Youth For a Cause: 13-Year-Old Raises Thousands for Cerebral Palsy

Written by Marketing Intern Caroline Howell

Matthew Stephenson of Houston, Texas may seem like your average videogame-playing teenage boy but he is indeed much more. Matthew is affected with cerebral palsy, a condition that causes physical disability in human development, especially body movement.

He has created a charity called Matthew’s Challenge to help send thirty children to Camp Smiles, a getaway where disabled children get to participate in fun activities that help build their skills and allow them to gain independence.

Matthew’s Challenge hopes to raise $30,000 to donate cabins to Camp Smiles so that thirty more children are able to enjoy the week-long camp. Matthew has previously raised $3,000 to help students with disabilities graduate from high school. He is hoping that his challenge will allow more kids living with cerebral palsy and similar disabilities, to gain self confidence and participate in activities that they couldn’t previously enjoy.

To learn more visit about Matthew’s Challenge or to donate visit http://eastersealshouston.org/Donations/matthews-challenge.html.

Community for a Cause: Smiles Charity Fundraises to Build Veteran Homes

Written by Marking Intern Katy Rowan

Thirty miles north of Dallas, an orthodontist by the name of Jennifer Buchanan works incredibly hard to make her mark on this world.  In addition to giving her McKinney, Texas patients the perfect smile, Dr. Buchanan partners with the North Collin County Habitat for Humanity to build houses for those in need.

Dr. Buchanan founded the Smiles Charity in 2008 with the hopes of changing the world one home, one family at a time, and it has had much success since then.  Private donations and various sponsorships for the charity’s main event, the Smiles Charity Concert and Family Festival, have afforded Dr. Buchanan and Habitat for Humanity the ability to put three families in new homes in just three short years.

Each year, a celebrity has headlined the annual concert and drawn large crowds out in support of Dr. Buchanan’s mission.  Entertainers Gavin DeGraw, Little Big Town, and Chris Cagle have been featured in years past, and Uncle Kracker took the stage most recently, on this past Memorial Day weekend. 

The 2011 Smiles Charity Concert went off without a hitch with the largest community turnout since its beginning.  This year’s goal was to recognize two locally fallen heroes and also to put three severely wounded veterans in homes, thanks to help from Operation Finally Home.

As a resident of McKinney myself, I can say I’m truly honored to live in the same city as Dr. Buchanan.  Whether it’s through her orthodontic work or charitable compassion, she continues to make an impact on the community.  I have no doubt she will reach her dream of expanding Smiles Charity to several cities nationwide.

Though she’s worked hard to give families the gift of a home and to raise large sums of money, the ultimate gift she’s bestowed on our community is one with no cost at all – an enduring smile willing to help. 

After all, what’s more powerful than a smile?  Absolutely nothing.

Celebrity Gives Back: Jeff Gordon Supports the Fight Against Childhood Cancer

Written by Marketing Intern Caroline Howell

Jeff Gordon, a NASCAR Cup Champion, announced that the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation is going to support Rwandan children by making cancer treatment available to them. The Foundation is dedicated to raising $1.5 million dollars to help treat patients in the area.

 The Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation was founded in 1999 to help support children intellectually, socially and physically. The Foundation is teaming up with Partners In Health, an organization committed to providing health care to those devastated by poverty and disease. Along with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Gordon and Partners In Health hope to provide appropriate care and help to the Rwandan children effected by cancer.

 According to the Foundation website, Gordon is enthusiastic about the cause because “childhood cancer occurs randomly, regularly and excludes no ethnicity, socioeconomic class or geographic region and that is why it is imperative we reach beyond our borders and bring access to treatment to countries like Rwanda.  Partners In Health and the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation share a mutual desire to reach the day when no child faces the uncertainties of cancer, with our new partnership we are one step closer”.

 To find out more or to donate to the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation visit www.jeffgordonchildrensfoundation.org

Running Gives Back: Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Provides Inspiration

Written by Marketing Intern Katy Rowan

As someone who used to be an avid runner, lost touch with the sport, and now wants to get back into it, it’s sometimes hard to find the motivation necessary to go for that morning jog.  After doing some research, however, I’ve decided to look no further than Susan G. Komen for the Cure for the perfect amount of inspiration.

Making quite the impact with more than 800 runners at its inaugural race in Dallas, Texas back in 1983, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has continued to increase breast cancer awareness and raise money for the cause nearly 30 years later.  Each race also celebrates breast cancer survivors and honors those who’ve passed on.

In addition to races held all over the country, the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure is held annually in Washington, D.C. Most recently held on June 4, this year’s race drew 44,000 participants and raised over $5 million to fund breast cancer programs in the D.C. area and across the world.

Local races benefit the organization as well.  According to the Find a Race website, as much as 75% of the net money raised actually stays in the race city’s community and goes toward funding health education and breast cancer screening and treatment projects.  The other 25% supports the Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Programs, which fund breakthrough research, awards, and global conferences.

So, the next time you find yourself lacking the energy to go for a walk or run, think again.  Think of all of those who suffer from breast cancer.  Think of all of those who have survived.  Think of all of those who have lost their lives.  Remember how lucky you are, and take that inspiration to the pavement. 

Get out and exercise so you too can participate in the Race for the Cure.  Running or walking may not appear all that exciting, but running or walking for the cure is absolutely exhilarating.  Take your first step today and find out for yourself.

To sign up for a race in your community, please visit http://tinyurl.com/ydv4ml4.  To sign up for next year’s Global Race for the Cure, please visit http://tinyurl.com/ydg3tw7.

To simply learn more about Susan G. Komen or to make a donation, please visit http://ww5.komen.org/. 

Celebrity Gives Back: Elton John Hosting Annual Charity Ball

Written by Marketing Intern Caroline Howell

 Sir Elton John is famous internationally for more than just his singing ability; his AIDS Foundation has funded hundreds of projects across the globe. Elton John has worked relentlessly to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to help HIV/AIDS victims find hope.

According to the Foundation’s website, “Our mission is to provide focused and sustainable funding to frontline programs that help to alleviate the physical, emotional and financial hardship of those living with, affected by or at risk of HIV/AIDS, and to continue the fight against this worldwide pandemic.”

Elton John started the White Tie and Tiara Ball in 1999 to help raise money for his foundation.  Hundreds of celebrities come out each year to his 37-acre English manor to support the cause. Some of the celebrities who have attended in the past include David Beckham, Kevin Spacey and Catherine Zeta Jones. The guests get to tour the estate, enjoy some of the finest cuisine that London has to offer, listen to Elton John himself perform, and finish the evening with hours of dancing. The White Tie and Tiara Ball alone has raised millions of dollars to support the Foundation’s projects.

To learn more about the White Tie and Tiara Ball visit or to donate to the cause visit http://www.ejaf.com/Ourevents/WHITETIETIARA. 

Organization for a Cause: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Supports Families Affected by Dementia

Written by Marketing Intern Katy Rowan

Last year my Mimi passed away.  Having lived nearly 89 wonderful years, she made the journey to Heaven after an uphill battle with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.  However, being the fighter she was, she never let dementia get in the way of being her lively, loving, and sweet self.  And I know she’d encourage anyone else suffering from Alzheimer’s to do the same.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) shares my Mimi’s mentality and is dedicated to providing assistance to everyone affected by the disease via organizations devoted to improving quality of life.  Additionally, AFA offers advocacy services that range from boosting awareness to an early detection initiative.  Other services include a toll-free hotline, education, social services, care connection, professional development, and grants.

The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to the Alzheimer’s cause, too.  Offering care for those affected by the disease, the association also aims to completely eliminate Alzheimer’s through extensive research and to reduce the risk of dementia by advocating brain health.

Both organizations work hard to campaign for the Alzheimer’s cause.  Though the disease is prevalent in our society, the AFA and the Alzheimer’s Association provide the support necessary to combat the disease and continue living life. 

And that is the most important thing.  Just as my Mimi powered through, these organizations enable others to do the same.  Alzheimer’s is an unfortunate part of life for some, but it will never be a way of life thanks to the AFA and the Alzheimer’s Association.

To learn more and to find out how you can get involved, please visit http://www.alzfdn.org/index.htm and http://www.alz.org/index.asp.

Billionaires Give Back: Tilman and Paige Fertitta Host Charity Event

Written by Marketing Intern Caroline Howell

Down here in Texas, the Fertitta’s are a restaurant dynasty. Tilman Fertitta is the CEO of Laundry’s, a corporation that owns dozens of the most popular restaurants in Texas. They cater to every family, from the kid-friendly Rainforest Café to one of the finest steakhouses in the country, Vic and Anthony’s. Tilman’s River Oaks estate made the perfect setting this spring for the Houston Children’s Charity A Gathering of Champions fundraiser.

Houston Children’s Charity is a non-profit organization that helps support underprivileged, abused and disabled children in need of help. Tilman Fertitta is the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The fundraiser brought some of Houston’s most legendary sports figures including Nolan Ryan, Craig Biggio, Clyde Drexler and Elvin Hayes. Other notable names include Michael Linn, John Nau and John Havens.

The fundraiser proved to be an enormous success, raising $140,000 for the HCC. Tilman also paid a tribute to NASA Captains Gene Cernan and Mark Kelly. The Houston Children’s Charity referred to night as an “unforgettable event.”

To learn more about Houston Children’s Charity or to donate visit www.houstonchildrenscharity.org.