Helping Hero: Savanna
Savanna is doing a board game drive to stock the Room of Possibilities on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. The BMT unit treats mostly adult patients. Connor’s Heroes established the Room of Possibilities when we realized that families need a different environment than most of the adult patients. The Room of Possibilities is a space for our families to play, read and be together. Savanna was diagnosed with leukemia at age 8 in 2014. She underwent months of chemo, radiation and then a bone marrow transplant. (Her donor was her older brother, Asher.) She knows what it is like to be a kid on the adult unit and “living” in the hospital. You can purchase games off of her Target Wish List. Way to go Savanna!
Pic credit: Savanna’s 3rd Annual Game Drive Facebook Page
Disney On Ice
It was our biggest family event ever! Connor's Heroes arranged for our Hero families to join us for the magical Disney On Ice. Over 100 kids and families signed up. We were overwhelmed by the response! Kelly (mom to our Hero Savanna) told Celia that "everyone had a blast! I loved hearing the kids sing along to all of the Disney songs." Thank you for giving 100 of our Heroes this magical night. We look forward to hosting more fun outings for our families in the future.
Helping Heroes: Yard Cleanup
We’ve dispatched crews of Helping Heroes all over the area. Their purpose is to do yard work at the homes of our Hero Families. Seen here are the volunteers with Midlothian National Charity League (a group of mothers and daughters lead by a long-time volunteer, Monica Waters). Additional groups of Helping Heroes included Nate and Ryland, Revolution Muay Thai Martial Arts and the Midlothian Kiwanis Club.
Holiday Hero
Many people ask, “How can I help a child with cancer especially over the holidays?” You have two easy and generous ways to let a child with cancer know that you are thinking of them this holiday. You will bring joy and endless smiles to the many families in Central Virginia who look to Connor’s Heroes for hope, guidance and support. Choose how you will be a Holiday Hero this year!
As a HOLIDAY SUPER HERO, your financial gift will go directly to one of the many area families whose child is in active treatment. Parents can choose where help is needed the most: a Christmas dinner, gas to visit family, or a special holiday gift.
–> HOLIDAY SUPER HERO
Or you can be a HOLIDAY HERO and purchase popular gift cards off of our Amazon wish list. We will surprise our young heroes with a gift card.
–> HOLIDAY HERO
Disney On Ice Skating Party
Connor's Heroes is excited about this holiday season. We have a calendar full of fun, family events around town, in clinic and on the pediatric floor. We kicked off with an ice skating party with the cast of Disney On Ice! On Friday, more than 100 heroes and their families will fill a section at the Coliseum to see the performance of Disney On Ice.
Helping Hero: Amazon Wish List
When a doctor tells a parent that their child has cancer, parents head straight to the hospital. No time to go home and pack. That's where Connor's Heroes comes in. A parent told us that "The Heroes Backpack and Parent Tote I received, in the beginning, had many essentials in it." Thanks to you, we made our Heroes Bags and Backpacks even better. Parents receive a sturdy, travel-sized bag filled with toiletries like toothbrushes, toothpaste, kleenex, and lotions. Thank you to everyone who donated items or purchased off our Amazon wish list. You can clearly see how you made a difference.
October Parents Night Out
Our October Parents Day Out was very Richmond! The parents took a canal cruise through downtown on the perfect fall afternoon. Meanwhile, Connor's Heroes volunteers played Halloween games, ate a yummy lunch and even had the kids faces painted to top it off. At these events, our Hero parents are able to take a moment for themselves and bond with other parents going through similar journeys. Thank you to Venture Richmond for the cruise tickets and for KVCF who hosted the gathering at their office in Shockoe Bottom.
Board Spotlight: Jeff Brownstein
Jeff Brownstein has been a long-time member of the Connor’s Heroes Board of Directors. He became involved with the organization in 2010. He served in many roles; most recently as Chair of the Board. One thing that has never wavered is his passion for making sure Connor’s Heroes can help every child in his community who is battling cancer. He said, “When I see these kids face their chemo with grace and determination, I know that CHF had a small part in helping them and their families.” After retiring from many years in corporate sales and sales management, he decided to share his time with Connor’s Heroes. We are so lucky to have Jeff on our side!
Q: Why should others support Connor’s Heroes?
CHF helps families in two ways: I’ve seen the staff and volunteers with CHF connect with the families. They offer them so much support. At the lab, our researchers are working hard to discover cures. Navigating the myriad of issues facing a child with cancer is a mind-blowing experience. Any way that a parent can get help from CHF makes their journey less daunting and more hopeful.
Q: Why do you believe it is essential to give back to your community?
We live in a community, and by definition, we need to help each other whenever we can, in whatever manner we can. A nonprofit like Connor’s Heroes gives us the chance to give back to our community.
For a complete list of CHF Board of Directors, visit www.connorsheroes.org/our-story/our-board-members
October 2018 Heroes Art Session
Our October Heroes Art Session was pretty amazing! Connor's Heroes Board of Directors and numerous Hero families welcomed Elias Neujahr, CEO of Children's Hospital of Richmond. Our heroes presented their "Under the Sea" masterpiece to Elias. After learning that Elias loves the beach, each child painted a canvas with their favorite ocean animal! Elias will hang it in his office at the Children's Hospital of Richmond. The rest of the afternoon was full of pumpkin painting, slime creation, and watercolors - even Elias and our board joined in on the fun! Connor's Heroes feels lucky to have such a dedicated board and friend in Elias!
September 2018 Heroes Art Session
Our Heroes Art Session in September was a big one! Over a dozen heroes and their siblings joined Connor's Heroes at The Visual Arts Center for an afternoon of creative fun. They painted beach and ocean life on tiny canvases that will become a collective masterpiece. Celia and our heroes will present this collaboration to a very special Connor's Heroes supporter in a few weeks! Stay tuned for more on that presentation.