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We Believe — Believe In Tomorrow provides exceptional hospital and retreat housing services to critically ill children and their families. We believe in keeping families together during a child’s medical crisis, and that the gentle cadence of normal family life has a powerful influence on the healing process.
Last Minute Invite to Rock the House
The Believe In Tomorrow National Children’s Foundation cordially invites you to shake off that winter coat, come out of hibernation, and join us to Rock the House on March 7.
This year, Believe In Tomorrow Rocks the House of the Baltimore Blast, the city’s indoor soccer team, at DuBurns Arena. Come dance to the live cover band, The Real Geniuses featuring a guest appearance by Abby Mott, while bidding on items in live and silent auctions. Auction items include pedicures for a year and a party for 25 at the lounge at Silo Point. One $75 ticket gets you a live concert, open bar and food from some of the area’s top restaurants, with Kali’s Court and Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop among them. Spend your Saturday night rocking out and doing good! Tickets are still available online.
For Staff Sergeant Jean Bower, training for Port to Fort – Believe In Tomorrow’s annual 6K race programs – will require no break from her daily routine.
As an active Air Force member stationed in Fort Meade, MD, her squadron must keep a weekly physical fitness regime of weight-lifting and running three times a week.
“We’re not the fastest group out there, but we can do a 6K race,” says Bower.
Bower first ran Port to Fort in 2007 as a last minute add-on to a team of 50 to one hundred people in a different squadron. After a one-year hiatus she’s back and starting to create a military team of coworkers in hopes of engaging other airmen in a community-building activity.
“It just seems like a good thing to do,” says Bower.
Bower noticed after joining in 2007 that this race – as opposed to the Baltimore City half marathon, which she also ran in 2007 - is a very family-friendly event. She noted she saw participants out with kids and spouses, pushing strollers and jogging with iPods.
“When you can include your family and children, participation increases,” says Bower.
Bower emphasizes this family-friendliness when promoting the event to her co-workers. A week into recruiting, she already expected to gather ten fellow airmen for the run and prompt those participants to go to Firstgiving.com to set up their own fundraising pages for Believe In Tomorrow.
Another draw to continue recruiting: Believe In Tomorrow’s Military Initiative, which began in 2005 as an effort to prioritize hospital and respite housing facilities for families with critically ill children. She may have also seen the draw of the reduced entrance fee, which is half the usual $20 for active military participants. But mostly, Bower hopes to get her base involved in their nearest community: Baltimore.
“In the Air Force it is encouraged to participate in community outreach programs,” says Bower. “It’s always nice to see that organizations reach out to military members.”
Are you a Believe In Tomorrow family? You can participate in Port to Fort at a reduced rate. It’s one of the easiest ways to show support. Bring strollers and run or walk in honor of someone, to give back, or simply to participate in an event with other Believe In Tomorrow families like you. Go here to sign up and start fundraising. See you there!
Believe In Tomorrow in the News
Sick children, families visit with bull riders, animals
PBR chaplain and former bull rider Todd Pierce played host on behalf of the PBR and the Believe In Tomorrow National Children's Foundation, a nonprofit based in Baltimore.
Bull riders laid out their chaps so the kids could "brand" them with hand-painted palm prints.
"The hand paint makes that your rider," Pierce told the kids. "So you can be cheering for your rider."
Bull Riders Grant Wishes
"We came to visit the bulls and hang out, watch the show and stuff." says Johnathan Nelson.
"I met the bulls and met some of the bull riders." says Erin Harrington
The children got VIP treatment, and a chance to be a part of the show.
"We tell them about the bulls and they get to put their hands in paint and put them on our chaps." says Kolt Donaldson, professional bull rider.
The hand prints were there with the riders throughout the show, bringing them good luck.
The kids all agreed on a favorite cowboy, but when it came to the bulls, they all thought differently.
"They were weird looking." says Josh Nelson.
"They were scary." says Johnathan Nelson.
"They were cool." says Erin Harrington.
The kids also got to stay for the show later on to watch those cowboys hang on.
While these bull riders may be tough out in the arena, they've got a soft spot in their heart for these kids.
"Well I think they're more encouraging than we are. They deal with a lot more than we have to everyday." says Kurt Donaldson
Group lends OC homes so sick kids can have fun
When Gabe first got sick, Meghan heard from another parent about a place at the beach where you can just go and relax, away from the doctors, the radiation, the chemo. Something not just for the patient, but the whole family. Meghan's social worker made the arrangements, and soon the Millers were approved to join the Believe In Tomorrow Children's Foundation.
Meghan and Gabe, joined sometimes by Meghan's parents, visit the Believe In Tomorrow Children's House By The Sea in Ocean City three to four times a year for a week at a time.
"It's not just for him, it's for the whole family," she said. "They're just amazing. It gives you a chance to breathe. They help me make really good memories in the midst of all the horrible ones."
Fundraiser for Believe In Tomorrow success
About 50 people battled icy conditions and cold temperatures Jan. 31 to attend the Midwinter Musical Fundraiser for the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s Foundation at Hannah More School in Reisterstown Feb. 7.
The event raised about $700 for Believe In Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization that provides hospice and retreat housing for critically ill children and their families. Local stores and restaurants donated door prizes and raffle items.
Believe In Tomorrow,
Thank you, |
Beauty Queens Recognize Inner Beauty
By LaQuisha Hall, Mrs. Owings Mills International 2009
My husband, Mardis Halland, cooks food as if he is the “chef” of the household. This past December, one day after Christmas, we made a Christmas dinner for 25 people. We cooked up a storm of chicken, ham, collard greens, potato salad, corn, cornbread, chocolate cake and strawberry shortcake.
This was our first visit to the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins, and we brought along toys for the children and several boxes of food to be stored for current and future residents.
As residents came down to eat, they gave many compliments to the “chef” for a job well done, and chatted with us about their hospitalized children and life experiences. The children were playful and couldn’t stay away from the table of toys and chocolate cake!
Believe In Tomorrow Children Join Blatche’s Bunch Courtside Wizardry is no child’s play, but Feb. 25 that’s exactly what it was for the critically ill children of Believe In Tomorrow National Children’s Foundation. These children received the chance to hang courtside at the Washington Wizards game as special guests of Wizards forward Andray Blatche. Blatche invited 20 Believe In Tomorrow children and families to participate in his “Blatche’s Bunch” program, which includes opportunities to watch the pre-game shoot-around, sit in reserved seating for the event and take a group photo. Thanks to Blatche’s bunch, Believe In Tomorrow children will experience a magical adventure they’re not soon to forget.
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Kurt, the weekend manager and a career firefighter in Baltimore County, assisted us through the evening. He was extremely gregarious, humble and seemingly brave, which my husband and I realized after stories he shared of his work experiences.
Four days later, I volunteered for the Children’s House again, this time bringing a crew of beauty queens from the Maryland International Pageant System. I was so thankful that 20 queens showed up to volunteer. We baked cookies and encouraged the residents to come munch on them and chat with us.
One resident we met had a 10-month old daughter in the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center receiving one of many surgeries. This one night of cookie baking was such a joy to her. Her smile was the reason we visited and volunteered. I pray that her daughter continues to recover well.
It was extremely rewarding and special to help others with my fellow queens. It is so important for us, as people (not only pageant participants), to help others.
My two visits to the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House were enjoyable and memorable experiences. I hope to get back there, crown and all, soon.
Chloe’s Cause Pays a Visit to Believe In Tomorrow
Chloe’s Cause founders Mike Hume and Anthony Davenport visited the Believe In Tomorrow National Headquarters in Baltimore, Md. Monday, Feb. 9 to present Believe In Tomorrow with a generous donation and plaque honoring the beginning of a long-term relationship with unlikely beginnings.
Our December e-newsletter family spotlight told the story of the Coccia family and their unique experience with treating their daughter Chloe for leukemia (Chloe also has Down’s Syndrome) while staying at the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at St. Casimir. To view the Coccia’s story click here.
Spotlight: Second Time's a Charm for the Alden Family
By Dawn Carroll
What started out as leg pain quickly became something more serious for Andrew Alden of Connecticut. At 4, Andrew received the diagnosis of ALL (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia). A short time later, the Alden family's social worker told them about Believe In Tomorrow and the respite housing program.
The Aldens first arrived at the doorstep of the Believe In Tomorrow House By The Sea in Ocean City, Md. on a beautiful October Monday in 2007. While Andrew's Mom, Sara, unpacked, his father, Stephen, took the kids to the beach.
Less than one hour passed at the beach before Andrew told his father he did not feel well. His family rushed him to the nearest emergency room. Doctors there took Andrew's thermometer reading at 103 and advised that the family head back to their hometown hospital, Yale New Haven. After a six and a half hour drive from Maryland to Connecticut, Andrew was admitted to the hospital for five days.
A New Focus: Believe In Tomorrow Photography Partners Capture Moments Missed
Elizabeth Bower always finds a way to stay active in her community. A couple years ago she was searching for a place to volunteer in Baltimore when she saw a TV news story featuring Believe In Tomorrow National Children’s Foundation.
Elizabeth headed straight to the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins to sign up as a volunteer and later became a weekend manager. It came as natural, then, when Elizabeth and her husband, Ryan Bower, finally realized their dream of starting a photography business this January that some initial subjects for a photo shoot could be the patients, their siblings and entire families who stay at the house while undergoing treatment for critical illnesses.
What started as a sign on the Children’s House front desk offering complimentary photo sessions led to several inquiries from families staying in the house and a couple of one-hour photo shoots. The result: candid, touching portraits of children and families who might otherwise miss the chance to capture those parts of their lives.
The children behind Elizabeth and Ryan’s lenses (the husband and wife always shoot as a team) gaze into the camera with a raw sincerity. In front of their cameras, families readily pile onto a couch and interact with breath-stealing connectivity. Through Elizabeth and Ryan’s photography, the healing process of a family escaping the rigors of hospital treatment becomes tangible.
Take a moment and view life at the Children’s House through the perspective of Elizabeth Ryan Photography – a generous and new Believe In Tomorrow photography partner - and keep an eye out for their work on our web site, e-newsletters and other publications:
Elizabeth and Ryan Believe. Do you Believe too?
Recruiting St. Casimir Deep Cleaning Crew Members
Are you interested in joining a dynamic team who likes to get hands-on? The St. Casimir Deep Cleaning Crew is for you! Join our team of cleaners and help make the Believe In Tomorrow's St. Casimir’s apartments clean and sanitary for our bone marrow transplant patients. This team involves minimal commitment; we only work on an as needed basis. When a family checks out of St. Casimir, the Deep Cleaning Crew cleans and sanitizes the apartment to get it ready for the next family. If you are interested in joining the list of on-call cleaners and making a difference in the life of a critically ill child, please email Mindy Weidman: mweidman@believeintomorrow.org.
Volunteers of the Month: Lori and Brenda Teach the Art of Good Deeds
By Mindy Weidman
When long time friends Lori Malcolm and Brenda Thomas ran into each other and discovered they were both pregnant, they had no idea the coincidence would turn into a lifetime friendship and a unique commitment to Believe In Tomorrow National Children’s Foundation.
For the first three years after their children Nixon Malcolm and Emily Thomas were born, Lori and Brenda planned their children’s birthday parties together. As Nixon and Emily’s fourth birthday neared in 1997, Lori and Brenda agreed their children owned everything they could ever need.
Instead of accepting gifts for their toddlers that year, Lori and Brenda threw a giant “Festival Four Friends” (named for Nixon and Emily’s fourth birthday) and asked guests to make a donation to children’s charities, a portion of which went to Believe In Tomorrow programs. That first act of giving would turn into a lifetime commitment of volunteering for Believe In Tomorrow.
Have You Friended Us Yet? Join Our Social Networking Circle
Ever wonder what’s new at Believe In Tomorrow? Curious how to buy tickets for an upcoming event? Wondering where to catch the next Hands On Adventure? Stay informed by joining one of our new and/or improved social networking pages on some of the most popular and quickly growing Internet sites. Stay-tuned for weekly updates on our families, volunteer opportunities, and to learn more about other fun happenings at Believe In Tomorrow!
Have you friended us yet? Believe In Tomorrow’s Facebook presence is rapidly growing. Search “Believe Tomorrow” to find our Facebook profile. This is how we update our status and administer our cause and group sites. Friend us to view our albums and groups.
You’ll receive the most up-to-date information by joining our Cause page. You can then choose to donate securely through Facebook or help us by recruiting all of your friends to join. We update the Cause page often with pictures, the latest news stories, and other exciting events at Believe In Tomorrow. As of mid-February, our Cause page had over 500 members. Our goal: 5000!
If you’re looking to support us without adding the “Cause” application to your profile, join our Believe In Tomorrow group, which you can get to by searching for “Believe In Tomorrow”on Facebook’s main page. We’ve grown our group page to over 900 members (by mid-February) with the help of our special events associates. This page concentrates mainly on our signature annual events in Baltimore, but check back often for other events happening in a town near you!
Follow our Believe In Tomorrow tweets to learn exactly what’s happening at the organization – up to the minute! “BelieveInTom” tweets will provide the latest from Believe In Tomorrow staff, notify followers as soon as the newsletter comes out, and post helpful links for families and volunteers.
Those interested in finding more about our programs and services should visit our Believe In Tomorrow channel on You Tube. The videos provide an in-depth description of our Hands On Adventures program, military initiative and other basic philosophies behind our charity. Subscribe to receive alerts when the newest YouTube video is posted.
Let pictures tell our story and visit Flickr.com. Believe In Tomorrow staff set up a Flickr account as an easy way to exchange pictures. You can now view most of our latest photos from events and houses too! Search Believeintomorrowphotos and add us to your Flickr contacts to view the world through our eyes.
Join our professional business network by visiting LinkedIn.com and connecting with Believe In Tomorrow. We’d love to link with businesses looking to form a charity partnership or professionals searching for ways to lend their volunteer services.
Other ways to use the Internet for Good:
Surf the Internet in Search of Good: Earn money for us while you search or shop. When you designate Believe In Tomorrow as your charity on the GoodSearch.com home page, the Internet search engine will donate one penny per search. If we have one thousand people searching the Internet twice a day, we would receive $7,300 a year. GoodSearch also lets people shop through the search engine, which is powered by Yahoo. Buying from companies like Macy’s, Best Buy, and The Container Store through GoodShop will help earn cash for Believe In Tomorrow too.
Build a web page and start earning
Squidoo is a collection of half a million web pages built by ordinary people like you. The company earns money from ads and affiliate links placed on the site; they’ll give 50 percent of their earnings to the people who build the pages. Squidoo is steadfast supporter of charities and allows page creators (that’s you!) to donate their earnings to charity. Visit the home page or the Believe In Tomorrow “lens” to learn more about how to get started. In addition, Squidoo holds regular contests where members can vote for their favorite Squidoo charity and earn that organization big bucks. Check believeintomorrow.org for contest announcements.
Interactive: Transition to Spring with a Hearty Meal
Submitted by Suzanne Lempka after a recent meal she orchestrated at the Children’s House
Rosemary & Fennel Breadsticks
Ingredients:
1 envelope (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup warm water (about 110°F)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
In a large measuring cup, combine the yeast, sugar, and 1/2 cup of the water and stir to dissolve. Allow to stand for about 10 minutes, or until the yeast mixture forms a frothy head. (If no head forms, the yeast is bad. Discard the mixture and start again with fresh yeast.) Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup water and the olive oil.
In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade, combine:
2 cups all-purpose flour, or more as needed
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup polenta or coarsely ground yellow cornmeal
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 tsp Fennel Seeds (optional)
Several cloves of roasted garlic (optional)
½ teaspoon table salt
Process in several short bursts to combine. With the motor running, add the yeast mixture through the feed tube in a steady stream, taking about 10 seconds to pour it in. Continue to process for 10 seconds more, by which time the dough should have formed a ball on the stem. If the dough is too wet and forms a ball right away, remove the cover and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour over the dough. Or if it is too dry and has not formed a ball on the stem within 15 seconds, sprinkle over 1 to 2 tablespoons more water. Process in 5-second bursts 3 more times, then turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead for 1 minute. The dough should be slightly soft but not sticky.
Form dough into a smooth ball. Coat a bowl with olive oil and place the dough in the bowl. Coat the top of the dough with olive oil and cover with a tea towel. Allow to rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 45 minutes, or until puffy.
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Pinch off a piece of dough and roll it into a thin rope (about 12-15 inches long) on an unfloured countertop. Transfer to a baking sheet and shape the top if desired (see picture above). Keep unused dough covered while you are working so it doesn’t form a crust.
Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with Kosher or other coarse salt.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until slightly golden. Serve warm with a little dish of your best extra virgin olive oil or cool on racks. (The breadsticks will keep in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. To serve them after they have been stored for a few days, reheat on a dry baking sheet, uncovered, at 350°F for 20 minutes.) Note: this sounds like too long a reheat time to me, but that was what the original instructions said.
Tuscan Beef & Spinach Soup
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground beef (90 or 93% lean)
1 med onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic crushed or minced
6 cups reduced sodium beef broth
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with their juice
1 (10 ounce) package frozen spinach
1 tsp dried basil (optional)
pepper to taste
1 (16 ounce) can cannelini beans drained and rinsed
elbow macaroni (cooked separately and added when soup is served)
Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
In a 5 quart Dutch oven, heat olive oil. Sauté onions and garlic until translucent. Remove from pan and set aside. In same pan, cook ground beef until cooked through. Drain to remove fat. Add ground beef and onion/garlic mixture back into pan. Add beef broth, tomatoes with their juice, spinach*, basil, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the macaroni, drain it and set it aside.**
Lastly, add the drained and rinsed cannelini beans and simmer 5 more minutes.
Pass a bowl of grated cheese to sprinkle on top.
* The original recipe calls for thawing the spinach and squeezing it dry before adding it to the soup. I personally see no point in this since it's going to be wet anyway, so I just throw the frozen block into the soup and stir it around to break it up.
** I don't like to add the pasta to the soup until I'm serving it. I just put some of the noodles in the soup bowl and then ladle the soup on top of it. Otherwise, the noodles soak up too much broth. Store leftovers separately, too.