Jingle Bells ALL THE WAY!
Childhood cancer hero families were treated to a holiday experience that gave them special holiday memories. Families with a child in active treatment were invited to our annual Holiday Open House. This year, we partnered with CelebrateRVA — another local nonprofit. CelebrateRVA has a joyful party space specifically made to host birthday parties for underserved children. They let us redecorate it and turn it into a Winter Wonderland.
At the Holiday Open House, families sipped from a cozy hot chocolate bar, enjoyed a buffet of desserts, got crafty at holiday stations, and spent magical moments with the big man himself — Santa! Kids left with arms full of presents from their holiday wish lists. Parents/caregivers received a $250 Visa gift card to help with holiday expenses.
Check out our album of photos from the holiday open house — including adorable pictures of the kids with Santa!
Dominion GardenFest of Lights
We were excited to once again offer hero families complimentary tickets to the amazing Dominion GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter. The light display features millions of lights, botanical decorations, and model trains. After spending an evening under the lights, it is easy to see why it keeps getting voted the Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights in the U.S.! (USA Today 10Best contest; 2024 & 2023). Check out the fun the families had together.
Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy
Connor’s Heroes received a grant for one of the hottest tickets in town: The Richmond Ballet performance of the Nutcracker. With its stunning choreography, lavish sets and costumes, and Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, The Nutcracker is a magical experience for audiences of all ages! For many of the families, this was their first time experiencing the Nutcracker Ballet.
The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Look at how you made the season bright for childhood cancer hero families:
$31,750 in Visa gift cards given to hero parents/caregivers
168 toys and gift cards for children at the Holiday Open House
149 Lewis Ginter Festival Of Lights tickets
144 WaWa pretzels for Holiday Open House
127 children in active treatment for cancer
64 pictures with Santa
124 gingerbread houses
68 Nutcracker tickets
12 volunteers at the Holiday Open House
4 elves (aka Connor’s Heroes Staff)
1 new community partner – CelebrateRVA
1 new BFF – SANTA!
Thank You To Our Holiday Heroes
Over the holidays, parents and caregivers are juggling the emotional stress of their child’s diagnosis with the financial stress of giving their family the holiday they deserve after a difficult year. The Holiday Hero Fund provided each family in active treatment a $250 VISA gift card, tickets to Lewis Ginter GardenFest of Lights, presents from their holiday wish lists, and a wonderful Holiday Open House.
The Holiday Heroes Fund was fully funded thanks to our community of heroes, especially The Heizer Family, The Fergerson Family, participants in The Opie Open Golf Tournament, Richmond Ballet For All and The Richmond Christmas Mother Fund. Below is the list of caring people who donated to the Holiday Hero Fund:
Ms. Adams • Mr. and Mrs. Andrews • Ms. Asay • Mr. and Mrs. Askin • Mr. Biller • Mr. and Mrs. Bishop • Mr. Blackwell • Mr. and Mrs. Block • Mr. Bolton, III, D.D.S. • Mr. Brammer • Mr. and Mrs. Bray • Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter • Mr. and Mrs. Chalkley • Mr. and Mrs. Coffin • Mr. and Mrs. Coleman • Commercial Plastering and Drywall, Inc. • Cowardin’s Jewelers • Mr. Craft • Mr. and Mrs. D’Arville • Mr. Durrett • Ms. Earley • Mr. and Mrs. Fergerson • Mr. Fieseler • Ms. Fisher • Mr. Fuller • Mr. Harvey • The Heizer Family • Mr. Hollins • Hudson Group Realty, Inc • Mr. Hughes • Mr. and Mrs. Ivins • Mr. Johnson • Kamco Building Supply • Ms. Keeler • Mr. Kelley • Mr. and Mrs. Knight • Ms. Lane • Mr. Lemieux • Mr. Love • Mrs. Loverro • Mr. and Mrs. Martin • Drs. Massey • Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas • Old Dominion Drywall, Inc. • Dr. and Mrs. Peyton • Mr. and Mrs. Porter • Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard • Richmond Ballet For All • Richmond Christmas Mother Fund • Mr. and Mrs. Schoepke • Mr. and Mrs. Smith • Mr. and Mrs. Stump • Ms. Tirs • Mr. and Mrs. Tolley • Drs. Tyson • Ms. Weymouth • Mr. Wilberger • Mr. and Mrs. Wright • Mr. and Mrs. Zyglocke •
