2018 Music For Massey
Thank you to our friends at Napier ERA who gave a generous $18,000 to benefit pediatric cancer research. Jim Napier and his company supported pediatric cancer research for nearly 20 years through the annual Music for Massey concert. In a Facebook post, Jim said: "From our first year til now, we have raised nearly $350,000 for cancer research in our area." Money from Music For Massey will fund The Connor's Heroes Pediatric Cancer Research Fund.
In frame:
Dr. Gordon Ginder, Director of VCU Massey Cancer Center
Dr. Seth Corey, Children's Hospital Foundation Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cancer Research
Megan Napier- Napier Realtors ERA, 3rd generation Napier ERA realtor
Celia Tetlow, executive director of Connor's Heroes Foundation
Jim Napier, president of Napier ERA
Pic cred: Napier ERA Facebook page
Board Spotlight: Michael Barnett
Michael Barnett is the co-founder and CEO of Romp n' Roll, an international franchisor of children's play and learning centers. Discover how his entrepreneurial spirit complements a nonprofit like Connor's Heroes.
Q: What are you most passionate about when you think about Connor’s Heroes work, mission and impact?
A: I'm proud of the money we raise for research, but I love the work we do day in and day out on the local level. We support kids and families and hopefully make life just a little bit easier during a challenging time.
Q: What is your favorite experience so far with Connor’s Heroes?
A: This year was the fifth Heroes Art Ball I attended. I've loved all of them. To me, the Heroes Art Ball brings together what Connor's Heroes is all about.
Q: Why do you believe it is important to give back to your community?
A: Aside from an obvious answer like "it feels good," I believe what John F. Kennedy said, "To those whom much is given, much is expected." Specifically giving back to a local organization means you are not only helping friends and neighbors, but you can see first-hand the impact of your contribution.
Q: Why should others support Connor’s Heroes?
A: You should support Connor's Heroes because we make a difference in the lives of children and their families right here in Central Virginia at a time when they need us most.
For a complete list of CHF Board of Directors, visit www.connorsheroes.org/our-story/our-board-members
Today’s Helping Heroes: Sidney and Tallulah
Not one, but two young Helping Heroes dropped off goodies for our Heroes Bags and Backpacks: Sidney and his friends with The Homeschool Adventure Society of Central Virginia hosted a backpack drive and Tallulah celebrated her birthday by having her friends bring gifts for our heroes! How did they know what we needed? We have a supply list on Amazon. You should check it out. There are simple items you can purchase that will make a big difference to our families.
Local Foundation Spotlights Erin
Look who is this month's Help Somebody Hall of Fame. The Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond and ConnectVA recognized Erin for her working helping the families with Connor's Heroes. If you're a hero family or Connor's Heroes volunteer, you will recognize this smiling face. We are beyond lucky to have Erin on our team! Read her profile www.connectva.org
Ashland Barracudas
The Ashland Barracudas held their annual swim-a-thon. The swimmers raised $4,300 for the Jamie Hess Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Fund at VCU Massey Cancer Center. The fund is named after Jamie, a swimmer on the team who died from cancer in 2002. Jamie's mom Barbara accepted the donations from the team at their banquet. The swim-a-thon teaches kids that they can make a difference in the lives of other children while doing something they love, like swimming. On behalf of our heroes who are in treatment, thank you!!
Flying Squirrels 2018
We had a great night at The Diamond. Close to 50 of our Heroes, friends, and families came for the fun. There were fireworks, ice cream, hugs with Nutzy and a win for the Flying Squirrels! Our Hero Molly and her brother Books were really excited because this was their very first baseball game! What a wonderful memory you gave this family and everyone who came to the game.
2018 Christmas In July
December 25 is technically months away, but not at Connor's Heroes. Erin, Fran and Celia are gearing up for a week-long giving party at clinic. This week, Connor's Heroes will have big boxes overflowing with toys, games, crafts, books and much more. Children receive a bag and are invited to dive in and fill it up! Our wonderful volunteers will be in clinic throughout the week making crafts and we'll have lunch catered for families to grab-n-go. This is our biggest Christmas in July ever. Thanks to your support, we are making sure no child faces their cancer alone!
July 2018 Art Session
We had a great time together yesterday for our July Hero Art Session. Our Hero Art Sessions have become a popular program for our families. It is so popular that, thanks to your donations and our fantastic crew of volunteers, we host a session every month. It is an excellent example of how easy it is for you to be a hero to a child with cancer. Thank you to our wonderful partners at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond for hosting.
Board Spotlight: Laura Markley
Laura Markley has been with the Connor's Heroes Board of Directors since April 2017. Learn how her passion for non-profits drew her to Connor's Heroes.
Q: What are you most passionate about when you think about the work, mission and impact of Connor’s Heroes?
A: Families. There's something about cancer that deeply impacts families. It's a time of profound upheaval and uncertainty. My brother is an oncologist largely because he saw our mother battle breast cancer while he was in medical school. Connor's Heroes steps in from the first moment of diagnosis and remains involved in kid's lives well past the diagnosis. Connor’s Heroes provides everything from short-term needs (groceries, travel stipends) to long-term impact (emotional support and community building).
Q: What is your favorite experience so far with Connor’s Heroes?
A: The Heroes Art Ball. There's something amazing about seeing the beacons of light and hope that the Heroes are, paired with inspiring artwork created by the kids and professional artists working together. Not to mention, kids in ball gowns and tuxedos are just darn cute!
Q: Why should others support Connor’s Heroes?
A: After working with a variety of non-profits, I believe those with local connections can most efficiently meet the needs of their communities. Local groups aren't hamstrung by national or global oversight or red tape. Founded by a patient's family, and with several patient families on our board, Connor's Heroes is very much in touch with the cancer community and dedicated to helping those families and to be a good steward of its resources.
Q: Why do you believe it is important to give back to your community?
A: We all have gifts. I believe we're called to use them, both for the benefit of our workplaces and for our community.
Q: Tell us about your personal/professional background.
A: After being a double major at William & Mary in English and Accounting, my husband and I got married in the Wren Building and moved to New York City "just for a year or two." Six years later, I'd spent my time in a variety of financial services (investment banking and private wealth management) and received an MBA from Columbia University. We moved back to Richmond in 2013 to raise our family. Non-profits and philanthropy have long been a passion of mine. In New York, a fellow director and I managed a family's family foundation giving (> $100M). For my MBA I concentrated in impact investing and did an independent study with the Rockefeller Foundation. I joined NRV as the Director of Investments. I work with a variety of start-ups at NRV. The themes are very similar between start-ups and non-profits: using minimal resources for maximum impact towards a problem they want to see changed.
For a complete list of CHF Board of Directors, visit www.connorsheroes.org/our-story/our-board-members
June Parents Night Out
At Center of the Universe Brewing Company in Ashland, Connor's Heroes had a fun night for the children and their Hero Parents. It was a "Parents Night Out" hosted by our Programs Committee. The committee arranged for the kids to make crafts, play games and plant flowers with our wonderful volunteers. The parents enjoyed time with other parents who are also on this childhood cancer journey. It was fellowship, friends, and fun. It happened thanks to businesses like COTU and caring people like YOU!