RiverFront Volunteers!
What an honor it was when RiverFront Investment Group (RIG) selected Connor’s Heroes as their 2021 Charitable Giving Partner. The partnership included a $25,000 donation and a commitment to volunteerism in 2021. Their support funded our signature program — the Heroes Bag and Backpack — for an entire year. It takes over $500 to fill a Heroes Backpack and Parent Tote Bag with necessary items for long stays in the hospital and trips to clinic. A family receives a Heroes Backpack and Parent Tote soon after child’s diagnosis. It marks the support they will receive from Connor’s Heroes throughout their child’s cancer journey.
On Thursday, August 12, the RIG team spent the afternoon at our new office stuffing Heroes Bags and Backpacks. They took the time to personalizing a Heroes Bag and Backpack with items and well-wishes for an infant, child or teen. When a family opens their Heroes Bag and Backpack, they will quickly realize they are not alone. Thanks to RIG, they know there is a community of heroes who are ready to help.
You can learn more about RiverFront Investment Group and their REACH program in a blog we posted when they awarded us the grant last year.
Celia Named "Bold Woman" of Richmond
Richmond Magazine recognized 18 women for their leadership over the past year, including Celia, Connor’s Heroes Executive Director. Thank you to Riverfront, a local investment company, for nominating Celia.
In her profile, Celia talks about how Connor’s Heroes committed to giving families the highest level of financial assistance in the our 15 year history even when hospital restrictions meant we couldn’t be in the hospital or clinic.
Here is her profile featured in the August issue of Richmond Magazine: richmondmagazine.com/best-of-richmond/bold-women/celia-tetlow-martin
Return of Heroes Art Sessions
Sunday, July 18, 2021, was a special day. It was the return of our much-loved and much-missed HEROES ART SESSIONS! After almost a year and a half apart, dozens of childhood cancer heroes, siblings, artists, and volunteers spent the afternoon with the Connor’s Heroes Team.
We were thrilled to be back at the Visual Arts Center. They love sharing art and creativity with children. Especially since so many children did not have art classes this past school year. The kids didn’t miss a beat. Our hero families walked in to a studio set up with tables of collaborative, creative art projects. Richmond artist Nancy Jacey, CHF Board Member Tammy Griffin, childhood cancer hero Emily and her sister Katelyn encouraged our young artists as they painted, colored, glued, and bedazzled paper crabs, ice cream cones, and butterflies.
What could make a summer event even better? How about a cool treat. During the Heroes Art Session, the Kona Ice Truck rolled up into the Visual Arts parking lot. Our hero families enjoyed their favorite flavors of shaved ice from cotton candy, lucky lime, and Kona’s special Tiger Blood?! We look forward to hosting Heroes Art Session every month with more hero families and artists. (Our hero families’ health is top of mind, so we will continue to follow Virginia and CDC guidelines.)
Celia, Erin, Anne-Randolph & Ceci want to thank you for being our biggest cheerleaders. It is because of YOU — our community of heroes — that we had the resources to bring back our monthly heroes art sessions as soon as it was safe to do so.
“THANK YOU” from all of our Art Session Heroes: *Aubrey, Lucy, *Zuri, Sofia, Mason, *Javier, Alex, *Gabby, *Everett, *Emory, *Sydney, *Kennedy, and Adam
*Childhood Cancer Hero
You can see photos from our last Heroes Art Session in February 2020: https://www.connorsheroes.org/february-heroes-art-session/
Burger Bach Gives Bach
Burger Bach (select locations) Give Bach for July Burger Of The Month
DATES: July 1 – 31, 2021
LOCATIONS: Select locations
Durham: 737 9th St Durham, NC
Midlothian: 101 Heaths Way Road, Midlothian, VA
Short Pump: 2225 Old Brick Rd, Glen Allen, VA
Charlottesville: 2050 Bond Street, Charlottesville, VA
EVENT DETAILS: Burger Bach crafted a delicious burger for July. The Mango Pepper Party is loaded with lettuce, bacon, pepper jack cheese, our house made chipotle cilantro sauce, and Bach mango salsa! For each burger of the month sold, Burger Bach will donate $1 to Connor’s Heroes.
Connor's Heroes Moved
Connor’s Heroes is now in the city at 1840 W. Broad Street, at the corner of Meadow Street and Hermitage Road. We love our new space because it is in a prime location closer to the hospital. Erin, Celia & Anne-Randolph can zip downtown and see our hero families who are in clinic or the hospital. We have plenty of parking for our volunteers, board members and visitors. We look forward to welcoming you to our new location.
Put our new address in your contacts:
1840 W. Broad Street, Suite 300, Richmond VA 23220
(804) 897-1272
You can find a staff directly on the CONTACT US page of our website.
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.