Prince was raised by his grandmother, with the help of an aunt, because his mother had substance abuse issues. In 1999 he joined the Army Infantry Division as a cavalry scout. Once in the Army, he felt he finally had an outlet for his frustrations, and his drinking increased as he began to face the trauma from his childhood.

In 2017, Prince was offered outpatient treatment at Recovery Resource Council once he finished three months of residential treatment that was ordered by the Veteran’s Court. Having been through treatment and relapse before, this time through the Council’s outpatient program was different, which included Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

He also went through relationship training with his son’s mom, which significantly improved their relationship with each other and their child. Consequently, Prince was able to spend more time with his son, an invaluable benefit to his recovery journey. “The more I help people, the more it helps me. I’m not alone going through issues. [I’m] glad I got some help to change for the better.”

The residential Veteran Affairs (V.A.) program at Recovery Resource Council frequently asks Prince to come back and speak to residents, including when he received his 1-year chip. Prince says, “it felt good to know when you do little things you have an impact.” He could tell those he spoke to, “I was in your seat once.”

Prince says he struggled to manage his anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic, and he’s leaned on his relationships with his former counselors, like Christi Weaver, the Council Director of Recovery Services, to be able to continue his recovery journey. Today Prince is a graduate of Tarleton State with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, and is now a supervisor with his current employer. “[I] have so much to lose now. My kids, my job, my notary business and insurance license. Addiction is going to take away something – your time and your energy.”   Things like online therapy, prescribed medication for his anxiety, writing, equine therapy, and effective stress management are all part of Prince’s daily life.

Local nonprofit, Recovery Resource Council, is working hard to help those who have nowhere else to turn with wellness and recovery from alcohol and substance use disorders and trauma.   With your support we can ensure North Texas veterans, unsheltered people, youth, and families have low-cost and free addiction and mental healthcare treatment options.

To support this, and other local deserving nonprofits, visit www.GreatestGiftCatalogEver.org

Tex

Christine Jones is the Executive Director for The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever, a local communications platform that works with 22 local charities to get their missions and messages out to Tarrant County neighbors.  She is also maidservant to her miniature dachshund, Tex, who allows her to work most days.

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To celebrate the kick-off of charitable giving season in Fort Worth, Tanglewood Moms Gives Back, Frost Bank, and The Shops at Clearfork are joining forces with the charities of The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever to host a spook-tacular good reason to make a difference in our community.

Bring your little pumpkins, pirates, and princesses to The Shops at Clearfork on Saturday, October 26^th at 3pm for trick or treating at participating retailers.  Along the way visit with local nonprofits who will be there handing out treats and sharing good deeds with all who visit.

With a suggested donation of $5 per child to any of the charities, you will receive your wristband, map of participating locations, and a FANGtastic treat bag.

Start your adventure in the greenspace next to B&B Butchers at 3 pm.  As a bonus, Kids Who Care will be CREEP-ing it real while performing some of their latest numbers.  It’s going to be an unBOOlievable time!

Visit the Facebook event on The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever Facebook page for details, and to see photos after the event.

Benefitting nonprofits:

A Wish with Wings                                        Kids Who Care

Airpower Foundation                                    LinkED

Alzheimer’s Association                               Meals on Wheels

Big Brothers Big Sisters                                 Recovery Resource Council

Boys and Girls Clubs                                      Ronald McDonald House

Camp John Marc                                            The First Tee of Fort Worth

Catholic Charities                                           The Gatehouse

Gill Children’s Services                                 The Parenting Center

Helping Restore Ability                                Union Gospel Mission

Hope Center for Autism

Christine Jones is the Executive Director for The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever which is committed to communicating the mission of good works and local charities to Tarrant County neighbors. Visit www.TGGCE.org to read all about their 2019 nonprofits.

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Through the catalog, potential donors, and volunteers learn about ways that they can make a real difference by specific examples of many needs all over our town, and in many different ways.  And neighbors who need help use the catalog as a shopping guide for services.

• Want to learn more about mentoring our local young folks? We have organizations that will get you connected.
• Interested in helping our elderly with food and loneliness? We can tell you how to do that.
• Do you have a heart for our homeless or critically ill neighbors? Read about many ways you can make a big difference!

The GGCE was created from a frustration that gift giving during the holidays can seem frivolous and empty.  Our founders, Heather and Elliot Goldman, wanted gift options that had meaning and supported their community.  After visiting with local nonprofit leaders, they realized that a collective effort offering ways to improve their community was going to make the most impact.

According to our nonprofits, Tarrant County consistently ranks as one of the highest Texas counties with cases of abused children.  We are also one of the top ten counties in the US with the highest number of hungry people overall.  Almost 15,000 children experience homelessness in Tarrant County each year.  Over 5000 neighbors who are veterans are seeking help with addiction related problems annually.  You can help while doing your holiday shopping!

So are you ready to give gifts that impress your friends and help Fort Worth?  Choose a need and donate a coat, a meal, an hour of tutoring for a struggling student, or even a prescription for a neighbor in pain.

Need client, teacher, neighbor, and grandchild gifts?  With a gift card from The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever your family and friends can read all about local needs and choose which mission speaks to their heart…while you get the tax deduction!

The local organizations that are included in the 2019 catalog are:

A Wish with Wings                 Alzheimer’s Association                     Airpower Foundation

Big Brothers Big Sisters          Boys and Girls Clubs                           Catholic Charities

Gill Children’s Services           Kids Who Care                                    Camp John Marc

The First Tee                           Helping Restore Ability                      Hope Center for Autism

Meals on Wheels                    LinkED                                                 Recovery Resource Council

Ronald McDonald House       The Gatehouse                                   The Parenting Center

Union Gospel Mission

The 2019 Greatest Gift Catalog Ever will be out in our community beginning this October, or you can see all of the amazing opportunities to make a difference all year round on our site, www.TGGCE.org.   To order gift cards for any reason or season, call Christine Jones at 817-923-4527.

Do you know of a fantastic organization that you would love to see included in The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever?  We are interested in visiting with local nonprofits who have been working for at least five years, who can send us their two most recent 990’s, and who benefit Tarrant County.  Call Christine Jones at 817-923-4527 to schedule an interview.

Christine Jones is the Executive Director for The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever which is committed to communicating the mission of good works and local charities to Tarrant County neighbors. Visit www.TGGCE.org to read all about their 2019 nonprofits.

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For over 25 years, Recovery Resource Council’s prevention educators have been helping at-risk children and youth build self-esteem, develop a sense of purpose and create strategies to deal with negative, high risk behaviors of vaping, drugs, substance misuse and violence.  Our staff work in schools, recreation centers, shelters and juvenile detention centers, empowering students with critical life skills that allow them to focus on a positive future.  Through interactive lessons and activities, children and youth identify their own talents and skills.  For many, it is the first time that they have a healthy role model and mentor.

A fifth-grade student, Jenny’s home life is chaotic.  Her single mother works two jobs to provide for their family of four. As the oldest Jenny gets her younger brothers for school and meets them at the after-school program.  She goes to the center to talk with Miss Chelsi about her problems at school and home.  Scared and shy, Jenny had a hard time making friends until recently.  Jenny says that Miss Chelsi makes her, and all the other kids, feel important and valuable.   Jenny says kids who don’t feel valuable are the ones who use drugs.

Three times a year, our Prevention department hosts Camp L4; Live. Laugh. Love & Learn Camp L4 is four full days of fun for children ages 5-11 living in homeless, domestic violence and other shelters. Campers get to ride horses, canoe, swim and fish as well as lessons on making healthy choices.   Camp L4 gives these kids a chance to make new friends and memories of a life-time. We are very grateful to the Sid Richardson Foundation for their generous financial support of this program.

Prevention staff members work with over 7,000 children and youth. We are in constant need of craft supplies such as crayons, markers, pencils and colored paper for our activities. We also need books with positive messages for elementary and middle school age readers.   Our goal is to reach child to choose a book they can keep as a reminder of what they’ve learned. If you would like to help, please visit our website for more information: www.recoverycouncilorg.

Jasmin Holmstrup is the Director of Development for Recovery Resource Council whose mission is to promote wellness and recovery from alcohol and substance abuse and trauma.

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Photo courtesy of Kids Who Care, Inc.

At age 30, the future is exceedingly bright for Kids Who Care. What we have learned over thirty years is that the true secret to producing great kids is the “Combustion of The Arts and Entrepreneurship.”

Kids are transformed when their confidences are built, and when the combination of artistic development is infused with entrepreneurial leadership, kids are more than ready for the bright futures that await them!  At Kids Who Care, we do this by leading with an entrepreneurial mindset, valuing the artistic integrity of kids, promoting excellence in artistic development, seeking financial and cultural diversity, teaching ensemble driven mindset, mutually respecting all ages, and producing original works that are designed to change the world!

By offering a year-round artistic education to kids of all ages and backgrounds, children have opportunities to be part of summer musical and leadership camps, weekly classes, or even the opportunity to tour an original work designed to change the world with the Resident Company. Because it is our mission to provide the benefits of fine arts and leadership education to all kids regardless of their financial situation, we offer need-based Hope Scholarships (named after Founding Director Deborah Jung’s grandmother, Hope Murphy) to qualified applicants. Part of your contribution through the Greatest Gift Catalog can ensure that these scholarships are available to any child who desires to participate!

As part of the Resident Company Education, Kids Who Care has created an annual Study Tour designed to connect our kids to another city, and connect another city to our children and Kids Who Care. This universal impact changes lives and creates global thinkers.

When a student embarks on the annual study tour, they:

• Perform in Places of Power: City Councils, Mayor’s Offices
• Perform in Places that Matter: Outreach Centers, Hospitals, Schools
• Perform in Places of Credibility: Theatres, City Landmarks
• Study with Arts Professionals
• Connect to the city’s history and cultural identity

Each child that tours brings this global wealth home to Fort Worth and our community. Past tours include Reggio Emilia, Italy; Washington DC; New York; Trier, Germany; Boston; Orlando; Chicago; Los Angeles; Albania; Austin; Houston; San Antonio; and Corpus Christi.

Photo courtesy of Kids Who Care, Inc.

Each year, the Resident Company works as a team to raise funds for the study tour so that the trip can be affordable to all. Working together, families of all backgrounds host garage sales, book community performances, and host fundraising events to raise the funds for the trip.

Here’s how you could help send a child on this life changing experience:

Donate your gently used items for the annual Kids Who Care multifamily garage sales.  We can arrange pick up and drop off locations for you!  The garage sales will be taking place in November so let us help you clear your clutter now.

We are looking for gently used:

Baby Gear – Strollers, high chairs, swings, bassinets, ‘exersaucers’ etc

Yard Equipment, tools, supplies, athletic gear

Electronics, household appliances etc

Please – no adult clothing.

To arrange pick up or for donation information, please contact Kids Who Care Board Member Gwen Perez at ggp@freese.com or 817-793-4941

Your donations will help send a child on a life changing experience.

Please watch for us on tour, and join us in May for our final performance on stage at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center.  We’d love for you to see the impact you’ve made in a child’s life!

Visit us at:

Kidswhocare.org

817-737-5437

Kristen Thiebaud is the Kids Who Care, Inc. Marketing Director and is parent to Macy, 15, and Evie, 12, who have been members of the Kids Who Care Resident Company since 2012.

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The Learning Center of North Texas has rebranded to better emphasize its mission to link the ability of all learners with success in learning! In additional to LinkED’s office administration, the staff includes ten certified diagnosticians, two speech pathologists, and a licensed Doctor of Psychology. The services provided by LinkED include diagnostic neuroeducational assessments, educator training and professional development, and adult education and literacy support.

LinkED’s neuroeducational assessments blend the results from the evaluation of full cognitive processes and achievement testing and relate these results to each individual’s strengths, challenges, and neurological development. Additionally, speech and language evaluations are assessed as well as behavioral and psychological testing. LinkED assessments are valuable for detecting learning disabilities, identifying dyslexia, diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder, and distinguishing the characteristics of ADHD. Neuroeducational assessments go well beyond determining if an individual has been “diagnosed” with a learning difference or disability by detailing important information about the client’s learning style, working memory, processing speed, attention and executive function (self-regulation) skills. Rather than relying solely on a stand-alone score, this testing instead looks for a neurological basis for the identified strengths/challenges to determine educational implications and interventions.

LinkED’s educator training specifically focuses upon promoting instructional strategies that reach all learners and encourage academic success for all students, including those with specific learning differences and disabilities. These training sessions reflect the latest brain research and the most innovative instructional practices available! LinkED has had the privilege to train over 3400 educators since its inception and continues to seek out nationally recognized trainers and programs to bring to the Fort Worth educational community.

LinkED’s adult literacy support program is a collaborative effort through grant moneys provided through the Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County. This program helps to identify learning challenges and promote interventions for success in learning for adults attempting to complete testing to obtain a high school equivalency degree. This program has proven time and time again to be life-changing for adult learners who have had difficulty in learning over the years and are finally able to receive the appropriate accommodations that will enable them to complete their high school diploma. As part of this effort, LinkED also serves as a pencil/paper testing site for the HiSET high school equivalency test. LinkED has the ability to provide a testing environment that accommodates the learning needs of these individuals with additional testing time, small group or one-on-one testing, and the aid of test reading support.

Would you like the opportunity to help LinkED fulfill its mission to provide critical and necessary assessments for all learners? If so, your donation of materials and/or funds to purchase materials are gratefully accepted. With the recent increase in the number of autism and early childhood assessments performed by LinkED, the organization is creating an early childhood diagnostic testing room.

LinkED performs Early Childhood & Autism Assessments that utilize the following preschool materials:
• No-spill bubbles
• Expandable balls (Hoberman Sphere)
• Plastic child safety scissors
• Visual/Picture Communication Boards
• Chewable pendants (i.e., Brick Stick)

Additionally, your donation of the following materials would greatly help in stocking the new LinkED early childhood diagnostic testing room:
• Anti-anxiety/ fidget toys,
• children’s books and coloring books
• Retractable pens with multi-colors
• Color pencils and crayons
• Small toy storage shelf with bins, and
• A small wooden table and chairs

In an effort to bring these assessment resources to individuals from all sectors of our Fort Worth community, LinkED provides valuable sliding scale support funding for learners of all ages. Clients or their families are required to complete a simple application process to receive up to 90% funding support for all assessment services. These funds are available to learners of all ages and from all walks of life! LinkED can reach many with this financial funding and enable them to obtain the appropriate support in learning that will promote success in school and beyond! Personal donations are gladly accepted to support the sliding scale fund and help individuals with limited resources receive valuable assessment services!

If you happen to know of families in the Fort Worth community who have a struggling learner and would benefit from the type of diagnostic support that LinkED offers, feel free to refer them to www.link-ed.org. The LinkED website provides comprehensive information regarding LinkED and the services they offer.

Lloyd Day is a veteran educator and currently serves as the Executive Director of LinkED in Fort Worth. His experience as an educator spans over three decades and includes the role of teacher, campus principal, district program coordinator and adjunct college professor. In addition to public school teaching and administration, Day taught several years as an adjunct professor of early literacy and social studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. He’s a former member of the Board of Directors for Key School of Fort Worth and currently serves on the Advisory Board of Kids Brain Tree.

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Photo courtesty of Meals On Wheels, Tarrant County

Home-delivered meals are available to those who are housebound for any length of time, are physically or mentally unable to prepare nutritious meals for themselves, and have no one to help them on a regular basis. Some people may be recovering from a hospital stay or illness and will only be on the program for a short period of time. Others have a long-term need and may receive home-delivered meals on an ongoing basis. This problem affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Consequently, there are no age or income restrictions and no one is ever turned away due to their inability to make a voluntary contribution toward the cost of the services that they receive.

Meals are delivered by caring volunteers, who are trained to contact Meals On Wheels if a client does not answer the door. This daily safety check gives elderly clients and their families an added peace of mind. Without these services, many of their clients would be forced into expensive nursing homes or other care facilities. Meals On Wheels of Tarrant County helps improve the quality of life for our housebound, elderly, and disabled neighbors, and allows them to maintain their independence in their own home.

Senior isolation is a big problem in the United States. The majority of clients report that their meal-delivery volunteer is the only visitor they have each day. These daily visits help fight the loneliness that plagues our most vulnerable citizens. Many elderly individuals rely on the companionship of a faithful pet; however, some of these people have difficulty adequately providing food for their pets and were sharing their home-delivered meals with their pets. Consequently, Meals On Wheels of Tarrant County started a Companion Pet Meals program and now provides free dog or cat food to clients who need that assistance.

Photo courtesty of Meals On Wheels, Tarrant County

Meals On Wheels of Tarrant County is focused on the health and well-being of the clients they serve. All of their meals meet the nutritional guidelines established by the U.S. Government. Plus, the agency offers free medication reviews to help identify harmful drug interactions that may result in hospitalization, nutrition education to help manage chronic illnesses like diabetes, and professional case managers who monitor clients and advocate with other service providers in the community. Their goal is to help clients maintain their independence in their own home for as long as possible. Keeping these vulnerable citizens out of nursing homes and other care facilities saves Tarrant County taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

You can nourish your soul by volunteering to deliver life-saving meals to someone in need just one day each week. Plus, your generous financial support is a lifeline for those who can no longer prepare meals for themselves, allowing them to remain in their homes, surrounded by a lifetime of memories. Volunteer or donate today at mealsonwheels.org.

Keith Harrison is the Manager of Strategic Marketing and Communications for Meals On Wheels of Tarrant County. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree in Communications from Dallas Baptist University. Keith is a lifelong travel and aviation enthusiast, and has a passion for serving senior citizens. He and his husband reside in Fort Worth.

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Smith and Nina Gill, photo courtesy of Gill Children’s Services

It all started with a legacy. When local couple, Smith and Nina Gill, passed away within months of each other, they left an incredible note of grace. With no children of their own, they simply instructed that their $1,000,000 estate be left to the “needy children of Tarrant County”. Those given charge with the estate began to wonder where the funds should go.

Martine Ginsburg and Ginny Richards were tasked with finding a local cause to benefit from the Gill estate. After talking with local experts and friends, they made a startling discovery. While there are many wonderful nonprofit organizations and programs in Tarrant County, hundreds of children were falling through the cracks of the network. Whether due to citizenship, age, income level, or simply a long waiting list, children were going unserved. Martine and Ginny proposed a solution to the Gill Trust: they would create an agency of last resort to provide a safety net for Tarrant County children. By providing last resort financial assistance, they could assist children when no one else could. Just like that, Gill Children’s Services was founded in 1979 and began funding children’s needs that very year. The mission of Gill Children’s Services is to be a funding source of last resort that provides a safety net for Tarrant County children whose medical, dental, physical, social, psychological, and educational needs have not been met by other community resources.

left, Ginny Richards
right, Martine Ginsburg
photo courtesy of Gill Children’s Services

Although the Gill Trust made its last distribution in 1988, Martine and Ginny’s legacy continues with support from our caring community. Since its founding, Gill Children’s Services has fulfilled over 57,000 unmet needs.  Last year alone, Gill allocated $337,571 for 1,631 last-resort services for 1,294 local children.

Children turn to Gill with a variety of needs, from diapers and hearing aids to root canals and summer school tuition. There is no typical child or family that we serve; each is unique and specific. However, they each have one thing in common – they cannot find resources anywhere else.

photo courtesy of Gill Children’s Services

Seven-year-old Letycia was one such child. Letycia was eager for her first day of third grade. She was excited to meet her new teacher, her new classmates, and begin a new year. However, Letycia couldn’t enroll in school.

Letycia suffers from multiple anaphylactic allergies and must carry an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) with her at all times to avoid a life-threatening reaction. Her EpiPen was due to expire four days after the start of school. To start school on time, Letycia would need a pen with at least three months remaining on its expiration date. However, her family’s insurance benefits would not take effect for another three weeks. Without benefits, her EpiPen would cost over $700. “With the cost of clothes and school supplies for Letycia and her two siblings, we could not get together enough funds on short notice,” said her mother, Bethany.

While at the pharmacy, Bethany voiced her concerns to the Walgreens staff. They recommended she seek out Gill Children’s Services for assistance. “Gill’s staff was very compassionate,” Bethany said. “They were happy to help and were very prompt.” Gill provided payment for Letycia’s EpiPen the same day, allowing her to enroll in school with her classmates.

Letycia is now eight years old and in the fourth grade. She joined cheer leading, participates in an after-school program, and won both the school art and science fairs. “My prayers were answered when she received help from Gill Children’s Services for her EpiPen,” Bethany explains, “because any interaction with one of her many anaphylactic allergies could cause death and an unbearable loss for our family.”

photo courtesy of Gill Children’s Services

Gill also stepped in for Gael. When Jacqueline welcomed her first child, Gael, into the world last summer, she was overwhelmed with joy to become a mother. Her son was a happy, growing baby until his first birthday, when he began having problems feeding. Jacqueline did not know where to turn. The staff at Cook Children’s Medical Center fitted Gael with a feeding tube to ensure he receives all the nutrients he needs. With the help of the feeding tube, he has gained more weight, has more energy, and is more alert. However, the tube and tape are very uncomfortable for Gael, and he has pulled out the tube twice. “Replacing the tube is very stressful. He gets scared and cries,” says Jacqueline. To make feeding easier, the hospital has recommended Gael get a gastrostomy button, or “G-Button”. This device would help him get the nutrition and medicines he needs without the hassle of a restrictive tube. Before his doctor could surgically place the G-Button, however, the hospital had to run two tests.

Jacqueline works part-time and is not eligible for insurance through her employer. Although her application with CHIP and Medicaid was pending, her son needed treatment urgently. Without insurance benefits, the testing would have been too expensive for Jacqueline to afford. She shared her concerns with the staff at Cook Children’s Medical Center who referred Jacqueline to Gill Children’s Services for help. Because of support from people like you, Gill Children’s Services was able to pay for Gael’s two tests.

Jacqueline is relieved that her baby can begin treatment. She says, “He is much better. He is ready to have his surgery done.” Having the G-Button will allow Gael to develop and grow during these critical months. “Hopefully when he gets his G-Button, he will get better and better each day,” says Jacqueline.

Gill is a safety net for children like Letycia and Gael every day, and we need your help to continue the legacy left by Mr. and Mrs. Gill, Martine, and Ginny. One simple way to support the mission is to host a diaper and baby wipes drive. A recent study by Huggies showed that one in three mothers have had to choose between buying diapers and buying basic goods like food. Gill supplied 259 packs of diapers and wipes to local infants last year. You can simply drop off diapers (sizes 1-6) at the Gill Children’s Services office.

You may also invest in the mission with a financial gift. Here is how your donation would be put to work:

• $46 Provides birth certificates for 2 children to enroll in school, health care, or housing.
• $180 Allows one middle or high school student to attend summer school.
• $300 Pays for a prescription for an ill child whose family cannot afford this expense.
• $400 Pays for a dental exam, two fillings, and a stainless-steel crown for a child in pain.

Gill Children’s Services, Inc.
555 Hemphill Street, Suite 200
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
P (817) 332-5070
F (817) 332-6445
Office Hours: 8:30AM – 3:30PM

Peyton Salavarria is a proud graduate of the University of Oklahoma (OU) where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing in 2012. Her passion for charitable organizations began as an intern at Lena Pope in Fort Worth. She also served in development at Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County. Peyton has served as the Executive Director at Gill Children’s Services since 2014. Her love for her community extends beyond her “day job”. She serves on the Children’s Oral Health Coalition, the Save a Smile Community Advisory Committee, and the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Fort Worth-Metro Chapter. She is a graduate of Leadership Fort Worth’s LeadingEdge program and the SteerFW Keyholders 2017 cohort. Peyton also serves on the board of the Fort Worth Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Association and as an Alumnae Advisor for the TCU chapter.

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We are joining forces with The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever, a Fort Worth nonprofit, which showcases many of the charities in Tarrant County.  This year, they are featuring over 21 local charities like A Wish with Wings which is our first #TanglewoodMomsGiveBack organization.

If you and your family would like to learn more about great ways to give this holiday season (and all year long!), you can read all about them on their site at www.GreatestGiftCatalogEver.org  Each gift given through The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever site is matched dollar for dollar.  It’s the best way to give in Fort Worth!

A Wish with Wings is thrilled to participate, through The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever, in the new #TanglewoodMomsGiveBack project.

Located in Fort Worth, a Wish with Wing’ mission is “granting magical wishes for young Texans with life-threatening medical conditions.” Since 1982, more than 1,450 children have received that one magical wish to help ease their burden and lighten the load they carry. For these children and their families, all of whom are facing uncertain futures, we have one simple goal: to bring joy, happiness, laughter and hope to an otherwise dark situation.

Jack is a charming six-year-old boy who has never met a stranger.  He loves swimming, building with Legos, and playing with his dogs.  This courageous little boy was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoid Leukemia (ALL) in July of 2013, and, after two and a half years of treatment, he celebrated his completion of chemotherapy in 2016.  Through this battle, Jack has matured well beyond his years and inspired so many as he goes about daily life with such a cheerful outlook and positive attitude.  Jack’s Wish came true last summer when he and his family took a magical trip to Disney World.  In Orlando, they spent an amazing week at Give Kids the World Village, an enchanting 82-acre resort built exclusively for Wish children and their families (many come from all over the world).  Jack enjoyed swimming and “surfing” at the pool, horseback riding, carousel rides and much more at the Village.  He loved everything about his Wish, especially riding all the rides as many times as he wanted and getting to pet dolphins at Sea World.  His favorite part of the trip was riding Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom and one of his most memorable moments was getting to eat ice cream for breakfast at the Village.  Jack’s Wish trip was an amazing family experience and an unforgettable week full of “yes’s.”

Happily, for Jack and his family, Jack is now in remission and is a healthy, happy 7-year-old. For other families, however, the future is not as promising.

Young Daniel is one example. His story began on March 4^th, 2009 and ended on June 28, 2017. Born with only half a working heart and given up for adoption at birth, he was rushed across the street to Cook Children’s for emergency heart surgery. There he met his forever mommy, a nurse at Cook Children’s. Although his prognosis was poor and his heart defect irreparable, she fell in love with him at first sight. His life included numerous major surgeries and countless other medical procedures in eight years. His one magical wish was simple: he wished to go fishing. Danny loved fishing and baseball, and, despite his rare heart defect, he got to experience both and virtually everything else he hoped to experience.

Sadly, Danny lost his battle this summer at the age of 8. But he embodied a can-do-attitude playing and living life to the fullest.

Sweet four-year-old Abby Grace was born with Down Syndrome and diagnosed with Acute Lymphoid Leukemia in 2015. Although Abby is not able to speak, she made it clear that her one true wish was for a magical week at Disney World and Give Kids the World Village! Having just returned from their wish, her mom shared, “We just want to say thank you and let you know what a wonderful blessing our wish trip was. It was the first time that we as a family were able to go on a vacation. It was the first time to see Abby and her siblings just be kids and do kid activities. There were no doctor’s appointments, no clinic visits, no waiting rooms, and no more needle pricks. Abby just got to be a kid and enjoy life with her brother and sister. It made my mama’s heart so happy. The kids loved every moment, and as a family we enjoyed just being together and enjoying one another.”

Now let’s talk about how YOU can help grant magical wishes for these inspiring children!

An average wish trip for a family costs in the $7,500-$10,000 range, depending on destination, length of trip and number of immediate family members. Here’s a quick breakdown on ways you might choose to be involved:

Become a “Magic Maker” …

• $20 purchases a plush 12” Mickey or Minnie for a child’s wish trip to Disney
• $25 provides one night’s accommodations and park passes for a Wish kid at Give Kids the World Village in Orlando
• $150 helps grant an “emergency wish” for a child facing an uncertain life-threatening situation.
• $500 provides airfare for a child’s Disney World Wish
• $1,000 provides a one-week family wish trip to Give Kids the World Village (not including airfare and expenses)
• $7,500 grants a one-week cost-free Magical Disney vacation to Give Kids the World Village in Orlando, including airfare, park passes to all four Disney World theme parks, Universal Studios and Sea World, as well as spending money for incidentals and souvenirs.
• $10,000 grants a Magical Hawaii vacation for an older (teen) wish child and family to enjoy five days at a tropical Hawaiian resort.
• Gift cards in any amount help fulfill shopping spree wishes or provide assistance for wish families in need of support. Popular cards are Wal-Mart, Target, iTunes, Best Buy, Toys R Us, Game Stop, Visa, and Amex.

If you’d like to make a difference, please donate to A Wish with Wings through The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever.  www.GreatestGiftCatalogEver.org   Donations made through The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever are matched dollar for dollar!

Or you can make a gift directly to A Wish with Wings at www.awww.org

Watch for next month’s #TanglewoodMomsGiveBack featuring Snowball Express!

Guest blogger Judy Youngs joined the “Wish Team” as Executive Director of a Wish with Wings, in September, 2010. She brings extensive leadership experience at local, state and national levels, as well as experience in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Judy serves as the president of the board for the Association of Wish Granting Organizations, as an Advisory board member for Metroport Meals on Wheels, a member of Women Steering Business, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Contact Judy: judy@awww.org

The post Tanglewood Moms Gives Back: A Wish with Wings first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Remember how exciting it was to get new school supplies? They were so full of promise, so full of potential. The new school year was waiting to be conquered! But what if you couldn’t afford new school supplies?

This month, Tanglewood Moms Gives Back is helping the Center for Transforming Lives. The Center wants to “break the cycle of poverty for women and children through safe housing, early childhood development and financial stability.” One of the most important ways of breaking the cycle of poverty is education. To this end, the Center has three early childhood education centers where children are exposed to a literacy-rich, safe, and secure learning environment that prepares them for entering kindergarten. This is where Tanglewood Moms Gives Back comes in.

The Center needs school supplies. In 2015, the CTL served 75% of preschool-age children in emergency shelters or transitional living at no cost to their parents. But they need supplies. When you’re out shopping for school supplies on Tax Free Weekend (August 11 – 13), why not throw a couple of extra things in your cart!

• Tissues
• Children’s underwear (ages 3 to 4)
• Ziploc plastic bags, various sizes
• Sanitizing wipes (Lysol or Clorox)
• Glue sticks
• Construction paper
• Miscellaneous art supplies (crayons, markers, pipe cleaners, stickers, etc.)

Gus Bates Insurance and Investments has graciously offered to be the drop-off location this month. They are located at 3221 Collinsworth Street, Fort Worth, TX, 76107. At the end of the month, we will gather up the supplies to take to the Center for Transforming Live. We truly appreciate your generosity. Tanglewood Moms Gives Back is, because of you, making a difference in Fort Worth!

TanglewoodMoms.com wants to thank Heather Minhinnette for getting Tanglewood Moms Gives Back up and running. Heather and her family have moved, and we will miss her! We want to keep Tanglewood Moms Gives Back going, but we need some help! If you or someone you know would like to join the TWM team as our charitable donations coordinator, please email twmposts@gmail.com for more information.

The post Tanglewood Moms Gives Back: Center for Transforming Lives first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.