A Child's Dream... Fulfilled!

A real live football player in Loveland!

2012-02-28T09:41:00.001-08:00

Adam Carriker, Defensive End for the Washington Redskins. 124 career tackles.9 sacks. 3 recovered fumbles.11 stuffs. 1 kick blocked.

What do football stats have to do with A Child’s Dream, you’re asking? Well, we are super excited to announce that Adam recently decided to donate his time to us twice in March. The first time will be at our Celebrity Bartending Event, March 5th at The Boot in Loveland. If you don’t have any plans that night come out and see him there from 7-9. Tips from that night and an auction will benefit the agency.

That’s just the pre-game for the big event - our Mardi Gras Fashion Show coming up on March 10th from 6-11 pm at the Drake Centre. As if bartending for us wasn’t enough Adam has offered to be sold in our live auction for a personal 1 hour football lesson as well as a jersey, helmet, gloves and cleats!

Call (970)667-6119 to get your tickets to the Mardi Gras Fashion Show today – they are going fast!

2012-02-06T07:44:00.000-08:00

February is the month for love! Why not share the love and help make a child's dream come true? Help support this worthy cause by coming to our 6th Annual Mardi Gras Fashion Show, on March 10. Tickets are $65 per person or $600 a table. Tickets include dinner, two beverages, and a goodie bag. There will also be live and silent auctions as well as a purse raffle. Items in the auctions include but are not limited to four tickets to the Fort Collins Symphony, a free night and $100 food gift certificate at the Lodge Casino, a trip to Disneyland and even a puppy! Get your tickets today by calling 970-667-6119.
Can't make it to the event but still wanna support the cause? Go to
https://www.givingfirst.org/AChildsDream/overview to donate now!

Emily’s Dream to Disneyland – heaven!

2012-01-19T12:57:00.000-08:00

Emily, a little girl from Wellington, dreamed of going to Disneyland with her family. When she was asked if she could do anything in the world, the answer always came back that she would love to go to Disney.

On December 22 that dream came true for this deserving little girl and her family! Her mom, dad, and three siblings were all part of the fun that made sure the 4 days at Disneyland were magical.

When we talked to Mom after they got back she could hardly contain the excitement the kids had experienced. She said the kids smiled and laughed the entire time, and they couldn’t believe their eyes at all the fun things they were doing.

All of the kids said that the trip was heaven, and the entire family is so grateful for the opportunity they couldn’t have had without us.

A Dream Come True!

2011-12-21T14:39:00.001-08:00

David's Dream Came True on Sunday!

David's dream came true on Sunday when he was taken to the Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots game in Denver. He had an amazing day, and our chaperone and board member, Eric Kidd, puts it best:

"Being able to accompany David and his grandmother and sister on Sunday's dream was an absolutely wonderful adventure. From the limo ride to the game to dinner afterwards, you could truly tell that David and his family were soaking in every part of the experience. While David and I watched the game intently, his grandmother and sister were watching every move of the cheerleaders (not to mention everyone's surprise when we watched the halftime entertainment - monkeys riding dogs that were wrangling sheep!) As the day came to a close, Mary pulled me aside at dinner, "You know, you've really made his dream come true." She continued, "He's been so excited leading up to today and I can tell he had a great time."

As I put my arm around her and pulled her in close for a hug, I whispered the only thing that came to mind, "that's what we're here for..."

In this case, the name of our organization and it's tagline became all the more moving to me. This truly was A Child's Dream... Fulfilled."

Thank you for all you have done to make his dream a reality. We couldn't do this great work without you.

Sincerely,

Katie Reiff

Colorado Gives Day - a huge success!

2011-12-09T10:20:00.000-08:00

Colorado Gives Day was this past Tuesday, December 6, and we are so excited by the response of our wonderful supporters. In 2010 we participated in the state-wide campaign to increase philanthropy in our beautiful state, and we were happy to raise just over $500.

This year was a different story. The Colorado Gives Day organizers saw an increase from $8 million to $12 million. We are excited to report that we saw an increase from $500 to $5,505! It was an exciting day to watch the donations pour in, and we couldn't be more thankful for all of the gifts that help make children's dreams come true.

We are excited to let you know that some of the funding from Colorado Gives Day will be used this year to fulfill our remaining two dreams - a trip to Disneyland for Emily and a trip to Denver for the Broncos vs. Patriots game on December 18 for David. It is a beautiful thing to see a child's dream come true, and we are grateful to have the community support to continue our mission.

Thank you if you were one of our gracious donors on Colorado Gives Day. Did you miss the opportunity to make a donation? No worries! You can still go to GivingFirst.org, look up A Child's Dream, and make a secure donation to help us as the year wraps up.

Have a wonderful holiday season, and may they be filled with lots of love, light, and hope.

Sincerely,
Katie Reiff
Executive Director

Happy News to Start Your September!

2011-09-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

We have had an exciting year, and we really appreciate all of your support. We are currently working on two big projects to make sure we're setting a great stage for 2012 and granting more dreams.

The first project is our application period. We are actively looking for children to receive dreams. We grant dreams to children and youth who are terminally or chronically ill, injured or low income in Larimer County. Do you know any kids between the ages of 2 and 18 who fit those requirements? If so, don't delay! The deadline for applications is September 15, 2011. Applications can be found at our website: www.achildsdreamfulfilled.org. If you have any questions, please contact Gregg Seebohm at gregg@dblegl.com. A great big thank you to our Dream Team who has been working very hard to make sure people know that we're looking for kids!

The second project is our wine tasting. We are in the process of finalizing the invitations to this great event. Last year we raised $15,000, and this year we're hoping to raise $20,000. Our event committee is working very hard to pull together the details, and we really appreciate their help. This year the event is set for October 22 at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person or $135 per couple. We will be featuring a "Dream Auction" which includes a trip to New Orleans for a jazz and dining experience as well as a trip to Chicago's Wrigley Field Rooftop. Tickets can be purchased by calling the office at (970)667-6119.

T
hanks again for all your support, and we hope you will consider helping us with both of these projects. Enjoy the end of summer, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with you into the fall.

Don Brown - a board member with a heart for kids!
Don with Allen at Allen's dream of meeting Taylor Swift

If you've been receiving our newsletters for a while, you know that we enjoy highlighting a board member per month and like to find out what their dreams were as a child, what their dream is now, and why they are invovled with A Child's Dream. This month we're highlighting Don Brown, a dedicated board member who has been with the agency since its inception. We are grateful to have his leadership and passion on the board. If you want to catch the fever of granting dreams, be sure to talk to this man! He will light a fire, show what a difference our work does, and make you want to get involved! Here are his answers to our questions:

My Dream as a Child was to become a Professional Bull Rider. We grew up on a farm near Hudson, CO. After I told my Dad that at the age of 14 he made us move to the City so I could get some sense in Me! LOL!
My Dream Now is To Grow old With My Wife Anita and our Kids and Touch as many lives along the way by giving back through a Child's Dream and, making Kids Lives better than they were before!

We love Kids! We raised our two Biological kids(Matt 26 and Jonna 24) and Adopted Kylie out of China when she was 10 months old. She is Now 5! The Kids are our Future and they need to know that people care about them no matter who they are or what their dealing with!

Thanks again for all you do to help make A Child's Dream successful! May your fall be filled with lots of exciting, fun and wonderful things. Maybe even a dream come true!

Sincerely,

Katie Reiff, Executive Director

Monday Fun Day! Get Your Smiles Here

2011-08-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

Kids are honest little people who say things sometimes in the most innocent yet hilarious way that can brighten even the worst day. The stories and pictures here WILL make you chuckle and hopefully inspire you to brighten a child's day! You can share the power of a dream! A Child's Dream is now accepting applications for the 2012 year. With only 19 days left to submit applications, we need your help finding kids who need their dreams to come true!

Kids Explain Love

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF TWO ADULTS EATING DINNER AT A RESTAURANT ARE IN LOVE?

"See if the man has lipstick on his face."

- Sandra, age 7

"It is love if they order one of those desserts that are on fire. They like to order those because it's just like how their hearts are -- on fire!"

- Christine, age 9

HOW IMPORTANT IS LOVE?

"Love is the most important thing in the whole world, but baseball is pretty good too."

- Greg, age 8

More information on how you can help and where applications can be downloaded you can visit:

http://www.macdonaldfamilycharity.org/index.cfm/0/0/16-Applications.html
Remember the application deadline is September 15th, 2011.

We hope you can help brighten a child's day as we have birghtened yours!

-Megan

Send us dream kids!

2011-08-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

The dog days of summer are upon us. It's hot, school's about to start, and people are wrapping up their vacations. Are you reaching the end of this fun season wishing you'd spent more time in the pool? Or maybe you're planning on squeezing one last camping getaway into the remaining weekends. Whatever your plans are, we hope you have a very happy end to this summer.

The end of the summer at A Child's Dream symbolizes an exciting time for our staff and volunteers. We're working very hard to publicize two very exciting things. This blog post is going to highlight one of those - our application period. We're currently in the midst of an application period where we actively look for dream kids.

What does that mean; to actively look for dream kids? Thanks to our dedicated volunteers on the Dream Team, we're working hard to make sure all the schools in Larimer County know about the deadline of September 15. We also have volunteers approaching the other nonprofits that work with the same demographic of kids. Getting the word out through the local media has also been started. Hopefully you'll hear all about our agency and the dreams we grant in the next month and a half.

From there, the volunteers on the Dream Team will begin to conduct phone interviews and review the applications. This is a tough process to undergo. Their hardest task is to figure out if this truly is the child's dream. These people aren't afraid to ask, "If this child could do anything in the world, what would it be?"

The applications are then reviewed in a group setting, and the Dream Team decides who will receive an in-person interview. The in-person interview is pretty tricky because we don't want to tell the kids why we're there. However, we want to make sure we hear their stories and their dreams.

From there, the Dream Team meets one more time to send their final recommendations on to the board. This entire process from promotion to recommendations takes about 12 weeks. This is a marathon of emotions, time, and energy. We couldn't find deserving kids if it weren't for this wonderful team of volunteers. We're very excited to have added new members and know they will do a great job.

So, that brings us to you. What can you do to help us? Why not recommend a child to receive a dream? Maybe you have a neighbor whose child is sick. Maybe your child has a chronic illness that they battle every day. Maybe there are kids at the agency you volunteer with that are low income and could use an opportunity to see that life isn't going to be surviving meal to meal for the rest of their lives. You'd be surprised how many kids qualify for dreams, and yet how few applications we end up receiving. We are opening our doors, and we want them to be blow off.

What makes a good application? The more information the Dream Team has, the better and more informed decision they can make as to whether or not to send the application along in the process. The applications are six pages long for a reason. It takes time and thought to make a great application, and we take time and energy to read every single one and make a tough decision. When all of the applications say the dream is to go to Disney, we have a hard time discerning how and why this would benefit the child. Tell a story and feel free to use extra paper.

We want to make dreams come true. Help us by sending us children - we're excited for a 2012 dream granting. Help make a dream come true!

July 1st - the Start of Make a Difference for Children Month!

2011-07-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

July is officially here, and along with it the mid-summer fun of pool parties, barbecues, celebrations of our independence, and vacations.

Why not make it about one more thing - making a difference for kids in your community? A grassroots initiative has started with just that goal. Their 4 key areas they want people to get involved are:

Pick an event or activity to do with a kid!
Support agencies that work with kids. (A Child's Dream qualifies! :) Make donations here.)
Tell your policy makers to support initiatives that are good for kids.
Tell other people about the OTHER significance of July and this campaign!

Want to read more? Click here for more information on things you can do to support Make a Difference for Children Month!

Thanks for your continued support of A Child's Dream, www.achildsdreamfulfilled.org.

Great Dreams Make Great Photos!

2011-06-24T11:02:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the beautiful photos we've received from the dreams that happened this last month - enjoy!

This is from Jennifer's notification. We had just told her that her dream of walking into Cinderella's castle was coming true, and she was so excited! She's second from the left. Right after this photo was taken she showed us the amazing accomplishment she has been working on for the past year - she walked! Jennifer went through extensive surgery last year in order to have her legs support her and walking. It was all worth it when we saw how proud she was as she walked around the living room. We know she's having a great time at Disney World. She and her family left on Monday. We can't wait to hear all about it when they get back!

The grins in this photo are awesome! On the right is Travis. Travis' dream was to go to Disneyland, and the first full week of June that happened. Travis and his brother, David, had an amazing week playing, enjoying time with their family, and being kids. The smiles in their photos were genuine. They were making memories they will never forget!

This photo is of Mariah. Mariah dreams of someday owning her own horse ranch. A wonderful Loveland horse ranch owner, Lance (on the left), has graciously agreed to host Mariah every Monday afternoon through the summer. She'll be cleaning stalls, helping groom, and get a horse experience like none other. We also sent her to Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch to go on trail rides and enjoy a different ranch experience with her family.

To help with Mariah's experience, Lance's daughter, Kate, will be showing Mariah the ropes. Here's Kate introducing Mariah to one of the 32 horses at the ranch. They are going to have a great summer together.

Goofy poses here with Kaylie and Freddy. This family spent the last week of May in Disneyland and had a great time. It was just the break everyone needed from their current economic struggles. They rode the rides, ate with the characters, and made sure to get lots of great souvenirs to help remember their trip.

This photo captures the great time Kaylie had at Disneyland. Let's go ride the teacups right now!

Look what's going on this month at A Child's Dream!

2011-06-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

Summer's Upon Us - Enjoy Our Happy News!

Each month for our newsletter we highlight a special board member that helps provide the direction for our agency, and this month we're excited to share the story of our board secretary, Gregg Seebohm.

Gregg has been passionate about volunteering and helping others for a long time and we are lucky to have such a compassionate person with us! Gregg and his wife Cindy have been long time Colorado residents and have devoted much of there time to helping people here in Larimer County. He is a great example of the volunteers here in Colorado who want to give back to the people who have made this state so wonderful. Gregg started developing his love for helping others when he was just a kid, working with a disabled family friend, and then when he first moved to Colorado and worked as an orderly at a Nursing home that provided care for developmentally disabled adults. Since then he has taken time out of raising two children and working in the construction industry to volunteer, he has done everything from helping kids with baseball to building them playgrounds.

When he was a kid his dream was to become a New York Yankee and now he dreams of seeing his grandson become a Yankee. In the meantime he goes to Rockies and Colorado State games, hopefully he would be happy if his grandson played with the Rockies, we can always use a great player to cheer for! When asked why he is involved with Macdonald Family Charity he said he wanted to give back to the people of Larimer County, especially the kids who have been less fortunate then his family has been.

It should be obvious by now how lucky these kids are to have someone with so much experience and kindness working towards making life better for them. His dedication to volunteering has made him a hero to so many. Over the years his heart has grown to include so many special people; A Child’s Dream is truly lucky to have him.

Pictured above is Brigit and Freddy with their mom. These two sweet kids have dreamed of going to Disneyland where they can enjoy life without the stress of financial woes. They wanted to spend time with their mom and just have fun! On Memorial Day I drove them to the airport for their first flight (for all 3!) and watched their excited faces as they went off to experience their dream. The family has enjoyed a week long trip and flies home today. We're excited to hear about it when they get back.

Upcoming Dreams

June is going to be a busy month for granting dreams, and we couldn't be happier! On Wednesday we went and told Travis that his dream of going to Disneyland was going to come true. He was so excited, but this sweet little boy wanted to make sure we were granting dreams for other kids as well. I assured him we were hard at work. He leaves next Monday to go to California. On June 9 we will have Mariah going on her dream to a horse ranch. Sylvan Dale is working with us to create an amazing getaway for this sweet girl. She will then have an ongoing relationship with a generous horse owner in Loveland that's going to allow her to come out and shadow his ranch hands. She dreams of someday owning her own ranch - this will be great practice! On June 20 Jennifer flies to Florida with her family to walk into Cinderella's castle. She has undergone extensive surgery to be able to walk again, and this will be an incredible closing chapter to a long journey for this little girl. She will be very excited to know it's coming true!

Thanks to all of you who gave to our summer dream kids. We couldn't do these dreams without your continued support. If you haven't given, it's not too late! Simply click here to make a donation and know that you're changing the life of a child forever.

Why do you donate?

2011-05-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

This week has been an exciting one as we gear up for our role at the Realities Poker Run over Memorial Day weekend. We will be in Old Town Square in downtown Fort Collins offering virtual motorcycle racing. It's $5 per race you race, and the winner with the best time over the weekend will receive $250 AND tickets to a real motorcycle race in Colorado Springs.

People's generosity has been overwhelming - we're working with Best Buy, and they are providing a game that's not on the market yet along with all of our tv/gaming equipment. Realities is also helping us raise money by providing us a booth space along with offering the opportunity for participants to pay $5 and potentially win $25,000 in a dice game. The prize for best race time has been graciously provided by Center Partners, and we haven't even touched on the time and energy that goes into pulling something like this together by our volunteer, Joyce. Awesome generosity of time, connections, and money!

What makes you take the step to donate your talents or treasure? Is it an appreciation for how blessed you and your family are? Do you do it because your parents told you to? Is is something that's indescribable?

Whatever the reason you give may be, please know that the impact your donations have on the children in our program of granting dreams is something we can only attempt to describe. Their smiles tell only a small tip of the iceberg of impact you have on their lives. Thank you!

Way to go!

2011-05-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

You helped us reach amazing goals in 2010 and the start of 2011!

Like graduating Kindergarten, our agency moved from being a kid to becoming a young adult. We couldn't have done it without you, and we are extremely grateful! Did you know that in 2010 we raised over $100,000 and fulfilled 22 dreams for deserving children? Amazing! We couldn't have done it without you and your help!

We are excited at how the first four and a half months have gone with A Child's Dream. We have been working hard to make dreams come true for children and youth who are terminally or chronically ill, injured and low income in our community. From January to today we have made 6 dreams come true including a meet and greet with LeBron James and LeCrae, trips to Disneyland and Morgan's Wonderland, and a cruise. It's been exciting to see these dreams come together and the impact on the children's lives. Below are some of the great pictures from the dreams.

From top to bottom we have Jackson who went to Morgan's Wonderland, Jordan who met LeBron James, Casey who went to Disneyland and Jose who met LeCrae.

Without you, these dreams wouldn't have come true. Thank you for your past gifts and support! We hope you will consider making a donation (by clicking here) to help us fulfill our summer dreams.

Perhaps a donation isn't a option right now. That's ok! We have an exciting volunteer opportunity coming up this weekend. We will have a booth at the Realities for Children Poker Run in downtown Fort Collins starting on Saturday and going to Sunday. We have partnered with Best Buy to bring virtual motorcycle racing to the event. It will be a ton of fun. We are in need of volunteers to help man our booth on Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. (in 3 hour shifts) and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. (in 3 and 4 hour shifts). Please let me know if you can help!

Thank you!

Katie

Give a gift just because!

2011-05-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

If only hope could be wrapped in a box!

The normally sunny days of a Colorado springtime don't seem to be anywhere in sight. It's cloudy, dreary, and cold. Is this really May? I don't know about you, but I tend to get bummed out when I don't see the sun for a while. Where is our beautiful weather?
Instead of letting the weather get you down, why not take charge of the situation and give someone a gift to brighten their day? The gift I'm suggesting is hope. Yes, with us, it CAN be bought (but maybe not wrapped in a box)!
Did you know that generosity can impact your own mood and outlook? So, instead of depending on some happy Colorado sunshine, why not make yourself happy knowing that you're making a difference by giving to A Child's Dream? Your gift will go a long way to helping us achieve our mission of making children's dreams come true. Children like CJ.
CJ is a sweet young man who struggles with Cerebral Palsy and memory challenges. His is always ready to greet new people with a smile, and has an incredibly upbeat personality despite the struggles he has to endure on a daily basis. CJ dreamed of going to Disneyland, and on January 25, 2011 his dream came true! The entire family flew to Disneyland and spent the week hanging with the characters, riding the rides and seeing the shows. It was a very happy week for everyone in his family, and one he will remember forever.
I hope you'll consider making today a happy day; for you and deserving kids in northern Colorado! Donations can be made by simply clicking here.
Thank you for your continued support of our wonderful program!
Sincerely,
Katie Reiff
Executive Director

Donate today! Make a difference that lasts a lifetime!

2011-05-16T09:30:00.001-07:00

Your gifts make a difference - one dollar at a time!

Did you know that your gifts allow us to continue to grow to serve the ever growing population of eligible children in Larimer County? The more money received, the more dreams we can make come true. It's a pretty amazing equation!
Each gift we receive is stewearded to have the biggest impact possible. With our relationships with service providers and your donations, dreams come alive for less than anticipated. The more gifts, the more dreams!
One really wonderful dream we have seen come true this year was Tabythia's.
Tabythia's smile says it all! On March 25 this sweet little girl went on her dream - a cruise to Mexico with her mom and two brothers. The family had a wonderful time away from the stress of life, and Tabythia got to enjoy paradise with that smile on her face the entire time. She is currently undergoing treatment for cancer in her eye, but cancer can't hide the twinkle!
You may think yes, this is a wonderful story. However, there is no way I can afford to send 4 people on a cruise. That's the great thing about what we do! Your generous donation pooled with other people's donations make it very doable!
Here are some of the ways a smaller donation may be put to use with A Child's Dream:

$50 provides a dream recipient with a goody basket full of favorite foods, toys and memorabilia associated with their dream at their notification
$150 provides 4 hours of limo service to a dream in fulfillment
$500 provides tickets to an event the dream child wishes to attend (sporting events, concerts, etc.)
$10000 provides airfare for a family to Disneyland

Want to make a dream come true this summer? Simply click here to donate now!

Thank you for helping our mission of making dreams a reality for these struggling kids!

What a beginning - let's keep it up!

2011-05-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

2011 has been an exciting time to launch our name change. We have been "A Child's Dream" for 4 months now, and we are loving it. With meeting our goal of funds raised at the fashion show as well as making 6 dreams come true, it has been busy and wonderful. Thank you for the role you play in making it so!

As you know, the school year is wrapping up, and summer vacations are on everyone's minds. Where are you going this summer? Perhaps to visit relatives or the beach? Maybe even Disneyland or World? Fun times are ahead - there's no doubt about it!

For some of the kids in our community the summer doesn't look as exciting. Kids like Travis. Travis is a little boy from Loveland who is from an extremely low income family. He hears his friends at school ask each other where their families are going this summer, and this sweet little boy knows that his family can't afford to go anywhere. His dad was in an accident at work that left him with a brain injury and without one leg. His mom does what she can, but she is unable to leave the home to get a job to support the family because Travis and his sibling can't be left alone with dad because of the injuries. It's a vicious cycle, and unfortunately, Travis is one of the people suffering the most. He would love to be able to be as excited as his school friends about summer and brag about a trip to Disneyland - somewhere he's dreamed of going for the longest time.

This is just one of the stories of the children whose dreams we are hoping to fulfill this summer. However, we can't do it alone. Over the course of May, we hope you will consider giving a donation to A Child's Dream to help us fulfill the summer dreams. Dreams like Travis' of going to Disneyland! It's easy to make a donation - simply click here.

Thank you for all of your support in the past. Your gifts, time and support have helped us fulfill 6 dreams already in 2011. Did you know that since we were founded, A Child's Dream has made over 40 dreams a reality? That's in less than 3 1/2 years! We can't do it alone, and we thank you for what you do!

Sincerely,

Katie

Katie Reiff
Executive Director
A Child's Dream

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Buy A Ticket to the Fashion Show!

2011-02-11T09:18:00.000-08:00

1. You've always wanted to wear a bright mask and get your picture taken.

2. You have yet to find a reason to wear those cute heels you bought.

3. You really like to drink hurricanes (two included with each ticket!!).

4. Your kids get spring break in March, why shouldn't you?

5. You can buy your summer vacation and get a tax write off for it!

6. You haven't ever won anything but you're feeling good about the purse raffle and winning $500.

7. Your last girl's night was in

2002.

8. You don't remember what a girl's night is.

9. Your last fashion inspiration happened at that girl's night.

10. You've always wanted to make a child's dream come true!

A Great Beginning!

2011-02-07T14:17:00.000-08:00

Wow! We're just beginning Febuary and what a year it's already been! Jordon got the awesome oportunity to meet LeBron James in January, after that we sent CJ on a dream week in Disneyland and on Thurday we are sending Casey to Disneyland! We are so excited to have started the year in such a way!

Things have definately been busy here at the charity! We're getting ready to have our 5th Annual Mardi Gras Fashion Show on March 5th which will be an incredible evening of Big Easy Style frivolity, fashion, and fun as we raise aweareness and dollars for A Child's Dream. If you haven't bought your ticket yet we encourage you to jump on that - they're going fast! There is going to be a great fashion show displaying many wonderful companies: Tula, Satin Camisole, Biyazzi, Prima, Sole Mates, and Designs. Also there will be a live auction you don't want to miss out on - it includes diamonds and fantastic trips! Follow us on our facebook page: Mardi Gras Fashion Show (http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/#!/pages/Mardi-Gras-Fashion-Show/210250676951).

Jordan is a foster child who hasn't had many strong male role models in his life. He has latched on to LeBron James as a positive person to look up to. On January 13, 2011, A Child's Dream was able to step in and help this young man meet his hero. Jordan spent a brief time with this mentor but the effects will be felt for years to come!

We're so glad you took time to read our blog and hope your week is starting out well!

Charitable Donation Dealine for Taxes is Coming Up!

2010-12-28T08:56:00.000-08:00

Make your last minute donations count!

The time has come to start looking to 2011 - and it is quickly approaching! It's hard to believe that this Friday is New Years Eve. Everyone here at Macdonald Family Charity hopes you have a wonderful new year! Any new years resolutions? Perhaps a resolution you have is to volunteer more? Or give of your personal finances to support a cause near a dear to your heart? I would encourage you to not put off all resolutions until next year. Make a donation to Macdonald Family Charity and have it count toward your 2010 taxes. What could be better?

Contributions can be made here, and they are processed for free. You will know that every dollar you give as an end of the year gift will go directly to the charity and our mission of making struggling children's dreams come true. Children like LilyAnn. LilyAnn is a child who was granted a dream to spend time with her mother, a breast cancer warrior. Her mom was diagnosed last spring, and since then LilyAnn's life has been turned upside down. Because mom is a single mom, they had to move in with grandparents. All of their finances were tied up in medical bills, which left little for having fun as a mother and daughter. In October we made LilyAnn's dream of spending fun time with her mother a reality. Here they are at Cavalia in Denver.

The ladies had a dream weekend that started with lunch at Red Robin, an afternoon at the movies, and then they stayed at the Magnolia Hotel in Denver. While there, we gave them $500 for a shopping spree for LilyAnn, tickets and a limo ride to Cavalia, and then an afternoon at the Downtown Aquarium. They had an amazing time, and they will both forever remember their dream weekend together.

Please consider making an end of the year gift to Macdonald Family Charity to help us continue our mission into 2011. We recently approved 14 children for 2011 to be dream recipients. The budget for those dreams is $47,000, and we can't do it alone. Each and every gift will be greatly appreciated and used to its utmost to have the biggest impact possible.

Thank you for all you have done for us in 2010! I am excited for the direction of this organization in 2011 and am glad to have you along!

Sincerely,

Katie

Happy Holidays from MFC!

2010-12-17T11:43:00.000-08:00

The end of the year is quickly approaching,

And none of our kids have dreamed of poaching!

The Macdonald Family Charity has had an amazing year,

We’re thankful for your support – and hold you very dear.

As we gear up for 2011,

Our goal is to continue to fulfill dreams. More than seven!

2010 saw twenty-two dreams,

Many imaginations were pushed to extremes.

From meeting Champ Bailey and a swing to bring smiles,

To trips to the Smithsonian and flying for miles,

Our dreams are all different, but one thing remains –

Each child is important and have no constrains.

We give them a break from the struggles they face,

And allow them to be a child at the front of the race.

Thank you for all you have done for each child,

Your gifts and donations have been generously piled.

Have happy holidays and know you’ve made a difference,

May your holidays sparkle with amazing brilliance.

Sincerely,

Katie Reiff

Executive Director

Macdonald Family Charity

2010 was awesome! Let's keep it going!

2010-12-14T12:30:00.000-08:00

What a year for Macdonald Family Charity!

It's always exciting to look back over the past year and see growth. More maturity, new friends, and a bigger program are some of the best things Macdonald Family Charity has gained in 2010. We're so glad to have you as part of that growth! Let's take a moment and celebrate these exciting accomplishments!

The biggest and best part of what we do is make kids' dreams come true. In the past 12 short months we have made 20 dreams become reality, with two more to come before the end of the week! That's amazing, considering the first year we were around we granted 3, then 13 in 2009. The 22 dreams for 2010 have all been outstanding! One that sticks out in particular is Connor and his swing. Here he is with his new, fun toy.

Connor has an unusual syndrome that doctor's can't pinpoint, so they call it the "Connor Cannon Syndrome" after this sweet little boy. Connor is usually confined to a wheelchair and rarely leaves his hospital-like bedroom. Doing things a "normal" kid can do, even simple things like going to the park to swing on the swings, is not a possibility for Connor. His heavy wheelchair sinks into the sand, and once they have maneuvered him into the swing, he has to get home quickly and can't enjoy time just being a kid. In July we fixed part of that by giving Connor a swing of his very own, right outside his back door. His wheelchair can pull right up to the swing, mom puts him in, and away he goes! The first thing he said when he saw it was, "Higher, higher, faster, faster!" Luckily he has two siblings who will happily push him as long as he wants!

Another great accomplishment this year was raising $100,000 to fulfill our mission! We have also set up reserves of money to prepare for uncertain futures, as learned from the unstable economy. Thanks to the $100,000 raised, we feel confident going into 2011 prepared to increase funding, and in turn, increase the number of dreams fulfilled.

The new year will bring changes for Macdonald Family Charity, and we are excited to be rolling those out the first of the year. That being said, we feel that one of our biggest challenges going into the new year will be increasing our funding to fulfill the increased need in our community. Did you know that roughly 7,500 children in Larimer County alone live in poverty? Every single one of those kids would fit our low income requirement and could potentially receive their dream. With the economy slowly turning around, we hope to see that number drop, however we don't anticipate that dropping very quickly.

Luckily, we are here to provide those children with hope for their futures. Things won't always be that difficult, and we want to be the organization that steps in and gives them a reprieve from the suffering. Your gifts help us do just that. Without you, the 22 children we served in 2010 would have not idea that there are people in the community who care about them and want to see them succeed.

There are ways you can continue to support Macdonald Family Charity. Here's a list of some of them!

Give an individual donation. Donations can be processed, free of charge for the charity, here.
Volunteer! We have openings on our Dream Team (selection) and Event Committee (fundraising). Call or email me to get connected.
In-kind donations of office supplies, goods or services that we may auction off at events or use on a dream.
Share our story. There are many people in northern Colorado who have yet to hear about Macdonald Family Charity. Help us get the word out by inviting one of our board members or myself to present to your service club, book club, Bunko group, golf buddies, or other non-profit that works with similar kids!

Each of these things helps us further our mission and help more kids than the year before. Our hope is that 2011 will continue to demonstrate the incredible growth we have seen since our inception. Thank you for the role you have played in making all of these dreams a reality!

Sincerely,

Katie

What are you giving this holiday season?

2010-12-07T07:44:00.000-08:00

Give a gift of hope that helps others see hope for their future!

Many gifts this time of year come with pretty ribbons and bows, and all promise to surprise and thrill. But what about giving a gift this holiday season that isn't able to be wrapped in a pretty little package? What about giving hope and opportunity to deserving children in northern Colorado?

You are able to give a donation to Macdonald Family Charity in the name of someone on your gift list - how great is that? You will receive a beautiful certificate to give to give to your loved one while giving a meaningful gift to a deserving child who will receive their dream from MFC. You provide the name and donation, and we'll provide the certificate.

Every gift given to Macdonald Family Charity is used to get the most out of each dollar. For kids like Brooke, the gifts you give are turned into incredible experiences that wouldn't happen without your support.

Brooke is a beautiful little girl from Loveland who dreams of someday becoming a writer. She loves history and museums. After a horrible car accident two years ago, Brooke had major difficulties to overcome thanks to a traumatic brain injury. She has recently re-learned to walk, read, talk and use her hand. The past two years have been filled with hospital visits, therapy, and a whole lot of struggles to get back to the girl she was before the accident. Her parents wrote to us about Brooke's dream of someday becoming a writer and her love of history. Their hope was that we could step in and create a dream trip to Washington, D.C. to the Smithsonian to help Brooke along her road to recovery.

On June 1-5 Brooke and her family were flown to Washington, D.C. where they stayed in a beautiful hotel, rode the subway, and visited historically rich places like the Smithsonian, monuments, and a tour of the White House and Senate. It was a trip she will forever be talking about. Here she is with her family at the White House. She's the little girl in the yellow shirt.

Our hope is that Brooke will remember that there are people all over who care about her and her future. People from our volunteers who scheduled the trip, donors who gave money for her souvenirs, and even state representatives who helped book the White House tour all came together to give this very sweet and special girl and trip she will never forget.

Please consider giving a gift to loved ones that will help give hope to other children! This Wednesday is also a unique giving opportunity for our supporters. It is Colorado Gives Day. You can go to this website and donate to Macdonald Family Charity. All donations are processed free of charge, so no money will go to a credit card company. GivingFirst.org is also going to be offering some matching funds based on the amount of donations given to each organization. Help us help deserving kids believe in their futures!

Begin the Gift of Giving Today!

2010-11-30T08:24:00.000-08:00

Macdonald Family Charity is gearing up for the end of the year. We have one more dream we're going to fulfill on December 16, and we are so grateful for your gifts in the past to make this dream a reality. Gifts allow us to continue to grow to serve the ever growing population of eligible children. It is so sad to us that there are over 7,500 children living in poverty in Larimer County. These are just one group of kids that are eligible to receive a dream from us. Our goal is to never turn away a true dream.

Each gift we receive is stewarded to have the biggest impact possible. Without relationships with service providers and your donations, dreams come alive for less than you would think. The long and the short of it is that the more donations we receive, the more dreams we can give to deserving children.

One dream that came together for a surprising amount was Ethan's. We were able to make his dream of skiing come true for $350. Ethan is a little boy who has Cerebral Palsy that has put him in a wheelchair. He is a quadriplegic that continually strives to look beyond his current restraints and try new things. His parents wrote to us with his dream, and we went to work to put together a dream day of downhill skiing for this very sweet boy. Here's a picture of Ethan on his dream.

Leveraging your gifts and our connections, this dream came together for this family last February. The grin on Ethan's face says it all - he was having the time of his life as he swooped down the slopes and experienced downhill skiing for the first time, and he had time, as brief as a day may be, where he wasn't constrained by his Cerebral Palsy. His dream coming true gave him hope for his future and increased dedication to his countless therapies that he may continue to progress.

As you look at Ethan's picture and read his story, you may think that yes, $350 isn't a lot to make a child's dream come true. However, it is more than I can give at this time. There are so many aspects to a child's dream - you can help us fund one portion of a dream like this and make a huge difference with $25, $150 or more. Here's some examples of how your gift will be used:

$25 provides a dream recipient with a goody basket full of favorite foods, toys and memorabilia associated with their dream at the notification.
$150 provides four hours of limousine service for a child as their dream is being fulfilled.
$500 provides tickets to an event (sporting, concert, etc.) for an entire family to which the dream child wishes to attend.

We hope you will consider giving to Macdonald Family Charity during this gift giving season. Donations and gifts can be made here. Help us continue our mission of giving hope and opportunity to the children in our community this holiday season!

Sincerely,

Katie

We are grateful for you!

2010-11-22T08:48:00.000-08:00

This is the email that went out today for all of our friends - if you aren't on the email list we want to make sure you see it! Thank you!

Dear Macdonald Family Charity Supporters,

You receive this email because you have either volunteered or currently volunteer for the charity, have attended an event, or have generously given of yourself in a financial or timely manner. We wanted to make sure that you know that we appreciate all you do for the success of the charity.

This past year has been incredibly exciting for all of us at Macdonald Family Charity. We have made 20 dreams come true, raised over $100,000 and recruited many new volunteers to help us fulfill our mission. We couldn't have done it without you! You are making a difference in the lives of struggling children in northern Colorado and changing your community one child at a time. I want to take a second to introduce you to a child you helped beyond our wildest imaginations - David.

David's mom went to prison when David was quite young. David moved from foster home to foster home, and when it was time for mom to be released her first action was to earn him back. He has been with his mom for the past 4 years now, and she is fully committed to making sure that David's life doesn't turn out the way hers did. She wrote to us and told us of David and his struggles at school. The family is back together, yet financially they aren't able to provide the fun things in life for David. Mom hoped we could help David meet his hero, Champ Bailey of the Denver Broncos. David loves playing football, and mom knew that meting Champ Bailey would give him renewed hope for his future.

On August 18 that dream became a reality at the Dove Valley Training Camp. David met his hero, Champ Bailey, and they both chatted and talked about life for a good five minutes. They laughed and joked, then took photos and Champ Bailey signed autographs. It was great for David to meet his hero face to face and his hero to take an interest in David. Here's a picture of the two of them at the practice field.

David has taken his experience and it has turned is life around. Before his dream came true, he struggled with self esteem issues, desire to succeed, and didn't apply himself. Now, he has hope for his future, works hard in school, and is continuing to practice hard to someday be a professional athlete. David was honored at a school assembly as a most improved student. We couldn't be happier for him!

David is the prime example of why we do what we do. To give a child their dream, and then see that dream have a lasting effect is something we strive for with each of our dream recipients.

Thank you for the role you have played in Macdonald Family Charity's future. We are planning on fulfilling many dreams to come, and we can't do it without you. We hope that as you plan your end of year giving you will keep us in mind. You may make donations here. Without you and your gifts, children in northern Colorado wouldn't know what it means to reach for the stars and have a dream become reality.

Sincerely,

Katie

Fun Money Ideas!

2010-11-18T11:49:00.000-08:00

http://www.facebook.com/#!/Macys?v=app_164087800275715
This link will take you to Macy's facebook page and show you their fun and creative fundraising idea! They are raising support for the Make-A-Wish foundation and this fun little game will help them do that. Plus it fits the season! For each person that plays and wins this game, Macy's will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Wow!
What a neat idea! It's so simple to get people to take the 60 seconds to complete this and then it's done. Anyone have any ideas of how Macdonald Family Charity could bring in support in a similar way?

So Thankful!

2010-11-10T13:28:00.000-08:00

"If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily." ~Gerald Good
A spirit of thankfulness is in the air as we approach Thanksgiving. We at the charity are so thankful for the opportunities we are daily given to impact the lives of those around us. All children dream and sometimes the happenings of life convince children that it is safer not to do so. We get the privelage of telling children that not only is it safe to dream but dreams really do come true. How thankful we are for that!
Thanksgiving Day is a day set aside for all people to join in one voice and express their gratitude for the blessings they have received. How often do you take the time to intentionally think of what you are thankful for? I find that the more I look for reasons in my life to be thankful the more aware I am of how much I have been given. Take the time right now and ask yourself "What am I thankful for?"
We want to say a great big "Thank you!" to all of you who have supported us. Whether you have given money, time, prayers, references, or something else completely, you have played a part in changing many children's lives and oh how grateful we are for you!

Why should businesses be sponsors?

2010-11-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

As we're gearing up for our 5th Annual Mardi Gras Fashion Show, one of our first steps is to approach local businesses to become sponsors. The first question we're asked is why? Why would a business want to sponsor a fashion show - especially a business that isn't involved in clothing sales or accessories? The answer is simple, and we broke it down for you into 5 reasons. Enjoy!

Reach new people! Good event organizers will be able to tell potential sponsors the demographics of the attendees of any given event. For example, our demographics for attendees of the fashion show are primarily women, ages 35-55, with household incomes at $75,000 + annually, and all from northern Colorado. Marketing directors from local businesses know that this is exactly who they want to reach. They know that we will provide them with over 300 people in this group that may not have heard about their business before. Here's to more people knowing your brand!
Feel good! When a business decides to rally behind a non-profit, it helps the business build their corporate culture of generosity. This is an idea that has to come from the organization as a whole. When generosity is present, the entire climate of an organization changes. Postivity reigns, and the employees are more likely to be giving of themselves in new and exciting ways.
Recognition in the community! When a business decides to sponsor a non-profit fund raising event they get the benefits of the event's marketing for their own business. Radio, television, newspaper, and web communication all have been put together strategically to draw people to the event, and in turn, the business that is supporting the event.
It's easy! Many non-profits are able to process credit cards, but of course checks and cash are always welcome. If a business goes into their fiscal year with a set marketing budget for sponsorship opportunities, they are able to evaluate all of their possible sponsorship opportunities, find the ones that hit their target demographics, and determine their return on investment from there. Sponsorships are generally offered in a range of opportunities, and with that, the ability to tailor a sponsorship package to your distinct business.
It's fun! Most sponsorship opportunities include tickets to the event itself. Make it something to thank your staff by providing them with tickets, or use the seats to thank a valued client of your own. Not only are you showing your client and staff appreciation, you are helping the non-profit make new friends that may eventually become donors.

All in all, event sponsorships for businesses are a win-win. They increase their business recognition, create a corporate culture of gratitude, and make a difference, all while having fun and supporting a cause. What could be better than that! While we're at it - call me at (970)667-6119 if you'd like to know more about our Mardi Gras Fashion Show sponsorships! Get in on the benefits!

Katie

A big part of dreaming requires... sleep!

2010-10-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

Macdonald Family Charity makes dreams come true. However, what if you're having a hard time sleeping? It makes it pretty difficult to dream, doesn't it? The following are some great tips on how to get some rest from Help Guide. Put them to work, and let us know if it works!

Keep a regular sleep schedule.

Make your bedroom sleep friendly.

Create a relaxing bedtime routine.

Get stress and anxiety in check.

Eat right and get regular exercise.

Try not to worry about sleep.

Know when to see a sleep doctor.

Hopefully these tips and tricks will get you sleeping well and dreaming big!

Upcoming Dream Kids

2010-09-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

Gabriel is a 5 year old boy living in a low income family. His life has not been easy lately. His mom is struggling with illness and life has been tough for the family with dad not being around. That's a lot to live with for a little boy. His dream is to go to the Denver Zoo with his family and that dream is going to become a reality this month!
Casey is a 14 and he had a very rough childhood. He is now living in the foster system and doesn't get the chance to do many fun things. He loves ice cream and the Broncos. His dream is to ride in a limo to Dairy Queen and then to see a Bronco game. He's about to see that happen!
What fun these boys will have when they see that though life has hard times, dreams do come true!
These dreams will be funded by the upcoming Spurs and Pearls wine tasting on September 18.

September Newsletter Information

2010-09-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

If you're on our mailing list, you received a copy of our newsletter yesterday! If you aren't on our mailing list - why not? :) Here's the newsletter for you so you are sure to stay in the loop! The main thing is our wine tasting on September 18 - do you have your tickets yet?

Our wine tasting is set,

And we're ready to bet

It'll be a great night

Filled with wines that delight!

Put on your spurs and hat

And great clothes that go with that

We'll toast to great wines

And eat delicious food while we dine.

RSVP as soon as you can,

Spaces are limited so be a fan,

Enjoy a wonderful evening of fun,

Making dreams come true until we're done!

Tickets are $75 per person or $135 per couple,

So bring a friend and go double!

We'll have a cork pull, silent auction and surprises,

With things so wonderful, you're sure to be baffled.

We make dreams come true,

But without you we'd be blue.

Our donors and friends make things happen,

So grab a friend - there'll be no rappin'.

Dove Valley Called - We Answered!

2010-08-23T15:19:00.000-07:00

What do you do when two boys have the same dream? As a dream maker, you rejoice! The task of approaching a celebrity athlete is difficult, but when you can make two dreams come true at the same time, it's awesome!

The dream fulfillment team got to work on making JJ's and David's dreams come true when they began to approach Champ Bailey of the Denver Broncos. Champ Bailey is a 12 year football star whose talent is inspiring to watch on the field. Wait until you meet him in person - he is one of the nicest people you will ever meet!

On August 17 the first of our two dream kids had his one on one time with his hero! Here's JJ sitting in awe of his hero! JJ is a young man from Greeley who struggles with Cerebral Palsy. He recently underwent extensive surgery to help him walk, and he has been walking to all of his classes at school. Way to go, JJ! He walked all the way from the VIP tent at Dove Valley to the team practice facility where he met his hero. He was in such shock, he couldn't think of anything to say! The two of them just sat, smiled for pictures, and enjoyed companionable silence. Judging by JJ's face, I'd say he loved it!

Day two with Champ Bailey was with David, a 6th grader from Fort Collins. David's life has been filled with struggles from a very young age. He was bounced from home to home during time in foster care until his mother was able to have him back. Her time in jail made her realize what a special kiddo David is and want to give him everything she never had. David's dream was to meet his hero, Champ Bailey. After JJ's quiet time with Mr. Bailey we prepped David. "What are you going to ask him?" was the topic of discussion down to Dove Valley in the limo. David came up with great questions. His first - will you throw me a pass? Because of the current conditions with Mr. Bailey's shoulder he couldn't right then. Don't worry - once he can, he will! The second question was if the Broncos teammates get together and play Madden. If they do, Champ Bailey isn't one of them. The final question was his favorite ice cream flavor. Any guesses? Vanilla. Yum! Here's David and Champ during their time together.

The month of August has seen some amazing dreams, and these two were some very special ones.

Spurs and Pearls is right around the corner!

2010-08-10T15:31:00.001-07:00

The wine tasting is right around the corner on September 18! Be sure to get your tickets for this great event - we are going to have 6 wines paired with 6 amazing appetizers, live music, a live auction and a silent auction. It will be a western wear evening with class and sass - don't miss it! Tickets are $75 per person on $135 per couple. All of the proceeds from this event will go to make dreams come true for struggling children in northern Colorado. Make this "dream date" evening have a lasting effect on a child!

July dreams are coming true!

2010-07-27T10:52:00.001-07:00

The charity has the joy of making dreams come true, and July was certainly no exception. On July 8 the Holloway girls, Makala (9) and ShyAnn (6) went to Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch for the day. They started out with breakfast at Perkins, then went up the hill to the ranch where they played in the pool, ate pizza and ice cream for lunch, and then rode horses. The day was capped off with a ride in the limo to the movie theater where they saw Toy Story 3 in 3D (ShyAnn's first time at a movie theater), and then dinner at Red Robin. They had a great day and a ton of fun. Check out the photos - you can tell they had fun!

Both of the girls on the horse carousel - whee!

Makala and her horse, Sunny.

ShyAnn on her horse, Fender.

Thanks to all of our volunteers and donors - without your support dreams like this wouldn't be possible.

Dream Team rocked the spring application period!

2010-07-01T08:20:00.001-07:00

Here at Macdonald Family Charity we conduct two application periods - one in the spring and one in the fall. The spring application period just finished up on Tuesday, and everyone worked really hard to send 16 applicants to the Board of Directors for their approval. The Dream Team is made up of volunteers who give of their time by helping us with the selection process. Their job starts at the beginning of the application process, this time on April 15, with promoting the charity. They get into the community and let people know we're looking for kids to grant dreams to. From there, they review each of the applications we receive. They are able to do this on their own time by logging on to our secure website that has a password on each application. From there, the committee gets together to determine if there are any applicants that are automatic yes', which kids to interview, and any that are no's. The committee then conducts interviews of the families they deem necessary, and this process takes about 2 weeks. From there, the committee meets one last time to make final selections. This go around we had 3 applications go right to the board, and then 13 applications that required interviews and are now a yes. It's an exciting time to begin to dream along with these kids. The Dream Team was absolutely amazing this go around - way to go, and thanks to each and every one of you for your hard work!

I'm an adult with a dream - where do I go?

2010-06-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

For those of you reading both our newsletter and our blog - thank you! The newsletter has been providing people with an ongoing series on how to make your dreams come true. So far we've covered steps 1-3. Pretty good stuff, if you ask me (I am a little partial because I wrote them...). I thought I would take this opportunity to share some resources with our readers. We get calls at the charity all the time requesting information for adults who would like a dream. Here's where to go:

Dream Foundation

621 Chapala Street, Suite D

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

(805) 564-2131

Wish

P.O. Box 460712
Aurora, CO. 80046-0712
303-699-WISH (9474) or 1-877-294-WISH (9474)

Deliver the Dream
5223 NW 10th Terrace, Suite 602
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
(954) 564-3512
1-888-OUR DREAM (687-3732)
E-mail: contact@deliverthedream.org

Her Heart's Wish
P.O. Box 294
Lititz, PA 17543
Email: mailto:wish01@herheartswish.org

Fairygodmother Foundation
213 West Institute Place, Suite 509
Chicago, Illinois 60610
(312) 573-0028
Email: info@fairygodmother.org

Hope these help you all reach for your own personal stars!

Upcoming Golf Tournament

2010-06-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

The summer sun is finally out in northern Colorado, and many people are hitting the links to work on their golf game. Why are they all working so hard on their game? They are working so hard because they all want to golf at the Macdonald Family Charity 3rd Annual Golf Tournament on July 19 at the Fort Collins Country Club! The shotgun start will happen at 1:00 p.m. with dinner to follow. It's sure to be a great time, so begin to gather the best golfers you know to win this great event. Here are some golf tips from Golf Tips 10 Best Swing Tips for you all to keep in mind as you begin to practice for the big day:
1. Keep Your Hands Low
Limiting the height of the followthrough will effectively reduce the height of your shots. The lower the hands, the lower the ballflight. Moving the ball back in your stance or choosing a stronger club and trying to swing easy are other ways to accomplish the same thing, but they’re less reliable and more difficult to execute. Instead, keep your hands low in the finish (compare the two photos at right), and the trajectory of your shots will be lower.
2. Give Your Spine The Forearm
Make sure you’re on-plane at the top of the swing to guarantee solid ballstriking and increased accuracy. Notice in the photo at left how my right forearm is parallel to my spine, my left wrist is flat and my elbows and arms form a tight triangle. These are indications that I’ve rotated my shoulders into the backswing perfectly.
3. Use Your Body For Power
Every good golfer knows that power comes from the body, not the arms. To learn to power the club with your body instead of your arms and hands, put the club behind the ball at address, with your body in a dead-stop position. Without taking a backswing, try to drag the ball into the air. If you’re a player who uses his or her hands to control the club, you’ll probably struggle at first. However, you’ll quickly find that once you start moving the club with your body, you’ll begin to get the ball in the air more consistently. This helps you turn fully through the ball on the downswing.
4. Hinge For Power
Amateurs have problems hitting crisp iron shots due to two fatal flaws. First, the takeaway tends to be too low to the ground, which delays the proper hinging of the wrists until too late in the backswing. Second, in a misguided effort to create power, the arms tend to swing too far in the backswing. This causes a breakdown in posture and usually leads to a reverse pivot. These flaws cause mis-hits and a lack of distance and control.
Several simple steps can be taken to gain control over the length of the swing in order to create more solid contact. At setup, a 45-degree angle should be present between the left arm and the clubshaft. This starts the swing with the wrists already hinged halfway to the necessary 90 degrees. During the takeaway, the hands should stay close to the ground while the clubhead moves up quickly. The goal is to get the left thumb pointing at the right shoulder as soon as possible. You’ll know you’ve achieved the proper wrist hinge when your left arm is parallel to the ground and the clubshaft is perpendicular to it. This sets the wrists much earlier in the backswing, eliminating the need to swing the arms too far at the top. The tendency to lose posture and reverse pivot will be removed with this more compact golf swing.
Creating the proper wrist hinge in the backswing will lead to noticeably better ballstriking and, as a result, more consistent distance and direction on all iron shots.
5. Give Your Slice The Elbow
Some players like John Daly swing with their elbow flying out, while others like Sergio Garcia keep it in, proving that it’s possible to hit great shots with either method. However, my biomechanical studies indicate that the flying right elbow position favors a fade ballflight while a tucked right elbow promotes a draw. If you struggle with slicing or have always wanted to develop a power-rich draw, then the right elbow may hold the answer. Plus, when you let the right elbow fly, it has the tendency to raise the right shoulder skyward, which almost always causes an over-the-top move during the downswing and an array of bad results.
The key for long-term success is to eliminate the faulty shoulder tilt and right elbow position at the top. The most efficient right elbow position for keeping slices at bay and promoting a draw is on or just inside the seam running down the right side of your shirt. When you place your right elbow in this general area, it allows the shoulders to turn level to the spine, making it much easier to drop the club inside on the downswing for maximum power and improved control.
6. Solid Plane = No Slice
An open face at the point of contact can cause a slice. So, too, can a faulty swing path, even if your clubface is square to the target at impact. Slicers’ swing paths tend to come too much outside in (hookers, vice versa). All golfers need a path that comes just slightly from the inside. Try the Box Drill. Take the top half of a golf ball box and stand it on its side. Align the box parallel to your target line as shown. Strive to groove a path that allows the shaft to pass just over the box. For slicers, set up the box on the same line, but just forward of the golf ball. Don’t hit the box!
7. Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down
Hookers need to stop the clubface from closing too soon. To do this, adopt a thumbs-down approach to impact. In the photos at right, you clearly can see the red side of the paddle with both my thumbs pointing down toward the ground. This type of movement slows the closing of your clubface, thus eliminating shots that curve to the left. In the second photo, the blue side of the paddle shows. This thumbs-up position is what slicers need to attain (a closing of the clubface).
8. No Flips
"Flippiness" (the dreaded early release) occurs if your body gets too far in front of the golf ball. When this happens, your club will drastically lag, usually with an open face. Instinctually, your hands will work to close the face at impact. This level of timing is difficult even for the pros to execute on a consistent basis. What usually happens is the clubhead races in front of the shaft and strikes the ball with an open or a closed face, and typically on an ascending arc. In baseball, if you get too far in front, you’ll hit the ball to right field, unless you flip the wrists. The same is true in golf. You need to establish a firm left side to keep your head behind the ball and stop the flip.
9. Chipping
Although it’s tempting to hit chips indoors, all it takes is one broken lamp to realize that golf is an outdoor activity. Nevertheless, you can improve your chipping technique within the friendly confines of your own living room with the help of a wooden dowel or broken golf shaft.Take the dowel and place it through the hole on the top of the grip on a pitching wedge. Push the dowel roughly eight to 12 inches down the butt end of the shaft (a little Vaseline may help the dowel slide easier through the clubshaft). Two to three feet of the dowel should extend outward from the top of the grip.
Now, practice your chipping motion, making sure that your left wrist remains rigid as the clubface passes through the impact zone. If your left wrist breaks down (a flaw that can cause a lot of short-game misery), you’ll feel the protruding portion of the dowel hit against your left side. In addition to guarding against wrist breakdown, the dowel will also help you to establish the proper hands-forward position at address—a crucial factor for clean contact.
The dowel also will force you to keep your hands moving forward and swing the club down the target line in the followthrough. Once you master this drill, you’ll be able to get up and down with the best of them.
10. Stay In Your “K”
Even good golfers with sound, grooved swings come untracked now and then, especially if they lose the flex in the back leg trying for distance. If you stiffen your back leg during the backswing, your body will likely tilt out of balance, making it tough to re-flex the knee just the right amount in time for impact. If you can play some great golf, but consistency is your problem, it might be that you need a dose of Special K. Here’s how it works.

K Pasa?
At address, the Special K is the angle formed in your back leg by the upper and lower leg. The manner in which you stand to the ball determines in large part how well you maintain your Special K during your swing.

The best advice is to establish an athletic, ready-to-move setup. Create this posture by bending forward from the hip sockets and back from the knees. When your back leg is flexed correctly, it creates room for your arms to swing and aligns the joints, one on top of the other. You should be able to draw a line from the top of the spine through the tip of the elbow and then from the tip of your knee down through the ball joint of your foot.

Keeping The K
To keep your swing level, this angle should be maintained from address to just after impact. A good way to experience what it feels like to keep the Special K while you swing is to look in a mirror while you take practice swings. Start with the setup position shown in the photo, below left. Hold it steady, then look in the mirror to connect the sight and feel of the correct back leg flex for that position. Next, swing to the top. Again, hold that position and use the mirror to see if you maintained the angle in your back leg.


Setup In the Special-K setup, the body has that athletic look common to many sports—a posture ready for action. At address, flex your back knee to discourage any up-and-down body motion while you swing. If you prepare yourself correctly, you won’t have to make any adjustments once your swing begins—all you have to do is rotate. Check your lower leg to make sure that it’s straight up and down (note that the crease in my pant leg is vertical). When the crease points toward the shaft, you know your lower leg is slanted at a bad angle. The reason the Special-K position is so important is that it unlocks the hips so they’re free to rotate. When the back leg locks and straightens at the knee, the back hip freezes, causing the body to tilt rather than turn.	Impact Through impact, the trailing arm snaps straight, releasing power into the ball as the back knee kicks toward the target, still in its Special-K flex. Just after impact, both arms are straight, with the clubhead below the hands and the butt of the club pointing toward the middle of the body.	Backswing When you keep the Special-K position during your backswing, it allows your elbows to stay level near the top of your swing. This, in turn, keeps the clubface from twisting out of position. Staying in your K makes your backswing more rounded and, instead of elevating the clubhead suddenly and tearing it off of its swing arc, the clubshaft travels on the correct swing path with a gradual, power-gathering ascent of the club.

So, now that you've reviewed the top 10 tips for best swing, get to swinging and we'll see you July 19 at 1:00 p.m. for your big victory! Additional information on our golf tournament can be found at the charity website or you may call the charity at (970)667-6119.

2 Notifications - Oh my!

2010-05-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

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!)

More Changes to Come at Macdonald Family Charity

2010-05-17T12:29:00.001-07:00

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!

Upcoming Charity Events

2010-05-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

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.

Changes at the Charity!

2010-05-04T10:39:00.000-07:00

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!

Welcome Dreamers!

2010-04-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

We hope this blog post will help connect our community and supporters to what is occuring at the charity.

We were founded in 2007 to make dreams come true for children and youth in Larmier and Weld counties of northern Colorado who are terminally or chronically ill, injured in an accident, in foster care or from a family with a low income. We recognize there are many children, due to physical limiations or financial struggles, who are never exposed to opportunities to help them see the hope and possibility that esists in the world and our community. By granting dreams to children and youth, Macdonald Family Charity provides themw ith opportunities they may not otherwise receive. Our mission is to make children's dreams come true.

It is our hope that through this blog, facebook and twitter we will be able to share the stories of the amazing children who are granted dreams through our charity. Please visit our website www.macdonaldfamilycharity.org for more information on what we are about. Visit our blog weekly for more updates!