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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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?

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!

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