June Executive Director Dish

Wow.  Running a little late this month.  Every month seems to fly by faster and faster.  Our May was full of events that kept us busy and like most events, they drain us, so we take a little time after to recoup.  I loved everything about May as we turned our focus to the Moms who are currently in the fight of their lives with their children and their stories.  I think sometimes we forget just how many families in this area need us.  Our Defining Support, The Cancer Warrior Mom Series was one of the best series we have done to date.  We asked these Moms to talk about their struggles, how they define support and what organizations like ours mean to them as they go through treatment.  If you missed it – catch up here.

Our coffees also had a completely different look and feel this year.  We moved our location to the Duke Mansion and the days couldn’t have been more beautiful.  The sun was shining, the mimosas were flowing, and the inspirational stories were on point.  I loved seeing new faces in the audience and love the opportunity to share who we are and what we do with new people.  Our theme of the mornings resolved about Nurse Sarah who shared her story of how she was a 2-time childhood cancer survivor and how lucky she was to have the treatments she needed to ultimately find her cure.  She has gone to become a pediatric oncology nurse here in Charlotte and just a few months ago, she and her husband were blessed with their first child.  I sat and listened to her read her Mother’s journal entries from when she was in treatment and it brought back so many memories for me of how scary that time in my life was.  It reminded me of how lucky I was to have people advocating and supporting for our family when we didn’t have time to ask.  We all need to remember these families are counting on us to be their soldiers in the street, because they have more important things to worry about… their child.

And now here we are… June.  Kids are out of school.  Life seems a little quieter, but we still have a important milestone ahead.  On June 28th, Isabella will have been gone for 7 years.  This is crazy to me because she was only 7 when she passed away.  Her legacy is now longer than her life.  As always, I find the best way to experience this day is to partner with One Blood (formally CBCC) and ask for you all to go and donate blood, especially platelets in her honor.  Summer is the slowest time of the year for blood and platelet donations and they need your help.  Our platelet drive runs from this Sunday, June 23 through Saturday, June 28th, please honor her life and schedule an appointment.  Post a picture of yourself on social media – I follow along quietly that day and love seeing all of you who take the time.  It means so much to me.

Now, let’s talk about something exciting. First, we have a new presenting sponsor this year, RedVentures! Their energy is off the charts, we can’t wait for you to feel it! Second … who loves brunch?  Um… everyone.  How does Firebirds + Tito’s Vodka + NoDa Brewing sound? These companies (and our first ever brunch sponsors) love to give back to the community and are ready to provide you with the yummiest of yummy goodies and drinks on race day.  We know what works at our race… our 5k is fun (the 10 is tough), the kids zone is killer, the auction and raffle are like no other so why not make the day just a tad more fun for everyone.  I know nothing tastes better to me after a hard run like a bloody mary so let’s combine the two.  

You’re going to start seeing the Run and Brunch everywhere.  And it’s going to have a different look to it so it’s going to catch your eye.  Register before July 1st and you will get the brunch, and 2 drink tickets for free.  Build a team, get your whole neighborhood out there.  Don’t want to run?  We don’t care!  Just purchase brunch and come out to support a good cause.  Have a seat in the shade with a drink while your kids play in the kids’ zone and you bid on something amazing by phone while you gossip with your bestie… oh and it all benefits pediatric cancer research.  Win. Win.  Run and Brunch. Let’s make this year’s event, the biggest and best we have ever had.  Be a part of it.

Special shout out to JE Dunn and Brixx Pizza for their incredible fundraisers for ISF! JE Dunn donated $15,000 and Brixx Pizza donated $10,000… prime examples of ways our community businesses are stepping up for their community. Check out how each company raised these funds, maybe it will give you an idea of how to do something similar and help us fight cancer.

Happy June… well almost July!

P.S. – don’t forget to schedule that Platelet appointment for next week!

Read ISF Skinny June 2019 Edition

JE Dunn Charlotte Presents $15,000 Check to Isabella Santos Foundation

On May 16th JE Dunn Charlotte held their 3rd annual Charity Poker Tournament benefiting local nonprofits. We were honored to be a chosen charity and on Tuesday, June 18th, the JE Dunn Charlotte team presented ISF with a check for $15,000 at Levine Children’s Hospital! JE Dunn believes every child deserves a future filled with moments of opportunity, the resources needed to provide a good education, and the resources required to live a healthy, happy lifestyle. Obviously, our passions cross and we are so fortunate they believe in our mission and what we are working to do for kids fighting cancer in the city of Charlotte and beyond.

We met JE Dunn while they were constructing the Isabella Santos Foundation MIBG Therapy Suite. Yup… that $1 Million targeted therapy suite YOUR dollars funded, this group built it! How insanely cool is that? What was even more cool, every time we put on our hard hats to step foot on the construction site they had questions for us. Every team member was curious about the specifics of the room and the background of Isabella’s story. Their office family is one with numerous cancer survivors and/or family members of cancer survivors and it is important to their team to support nonprofits that support cancer research and family services offered to those diagnosed with cancer or terminal illness. This team has heart and passion and we appreciated their curiosity behind this special therapy suite more than they will ever know. Our ISF team put their blood, sweat, and tears into fundraising, you donated your hard earned dollars, and the JE Dunn team spilled their entire hearts into building this MIBG project. Talk about a passion project!

This city is full of the best people and businesses. On Tuesday after the JE Dunn team presented us with the $15,000 check, the Brixx Pizza team arrived for their generous $10,000 donation. We made sure to get a joint photo because right in front of us are two prime examples of the best people and the best businesses. We love our Charlotte community!

Local Platelet Drive (Charlotte Today, WCNC)

Originally posted on WCNC

The Isabella Santos Foundation and OneBlood are teaming up for a week-long platelet drive in hopes of receiving 100 platelet donations.

Brixx Wood Fired Pizza Presents $10,000 Check To Isabella Santos Foundation (WCCB)

CHARLOTTE, NC – From May 20 through May 26, 2019, locally owned Brixx Wood Fired Pizzapledged to donate 100% of kid’s meal sales to the Isabella Santos Foundation. Brixx raised a total of $10,000 during the fundraiser – that’s almost 2,000 kid’s pizzas! – which will go directly to improving pediatric cancer research and treatment options.

For the full article go here.

BRIXX WOOD FIRED PIZZA PRESENTS $10,000 CHECK TO ISABELLA SANTOS FOUNDATION JUNE 19, 2019

Charlotte-Born-and-Bred Restaurant Donates $10,000 to the Isabella Santos Foundation, a Local Charity Dedicated to Improving the Lives of Pediatric Cancer Patients and Their Families

CHARLOTTE, NC – From May 20 through May 26, 2019, locally owned Brixx Wood Fired Pizza pledged to donate 100% of Kid’s meal sales to the Isabella Santos Foundation. Brixx raised a total of $10,000 during the fundraiser – that’s almost 2,000 kid’s pizzas! – which will go directly to improving pediatric cancer research and treatment options.

On June 19, 2019, Brixx presented their donation at Seacrest Studios inside Levine Children’s Hospital. In attendance were members of the Isabella Santos Foundation staff, Brixx partners and Charlotte-area store managers.

“We have been very fortunate in our company and feel it is our duty to give back tot he communities we are part of,” says Barbara Morgan, partner, and Cheif Finacial Officer for Brixx Wood Fired Pizza. “Every child should have the chance to grow up healthy, live their lives and make their dreams come true. We are a family- and community- oriented restaurant, and it certainly shows in the huge number of people who stopped in and bought kids’ meals in support of this incredible cause.”

Brixx Wood Fired Pizza is owned by New South Pizza, Inc. Brixx is located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, Ohio and Indiana. Brixx includes both company-owned restaurants and franchise locations. More information, including a complete menu, is available at brixxpizza.com.

For more information about Brixx’s community involvement, please click here.