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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
Always a Man of Service
Sometimes service continues long after an officer retires from the military. For A.J. Ball, who retired from his post as Army National Guard Colonel in 1998, that service took form in a 350-mile solo bike journey.
On September 26, Ball, who is property manager for Pinnacle Falls mountain resort in Henderson, N.C. and leading the construction effort for the Believe In Tomorrow house there, took his passion to the pavement. Six days later he glided past the finish line in Oak Island, N.C., generating almost $13,000 of pledges for Believe In Tomorrow’s initiative to provide respite housing for military families with critically ill children.
To train for the trip Ball spent over two months riding hundreds of miles every week. Ball’s generous efforts and reputation of service will keep the project at Pinnacle Falls rolling along toward completion.
Holiday Cards on Sale
Get ready for the holiday season with the new Believe In Tomorrow Holiday Cards, created by children in the Believe In Tomorrow programs! Visit our online store to order your cards today! Proceeds benefit Believe In Tomorrow programs.
Click here to order your cards today!
Family Letter
I am the mom of a 15-year-old with Cystic Fibrosis, Taylor, and a 9-year-old son who is a carrier of Cystic Fibrosis. My husband is active duty in the military. We have moved five times since having Taylor, which forced us to give up a lot of good doctors. Taylor was diagnosed at ten-days-old when we were stationed in California. Our family is from Alabama originally, so my husband and I were all alone; he was 22 and I was 21. Taylor regularly visits the hospital. He has undergone eight sinus surgeries and several others for kidney stones. He was diagnosed in October of 2007 with CFRD (Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes). He now takes over 30 pills a day; he does four breathing treatments, two chest therapy treatments and takes two insulin shots a day. All of this is when he is healthy. When he is ill, the treatments and medications can sometimes double. He always remains positive and loves life. The Believe in Tomorrow organization has been a huge influence on his life. After going on the Blimp ride and spending time with the pilot, Taylor decided that he wanted to be a pilot when he grew up. He changed his whole outlook on life. We were having problems getting him to take medications and do treatments, but now he has a dream and wants to stay healthy to explore that dream. He has since joined the Civil Air Patrol and takes an aero space class at the high school. He flew his first plane in August of this year. He is studying now to receive his pilot’s license and plans to someday own his own plane. The pilot from the Blimp ride was very gracious and made a large impact on Taylor. We have the Believe In Tomorrow organization and all of their wonderful contributors to thank for this. I personally would like to thank everyone for giving him an opportunity to think past the moment and have a dream to look forward to. |
Around the Corner: 2008 Benefit and Auction
A grooving, shaking cover band showcases a Jimmy Buffet tune in the same set as Shania Twain - and Justin Timberlake. Restaurants serve up their best bites including 35 pounds of shrimp from Milt’s catering. A silent and live auction commences; guests can bid on a glistening piece of jewelry from Smyth, an Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon makeup party for up to a dozen people, and a week-long retreat to a Wyoming ranch.
All of this and more is happening in one night, November 8, and in one place, the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel. What’s better: it’s all part of the Believe In Tomorrow 2008 Benefit and Auction and proceeds from ticket sales and auction items will go toward benefitting the retreat and hospital housing for critically ill children. It’s not too late to buy your ticket. Please call: 1-800-933-5470.
Up Ahead: Christmas Under the Stars in Ocean City
Can’t make it to the Benefit in November? Head to the beach Thursday, Dec. 11, at 6:00 p.m. The Ocean City Golf Club will host a dinner and Christmas show with plenty of holiday spirits available at a cash bar. Tickets cost $30. Contact Wayne Littleton: wlittleton@believintomorrow.org or call 410-723-2842.
Snip! Believe In Tomorrow Cuts the Ribbon at the House On the Bay
Members of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, the Ocean City Mayor, Believe In Tomorrow Volunteers, and the community attended the Grand Opening of the Believe In Tomorrow House on the Bay on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 11 a.m.
The ceremony began with a toast by Board Chairman Richard McCready and Founder/CEO Brian Morrison. Volunteers who made exceptional contributions toward the opening of the property received plaques, Mayor Rick Meehan welcomed the new addition to his community, and Chamber Executive Director Melanie Purcel presented BIT with a plaque for service to the community. Board President Michael Murphy was also in attendance. The Young and Booth families participated in snipping the large blue ribbon outside the orange Believe In Tomorrow front door, prompting the party to move inside to view the colorfully decorated, ocean-themed house and soak in the sun on the deck. After mingling and taking in the view from the deck, guests headed home to rest up for the Beach Bash that evening.
At the Beach Bash, the Ocean City community came out in full force to show their support. Guests sampled local restaurant fare and danced the night away at Seacrets with proceeds going toward Believe In Tomorrow programs.
Housing Update: Occupancy Rates Soar at the Children’s House
The Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins doesn’t have the lure of the beach or the mountains, but it has posted an almost statistically impossible number as of late: a 98 percent occupancy rate.
That means, on average, 98 percent of rooms are filled with program participants at any given time. The number indicates an increased need for safe and comfortable family pediatric housing near Johns Hopkins hospital – and it shows BIT is stepping up to meet that need.
An almost perfect occupancy rate is even more amazing when compared with occupancy rates across the nation. The New York Observer reported New York City’s average hotel occupancy rate at a four-year high of 92.4 percent. In 2007, Baltimore City’s hotel occupancy rate hovered below the 80 percent mark.
By nature, hospitality housing will put out different numbers than the hotel and tourism industry, but even among charity programs – which typically deliver about a 90 percent occupancy rate – The Children’s House at Johns Hopkins’ rate remains higher than most and a good indicator of the kind of service staff and volunteers are providing at the house.
A high occupancy rate doesn’t mean improvements to the house have slowed. Believe In Tomorrow has purchased a new Wii gaming system and, with a charitable contribution from board member Stewart Greenebaum, children restricted to bed rest can play Xbox on a portable cart.
The Giadarno family gave the house’s living room a cozier feel by providing funds to purchase a new leather sofa. Even the bedroom furniture is less than a year old and donated by Lakewood Furniture.
Whether it’s Monday night pizza provided by Nacho Mama’s, an afternoon in the children’s reading room or a movie night, families are finding rest and escape from daily hospital visits with continual improvements to the house. And while rooms are full 98 percent of the time, our goal is to make families comfortable one hundred percent of the time.
Spotlight: The Gorney Family Pays-it-forward
By Dawn Carroll
Three staff members and I are standing in the pediatric unit in the Portsmouth, Va. Naval Medical Center. Child Life Specialist Chris Brogan speaks elatedly about a patient’s interest in Believe In Tomorrow’s newest property, the Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls. Chris says he pointed out the Believe In Tomorrow web site to the 4-year-old boy and clicked to view the inviting log cabin illustration on the Pinnacle Falls page. The boy told Chris: “You know what? I want to be the first to go there.”
Walker Gorney was receiving treatment for a Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor – a tumor of the central nervous system that usually afflicts children under 10-years-old – when his application came into the Believe In Tomorrow office...
Deep Impact: Group Gives Wisp House New Shine Members of the McHenry United Methodist Church, along with local high school students, volunteered their time for a fall cleaning of The House on Wisp Mountain. The group spent an entire Saturday scrubbing the house from top to bottom, ensuring that is would be ready for the visiting families this fall. The church intends to help maintain the house on a regular basis. Thank you all for your help. |
November Volunteer Opportunities:
Believe In Tomorrow:
Speakers Bureau: Help us inform the community about Believe In Tomorrow’s many programs! Opportunities include speaking at workplace giving campaigns, fairs/festivals, schools, and other community events. These events usually take place on weekdays and are great for daytime volunteers.
Believe In Tomorrow Children's House at Johns Hopkins:
Family Suppers: Come prepare and enjoy a delicious meal with the families. This is a great opportunity for groups!
Painters Needed: The Children’s House is in need of a fresh coat of paint on many of its doors and woodwork.
St. Casimir:
Deep Cleaners: Make the apartments of St. Casimir a safe and welcoming place for families to stay and join our deep cleaning team. This is an “as needed” volunteer opportunity.
Family Suppers: Come prepare and enjoy a delicious meal with the families. This is a great opportunity for groups!
Cookie Baking: Treat the families of St. Casimir and the Children’s House to delicious, home-baked goodies.
The House on Wisp Mountain:
Welcome Committee: Help welcome families to their vacation by preparing goodie baskets for their arrival to the house. Members of the welcome basket committee also serve as lookouts to make sure that the house is in good shape (lights working, rooms cleaned, etc…) for the expected family.
Ocean City:
Holiday Shoppers Fair at the Convention Center: Help sell raffle tickets for a Believe In Tomorrow fundraiser, November 28 to 30. Please contact Wayne Littleton, (410) 723-2842 or wlittleton@believeintomorrow.org.
Other Volunteer Opportunities:
Fall 2008 Wish List Drives are beginning now!
We are looking for volunteers to organize and host wish list drives for all of our facilities. The wish lists are specific to each facility and include household items, food, toys, cleaning supplies, hygiene products and other things that families need while staying in the hospital and retreat houses. Wish Lists are available for The Children’s House at Johns Hopkins, The Children’s House By The Sea, The House on Wisp Mountain, and The House at Pinnacle Falls. This is a great opportunity for a school, community, or social group to help with.
Please contact Mindy Weidman, mweidman@believeintomorrow.org, if you would like to participate in the Wish List Drive or to find out about other volunteer opportunities!
Al-of-all-trades: Tour Guide, Ticket-seller, Mailman, Ambassador
Congratulations Al. You are the November 2008 Believe In Tomorrow Volunteer of the Month!
By Melinda Weidman
The first thing Al Lehman does when he gets to the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House: he suits up in his Believe In Tomorrow polo shirt and hat. For most of the 14 years since Al became a volunteer for the organization, he has driven families around town to see the sites of Charm City.
People know Al as the Baltimore tour guide. In his early years as a volunteer he always made a point to stop at Camden Yards, where he once worked as a guide. Al and his wife Marilyn have been known to introduce families to Baltimore’s Little Italy neighborhood, treating them to a night of Italian cuisine and friendship...
Submitted by Hahna Samuel
3/4 cup of butter or margarine
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
4 Tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
extra sugar
In a large bowl, cream sugar with butter or margarine. Add egg and blend. Add molasses, spices, and salt and mix really well. Add flour and baking soda and blend. Chill the dough for at least 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 325º. Shape the dough into balls about the size of ping-pong balls. Roll them in the extra sugar and place them about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake at 325º for 10-12 minutes. Cool and enjoy! (Really good dunking cookies).