Today's Helping Hero: Heizer Family
Today’s Helping Hero is actually a Helping Family! The Heizer family (Cathy & her children Paul, Brett and Meredith) raised over $18,000 for the Holiday Heroes Fund by hosting a golf tournament, The Opie Open. The Opie Open was held in memory of Cathy’s husband Paul “Opie.” Opie passed away after battling pancreatic cancer last year. Opie devoted his life to supporting child-focused nonprofits such as Connor’s Heroes. Opie wanted to make sure children with cancer received love, strength, and support — especially over the holidays. We are so honored to have Cathy serving on our Board of Directors.
The Opie Open kick started our campaign to raise money for the 2022 Holiday Heroes Fund. 107 children and their families need holiday magic this holiday season. The parents and caregivers are juggling the emotional stress of their child’s diagnosis with the financial stress of giving their family the holiday they deserve after a difficult year. You can join the Heizer family by making your own gift to the 2022 Holiday Hero Fund. Give online at https://bit.ly/HolidayHero2022 or mail your donation to Holiday Hero Fund, PO Box 5512, Richmond VA 23220.
12th Annual Heroes Art Ball - Save The Date
Plug this date in your calendar! The 12th Annual Heroes Art Ball is set for Friday, May 5, 2023, returning to the elegant John Marshall Ballrooms. Tickets will go on sale in March 2023.
You know the Heroes Art Ball is more than a fundraising event. It is a magical night for our hero families, caregivers, guests, and you. The Heroes Art Ball raises money for local families who suddenly find themselves juggling caring for a child with cancer and taking care of other family members. Connor’s Heroes gives emotional and financial support starting at their child’s diagnosis, throughout treatment, and more.
ARE GOING TO BE THERE?!
Subscribe to our e-newsletter by clicking this link.
You will be the first to hear about ticket sales, exclusive online auction items, and more!
ARE YOU A COMPANY WHO GIVES BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY?
You can be a sponsor of the Heroes Art Ball. Sponsorship levels start at $1,000 and give you generous perks — like reserved seating at your very own VIP table.
Contact Celia Martin at celia@connorsheroes.org or call (804) 897-1272
ARE YOU A BUSINESS?
We would love to feature your product, service, and talent in our online silent auction.
Contact Anne-Randolph Carter at anne-randolph@connorsheroes.org to arrange your donation.
12th Heroes Art Ball
12th Heroes Art Ball benefitting Connor’s Heroes
DATE: Friday, May 5, 2023
LOCATION: John Marshall Ballroom in the Hotel John Marshall • 101 N 5th St, Richmond, VA 23219
EVENT DETAILS: The Heroes Art Ball includes great food, live music, and a silent auction packed with experiences, unique art, and adventures. The main event is a live auction of pieces of art created from the heart by our childhood cancer heroes, their siblings and local artists.
EVENT SPONSORSHIPS: The past two Heroes Art Balls have SOLD OUT. You can reserve your seat right now. Become a Heroes Art Ball Sponsor. Contact Celia, Executive Director, about what sponsor levels are available: Email celia@connorsheroes.org or call (804) 897-1272.
TICKETS: Tickets will go on sale in March 2023. Click here to sign up to receive emails announcing ticket sales for the Heroes Art Ball [LINK]
October Fall Heroes Art Session
It’s Fall Y’All! We broke out all the hits for our October Heroes Art Session with our childhood cancer hero families. Taking center stage was a family favorite, pumpkin painting! Sweet Charlotte knew exactly how to paint her pumpkin. Like a black cat to match her Halloween costume. Sydney and Tay spent time painting the perfect pumpkin. The littles of the group, Matthew and Ahmod, slapped on some paint and then ran off!
Nancy Jacey and her crew have a concept for a collaborative art piece. They will auction it off at the 12th Annual Heroes Art Ball (Save The Date: May 5, 2023). From the looks of it, the painting will be a colorful glittery masterpiece.
The sweet spot was the caramel candy apples. Alvion’s mom, Shaqueenia is a pro at creating yummy treats! The next table over, Patricia helped the kids “paint” Halloween cookies. Catherine, at Holland Baking Company, made the cookies for our childhood cancer hero families.
It was the perfect Fall afternoon.
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, you feel a collective sense of healing by creating and being together. We are grateful to Visual Arts Center 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: Kennedy, Charlotte, Sydney, Tay, with their brothers and sisters
Hero Artist Leaders & Volunteers: Becca, Olivia, Nancy, Patricia, Shaqueenia, Hanan, Sophie, Dee, and Kelsey
2022 Hero Squad Soiree
Congrats to the 2022 Hero Squad
Devon Bortz • Samira Creel • Ashley Devlin • Cole Elliott • Katya Herndon • Julianna Kimes • Lindsey Hollett • Martia Jones • Jessica Overstreet
This squad’s mission was to raise $1,000 each for a big goal of $10,000. They kicked off their fundraising on the first day of September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
So did they reach their goal?
YES, THEY DID!!
In fact, they reached it twice over! The 2022 Hero Squad raised $22,000 to fund the support Connor’s Heroes gives a family during their child’s cancer journey.
Celia, Connor’s Heroes Staff and Board honored the 2022 Hero Squad at the Hero Squad Soiree at Triple Crossing Fulton. Katya was the top fundraiser. Thank you to the Hero Squad for putting their heart and soul into being a hero a child with cancer.
The Hero Squad is made up of professionals who have a heart for philanthropy. If you or you know someone to join 2023 The Hero Squad, contact Celia at celia@connorsheroes.org.
You can learn read about past Hero Squads by visiting our website: www.connorsheroes.org/hero-squad/
2022 Circle Of Heroes
Connor’s Heroes marked the conclusion of September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with a reception for our Circle of Heroes. The Circle Of Heroes are people who generously commit an annual gift of $1,000 or more for the childhood cancer heroes who need Connor’s Heroes.
Celia, Connor’s Heroes Staff (Erin, Anne-Randolph, and Ceci) and our Board of Directors loved hearing from our donors about why Connor’s Heroes is important to them.
Taking a moment to thank our donors was our guest speaker, Juliet. Juliet is a hero mom to Meya. Meya finished treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma — a big milestone for her and the family.
We were lucky to have it at a new restaurant in Richmond that is getting a lot of buzz. Cocodrilo was named by Richmond magazine as one of its top new restaurants.
If you want to be a part of our Circle of Heroes, contact Celia. You can email her at celia@connorsheroes.org or call (804) 897-1272. You can easily give online — even setting up monthly payments to make giving easier — https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/connors-heroes-foundation/circle-of-heroes
If you want to be a part of our Circle of Heroes, contact Celia. You can email her at celia@connorsheroes.org or call (804) 897-1272.
Celia can explain how you can donate through Charitable Funds (like the Community Foundation or Scwhab), planned giving, etc.
And, you can give online — even setting up monthly payments to make giving easier. Use our secure website to donate online: https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/connors-heroes-foundation/circle-of-heroes
Make & Bake Pizza Party
Connor’s Heroes hosted its 2nd annual Make-Bake-Your-Own-Pizza with the childhood cancer heroes. We started this family-fun event at the Mellow Mushroom in Midlothian. Heather and her crew made it easy for the families to be together. Families had so much fun last year, we thought, why not do it all over again?!?!
Once again, Heather was ready for our hero families. She lined up pizza boxes — inside were a family’s favorite toppings (Our crew loves pineapples on their pizza) and a big ball of fresh dough. After the family rolled out the dough, spread the sauce, and layered on the cheese and toppings, they carried their pizza to the kitchen. The kids were so excited to see their pizza slide into the hot oven and come out exactly as they wanted it.
Who knew making a pizza could be so much fun?!
Time to make the pizzas!
The pizzas are ready for the oven.
Now for the best part. Eating pizzas.
Thank you to Heather and all the staff at Mellow Mushroom in Midlothian. Visit their website https://mellowmushroom.com/location/va-midlothian-1409-huguenot-road-23113/ to check out their hours, menu, and delivery.
If you are a local business who likes to give back, you can be a Hero Partner too. You can host a party for our childhood cancer hero families. Sponsor our gala, The Heroes Art Ball. Or host a give-back-night for Connor’s Heroes. Email celia@connorsheroes.org for information.
Our childhood cancer heroes thank you for giving them this fun event: Skylar, Tay, Valentin, Owen, Kennedy, Javi, Jonathan F., John G., James, Easton, Charlotte, Sydney, Lilana, Joshua, Holden, Austin, Alvion
Opie Open Golf Tournament
Opie Heizer Memorial Golf Tournament
DATE: Friday, October 28 (Rain date Friday, Nov. 4, 2022)
START TIME: 11:30 AM Registration & Range Opens
EVENT WEBSITE: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E329683&id=62
LOCATION: Hanover Golf Club, 14314 Country Club Dr, Ashland, VA 23005
Registration is full, but sponsorships are still available. Sponsorships are $100 and $350. Your sponsorship will benefit Connor’s Heroes Holiday Hero Fund. You can register to be a sponsor by visiting the event website.
The Opie Open is held in memory of Opie Heizer. Paul “Opie.” Opie passed away in 2021 after battling pancreatic cancer. During this life, Opie and his wife Cathy supported child-focused nonprofits. Opie’s family carries on his legacy of caring for children by supporting Connor’s Heroes. Cathy serves on the board.
The family is donating all money raised from the tournament to Connor’s Heroes Holiday Hero Fund. Through the Holiday Hero Fund, a family with a child in treatment for cancer and registered with Connor’s Heroes will be invited to our annual Holiday Open House and receive a gift card to help with holiday expenses (and gifts!).
Pictured: Easton and his family celebrated the holidays at the 2021 Holiday Open House funded by the Connor’s Heroes Holiday Fund thanks to donations from the Heizer family and other donors.
September Heroes Art Session
Connor’s Heroes hosted a Heroes Art Session for September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Once again, our friends at Visual Arts Center of Richmond turned their patio into an outdoor art studio.
We were excited to have long-time volunteers return: Sarah, Damian, and Jennike, with help from Lucy, Olivia, Becca, and Anna. Sarah broke out clay for the heroes to fire up into a holiday surprise. Jennike helped the kids say goodbye to summer by creating beautiful paintings of sun flowers.
We are really excited about our October Heroes Art Session.
You bet it is going to be over flowing with pumpkin-spice.
(Hero Families: Check your inbox for an email from Anne-Randolph and Erin about the October Heroes Art Session and other family events.)
Our Heroes Art Session is a chance for children to create and parents to connect. We invite childhood cancer heroes who are in treatment or recently finished. Siblings and best buddies come too. 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.
Hero Artists & Volunteers: Olivia, Becca, Anna, Sarah, Damian, Jennike, Lucy
Childhood Cancer Heroes & Siblings: Grayson, Charlotte, John, Ben, Florian, Jeremiah, Olivia, Bobbie, Zeezee, Lucy, Kennedy, Adam, Lauren, Javi and Alex
Progress of Wonder Tower
The Wonder Tower was truly WONDERFUL! At the Heroes Art Ball this year, one of the big silent auction items was an exclusive tour of the new Wonder Tower. The Wonder Tower is the inpatient children’s hospital currently under construction.
Leading the tour was someone who knows the building inside and out. Zach Isbell is the project manager. Lucky us, he also serves on the Connor’s Heroes board. Childhood cancer hero Caroline and her family won the auction. Celia and Erin tagged along to check out the future location of Connor’s Heroes five ROOMS FILLED WITH HOPE.
Everyone left the tour excited, enthusiastic, and energized about the design of the space. They marveled at the incredible views of the city spanning all the way over to the river. The new hospital is designed to care for children and comfort the families.
After the tour, Celia said
❝This is what we have been waiting for. Every little detail. Every single space. It was designed with kids in mind. The Wonder Tower will truly be a space for kids to be kids while receiving the care and comfort they deserve. Connor’s Heroes is excited and humbled to be a part of the Wonder Tower.❞
Curious about the Wonder Tower and the plans for Connor’s Heroes ROOMS FILLED WITH HOPE? Read more on our website: https://www.connorsheroes.org/rooms-filled-with-hope/
