Starlight MidAtlantic’s New Year’s Resolutions
As one year comes to an end and another begins
people are inspired and motivated by the sense of a new year, a fresh start, a carte blanche. People around the world make resolutions to better themselves, their relationships, their communities. Some resolve to lose weight, some to budget more wisely, and some to volunteer more. Here at Starlight MidAtlantic we’ve made our own set of resolutions to ring in 2012.
Fundraise Creatively
At Starlight Children’s Foundation™ MidAtlantic in 2012, we resolve to offer fun and innovative mission-driven projects to engage donor support. Stay tuned for ways to help get Pillow Pets and Starry Blankets to hospitalized children, as well as connect celebrities and sports figures to programming.
Build Community Partnerships
In 2012, we resolve to create attractive partnership opportunities for the benefit of regional and national businesses. Exciting opportunities include team-building and philanthropic projects. Past partnerships include themed Great Escapes™ with Wyndham Virginia Crossings in Glen Allen, VA and a toy drive for seriously ill children by Liberty Property Trust in Malvern, PA.
Expand Reach
In 2012, we resolve to have a presence throughout the entire MidAtlantic region, from the most rural areas to the inner cities. Volunteers from national groups such as Kiwanis Clubs and Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail are helping with this ambitious project. These groups’ already established national networks are helping Starlight MidAtlantic serve more families than ever before.
Build System-Wide Administration
In 2012, we resolve to develop programming to better serve the wide range of specialized needs of 154 hospitals serving more than 1,000,000 seriously ill children in our region. Starlight MidAtlantic will be innovative, flexible, and work with groups such as Med Star Health to craft this scalable system of programs
Communicate Through Social Media
In 2012, we resolve to be engaging and entertaining in the improved utilization of social media to communicate more freely with families, donors, and volunteers. Relaunching Facebook as a professional communication tool, along with more consistent and strategic use of Twitter and WordPress, will help to spread and welcome good news of what Starlight MidAtlantic is doing for seriously ill children.
What are your resolutions for 2012?
Thank you to those who came out and supported Starlight Children’s Foundation™ MidAtlantic’s 12th Annual Taste of the Stars Gala. The Taste of the Stars Gala has again provided funding to improve the quality of life for seriously ill children and their loved ones.
Support from the gala is so important and means so much. For young families facing the unimaginable, their world is turned upside down the day they receive their child’s diagnosis. Moms and dads find themselves splitting their time between their sick child in the hospital and their other children at home. The opportunity to be a normal family and enjoy a typical childhood is lost. Gala support helps to return some of the normalcy that is unfairly taken away and also gives families something to look forward to.
Between tests and treatments, remissions and relapses, it is common for moms and dads, brothers and sisters to be overwhelmed with feelings of isolation, fear, and confusion. Month after month, families depend on Starlight’s programs. Through the laughter and the tears, they are extremely grateful and often ask how programs are funded. They are quick to say THANK YOU for the kindness shown by those of you who give.
Every gift will help more families this year.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, in 2005-2006 one child out of every seven lives with special health care needs. That translates to more than 1,000,000 children in our region. Although we are currently serving 200,000 in and out of the hospital, there are more who need us. Seeing the ballroom filled with friends and fellow supporters was very encouraging. We value the support and are working diligently to do more with each donation.
On behalf of Starlight MidAtlantic families, thank you for supporting the 12th Annual Taste of the Stars Gala and for brightening the lives of seriously ill children. If you have any questions about donating or the work that Starlight MidAtlantic does, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Barbara J. Schreiber
Executive Director
Starlight Children’s Foundation MidAtlantic thanks the 12th Annual Taste of the Stars Gala Sponsors:
- The Merrill Family Foundation
- Washington Winter Show
- Glassman Wealth Services
- Korn/Ferry International
- National Geographic Society
- Acentia
- Guest Services, Inc.
- Nell & Hu Benton
- Jim Bell
- Clark Construction
- Hogan Lovells
- Britlan & Fred Malek
Welcome to Starlight Children’s Foundation MidAtlantic’s new blog
Starlight Children’s Foundation MidAtlantic is launching this new blog to better inform, educate, and engage our donors, volunteers, supporters, and families. This blog will be updated with insights from our staff members, volunteers, and families; thoughts on the state of the organization and current events; and opportunities for families, donors, and volunteers. To view our archived blog please click here.
