CHERUBS Raffle for Research

Last December we held a Facebook contest and you voted for your favorite Research Center to get a $10,000 CDH Research Grant. We were able to give away 2 grants for $10,000 each thanks to all your help selling 50/50 CDH Raffle tickets and thanks to 1 determined family who raised $10,000 in memory of their daughter! $10,000 went to The Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at CHOP and $10,000 went to DHREAMS Research Study (Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia).

THIS YEAR:

Our goal is to sell 1000 more 50/50 CDH Raffle tickets to raise another $10,000 and to work together to raise an additional $15,000 through fundraisers and firstgiving pages. 

Think we can do it? Want to give $25,000 in CDH Research Grants this December? We sure do!!!

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. Purchase tickets at http://2014cdhresearchraffleeventbrite.com/

2. Sell paper tickets by e-mailing us your name and address to research@cdhsupport.org

3. Hold a fundraiser by talking to our Fundraising Coordinator Melissa Larrison at mlarrison@cherubs-cdh.org

4. Create a Firstgiving Page in honor/memory of your cherub at https://www.firstgiving.com/10125/cherubs-2013-cdh-research-fund-drive

It's not hard to help! We had several families sell over 50 tickets each and we have had 2 families raise over $10,000 on Firstgiving and one who raised $25,000! If all of us work together on this we can far exceed our goal and raise a lot of money for CDH Research!

For more information:
CHERUBS - Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH): CDH Research

Groupon Grassroots Update & Other Breaking News!

We did amazing with the Groupon Grassroots fundraiser!  Because of your support, we raised over $3,300 towards the HOPE Totebag program.  100% of the money raised goes directly to CHERUBS for this important program.  Thank you for making this fundraiser (the first of it's kind for CHERUBS) such a success.

Did you know that CHERUBS is offering a scholarship towards college for graduating seniors?  There's still time to apply.  The deadline is June 24th, so get your application in soon!

Did you watch the WGN news on Monday, June 17th?  The CHERUBS IL/WI Representative and his family were featured in a cover story which talked about CDH, CHERUBS, and their 2nd child (due in September) also diagnosed with CDH.

CHERUBS 2012 Milestones and Accomplishments for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

As we wrap up 2012 and welcome 2013, our charity would like to thank all of the members, donors and friends who make it possible for us to help families affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

We are very proud of our accomplishments this year and look forward to many more in the upcoming year!

CHERUBS 2012 Milestones and Accomplishments (so far):

  * New Executive Board of Directors
  * New Parent Advisory Board
  * New Medical Advisory Board
  * New Vice-President, Ashley Barry
  * New Secretary, Lauren Campbell
  * New Treasurer, Kelly Green-Krist
  * Senate Bill S.3396 Introduced
  * Parade of Cherubs on April 19th in Washington DC to Capitol Hill
  * Members met with the offices of over 25 Senators
  * April 19th CDH
  * Parades of Cherubs on April 19th in Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Denver, St. Louis, Peoria
  * UK Light up The Night on April 19th
  * First ever Virtual CDH Awareness Parade on April 19th  * 2012 CDH Conference in San Francisco
  * New CHERUBS Web Site
  * New Logo
  * New Facebook Forums Application created
  * $10,000 CDH Research Grant contest started (ends December 30th)
  * $10,000 CDH Research Grant awarded to ______________ on December 30th (by votes)
  * Another $10,000 CDH Research Grant awarded to ______________ on December 30th (already chosen)
  * First ever Facebook Grant Contest held by a CDH charity
  * Over 300 care packages sent to families through our CDH HOPE Totebag project
  * CDH families represented at the American Pediatric Surgical Association conference
  * Our 2012 National Children's Memorial Day tribute honored the memories over 1000 cherubs
  * Texas Get-Together
  * Ohio Picnic
  * UK Get-Together in Scotland
  * Chicago CDH Carnival  * Pennsylvania / NJ / Delaware Picnic
  * Denver Picnic
  * Indiana Get-Together
  * Washington Zoo Trip
  * Oregon members met with Senators
  * Oregon members represent CDH families at the opening of Randall Children's Hospital
  * Over 900 raffle tickets sold for the 50/50 CDH Research Raffle raising $9000 for Research
  * Over 10,000 Facebook Fans reached
  * Over 10,000 signatures reached on CDH Research Bill petition
  * Over 18,000 people reached in one post on Facebook
  * 2012 Silver Lining Newsletter Published
  * 2012 CDH Awareness Video
  * Day of 2012 CDH Awareness Video
  * Participated in televised Raleigh Christmas Parade
  * CHERUBS members in Claremont, NC Christmas Parade
  * CHERUBS members in Snoqualmie Days Parade
  * It's a Knock-Out UK Fundraiser
  * Masquerading Angels Ball
  * UK Formal Ball
  * CDH Awareness Calendar featuring over 1300 CDH patients
  * Save the Cherubs CDH Awareness Calendar
  * First CDH Awareness Calendar in the United Kingdom
  * Won Shane Co. charity contest
  * Won the JuJuBelle Facebook contest
  * Our CDH Awareness Ribbon included in St. Louis Cardinals Game to raise money for St. Louis hospital
  * Washington Mud Run Fundraiser
  * Enter Stage Left Fundraiser  * UK Fishing Competition Fundraiser
  * Rockin' for Aidan Fundraiser
  * CHERUBS joins Google+
  * CHERUBS joins Chirpify
  * CHERUBS joins Pinterest
  * CHERUBS joins Instagram  * CDH Fundraising Kits created
  * Cooking With Cherubs cookbook project begun
  * Participated in the San Francisco Marathon
  * Participated in the Boston Marathon
  * Participated in the Baltimore Marathon
  * Participated in the Great Human Race in Durham, NC
  * Participated in the Iron Girl all women's half Marathon in the Mid-Atlantic
  * Participated in the Baltimore, MD Metric Marathon
  * Participated in the High Cloud Snapple Half Marathon in Washington, DC
  * Save The Cherubs in the Silicon Valley
  * New Holiday Facebook Covers project started
  * Dozens of free CDH Awareness graphics made
  * New yellow CDH Awareness Bracelets created
  * 47 members of the Angel Club
  * Over 100 new Save the Cherubs posters created
  * Membership reaches over 4200 families in 54 states
  * CHERUBS moves to new office
  * 5 television interviews
  * Over 2 dozen newspaper articles
  * 1 magazine article
  * Moved to new office

Be sure to check out the main CHERUBS blog for more great pictures of our 2012 accomplishments.

Just the facts....about the CHERUBS Kids Carnival

Hopefully this will answer any and all questions you may have regarding the CHERUBS Kids Carnival this Sunday.

Date: October 14
Time:  11 am - 2 pm
Location: Recreation Center of Highland Park located at 1207 Park Ave. W, Highland Park, Illinois
Admission: FREE - there is no entrance fee but tickets will be sold to play the games, etc.
Additional Venue information:    Plenty of parking is available onsite.  This is an indoor event that will take place in one of the basketball courts with food and redemption in a separate room.

What kinds of activities will you have at the carnival?  We will have 20+ carnival games, balloon twisting by Aunt Nora, face painting, KidSnips will be doing hair, TAT4u will be offering airbrush tattoos, a bounce house, trivia games by Loren of Fun, Fun, Fun DJ's, and music & dancing games with Mindy from the Rock & Roll Arts Academy.  

Are discount tickets available?  Until Friday, tickets are being sold on the CHERUBS Illinois blog at a discount when you use coupon code = CHERUBS.  Just click the drop down menu on the right hand side of this blog to purchase your discounted tickets.  For a very limited time, you can purchase 15 tickets for $10 (with coupon code).  Normal price the day-of the carnival will be $10 for 12 tickets.

Any other way to get more Free tickets?  Yes, check into the CHERUBS Kids Carnival on foursquare and get 2 more FREE tickets (when you spend at least $10 on tickets).  Just show your check-in at the ticket booth to claim your 2 FREE tickets.  Only 2 FREE tickets per family.

Is there an unlimited game pass available? Absolutely.  For $25, you can purchase an unlimited 2 hour game pass.  The pass is valid for 2 hours from time of purchase (or until 1:30 p.m whichever is earlier).  The pass is valid for all carnival games and the bounce house.  Pass is not valid for face painting, tattoos, food, raffle, etc.

How much does everything "cost"?  

• All carnival games will cost 1 ticket
• Bounce house will cost 2 tickets
• Small face paint (arm, cheek, etc.) will cost 1 ticket and a full face paint will cost 3 tickets
• Airbrush tattoo will cost 1 ticket and so will a balloon animal
• KidSnips makeovers will cost 
• 1 ticket for temporary hair color and/or faux mohawk
• 2 tickets for an awesome braid
• 4 tickets for a braided hair wrap with colored string
• Trivia games are FREE (and we have some great pizes to give away)
• Highland Pop popcorn will cost 2 tickets
• Cotton candy will cost 2 tickets
• Vienna hot dog lunch (including soda/water, chips and a pickle) will cost 4 tickets
• Sugar Beez cookies will be 1 ticket and Spunky Dunkers donuts will cost 2 tickets
• Carnival tickets will also be used to participate in the silent raffle for amazing prizes

What kinds of prizes are available in the silent raffle? Too many to list right now...but great stuff from the Chicago Sky, Bulls, Boomers, Wolves, Lynfred Winery, Wildfire, Creative Celebrations, Rock & Roll Academy, Embraced, Fab Band, Sprinkle with Love, The Hungry Monkey, Panera Bread, Noodles & Co., Sports Clips, The Best Salon, Make-a-Messterpiece, and lots more!!  

Anything else? We will also be selling 50/50 Raffle for Research tickets for $20 per ticket.  50% of the sales go towards CDH research and the other 50% of ticket sales go to the winner.  The goal is to sell 1,000 tickets so $10,000 can be donated towards research and the winner will receive the remaining $10,000.  

What forms of payment will be accepted at the carnival?  You can pay for carnival tickets with cash, check (made out to CHERUBS), or credit card.  Please note that 50/50 Raffle for Research tickets can only be purchased with cash or check.  

Will donations be accepted?  Of course!  You can make additional donation checks out to CHERUBS or just tell us to "keep the change" to make an additional donation.  You can also make a donation to CHERUBS or to the Carnival Fund right here on the CHERUBS Illinois blog using your credit card.

See you on Sunday!!

Donate to the Carnival Fund

Now you can donate to the CHERUBS Illinois Carnival Fund to help defray the expenses and fees incurred to put on the event.  Ultimately, the more we can defray all the costs to put on the event, the more we will be able to donate to CHERUBS in the end.  To donate, just click the "Donate" button to the right of this post.

As always, you can also donate directly to CHERUBS by using the "Donate" button at the top of this page.

Don't forget to take advantage of the pre-carnival discount ticket prices!

Tickets at the carnival will be $10 for 12 tickets or $1 per ticket.  But use coupon code = CHERUBS and you will get 15 tickets for the price of 12....3 FREE tickets.  Without the coupon code, the price for 15 tickets will be $12.50 pre-carnival.  Or you can purchase an unlimited 2 hour game pass (from 11-1) for just $25.00 when you use the same coupon code. Please note that the unlimited game pass cannot be shared (it is for a single person).  These are pre-carnival prices, so buy your tickets or game pass before October 14.  

All you have to do is click the "Buy Now" link to the right of this blog post to purchase your tickets.  You will be able to collect you pre-purchased tickets at the event on October 14. 

You must use Coupon code = CHERUBS to take advantage of this pre-carnival deal of 3 FREE tickets or the unlimited game pass.

Pre-Order Carnival Tickets and Get 3 FREE

The 1st Annual CHERUBS Kids Carnival is just over 1 month away.  And now you have an opportunity to pre-order tickets and get 3 tickets FREE in the process.

Tickets at the carnival will be $10 for 12 tickets or $1 per ticket.  But use coupon code = CHERUBS and you will get 15 tickets for the price of 12....3 FREE tickets.  Without the coupon code, the price for 15 tickets will be $12.50 pre-carnival.  Or you can purchase an unlimited 2 hour game pass for just $25.00 when you use the same coupon code. Please note that the unlimited game pass cannot be shared (it is for a single person).  These are pre-carnival prices, so buy your tickets or game pass before October 14. 

All you have to do is click the "Buy Now" link to the right of this blog post to purchase your tickets.  You will be able to collect you pre-purchased tickets at the event on October 14.

You must use Coupon code = CHERUBS to take advantage of this pre-carnival deal of 3 FREE tickets or the unlimited game pass.

So much to do, so little time

There's so much going on in the CDH community both locally and across the nation that I almost don't know where to start.  This post is going to be more of a list of some of the great things going on right now.  I want to make it as easy as possible for you to be able to participate in as much as you feel compelled to.

CDH Research Bill: A Senate committee is currently reviewing the $50,000,000 CDH Research Bill (Senate Bill S.3396).  It goes without saying that his is HUGE for the entire CDH community.  Roughly $4,000,000 is allocated towards CDH research per year vs. $79,000,000 for Cystic Fibrosis.  What can you do?  Write your/our Senators to let them know that you support this Bill.  Just for everyone's knowledge...this Bill is just asking for money that is already appropriated towards medical research to be reallocated towards CDH research.  This isn't incremental dollars added to the budget....the money is already there and being spent on other birth defects and diseases.  Here are some links to make it easier for you:

• Sign the Change.org petition showing your support (we need around 3,600 signatures to reach out goal)
• Write your senators!  This is crucial and here are some templates to make it that much easier.  Especially important is writing the 22 members of the committee reviewing the Bill.  If the Bill doesn't get approved by the Committee...then that's it.  This template also includes the addresses of all 22 senators in the reviewing committee.
• Email your senators...email addresses are very easy to find
• Set up a meeting with your Senators
• Review the actual Bill.
• Track the progress of the Bill. 

CHERUBS Fundraisers & Events:  There are so many events and fundraisers that I am having trouble keeping track right now.  Here are a few of them:

• September 15 - CHERUBS Indiana Picnic
• October 14 - Chicago CHERUBS Kids Carnival...everyone is welcome!  Here are the Facebook and Eventbrite links for additional information.  This is going to be a great fundraiser and a great time!
• October 20 - CHERUBS Masquerading Angels Ball...this is CHERUBS largest event/fundraiser and sure to be a lot of fun!
• Along with the this is the 50/50 Raffle for Research going on right now.  The goal is to sell 1000 tickets so the raffle winner would win $10,000 and the remaining $10,000 would go towards CDH research.  I have tickets that you can buy direct or feel free to purchase them online.
• For more events, check out the CHERUBS Event Calendar
• Online Fundraisers
• 50/50 Raffle for Research - Tickets are $20 a piece
• $5000 CHERUBS Challenge - This is a great fundraiser from the friend of CHERUBS' own Fundraising Coordinator (Melissa).  Valerie has offered to shave her head (and donate her hair to Locks of Love) if she can raise $5000 for CHERUBS.  I believe someone else has also stepped up and offered to shave her head too if we can raise $10,000 for CHERUBS.
• Marathon fundraiser - The Green family is running a marathon to raise money for CHERUBS!
• Give $1 CHERUBS Fundraiser - This is a catch-all fundraiser that I created for anyone who wants to donate directly to CHERUBS.

I probably missed something, but this is a good start...

  

A Call to Arms!!

Did that get your attention??  Okay...well I exaggerated a bit.  It's not really a call to arms but rather a call to volunteer.  Many of you may know that I wear a lot of hats in an effort to help CHERUBS.  I am currently the Illinois and Wisconsin State Rep and on the Awareness, Grant, and Welcome Committees.  I am also one of the Co-Chairs of the newly formed Parent Advisory Board.

So how can you help?  We can always use help on the committees I mentioned above.  But where we really need help (and I'm talking about Illinois and Wisconsin specifically here) is in the Hospital Angel role.  What is a Hospital Angel?  It is someone who has knowledge of a specific hospital and is willing (as needed) to speak to members about that hospital or possibly even visit someone with a child currently at that respective hospital.

This is an on-call position, so it does not require a lot of hours.  However, it is an extremely important role.  I think we all can remember all the questions swirling around our heads when we found out we were going to have a child with CDH.

But between Illinois and Wisconsin there are way too many hospitals for one person to cover.  Plus I only have experience with two hospitals with respect to my CDH-er.

I know just from the Chicago Parade of Cherubs on April 19, we had a dozen hospitals represented.  If you are interested in becoming a Hospital Angel or taking on any of the other important volunteer roles, please let me know.  Thanks for taking the time to consider volunteering.  CHERUBS is primarily a volunteer run organization.  So without our volunteers, we wouldn't be able to offer half the services currently being offered.

Here is a direct link to a brief description of the volunteer roles currently available.