| Twilight Affair Raises $19,500! |
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Many
thanks to all of you who attended our annual Twilight Affair on
November 6th. Because of your generosity, we raised
$19,500 for the children and their families.
We were thrilled to have several special guests join
us. They were Wendy Pollack and her family (pictured here
with her father), Josh Sharpe and his family, DJ Murphy and his
sister, and Trent McKinnon-Tucker and his family. The evening was
even more special because you were there!
We
would also like to thank the people and companies who donated
auction items for our silent auction. Many of you donate year after
year and we are grateful for your kindness and support.
Also, a big thank you to the staff at Harris' Pelham Inn and also to Qwill for providing the music.
Hope to see you on November 5, 2009 at our 8th Annual Angels Above Twilight Affair!
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| Corporate Charitable Programs |
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In the best of times, fundraising is an effort. In a poor economy,
it is a constant challenge. That's why we are so thrilled to
be part of several corporate contribution campaigns.
Employees submit our information and once approved, Angels Above is
added to a list giving employees an opportunity to donate.
If your company offers a charitable contribution
program, and you would like to nominate Angels Above, please contact
Mary Beth at angelsabove1996@yahoo.com
We appreciate your support!
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| Sponsor a Party |
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We host many parties throughout the year for
the children and their families and are in need of sponsors to help
with the cost of the food. A typical party for the pediatric floors
costs approximately $350. This includes pizza, salads, fruit trays,
cookies, cupcakes, soda, juice and water.
For just $25, you
can become an "Angel Party Sponsor." Your name will be posted on the
table and you'll receive a picture of the party. Please mark on your
check "Angel Party Sponsor" and we will put your donation towards our
next party.
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| Wish List |
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The
hospital playrooms are always in need of the following items: UNO
Cards, SKIP-BO Cards, Fuzzy Posters, Lullaby CDs, Rattles, Playdoh,
Coloring Books, Crayola Crayons, and Legos.
If you would like to donate, please drop items off at the Angels Above Store or call Sue at 978-452-4833.
Many thanks! |
| Thank You! |
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During the past year, we received many donations to our
charity. Many were in memory of a loved one, in honor of a loved
one, or just because you wanted to help.
So we thank you and extend our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who opened their hearts to Angels Above. |
| Forward To A Friend |
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In our last issue, we stated if you forward
the newsletter to a friend, they would automatically be added to our
mailing list. We goofed! Once you forward the newsletter, they
must hit the "join our mailing list" button at the top of the
newsletter in order to be added to our mailing list.
So please resend this to all your family and friends and ask them to "JOIN OUR MAILING LIST."
Sorry for the confusion!
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Dear Friend,
Happy New Year and welcome to our winter 2009 edition of Angel News!
We would like to thank all of you who sent
us feedback on our first email newsletter. We love hearing
from you so please send us any comments or questions you may
have. We hope you enjoy this one as much!
Sue Horman
and
Mary Beth Brunelle |
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 As reported in our last newsletter, DJ Murphy, who was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2007, met
Randy Moss and Tom Brady last May and received an autographed football.
DJ, being the special person he is, decided to
donate his football for our silent auction at the 7th
Annual Twilight Affair (pictured above with his
sister). He said it was his way of giving back to Angels
Above. The highest bid was $750 made by someone bidding
on behalf of Angels Above (yes, we were determined to
win it!). Much to DJ's surprise, we presented the football back
to him that night. Later on in the evening, Don, a generous and long
time supporter, donated more than $750 and simply said "it was a
nice thing you did giving the football back to DJ."
So from the bottom of our hearts, thank you DJ and Don. Many children will benefit from your kindness. |
A Gift to Angels Ab ove
Last
July, we received an email from Kristen Foti, a staff nurse
on Ellison 18 at MGHfC. She and and her then fiance, Paul Buckley,
wanted to make a donation to Angels Above. They were
getting married on October 4th, 2008 and decided that in lieu of
traditional wedding favors, they would donate to Angels Above
in honor of their guests.
We were touched they thought of us on their special day and we wish them a very happy life together.
Thank you Kristen and Paul! |
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Office Depot Employees Donate
Employees
of the Office Depot Distribution Center in Billerica, MA recently made
a generous donation to Angels Above. Pictured here with Sue
accepting the check are Nancy Buxton, Cheryl Graham and Tim
Hallinan, all from Office Depot.
The employees raised money through their coffee fund and by returning cans and bottles during the year.
We would like to thank all of them for their generosity.
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 Stephanie's Story
Stephanie Ebeling, a former patient at MGHfC, is a wonderful
friend to Angels Above. She has helped raise money for our
charity by making fleece blankets for several of our Twilight
Affair silent auctions (she's pictured here with a Celtics blanket from
our 2008 fundraiser). She recently completed her treatment so we
asked her to share her story.
1. When and with what were you diagnosed?
I
was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on May 17, 2006--just
days before my high school graduation. I was picked up early from
school that day, during one of my final exams, and taken to the
hospital, where we received the diagnosis. Although my chemo regiment
dictated that I would be in the hospital for about a month, I was
permitted to leave the hospital for a few hours to attend my graduation
ceremony. We called it a "long walk" because the insurance company
wouldn't have cleared it. Also, because the chemo regiment would be a
very rigorous schedule for the first year of treatment, I had to
postpone college for a year. I started the following year, in the fall
of 2007, but got really sick, as I was suddenly working long hours on
my schoolwork, while still going through treatment. So I deferred
again, and now I am finally a freshman in college, with no doubt in my
mind that I will be able to continue on at this point.
2. The many times you were in MGHfC, how did Angels Above make a difference?
Every
single time I was admitted to MGHfC, Angels Above touched my stay and
made it not only bearable, but pleasant. I know the funds from Angels
Above are responsible for every creature comfort I received in the
hospital, and I am eternally grateful for that. It's not just that the
gifts and special occasions were appreciated, but also the knowledge
that I was being taken care of emotionally, as well as medically. The
graduation, birthday and holiday gifts were wonderful and amazingly
generous, but I cherish the less tangible gifts just as equally. For
example, the meals that Angels Above paid for, giving me a welcomed
break from the monotonous hospital food, were so dearly appreciated I
can't say enough. Every time I got to see Sue and Mary Beth, I was
again reminded of the wonderful gifts they give to us just so we would
have a better day.
3. How are you feeling today and what have you been doing since finishing treatment?
Nowadays,
I am feeling great. I have a steady level of energy day-to-day. I
finished my treatment in August, and although I was ecstatic to leave
the chemo behind, I found the experience to be bittersweet as well.
Every single person who has been involved in my treatment--doctors,
nurses, child life, Angels Above--has been wonderful, and I feel lucky
to have known them all. I'm currently a freshman at Fisher College in
Boston, studying Early Childhood Education. I am in the process of
looking into transfer schools, as I want to move into the Elementary
Education field. I am also very involved with a middle school community
theater program in my hometown (Natick).
4. Do you have a favorite saying that sums up all you've been through?
There
are a few phrases that people around me have mentioned when we talk
about everything I've gone through. One phrase that comes to mind dates
back to the days when I had hardly any hair, and my uncle, who shaves
his head, told me that "Bald is beautiful," and those words stuck with
me. Another phrase I think of comes from the children's book The Little
Engine That Could, whose mantra was "I think I can, I think I can...I
CAN!"
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Santa's Visit!
Our
annual Christmas Party was held at MGHfC on December
11th. Santa, accompanied by Mrs. Claus and an
Elf, brought many smiles to the children and adults. Santa spread lots of cheer as he made his way around
the hospital to visit each child on Ellison 17 and 18, the Pediatric
Intensive Care Unit and also the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
A special holiday lunch, prepared by
Two Chefs Catering, was provided for the children, their families,
and the hospital staff.
Please visit our website to view the wonderful pictures that were taken throughout the day.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We wish everyone a year filled with peace, love, and good health.
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