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/
Hero Mom Dedicates Birthday
When Ann celebrated her birthday in July, she did something special this year. She turned her birthday into a GIVING DAY. Instead of gifts, she asked her friends and family to give to Connor’s Heroes.
Ann knows what it is like to have a child in treatment. Ann’s teenage daughter Ryleigh started her cancer journey in 2022.
“I knew if Ryleigh made it to remission I could give back to those who helped her along the way. Connor’s Heroes monthly gift cards helped us with gas to get back and forth to the clinic for treatment. I had someone to turn for help when I needed it.”
Connor’s Heroes makes it easy for you to set up a website where you can collect donations in honor of your birthday or any special occasion. Every dollar given in your honor will give hope to a brave child who needs Connor’s Heroes. Register your birthday, even if it already happened. A few weeks before your birthday, we will email you so you can start your birthday giving!
You can pledge not only your birthday but any special event in your life like an anniversary, child’s graduation, or wedding. Register your special day and turn it into a giving day to help a child with cancer.
Summer Send Off
A beautiful, but not too hot, summer day greeted the childhood cancer heroes who joined Connor’s Heroes staff and board members for our Annual Summer Send-Off. We invited families with children in treatment and out of treatment to be together and have fun. This year, we brought in Richmond’s legendary street performer, Jonathan the Juggler! Parents and kids were in awe as Jonathan did slight-of-hand, card tricks, rode a unicycle, juggled fire sticks, and made a rabbit magically appear.
It was magical to see the children, who often pass one another in clinic, to play and laugh together. Same with the parents. Children became fast friends and parents found caring partners to help them through their child’s treatment.
Celia said “Seeing our hero families come together and enjoy each other’s company made me smile. While everyone’s journey with childhood cancer is different, these families have a unique bond. I am so glad Connor’s Heroes is able to host fun events like our Summer Send-off and continue to support our hero families every step of the way!”
Connor’s Heroes can host this annual summer event thanks to the generosity of our donors. Also, we want to thank the Salty Pig for the BBQ dinner, Hardywood for hosting the event, Connor’s Heroes program staff for organizing, and our wonderful volunteers: Lariza, Sydney, Alison, and Ashleigh, Damian, and Ellen.
2022 Jr. Hero Squad
You know that superheroes come in all sizes. Well, here is a group of mini-heroes who arrived in the nick of time to help kids who are in treatment for cancer. Our 2022 Jr. Hero Squad exceeded their $2,500 goal and raised over to $6,700! How did they do it???
- Mark raised his money while on summer break from the United States Air Force Academy. Mark was diagnosed with Lymphoma in 2015 and knows first hand the impact Connor’s Heroes has on families. Talk about being a TOP GUN!
- Lilah used her entrepreneurial skills to reach her goal. She sold her own jewelry and walked dogs.
- Connor, Kenley, Luke, Parker, Reese, and Vivian had an epic lemonade sale in their neighborhood.
- Emily and her teammates made a donation for every home run they made. Seeing they raised more than $1,000 – they made a lot of runs around to home plate! Emily’s brother Parker started treatment for ALL in April.
- Thanks to Layla & Nadia, who got a late start joining the Jr Hero Squad. They sure did rock our signature blue shirts and sunglasses!
The Jr. Hero Squad is one way you can raise money for children with cancer using the power of your social network. Connor’s Heroes makes it easy for you to set up a personal fundraising website. You share the link and watch the donations roll in.
You can:
PLEDGE YOUR BIRTHDAY (or any special event in your life): https://www.connorsheroes.org/pledge-birthday
HOST A GIFT CARD DRIVE (from our Amazon wishlist): https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/SLL7B9BCE1KK?&sort=default%20_blank
JOIN THE 2022 HERO SQUAD (for young professionals, college students, or retirees): https://www.connorsheroes.org/hero-squad/
Dylan Lynch & Kind Hearted Strangers present: NOW.HERE ~ Benefiting Connor's Heroes
DATE: Saturday August 20
START TIME: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM EDT
PRICE: $20.00 per ticket + Fees
TICKET WEBSITE: https://bit.ly/NowHereRVA
LOCATION: 1011 Commerce Road, Richmond, VA 23224 in city’s Manchester District
A portion of ticket sales, art sales, and merch sales will go directly to support Connor’s Heroes.
Artist Dylan Lynch and musicians Kind Hearted Strangers will arrive at NOW.HERE Studios, a 4,000 sq ft warehouse in Manchester, with no pre-made content. This collaboration will take place over 7 days. It will culminate on Saturday, August 20 with an Art Exhibition + Live Performance. Dylan will showcase his new works and Kind Hearted Strangers will perform, for the first time, their new album, written and arranged that week in NOW.WHERE Studios.
Enjoy food trucks, beer and wine.
Thank you to Cara Dickens (Rocket Pop Media / RVA Galleries), Todd Divel (Sound Engineering), and Grant Joerger (Videography).
Summer Tie-Dye
Thank you to the volunteers who helped the kids with this silly, fun & messy project. (Apologizes for all the tie-dye ink that landed on your shoes & clothes!)
Hero Artists & Volunteers: Anna, Cynthia, Patricia, Janis, Joe, Journey, Parry & NCL members: Kristen, Bartley, Elizabeth
Childhood Cancer Heroes: Alessa, Alvion, Bella, Charlotte, Dayanne, Everett, Holden, Isiah, James, Jonathan, Joshua, Kennedy, Meya, Zuri, Persephone’s sisters, Peyton’s brothers
Donate Dinner To A Hero
A hero family has so much on their plate. You can bring joy to the dinner table.
You can treat a childhood cancer family to dinner by donating a gift card to their favorite restaurant. We make it easy for you to choose a restaurant.
PURCHASE A GIFT CARD FROM OUR AMAZON WISH LIST
- Check out the link to our Wish List on Amazon:
https://a.co/5GMPhQO The Wish List is full of restaurants popular with our hero families. They are probably loved by your family too! - Select your gift cards. Add to your cart. In the notes section, comment with your name and email.
- Proceed to checkout.
- Ship the cards to our office at 1840 W. Broad Street Suite 300, Richmond VA 23220.
- If you include your name and email, we will send you an email to let you know your gift card arrived.
PURCHASE A GIFT CARD FROM YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT
- Buy a gift card from a restaurant your family loves. Chances are a hero family loves it too!
- Put your gift card in an envelope. Mail the gift card or drop it off at our office. The address is: Connor’s Heroes at 1840 W. Broad Street Suite 300, Richmond VA 23220.
- Email Anne-Randolph at anne-randolph@connorsheroes.org to let her know your gift card is coming or to arrange dropping it off at our office.
Imagine a parent’s surprise when Erin hands them YOUR gift card. You will bring joy to the table with something as simple as providing dinner to a family during a difficult time.
Thank you to Lisa G., Susan E., Kristie F., Gail & Wayne C., Margaret K. an Anonymous donor for purchasing gift cards to these family favorites: Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, DoorDash, Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, First Watch, California Pizza Kitchen, Chili’s, Bottoms Up Pizza, Darden (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Longhorn), Outback, Applebee’s, Krispy Kreme, Cracker Barrel, Jersey Mikes
Questions on how you can help? Email anne-randolph@connorsheroes.org
Connor's Heroes Night with Richmond Kickers
Connor’s Heroes Night with Richmond Kickers
DATE: Saturday September 24
START TIME: 6:30 pm EDT
PRICE: $15.00 per ticket + Fees ($5 from every ticket is donated to Connor’s Heroes)
TICKET WEBSITE: Purchase your ticket here – https://offer.fevo.com/central-valley-fuego-fc-ouuedjw-981749c
LOCATION: City Stadium 3201 Maplewood Ave Richmond, Virginia 23221
$5 of every ticket sold through our exclusive link goes directly to support Connor’s Heroes Foundation.
Hero Families, don’t hit that ticket button just yet. You can come to the game free of charge. Our donors will cover the cost of your ticket. Check your inbox for an email from Anne-Randolph.
Bubbles, Music, Games & Summer Fun
One thing we’ve learned in our 15 years of helping hero families, every child’s cancer journey is different. Our program team, Erin and Anne-Randolph, get to know a family. Like, knowing a teenager’s favorite flavor smoothie from Panera. What a mom likes in her coffee. The song a child sings with his grandfather at bedtime. It is the little things that make a big difference to a family.
You can see the personalized comfort in something as simple as our Summer Fun Pack. We send Family Fun Packs to a family when their child in treatment and needs a pick me up. We stuff our bright blue box with silly games, fun crafts, and items you donated from our Amazon Wish Lists.
To kick off the summer, Anne-Randolph packaged up a personalized Summer Fun Pack for 12 families. She filled every box with the perfect summer toys, games, and activities.
“One of our young heroes is seeing impaired. I gave her shakers, small drums and other musical instruments. She can make some noise while her older brothers play badminton together in the set they received. Two of our heroes have limited mobility. They will receive tactical sensory toys and craft kits they can do with their family. I can personalize a Family Fun Pack because of Erin. Erin makes the time to get to know a family and their circumstances. She has a list of what the family like (and even dislikes). I love shopping for our hero families!”
— Anne-Randolph Carter, Program Coordinator
You can help us shop for our hero families. You can hold a supply drive for our next round of Family Fun Packs. Contact Anne-Randolph at anne-randolph@connorsheroes.org She will follow up with a list of our families’ favorite games, toys, crafts, books. You should be proud of the fact your donations give a family exactly what they need at the right time.
