Or at least pretty close.
We got quite a surprise this week, courtesy of FUN SPOT America. They chose us as their charity of choice for October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They raised money through a portion of admissions, pink cotton candy sales, donations from employees and the corporate staff. And it was obviously VERY successful.
Thursday, they surprised our founder Vanessa Echols, at Channel 9 where she works. FUN SPOT is a partner with the station's community service arm called 9 Family Connection. Anyway, the COO John Arie Jr., presented us with a big check. $12,500!!! Check was not just big, it was HUUUGE. If you know anything about FUN SPOT, you know that's one of their famous slogans.
We are truly grateful for this partnership for many reasons. The folks at FUN SPOT believe in our mission. We are humbled and grateful. They are a locally owned and operated theme park. Like us, they believe in local people helping local people. And they are a very generous business partner in Central Florida, helping many organizations. They recently hosted the St. Jude walk to raise money to find a cure for childhood cancer.
Because of them, we will be able to continue to do what we do, give breast cancer warriors here in Central Florida one less thing to worry about when we help with rent/mortgage, utilities, food for the family or whatever else the family needs.
Thank you FUN SPOT AMERICA!!
http://fun-spot.com
And so it begins tomorrow. It's October...Breast Cancer Awareness Month...Pink October....Pinktober. Whatever you call it, it's the month when breast cancer awareness takes over the world. :) Almost everything you see will be pink, turn pink or have a pink ribbon stamped on it. BUT PROCEED WITH CAUTION! Just because it's pink or has a pink ribbon doesn't mean it's supporting the cause. So before you buy something with the intention of supporting the breast cancer fight, we offer these suggestions: 1. Find out if a portion of what you buy is going to the breast cancer fight. (Check labels, signs around the product, etc) 2. What portion is being donated to the cause? (If you're spending $100 for the item, are you comfortable with only a dime being donated to the cause, or a dollar from your $100?) 3. Which organization will benefit from what you buy? 4. What do you know about that organization? (Is its focus research, direct help to patients? How much of the organization's donations are used for administration, salaries, etc? ) As you know, we are grateful for research, but we also believe in supporting LOCAL organizations right in your own community, which are helping patients in the breast cancer battle. You can help make a difference, just remember....THINK BEFORE YOU PINK.
It's been a tough week for our organization. It's such a wonderful experience for us to celebrate our clients who make it through the treatment battle. We love seeing them months later and often not recognizing them with hair and health.
This week has been a lot different, a week that reminds us of the nitty gritty of the breast cancer battle.
One week ago today, one of our warriors completed her journey. She was only 33 years old, a wife and mother of three young children.
Unfortunately, she died without life insurance. For the past week, her family has struggled to raise enough money for her funeral and burial expenses.
Today we took care of that. Because of generous donors, we were able to pay the last nearly $2000.00, so her family can now schedule her service.
It indeed has been a tough week, but it's the reality of what we do. Not every one of our stories has a happy ending. But our commitment to the cause continues. We fight on through our tears and disappointment...until there is a cure.
Shatrice, we love you and we'll never forget you.
