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We Believe — Believe In Tomorrow provides exceptional hospital and respite 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.
With the upcoming holidays rapidly approaching, I believe it's an appropriate time to reflect on the accomplishments, challenges and milestones of the closing year.
We are so very blessed to have so many selfless volunteers, ardent supporters, generous donors and national partners, like the Professional Bull Rider's Association (PBR) and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
We are grateful for everything you contribute to help make Believe In Tomorrow National Children's Foundation a resource to families in need of a comfortable place to stay, a destination driven respite or an opportunity to be joyful, even for a bit, while they confront their child's critical illness, head on.
We are overwhelmed by the increasing number of participants at our annual Port to Fort Run, our established but still growing Seacrets event in Ocean City, MD and our Annual Benefit & Auction. We are humbled by our supporters and fund-raisers who think nothing of kayaking more than 166 miles to raise awareness and support for Believe In Tomorrow – or cycling across their home state – or organizing a swim marathon, at the local pool, because every dollar counts!
Hundreds of our families, from the Empire State of New York, to the Plains of Texas, to the Red Rocks of New Mexico, to the Land of a Thousand Lakes, have embraced our Hands On Adventure programs and the unique opportunities our partners like the PBR and NHRA offer.
I cannot say this often enough – or find the words that could be more meaningful, than simply saying everything you do MAKES a difference. I am hopeful you will continue to find ways to share your blessings, talents and time with our families.
Although the calendar sometime reminds us of the season to be thankful – we are thankful for each and every one of you who continue to BELIEVE IN TOMORROW, everyday of the year.
With best wishes to you and yours,
Streamline Your Holiday Shopping...
With a donation to Believe In Tomorrow National Children's Foundation in someone's honor, memory or as an acknowledgement of their place in your heart. There are many ways to give, including through a Workplace Giving Campaign, a direct donation to the foundation or through the United Way Campaign, as a write in.
Workplace Giving— Please select Believe In Tomorrow National Children's Foundation or the Believe In Tomorrow Children's House at Johns Hopkins as your charity of choice in your work place giving campaign. We are listing our designated campaign numbers, for easy reference:
For Believe In Tomorrow National Children's Foundation
Combined Federal Campaign/ Independent Charities of America: 11570
Maryland Charities Campaign: 2111
6601 Frederick Road
Baltimore, MD 21228
For the Believe In Tomorrow Children's House at Johns Hopkins
Combined Federal Campaign/ Independent Charities of America: 10703
Maryland Charities Campaign: 3218
1915 McElderry Street
Baltimore, MD 21205
You can even donate your car and request the proceeds go to Believe In Tomorrow – AND receive an automatic tax credit of $500.00, even if the sale of the car is less than that amount and a tax credit for the face value of the sale, if the amount exceeds $500.00. All this and you don't even have to go NEAR a MALL. Check out our giving page for more details on how you can contribute to Believe In Tomorrow National Children's Foundation, throughout the year.
Time to Order Your Holiday Cards—AND Support Believe In Tomorrow
This year, we are offering five different “holiday” scenes, each created by a child who has found comfort and support in our programs. Follow this link to order now.
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Professional Bull Rider's Association Wrap-up
Believe In Tomorrow families were ringside and then some during the Professional Bull Rider's World Finals in Las Vegas, NV the last weekend of October. The Top 40 bull riders in the world, not to mention the strongest bulls, competed in a high voltage competition that drew fans of all ages, from all over the world.
Thanks to our unique partnership with the PBR, our families are granted a behind the scenes chute tour, they meet the professional bull riders AND the bulls, they can place their "lucky" Hands On Adventures handprints on the rider's chaps and receive autographed memorabilia from the riders.
Grammy Award-winning singer Leann Rimes performed the National Anthem at the opening ceremony on Friday, October 30.
Believe In Tomorrow families had the opportunity to have a Hands On Adventure with the PBR in over 14 cities this year. The PBR may be coming to your town in 2010. Their schedule should be released shortly. For more information about the PBR, log onto www.pbrnow.com.
Remembering our Veterans, particularly on November 11, the national day of recognition for our nation's heroes...
Believe In Tomorrow National Children's Foundation Serving Families Who Honor us With Their Courage and Dedication to Our Country…
At any given day of the year, the rooms at the Believe In Tomorrow Children's House at Johns Hopkins and the suites at the Believe In Tomorrow House at St. Casimir, are filled to capacity, serving civilian and military families from all over the world who seek treatment for their critically ill child at Baltimore's renowned Johns Hopkins Children's Center.
Whether you're an active member of the National Guard, a Navy Seal or an Army Ranger, when your family checks in to one of the foundation's two hospital housing facilities – or one of the five Believe In Tomorrow destination driven respite houses, our mission is to create a safe haven for families battling a child's critical illness.
Mike and Laurie, have been staying at the Believe In Tomorrow Children's House at Johns Hopkins, for more than two months, as their baby continues to progress in the NICU. Although Mike has returned to duty in the US Navy, which takes him away from Baltimore during the week, he is able to spend the weekends with his family at the house, which creates some semblance of normalcy for their older child.
Dear Believe In Tomorrow,
Thank you again for giving us a lifetime of wonderful memories. Please accept this donation as a small token of our appreciation. Sincerely, |
Thank you so much for the amazing gift of a week in Deep Creek, MD. The house, activities and Deep Creek itself were amazing. But it was the chance to take a break and focus on family that made it so valuable to us. It's the first family vacation we've been able to take since Austin was born. Like any families of medically ill children, Austin's illness has meant that we've often had to use our vacation time on hospitalizations and medical appointments. Since his illness is chronic and life-long, there is no remission or cure for us to work towards. But the vacation really gave us something to look forward to and it helped to wash away so much of the stress that had accumulated over the years. We loved hiking at Swallow Falls, swimming in the Wisp Resort pool and going to the museum in Oakland, but our favorite activity was riding the train in Cumberland. 
When Austin was an infant and so sick that we thought he wouldn't make it, my favorite book to read to him was the 2003 version of the enclosed book. I'm convinced that it must have been written for medically ill children and their parents, and reading it over and over has a healing effect on the spirit. It's now become one of Austin's favorite bedtime stories. He, of course, still doesn't understand the more subtle messages in the book, but we get it. It's amazing that a children's book could remind us to lean on friends when times are tough, to pace ourselves, to not be envious of the seemingly simple lives parents of healthy children have, and most of all that every dark tunnel must have a light at the other end. It was tremendously special that we ended our Believe In Tomorrow vacation week with a train ride. I couldn't stop smiling watching Austin's excitement that he was riding on a real train and thinking how amazing it was that our favorite book was coming alive for us as the train rolled out of the station, strained up steep mountains, crossed over rivers, stopped at a destination and entered a long dark tunnel. I hope this book can be an inspiration to other families at a Believe In Tomorrow home. |
Students who helped with this project are as follows: Front row…left to right…Amber Jones, Rebekah Gooding, Catherine Gooding, Katie Carpenter, Stephanie Owens, second row… left to right...Ashley Eggleston, Katrina Bowman, Colin Gooding, Christine Carpenter, and Megan Fazenbaker |
Students from Garrett County schools, along with a few adults, volunteered to help at the annual fall "deep cleaning" project for the Believe In Tomorrow House on Wisp Mountain in Deep Creek, MD last month. The "Deep Cleaning" Team, from McHenry United Methodist Church comes twice a year to ensure the house receives a seasonal thorough top to bottom cleaning.
This team is one of many that ensure the house is always kept in immaculate order, and receives a "deep cleaning" at least once a season.
The Believe In Tomorrow House on Wisp Mountain offers families a year round opportunity to enjoy the beautiful seasons on the Mountain and Deep Creek Lake. Families who have been fatigued by the constant stress and strain of battling a child’s life threatening illness can come to Believe In Tomorrow’s House on Wisp Mountain for a week, free of charge, to rest, relax and create joyful memories, outside of a hospital or clinical environment.
Believe In Tomorrow National Children's Foundation has a strong group of loyal, generous and irreplaceable volunteers in the Western Maryland area, who serve as the foundation's ambassadors in the community and also with the families who come to the Believe In Tomorrow House on Wisp Mountain for respite.
Swine Flu Precautions at the Believe In Tomorrow Children's House at Johns Hopkins and the Believe In Tomorrow House at St. Casimir
We have been meeting with representatives from the Johns Hopkins Hospital over the past months in an effort to be "game ready" for Flu Season and the potential Swine Flu (H1N1) Strain, at all of our facilities.
In addition to our standard operating procedures and Infection Control Policies at the Believe In Tomorrow Children's House at Johns Hopkins and the Believe In Tomorrow House at St. Casimir, we have implemented additional precautions to ensure the health and well being of our guests, our staff and our volunteers and decrease the risk of contracting or spreading any form of influenza.
We have increased signage about the importance of hand washing, with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, we have alcohol-based hand sanitizers placed throughout both facilities. We are in constant communication with families checking-in and if a family member is not well, we advise them to stay home or isolate themselves to limit contact with others.
Our volunteers are disinfecting common areas of our houses daily, including wiping down keypads, doorknobs, railings, refrigerator door handles, remotes and countertops.
In addition to hand washing, we have issued communications about everyday preventative actions, including what to do when you cough or sneeze to decrease risk to others and the importance of getting a flu vaccine.
We are in constant communication with the Infection Control Contacts at Johns Hopkins and are doing everything possible to keep our facilities flu-free. We will continue to keep you updated, as information and new statistics are released.
What Goes Up, Must Come Down (and we're not talking about the song)
While you're down the ocean, you MUST stop by JC's Northside Pub, on Ocean Avenue and 127th Street. Jeff Edwards, proprietor and a long time Believe In Tomorrow supporter has concocted a very unique and fun way to raise cash for the foundation. He calls it "Chucking for Charity." What, you may ask, does this entail? Well, take a dollar bill; lay the bill face up on a flat surface. Place a tack through the center of the bill and lay a quarter on top of the tack. Fold the bill length wise on either side, so both edges of the bill meet. Twist the left and right sides of the bill, so it looks somewhat like a bow tie. Now you’re ready to pitch the bill underhand until it tacks onto the ceiling. Jeff says he has all kinds of bills tacked up to his ceiling, from one dollar to a fifty to a one hundred dollar bill, not to mention the loose change, which eventually drops because of gravity. Jeff is hosting a "Pull Down Party," on Friday, December 18, so Believe In Tomorrow will receive the donation prior to December 25. At press time, Jeff estimates he has over $3,000 on his ceiling!