March for Babies: Maddie is why it matters

Today I am honored to be participating in my first fund-raising charity walks, for the March of Dime's March for Babies.

I am inspired by the legacy and memory of a wonderful little sprite of a spirit, Maddie Spohr.

In 2009, just three weeks after her unexpected passing, her parents courageously spoke about how much the March of Dimes had helped them through Maddie's gestation and early days as a preemie.



Originally posted by Heather and Mike Spohr here.

How can you not be inspired by their story, and those of the other families assisted by the March of Dimes? I have contributed in the past to the Spohrs' family team, but this year was motivated to do something of my own.

With thanks to the following family, friends, and colleagues for helping me exceed my personal and Auntie Nettie's Angels team fund-raising goal of $390. Thanks to them, I was proud to add $615 to the March for Babies efforts.

Grandmary ~ Grumpa Max
Alex A. ~ Alithia D.
Barli N. ~ Christine B.
Daniel F. ~ David G.
Jane M. ~ Jenn W.
Jonah E. ~ Lindsey P.
Lisa R. ~ Lori P.
Martha S. ~ Michelle K.
Susan S. ~ Tammy B.
Terence K. ~ Tim G.
Tori B. ~ Vanessa W. ~ Yisset G.

Look for pictures from the March very soon.

YouTube Tuesday: Explaining an Arts Non-Profit

One of these days I am going to write that semi-fictional expose/memoir of the first third of my life as a fund-raiser, under a thinly disguised nom de plume. ONE DAY! Until then, this may suffice.

If you haven't seen/heard of these series of animated monotone voice-over cartoons, the gist is that any ol' person can submit the text that will be narrated by these or other cartoon animals. Some are veryveryveryVERY not suitable for my parents, and the "humor/truth" is best appreciated by some one who has spent considerable time in the particular field on which the cartoon is based.

There are many to choose from, and many that are far to close to the truth but to be anything but painfully familiar, like this one:

YouTube Tuesday: March for Babies May 2011

I interrupt my usual YouTube Tuesday videos to post one with a message.

As an auntie I have been very fortunate that all of my nieces and nephews have been born hale and hearty, including all of the sets of multiples that I am honored to spoil. However, many babies aren't so fortunate. The stresses of prematurity have an impact on the infant and their families for years to come. But you can help.

Won't you join me this year in raising funds for the March of Dimes through the March for Babies, either by supporting them on-line, by building your own fund-raising team, or supporting me and my team, Auntie Nettie's Angels. I have set a very modest individual goal this year, but hope to attract team members to help triple or quadruple that goal. Donations made be made on the tab to the right of this post. (Thanks to those who have already donated or pledged!)

For more information, go to www.marchforbabies.org or www.marchofdimes.com.

Thank you in advance for your support.

in memory of Maddie ... who inspires.

"Fun" or something like that!

Seems like an awful lot of pressure to be placing on the people of Pumpkintown. What if "hell" raisers show up?

Maybe they should have stuck to the old fashioned fund-raiser!

Weehaw --- Now, show me the money

As we type, on its way to the National Endowment for the Arts via FedEx, is over five pounds of paper, two CDs, and weeks and weeks (and weeks and weeks) worth of work in the form of a work-related application for funding. YIPPEE SKIPPY!

Now I just have to wait more than a year to find out if the Big J will get the money for 2009-2010. (No, I'm not kidding ... over a year before notification.)

SHOW ME THE MONEY!