Please read on and please, please, please recommend this diary.
My friends mother is the founder and head of Children's Hospice International and every year Children's Hospice International hosts a Fantasy Flight for hundreds of terminally ill children, their siblings and families in Virginia, Maryland and DC...
For 15 years, United Airlines has always been the corporate sponsor for the memorable event, but unfortunately had to withdraw its corporate support this year...
We are determined not to let down these kids!
Any chance you can help us make this a very special memory for these wonderful families?
Below is an appeal from former Alexandria Mayor Terry Donley, which gives all the details... and you may hear Ann Armstrong-Dailey (CHI's founder) on WTOP today making an appeal to the community....
Dear Friends of CHI:
Apologizing for the short notice - I am contacting you with an urgent appeal to help bring a wonderful holiday season to hundreds of children with life-threatening medical conditions from Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Specifically, I am inviting you to join me in supporting Alexandria-based Children's Hospice International (CHI)'s "Fantasy Flight" on Saturday, December 3, 2005 - a morning designed to provide the magic of the holiday season for children from several area hospitals and hospice programs and their families.
Right now, we really need your help. CHI has just learned that a longtime corporate sponsor of its annual "Fantasy Flight for Children" has withdrawn its support. Despite this setback, however, we are determined not to disappoint the literally hundreds of area children that are looking forward to this special occasion.
As Chairman of this event, I can assure you that these children will warm your heart with their courage and restore your faith, reminding us all of what's really important during the holidays.
Mattie Stepanek, who suffered from a form of muscular dystrophy, and served as Santa's "Head Elf" - will not be with us this year. But his mother, Jeni Stepanek, will try to join us. Mattie himself has inspired dozens of volunteer "elves" from local high schools who are giving their time to bring joy to these children.
Children that face a life-threatening condition, like Mattie, are the ones that can benefit the most from CHI's signature program - CHI PACC, which was developed with technical assistance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is embraced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The groundbreaking program has been championed on Capitol Hill by U.S. Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA), who will also be a part of our program.
CHI PACC already impacts 18 states - Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming - and the remaining states will follow suit soon. Virginia's program will be coordinated by Noah's Children in Richmond, VA.
CHI PACC has earned the strong bipartisan support from many other Virginia officials, including U.S. Senators John Warner and George Allen, U.S. Congressmen Eric Cantor, Tom Davis, and Frank Wolf, and Governor Mark Warner.
CHI is a 501(c)3 non-profit, founded in 1983 by Ann Armstrong-Dailey to ensure a better quality of care for children with life-threatening conditions, their families and their health care providers worldwide. CHI has achieved much with very little, because it remains focused on what is really important - the children.
I hope you will be able to help us today with a donation of $500, $250, $100 or even $50 to help CHI on its important mission. (Larger donations and individual/corporate sponsorships are also welcome.) Your support of this special event helps us offer hope, strength and the magical spirit of the holidays, creating a cherished memory for these precious children and their families.
If you would prefer to make a donation of new toy(s) as gifts for the children, or items for family members, those thoughtful gifts are also appreciated.
We would also like to invite you to attend the party on Saturday, December 3, 2005 (details enclosed) - as a volunteer or simply to experience the magic of the day.
With sincere appreciation,
Terry J. Donley
Former Mayor
City of Alexandria
You may make a contribution online at CHI's website
Children's Hospice International