilting, and tracing, there was delicious frozen custard from Richmond’s jiji Frozen Custard truck. Extra sprinkles were a must!
Another neat thing about this Heroes Art Session heroes who have been out of treatment for over a decade created side by side with the heroes currently in the middle of treatment.
The Heroes Art Sessions happen thanks to our partnership with Visual Arts Center of Richmond and YOU! Your donations make it possible for our childhood cancer families to be together and create.
The 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball recognizes all the childhood cancer heroes who are a part of Connor’s Heroes. We hope you can join us for this magical night: 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball in May 2022!
Hero Artist Leaders & Volunteers: Emily Griffin, Alex Georghiou Frankart, Frankie Slaughter, Jennike Duignam, Monica Wilmore, Nancy Jacey, Steve Hedberg, Sarah Cross, Katya Herndon, Kathleen O’Connor, Bruce Wilhelm.