Archives for May 2018

Happy Make a Difference Monday! The weather is going to beautiful this week so be sure to check out these great events and make a difference in your community!

Heroes for Nero

May 10^th, 6:00-9:00pm

Howladay Inn of Cape Cod Doggie Daycare Boarding & Training

12 Industrial Park Road, Yarmouth

The entire Cape Cod community was stunned and heartbroken when Yarmouth Police Sergeant Sean Gannon was killed in the line of duty by a career criminal. His K-9 partner Nero was also shot. Nero’s ongoing recovery has inspired this event to raise funds for the Cape & Island Police K9 Relief Fund, which supports police service dogs in their retirement.

For more information and to purchase tickets, click HERE.

Party for PYD

May 10^th, 6:00-8:00pm

PwC

101 Seaport Blvd, Boston

On May 10th, Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD) will be hosting Party for PYD-their annual centerpiece event, dedicated to raising program funds and awareness of mentoring, as well as celebrating their successes and partnerships.  The event includes live and silent auctions, hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, and entertainment.

Purchase tickets by clicking HERE.

Celebrating Changing Lives: One Can Help’s Annual Benefit

May 10^th, 6:30-9:00pm

Windsor Club

1601 Beacon St, Newton

One Can Help helps vulnerable children and families with timely, targeted assistance when no other resources are available. This Thursday, they are inviting you to their 12th annual benefit: Celebrating Changing Lives.  They will have hors d’oeuvres, desserts, drinks, Crocodile River Music and special keynote speaker, Ayanna Pressley.

To purchase tickets, click HERE.

25th Annual Boston Walk for Epilepsy

May 12, 9:00 am-1:00 pm

Boston Common at the Bandstand

139 Tremont St, Boston

Epilepsy Foundation New England (EFNE) is hosting their 25th Annual Boston Walk for Epilepsy on the Boston Common this Saturday. EFNE provides help for over 100,000 families affected by epilepsy living in New England. All proceeds from the annual walk will help provide services that fill gaps in the treatment system and enable the over 100,000 people with epilepsy and their families to take actions regarding healthcare, independent living, and community involvement.

Click HERE to register.

Strides For Service

May 12, 9:00-10:30 am

Beverly Common

50 Dane St, Beverly

Join First Baptist Church in Beverly for a one-hour family-friendly run/walk downtown this Mother’s Day weekend! Beginning at Beverly Common, collect a ticket for each completed loop, then use your tickets to enter a raffle for a chance to win fun prizes.  Strollers and wheel chairs are welcome. All proceeds from this event will go towards bringing volunteers and communities together to improve the homes and lives of people in need.

You can register HERE.

There are plenty of opportunities to make a difference every day. How will you give back this week?

 

 

Spring has finally sprung!  The weather this week had everyone in a great mood, so let’s start the weekend off the same way with these three feel-good stories.

Beyond the Call of Duty

Via: Channel 7 Boston

After his wife was taken to the emergency room by ambulance, an elderly man in Pennsylvania was distraught that he could not be at her bedside. The man had no relatives or friends nearby to take him to the hospital, so as a last resort, he called the police. Deputy Chief Jason Bentley with the Montoursville Police Department went above and beyond the call of duty, driving to the man’s home and personally escorting him to the hospital. Thank you for your kindness Deputy Chief Bentley!

Hopeful Cases

Via: Hopeful Cases

Many famous musicians got their start in the New York City subways, playing for change to earn a living. Will Boyajian is a regular busker at the 42 Street-Port Authority Bus Terminal station, sometimes making up to $400 a day-but takes home nothing. He plays his guitar behind a sign that reads: “If you’re homeless or need help take as much as you need from the case.” He never questions or stops people from taking money, choosing to believe that people will only take what they really need. Boyajian wants New Yorker’s to be more aware of the homeless problem in the city, and hopes that his cause will inspire them to give back as well.

Help from a Stranger

Via: Sunny Skyz

Denise Wilson was taking her regular commute home on the NYC subway when a touching moment between two strangers caught her attention. Corey Simmons, 42, was looking through a folder filled with math problems when a friendly passenger sat down next to him and noticed him struggling. The man asked Corey if he needed help, Corey replied that he was trying to re-learn fractions to help his son in school. Turns out, the friendly stranger used to be a math teacher!  Denise Wilson grabbed a picture as the two spent the remainder of the ride working together.

There you have it, your top three feel-good stories of the week. Have a wonderful weekend and be sure to always look for ways to make a difference!

Finding out your child has cancer is a parent’s worst nightmare. For Andrea Verdone Gorsegner, her three-year-old daughter Natalie Grace’s leukemia diagnosis left her feeling powerless. As a way of gaining some control over their situation, Andrea decided to learn everything she could about childhood cancers and quickly learned how grossly underfunded research for childhood cancer really is. Only 4% of the National Cancer Institute’s annual budget goes to childhood cancer research, leaving thousands of promising research grants unfunded.

Andrea started Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer as a way to fundraise for research grants and advocate on behalf of the countless other families feeling cancer’s effects. Each year, the organization selects a different cancer to support as there are over a dozen types of cancer that affect children with countless sub-types. Through multiple projects, events and public speaking engagements, Andrea and her team have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for childhood cancer research in just a few short years.

In addition to fundraising and advocacy, Infinite Love is a support system for families who have a child fighting cancer. Their two biggest projects are Lovie Buddies and Infinite Love Photography. Lovie Buddies are personalized medical play dolls that can help ease some anxieties for children undergoing treatment. Each doll comes complete with a port (AKA a central venous catheter) and a medical kit full of supplies so that the children can “help” their dolls the way their doctors are helping them.

Prior to committing to Infinite Love full time, Andrea was a magazine photography editor for over ten years. During Natalie Grace’s two-year battle with cancer, she made sure to document every moment, good and bad. Infinite Love offers photography services for whatever a family needs, whether it is to capture their child before they lose their hair, celebrate finishing treatment or in remembrance.

Today, Natalie Grace is in remission and is a happy, healthy eight-year-old. Although her daughter is cancer-free, Andrea knows the struggle that is all too real for so many parents around the world. Because of this, Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer will continue to bring awareness to the lack of funding for childhood cancer research until there is a cure.

To learn more about Infinite Love and their mission, visit their website HERE.

If you’re located in the New Jersey area, be sure to join Infinite Love for their two big annual fundraisers:

Shave a Hero//Save a Hero:

June 2nd, 2018

12pm-4pm

75 Appleton Ave, Leonardo NJ

---

Wish for a Cure

October 12th, 2018

Ocean Place Resort & Spa

1 Ocean Boulevard, Long Branch, NJ

---

It was an honor to feature Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer and their noble cause this month, stay tuned for our next monthly feature!