Tuesday, May 25, 2010

2 Notifications - Oh my!

The charity has had the privilege of conducting 2, yes 2, notifications during the past week for two very deserving young ladies. The notifications are the best part of what we do. The volunteers for Macdonald Family Charity are all invited and show up at the child's school or home with balloons and smiles. We walk in, and the kids have no idea what's going on. Then, one of us gets the joy of telling the kid that their dream is going to come true. It doesn't get any better than that!

On May 18 we went to Thompson Valley High School and crashed a final. Don't worry - the teacher approved us being a part of the last day. We told Teal, a very sweet girl, that her dream of going to Disneyland was going to come true in August! We will get to see a lot of Teal and her mom this summer - all of the proceeds from our July 19 golf tournament will be going to pay for her dream. Teal was so excited and surprised. She shook as she gave us all hugs and thanked us up and down. She is currently battling Lyme Disease and several tick-borne co-infections for 4 years. As a 16 year old, this has greatly impacted her social life and made it hard to attend classes. She has missed almost 3 years of school due to the severity of her symptoms. She loves math and science, and her goals include becoming a chemical engineer and attending MIT. When we interviewed Teal and her mom, they put it best when they said that Teal just needed some "pure, unadulterated fun." We're going to give that to her with the trip to Disneyland with her mom and a friend. What could be more fun for a 16 year old?

The second notification we had was on May 20 at Bill Reed Middle School. Brooke, a 13 year old girl, was in a major car accident a year and a half ago. She has been constantly struggling with coming back to her original self after sustaining a major brain injury. She is doing well, but still has to work hard to keep up with her class mates. Thanks to great teachers, a supportive family, and pure hard work and dedication, she is making incredible gains. Brooke has always dreamed of going to the Smithsonian. This dream is something she has always felt would feed her lifelong goal of becoming an author. What better way to kick of summer for this sweet girl than for her to go to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. on June 1-5 with her entire family! The family will enjoy all of the fun the city has to offer, including White House and Congress tours. She will also have plenty of time to explore the museum.

We are so excited for such deserving girls to be receiving their dreams this summer! Stay tuned - we still have 5 more kids who will be going on their dreams in the next 3 months (they just don't know it yet!)

Monday, May 17, 2010

More Changes to Come at Macdonald Family Charity

As the month of May comes to a close, Macdonald Family Charity is saying goodbye to two volunteers here at the office.

Britini, a recent graduate of Colorado State University, came to the charity to volunteer in January as a part of her major studies. She was always cheerful, positive and passionate about children. We wish her all the best in her upcoming trip to Africa and beyond. She will certainly be an excellent addition to the City of Fort Collins RAD Van program this summer. RAD Van (Recreation At your Door) brings crafts and athletic activities to underpriviledged children in Fort Collins-a perfect fit for active and creative Britini!

Here's Katie's poem to Britni to thank her for her time with the charity:

There once was a volunteer named Britni,
Who worked so hard, but not in Sydney.
Her days were filled with phone calls and fun,
And we worried what we’d do when she’s done.

That day has finally come, and we’re not only sad – we’re glum.

Britni – thank you for all you’ve completed.
Hopefully you don’t feel you’ve been mistreated. J
A thank you note would certainly be nice,
But after all you’ve done it wouldn’t suffice.

Around the office you will find a treasure hunt – the graduate kind.

Please head to the middicle to find your first prize.
This item will help you relax, but you must use your eyes.
From there you will head to the place where you sit,
And look near your feet for a special little kit.

Our hopes are you’ll use this stuff to relax - sorry no snacks.

From there please head to the microwave,
Where you will find something that’s all the rage!
Perhaps you’ll use it just for your toes,
And maybe not – it’d look great on your nose!

The final stop is near the photo wall – we found this at the mall.

Hopefully you’re sensing a theme…
Everything you’ve found is green.
The green is for growth, which I know you’ve done.
Way to go – look how far you’ve come!

I’ve really appreciated your help –
If ever you need anything, feel free to yelp!




Another goodbye to Sara Beth who has been with the charity since August. Sara Beth was the "hole filler" here at the office and was integral in picking up the small stuff that falls through the cracks when there are many people working hard on big ideas and projects. She has always shown up to work with a smile and willingness to help wherever necessary. We wish her luck in her future endeavors! She will be missed.

Here's Katie's poem for Sara Beth:

There once was a lady named Sara Beth
Who was known for the freshest of breath.
She came to work for MFC,
And in turn became a friend to me.

Your 9 months with the charity
Have hopefully been filled with hilarity.
From phone calls to event support –
Don’t forget to print that report!

The office without you will seem quite blue
Please know you’ll be missed – not like the flu.
I hope wherever you go you’ll never forget
Your time granting dreams and everyone you met.


Among the goodbyes there is happy news! We are receiving applications for dreams and can't wait to turn them into reality! Check back next week for a new entry and as always, keep up with us on facebook and twitter for daily updates!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Upcoming Charity Events

Hello Dreamers!

Spring time is here and that means some big and busy events for the charity! Stay involved in all the news through this weekly updated blog, as well as facebook and twitter!

July will be a busy month for us! Our second annual Golf Tournament will be held at the Fort Collins Country Club and anyone can attend! More news to come on signing up as a team or an individual. Breakfast, lunch, shot gun start and prizes! It will be a great day for golfing. Also in July the Fort Collins Sports and Social Club will host the second annual Pacific Nights Luau with proceeds to benefit Macdonald Family Charity. This event was a great success last year with it's luau theme and beverages from Coyote Gold and New Belgium Brewery, you won't want to miss out on the fun!

Continue to check our website for further details and our blog entries weekly to keep up with what's happening here at the charity. Just as a reminder, our application period is open until May 31st so if you know a child who is terminally or chronically ill, injured, in a foster care environment or from a family with a low income-send them our way! Applications are available online.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Changes at the Charity!

The Board of Directors of Macdonald Family Charity is pleased to welcome it's newest member Gregg Seebohm! Gregg is a community leader from Fort Collins and is a self-titled "Professional Volunteer." We are happy to see such a dedicated individual join our cause of making children's dreams come true!




While we are thrilled to welcome Gregg, we are sad to see two important members of our Board go. Denise Perich, Board Treasurer, and Kyle Anne Lucks, Board Secretary, have resigned yet will remain involved in the mission of the charity to grant dreams to children in northern Colorado through events and volunteering.




Board member Brownie McGraw has stepped up into the position of Treasurer and member Tina Barela is now our Event Chair and will help to plan the exciting events the charity is planning for 2010.




It's a busy time for us here and we hope you will continue to stay connected to our blog, facebook and twitter accounts to keep up with the action at Macdonald Family Charity. Check back next week for new updates!