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.
Ice Cream Pop Up
Look who showed up for the Ice Cream POP UP at Gelati Celesti Stony Point Shopping Center! Gelati Celesti hosted a spirit night to raise money for the childhood cancer hero families. It was great to see heroes like Holden, Charlie, Valentin, Dayanne, Everette, Alvion, Nairoby, and Autumn. Their smiles brought much-needed summer sunshine on a rainy day. Thank you to Gelati Celesti Stony Point Shopping Center for hosting a Spirit Night to benefit Connor’s Heroes.
Are you a local company who gives back to your community, especially to help children? If you want to hold a fundraiser to benefit the children helped through Connor’s Heroes, visit our website to find your fundraising opportunity: https://www.connorsheroes.org/ways-to-give
In the comments section, tell us about your business.
Today's Helping Hero: Lila
Thank you to Lila for donating the proceeds from her art show to Connor’s Heroes. Lila set up a booth to sell her crafts. Every time she made a sale, she dropped a dollar in the donation bucket.
Noah was diagnosed with High Risk ALL in 2016. We featured Noah, Lila and their family at the 2019 Heroes Art Ball. Noah is out of treatment and returned to the 2022 Heroes Art Ball as a Helping Hero.
Reading Lila’s heartfelt note shows how much Connor’s Heroes remains a part of her family.
Oh What A Night
As I watched her on stage, her daddy, myself and those who love her all felt the same rush of pride. I saw the same pride on her face and the face of her siblings. Her dream of selling her art came true and for such a generous amount. She was thrilled.
— Elizabeth, mom to childhood cancer hero, Caroline
Your generosity at the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball blew us away. You made it the biggest night in Connor’s Heroes history. A record-breaking $517,000 raised. Your kindness at the gala validated the mission of Connor’s Heroes — that no family should face their child’s cancer alone. They will have a community of heroes by their sides.
9 CHILDHOOD CANCER HEROES
Ava, Aubrey, Caroline, Dayanne, Joshua, Kennedy, Meya, Sydney and Thomas are nine of the 86 children in active treatment who Connor’s Heroes is helping right now.
For many months, they came to the Visual Arts Center for our Heroes Art Session. Our Heroes Art Sessions provide a supportive environment in which childhood cancer heroes and their siblings can make art, and feel a collective sense of healing simply by creating and being together. You could feel their excitement when they finally got to take the stage with their artwork at the Heroes Art Ball. It was a magical moment as each child felt your gratitude when you put up your bid number to win their art.
A MOMENT WE WON’T FORGET
We featured Emily in the Heroes Art Ball in 2013. At the time of the 2013 Heroes Art Ball, she completed her treatment. She felt so proud when her painting raised $800 that night. Fast forward to 2022. Emily is excitedly preparing to graduate high school and go off to college. She continues to paint and volunteers as an Artist Mentor. At the Heroes Art Sessions, she collaborated with the kids on a massive painting called Sunset RVA. She guided the kids on how to add their favorite colors and brush stokes to a painting of Richmond’s iconic downtown by the river. Imagine her shock when Sunset RVA fetched $20,000 at the live auction. Proof of how Emily, Connor’s Heroes support for families, and your generosity have grown all these years. Thank you to everyone who raised their paddle during the live auction.
HERO OF THE YEAR AWARD
We named Ted and Mary Linhart as our 2022 Hero Of The Year. In her remarks, Connor’s Heroes Board Member and Founder, Lisa Goodwin, said “Ted and Mary have been quiet, yet dedicated supporters of The Heroes Art Ball since the beginning. They served on the Host Committee of the inaugural Heroes Art Ball in 2011. They have been sponsors ever since. Their commitment to Connor’s Heroes made a difference and touched our hearts.”
HELPING HEROES
Returning to the stage were our Helping Heroes. We featured these teens at a past Heroes Art Ball when they were in active treatment for cancer. Today, Aida, Anna, Campbell, Emily, Grace, Mireya, Natalie, Noah, Savanna, Wyatt, and Tay are out of treatment. They stood side-by-side (in so many ways) with the 2022 childhood cancer heroes.
PHOTOS POSTED ON FLICKR
You can see all the photos from the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball. We received so many great pics, we posted them on Flickr! Click the link to open the gallery of photos: https://www.flickr.com
If you came to the gala and posed for our Photo Spot, you can find your photo on Flickr, too. See all the pictures on our online gallery: https://www.flickr.com
BIG THANKS
Thank you to our sponsors, in-kind businesses, donors, and Artist Mentors. We are grateful to Hoot Media, Kenzi Flinchum Photography, Victoria Jean Photography and Jennifer Gavin Photography.
We were lucky to have a team volunteers helping at the gala: Katie Acker, Tom Block, Chandler Craddock, Kaetlin Collins, Samira Creel, Heather Dillon, Helen Dillion, Nickie Enos, Felicia Franco, Amy Franco, Afton Grossman, Taylor Jarrett, Kendall McQuillen, Blair Powell, McKinley Richard, Amanda Roach, Carlin Roach, Melissa Smith, Meghan Stables, and Jovany Vigil-Perez.
Hugs to the childhood cancer families who committed to coming to our Heroes Art Sessions.
And to YOU for caring about the childhood cancer community who need Connor’s Heroes.
Take a few minutes to meet the heroes you help with your support of Connor’s Heroes. You can read their profiles and watch a short video of each one: www.connorsheroes.org/heroes-of-rva
SAVE THE DATE: 12th Annual Heroes Art Ball on Friday, May 5, 2023 at John Marshall Ballrooms
Keysy & Taylor's Rooms
Taylor’s Room
15-year-old Taylor opened the door to a room filled with butterflies and her favorite colors, teal and baby blue. What made this room extra special was who the decorators were. They were a childhood cancer hero family. Their teenage daughter is in active treatment right now.
Keysy’s Room
Also on the unit is sweet Keysy. She has been in treatment for ALL for over two years. She is only six years old. The family needed a hero to be her bone marrow donor. Turns out her younger brother was her match. Volunteer Samantha made the hospital room feel like home so the whole family can be together as comfortably as possible. Erin brought gifts and cheer to Keysy and her hero sidekick, her brave brother.
Do you like to give back to your community by volunteering? Do you enjoy shopping? Do you enjoy decorating? Do you want to put a smile on a hospitalized child’s face? You may be the perfect volunteer for Connor’s Heroes room decorator team. Connor’s Heroes will give you a list of the patient’s likes and interests. You will receive a budget so you can shop around for the perfect decor. Connor’s Heroes will reimburse you for your purchases.
Fill out a volunteer application: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/volunteer_CHF
April Heroes Art Session
April’s Heroes Art Session was jam packed with creativity. Our childhood cancer heroes, their siblings (and some moms and dads) put the finishing touches on their masterpieces. This is the final Heroes Art Session before 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball on Friday, May 6, 2022.
We had special guests at this month’s Heroes Art Session. Meredith Burns, the Child Life Specialist with CHoR, met the families she can help in the hospital. Anna, Emily, Campbell, Tay, and Savanna met the young heroes who will be featured at the gala. These teens volunteered to be Helping Heroes. All five were featured at past Heroes Art Balls. They are gala pros (and an inspiration to the youngsters).
The 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball recognizes all the childhood cancer heroes with Connor’s Heroes and the community who supports them. You are invited to this magical night: 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball in May 2022! The Heroes Art Ball is Connor’s Heroes largest fundraising event of the year.
Our Heroes Art Sessions provide a supportive environment in which childhood cancer heroes and their siblings can make art, and build community with other hero families. At the sessions, they feel a collective sense of healing simply by creating and being together. We are grateful to The Visual Arts Center of Richmond for giving us the space for an open studio. And to our donors who allow the Heroes Art Sessions to happen at no cost to our families.
Childhood Cancer Heroes & their families: Meya, Sydney, Persephone, Gabby, Thomas, Kennedy, Bella, Dayanne
Hero Artist Leaders & Volunteers: Katya Herndon, Dale Knight, Jennike Duignam, Emily Griffin, Sarah Cross, Maddie Koerber
You will meet some of the childhood cancer heroes shown here when you come to the gala. They will be our guests of honor at the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball in May 2022!
March Heroes Art Session Was Big
Our March Heroes Art Session was our largest one so far – kids, parents, artists, volunteers were excited to create. Visual Arts Center’s massive outdoor patio was the perfect spot to get to work. Everyone focused on one thing: creating beautiful pieces of art for YOU, just in time for the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball. Friday, May 6 is coming up fast! [A limited number of tickets are still on sale: https://www.connorsheroes.org/11th-heroes-art-ball]
The heroes who will be our special guests at the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball were treated like celebrities. Jos. A. Bank fitted the boys for tuxedos. [The Heroes Art Ball is black-tie optional for our guests.] The kids sat for portraits taken by Nancy Parker of Cabay Photography studio (and mom to our hero, Owen!) Greg Wright set up a mini studio for video interviews with our Heroes. The best part was when their brothers, sisters and parents joined in. Some shed a few tears, but mostly they laughed and shared cute stories about one another.
In between the painting, marbling, sculpting, rolling, cutting, crafting, quilting, and tracing, there was delicious frozen custard from Richmond’s jiji Frozen Custard truck. Extra sprinkles were a must!
Another neat thing about this Heroes Art Session heroes who have been out of treatment for over a decade created side by side with the heroes currently in the middle of treatment.
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.
The 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball recognizes all the childhood cancer heroes who are a part of Connor’s Heroes. We hope you can join us for this magical night: 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball in May 2022!
Hero Artist Leaders & Volunteers: Emily Griffin, Alex Georghiou Frankart, Frankie Slaughter, Jennike Duignam, Monica Wilmore, Nancy Jacey, Steve Hedberg, Sarah Cross, Katya Herndon, Kathleen O’Connor, Bruce Wilhelm.
Reflecting on my four years
A message from Celia
2021 was a milestone year for Connor’s Heroes. It was our 15th anniversary. The largest number of families in our history — more than 100 families — received our personalized support. Families received more financial assistance than ever before – nearly 4 times the amount of support since 2018. And 2021 marked Celia’s fourth year as our Executive Director. In this blog post, Celia reflects on and looks ahead to a pivotal year for Connor’s Heroes.
To our community of heroes and hero families:
In March 2018, the Connor’s Heroes Board Of Directors named me as Executive Director. They trusted me to carry on the Goodwin family’s legacy of Connor’s Heroes in caring for local children with cancer.
If this past year taught me anything, it was to surround myself with people who care. I thank you for being a part of MY community of heroes.
My time with Connor’s Heroes started back in 2010 as a volunteer. As I grew in my roles, so did my relationships with the brave children in treatment. Three of them — Valentin, Anna, and Sophia — remind me how easy it is for you and me to be a hero to a child with cancer.
I met Valentin in 2013 when he was just three years old. Because his family lived down the street from me, I saw them frequently. Valentin, his brother Florian, and I spent many afternoons at the Visual Arts Center during our Heroes Art Sessions. When Valentine relapsed in 2017, I visited him in the hospital. I brought him his favorite things: a pepperoni pizza, an Orangina, and lots of legos.
I got to know Anna in 2014 when I chaired the 4th Annual Heroes Art Ball. As she stood on stage, I could feel the outpouring of support for the childhood cancer heroes there that night. She has grown up so much since our Heroes Art Ball together. Now Anna attends our monthly Heroes Art Sessions as a volunteer and is giving back to Connor’s Heroes in her own special way!
Sophia was diagnosed with leukemia just two weeks before I started as Executive Director. She was one of the first heroes I met in my new role. Whenever I see her at our family events, she greets me with the biggest and most beautiful smile!
Why do I love being Executive Director of Connor’s Heroes? It is because of Valentin, Anna, Sophia, and the hundreds of childhood cancer heroes.
Today, Valentin, Anna and Sophia are post treatment. They continue to be a part of Connor’s Heroes. Whether it’s coming to an art session, a pizza party, or volunteering to decorate a BMT patient’s hospital room.
It is because of you, Valentin, Anna and Sophia were surrounded with a community of heroes who helped their families. You can make sure the next family whose child is diagnosed with cancer is supported by the many programs Connor’s Heroes has to offer.
Join me for our biggest night of the year. The Heroes Art Ball returns on Friday, May 6 at The John Marshall Ballrooms. The Heroes Art Ball funds our many programs — like our Heroes Bag and Backpack and Heroes Art Sessions. The gala promises to be a magical night for the childhood cancer heroes who are the guests of honor. And for you.
While the last few years have been full of challenges, you should be extremely proud of the many ways (big and small) you helped a child with cancer. Thank you for believing Connor’s Heroes can bring hope to a family throughout their child’s cancer journey.
Art Programs Growing
Our hero families are discovering their artistic talents through art programs organized by Connor’s Heroes. Along with our Heroes Art Sessions, our families can look forward to a year full of art created from the heart!
A spirited group of hero moms spent an evening in the studio with artist Nancy Jacey at Jacey Gallery. Nancy is well known for her large-scale paintings. She guided the hero moms on how to paint a beautiful sunflower over a blue background. The moms see each other clinic, but rarely have time to connect. The painting session gave them a few precious hours together to unwind. Nancy said, “When the moms finished painting, they shared their stories. It was very emotional and therapeutic for all.” Nancy has been an artist mentor with Connor’s Heroes for many of our Heroes Art Ball. Our Hero Artists were: Lovena Thore, Shelley Johnston, Valerie Brown, Juliet Seymour, and Jacqueline Guzman
You can see Nancy’s work on her website: https://www.nancyjacey.com/
“We absolutely loved this class! We would do this again in a heartbeat!” — Jen, mom to Hero Cooper. Cooper, Zuri, Persephone, and Anna took part in a clay class through the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. For some kids, the class was their first time working with clay and a pottery wheel. The Visual Arts Center is a great space for creativity and expression. They also host our Heroes Art Sessions every month. We are so lucky to have Visual Arts Center as a partner. Their schedule of classes is on their website: https://www.visarts.org/
Creating art can help a hero family make sense of the feelings they experience during treatment and build a friendship with other hero families.
“A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.” — Salvador Dali
Teens' Hospital Rooms Decorated
Two teenage childhood cancer heroes started a lengthy stay on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (BMT). When our Program Director, Erin, learned they were being admitted, she and Anne-Randolph sprung into action. They put out an all-call to our team of BMT volunteers. Just like a real superhero, the volunteers answered our call and arrived in the nick of time to help! Look how the teams of volunteers decorated the hospital rooms for Edwin and Kayleigh. Each room captured the spirited personalities of these teen heroes.
Allez Paris Saint-Germain!
Edwin told Erin he was a big fan of soccer. His favorite team is Paris Saint-Germain. Connor’s Heroes Board member Tom Voekler and his wife, Jill, volunteered to make Edwin’s room feel special. Jill and Tom are a passionate soccer family. They knew exactly what a soccer fan would love. They decorated Edwin’s hospital room with posters, lights, and a team flag.
You Go Girl
19-year-old Kayleigh entered her hospital room to find it decorated with inspiring posters reading “You Go Girl” and “You Can. You Will!” On her bed were arts, crafts, and games. Leave it to Ellen, a skilled BMT room decorator, to find the perfect decorations for Kayleigh’s room.
Do you like to give back to your community by volunteering? Do you enjoy shopping? Do you enjoy decorating? Do you want to put a smile on a hospitalized child’s face? You may be the perfect volunteer for Connor’s Heroes room decorator team. Connor’s Heroes will give you a list of the patient’s likes and interests. You will receive a budget so you can shop around for the perfect decor. Connor’s Heroes will reimburse you for your purchases.
Fill out a volunteer application: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/volunteer_CHF