Sponsor Spotlight: AT&T
When you're at the gala, be sure to grab your friends and pop in the HotShotz Photo Booth. It is brought to you by the generous sponsor AT&T. This is the second year that AT&T is a sponsor for the Heroes Art Ball. As you can see, they bring lots of smiles to the night.
Sponsor Spotlight: The Strum Group
We are so excited to have as our presenting sponsor, The Strum Group, a local real estate company. Jamie and his team were a big part of the success of the 2017 Heroes Art Ball. But they didn't stop there. Over the holidays, they "adopted" six families showering them with gifts. They produced a short commercial for Connor's Heroes. They featured Connor's Heroes on their company website. We appreciate Strum and the local businesses who are as deeply connected to the community as we are. Connor's Heroes helps Central Virginia families who have a child battling cancer, treated in Richmond Virginia and fund the one research lab in town dedicated to pediatric cancer research. The Heroes Art Ball on April 28 makes it all possible.
Feburary Art Session 2018
Our February Art Session was a packed house... parents, brothers, sisters, friends, artists, volunteers and our brave childhood cancer Heroes. Seeing the joy of the families as they worked together is why each piece is more than art. It is strength, courage and hope. You will bring more happiness if you win one of them at the Heroes Art Ball. The guests favorite part of the evening is when the kids present their masterpieces to you from the main stage. Get ready! You can purchase tickets as an individual, a couple or reserve a table for 10. Admission is discounted until March 30.
January Art Session 2018
Lots of great photos of lots of great smiles from our young heroes. These children are working with artists to create beautiful pieces for your home or office. Each one is more than a painting. It is a canvas of hope that children will not bear the burden of cancer by themselves. They will auction off each piece at this year's Heroes Art Ball. When you bid or purchase, you will make a difference in their lives. Tickets are on sale now at a discounted rate: 501auctions.com/heroesartball
Thank you to the Visual Arts Center of Richmond for hosting our Hero Art Sessions.
Today’s Helping Heroes: Craig & Lucy
Every year, Craig and a large list of sponsors host a party or two that brings a touring band to Richmond. He and his wife Lucy are friends with Lisa Goodwin, our Executive Director, from their law school days. They were moved by Lisa's determination to make sure no family battled cancer alone, so Craig and Lucy and their amazing sponsors dedicated the parties to raising money for Connor's Heroes. Over seven years, Craig, Lucy, and their friends donated over $50,000! The amount raised increases year after year. Craig and Lucy are a great example of how you can turn a party into a giving party that supports local families with children battling cancer. After all, it takes a community of heroes to help our young cancer heroes.
Special shout out to Greg with Paradise Garage. Pic cred: Dave Parrish Photography www.facebook.com/DaveParrishPhoto/
2018 Advocacy Day
Lisa, our Executive Director, participated with over 80 advocates from around the state for Childhood Cancer Awareness Day at the 2018 General Assembly. She advocated with Dr. Rohan, CHoR's amazing new child psychologist and parents she met when Connor was in treatment. Our best advocates were children and parents like Savanna pictured here with her mom and Delegate Betsy B. Carr. Everyone talked about the needs of patients and survivors and explained how important it is for Virginia to help fund pediatric cancer research. Kudos to the Virginia Childhood Cancer Work Group and ASK for leading the charge! You can do your part and call your state representatives.
Today’s Helping Hero: April
You never know what surprises pop up on Facebook. We received a message from April letting us know that she had a Facebook fundraiser. For her birthday she asked her friends to donate to Connor's Heroes instead of gifts. Her goal was $500 and she surpassed it. Way to go April!! She wrote on her page: "As the saying goes, It takes a village to raise children.This year, pediatric cancer entered my life in many ways. When a parent gets news that their child has cancer, THIS VILLAGE is there to help! Every local person I know dealing with cancer has also been touched by this foundation in the most positive ways."
Facebook makes it easy for you to hold a personal fund raiser. If you are passionate about helping the brave children who are battling cancer in Central Va., then turn your birthday into a giving day. You will make a difference to many families.
Today’s Helping Hero: Brittany
Whitney was a teenager who went through treatment with Connor. She was a bright light. Our hearts ached when she passed. Her best friend Brittany volunteered with us at the very beginning of Connor's Heroes. She hasn't stopped! Brittany decorated BMT rooms and held backpack drives. In college, she started a backpack program for us in Roanoke. Now a teacher, she organized her elementary school to make and donate nearly 100 fleece blankets over the past couple years. Brittany's giving heart is transformative. When we started as a nonprofit, donations from the Deep Run Marathon Dance got us off the ground. We are grateful to Brittany, Kathleen and the DRMD community for believing in the power of helping local nonprofits in the area.
Rylee’s ipad
Rylee is only two years old. A little more than 18 months after she was born, she was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma - a rare cancerous tumor that starts in the liver. Connor's Heroes was there for the family when Rylee started treatment. They received a Heroes Bag and Backpack. Inside was Rylee's very own ipad. We added ipads to our backpacks in 2017, thanks to the generosity of individuals who care. Since that time, 51 children received an ipad from Connor's Heroes. Mom posted the picture and wrote "Rylee watching her favorite show on her tablet from you guys! Thanks again so much!"
Snow Day
Yes, the snow is beautiful, but it does pose challenges for our families who travel for their child's treatment. One of our teenagers lives in the Tidewater region but receives treatment in Richmond. The family stayed at The Doorways, which provides lodging for patients and their families who live out of town but need to be in the area for treatment. When the last snowfall hit, the family needed Connor's Heroes help. Mom, who was stuck 100 miles away, texted Erin a list of groceries. Erin braved the crowds at the grocery store, used donated gift cards, and purchased what they needed. Within 24 hours of mom's text, the family had the groceries. This is what Connor's Heroes does every day. You allow Erin to develop a relationship with our families. She gets to know them. Then, she finds the programs and volunteers who can help without overwhelming the family at a difficult time.