MELTING POT FONDUE RAISER, MARCH 1ST- MARCH 31ST
Head to Melting Pot for Fondue for a Difference! During the month of March, when you order from their Ultimate Fondue for Two menu, $4 from every meal will be donated back to the Isabella Santos Foundation to help fight rare pediatric cancer.
Call today to make your reservations: (704)334-4400
Melting Pot – Midtown | 901 S Kings Dr, Ste 140B
Charlotte, North Carolina 28204
Written by Erin Santos, ISF Executive Director & President
6 years ago you couldn’t pay me to sit and have coffee with a little girl who beat cancer and was also Isabella’s age. No Thank You! But time has passed and now I find myself being eager to be in the presence of 13 and 14-year-old girls. I’m constantly wondering what they are into, how they behave and what they say. So when I got the opportunity to meet Sydney, who beat cancer last year I was excited about our meet and greet. Side note, we also helped fund her Make-A-Wish trip to go to London for the ultimate Harry Potter experience. Another side note, Sidney’s sister was in Grant’s preschool class at Calvary when Isabella was diagnosed and fighting. We had no clue at the time of raising funds for her trip that it was for a girl who we once had this connection with. Full circle.
This girl was precious… like beyond precious. She was beautiful and mature and wise beyond her years. I find these are all traits of a child who has stared death in the eye more than once. I couldn’t stop listening to her talk and was consumed with the fact that she let her mom dote on her and play with her hair while she talked to us. Any other teen would have swatted her Mom’s hand away. But I feel like Sydney allowed it because she knew her Mom too went through something and knows she is lucky to be alive.
I loved listening to her talk about the doctors and procedures and how it really felt to go through all her treatment. And then I asked the question, “So what do you want to be when you grow up?” Such an innocent question but as she answered, I felt a lump in my throat and the tears beginning to swell. So jealous that she can answer this question and how I craved being able to ask it of my own daughter. No matter how much I try to hide the pain, this family knows that no longer how much time has passed or how good I say I’m doing now – they really are the lucky ones. They are in fact sitting with a Mom who should have a daughter sitting along with us. Who knows, they could have even been friends.
Sydney immediately came to my side and put her arms around me and started to cry. It was so touching to me. I don’t know if she was crying because she was sad for me or sad for Isabella or wondering how she survived and Isabella didn’t. It could have been a number of things but I have to say that it has been years since someone touched me in that way. The hug lasted a long time. For those of you who know me – that means it was over 5 seconds. But his hug lasted for minutes. I tried to release her but she wouldn’t let go. It was if she knew I needed it. She was right.
I don’t know what Sydney’s life has ahead for her, but I know it’s going to be amazing. I’m excited to sit back and watch because this girl deserves every single minute of it and I know she will live it not only for her and her family but for some of those who didn’t get the chance to live it and I love that. It makes me think that while some weren’t meant to survive, she is one that was meant to live. Isabella’s birthday is in March. We can’t think of a better gift than to honor another child’s wish in honor of Isabella’s life.
It is our goal to raise $6,000 in 14 days for what would have been Isabella’s 14th birthday. 14 years old… just like Sydney. Last year, you helped us make Sydney’s wish to visit the Harry Potter museum in London come true. Sidney has finished treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and recently ‘Rang the Bell’ in December 2018 at Levine Children’s Hospital signifying the beginning of living life cancer free.
Make-A-Wish granted Isabella her wish and gave her the best days of her life. Make-A-Wish also gave her family the best memories of theirs. The positive impact wishes give to kids and their families are invaluable. Sydney and her family experienced the same.
We hope you will help us pass this on yet again. Please donate to help another child’s wish come true. Donations of all values will help us collectively reach the $6,000 fundraising goal and will be gifted to the Make-A-Wish foundation to go towards a child’s wish.
Isabella’s birthday is in March. We can’t think of a better gift than to honor another child’s wish in honor of Isabella’s life. It is our goal to raise $6,000 in 14 days for what would have been Isabella’s 14th birthday.
Last year, you helped us make Sydney’s wish to visit the Harry Potter museum in London come true. Sydney is currently 14 years old, finished treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and recently ‘Rang the Bell’ in December 2018 at Levine Children’s Hospital signifying the beginning of living life cancer free. Isabella’s mom, Erin, recently sat down with Sydney to hear all about her trip.
Make-A-Wish granted Isabella her wish and gave her the best days of her life. Make-A-Wish also gave her family the best memories of theirs. The positive impact wishes give to kids and their families are invaluable. Sydney and her family experienced the same. We hope you will help us pass this on yet again.
Please donate to help another child’s wish come true. Donations of all values will help us collectively reach the $6,000 fundraising goal and will be gifted to the Make-A-Wish foundation to go towards a child’s wish.
In partnership with the Isabella Santos Foundation and Community Blood Center of the Carolinas
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Feb. 26, 2019 – The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) and Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) will be teaming up to host several community blood drives in memory of Isabella Santos on Saturday, March 9.
The following blood drives are being held on what would have been Santos’ 14th birthday to honor her life and legacy:
12239 N. Community House Road, Charlotte
7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
*There will also be a bloodmobile parked in front of the Isabella Santos Center
4830 Randolph Road, Charlotte
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
*Hosted by the mother (Stephanie Forman) of Isabella’s best friend
7716 Rea Road, Charlotte
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
*Two bloodmobiles will be located in the parking lot across from Firebirds and Jersey Mike’s
CBCC will also be raffling off $100 gift cards to donors who schedule their March 9 appointment prior to the day of the drive. For questions or to make an appointment for any of these blood drives, visit here or call 1-888-59BLOOD.
Isabella Santos passed away at age seven from a five-year battle with neuroblastoma, a rare type of pediatric cancer. During her treatment, she received several blood and platelet transfusions. According to CBCC, cancer patients are the No. 1 recipients of blood products. One local children’s hospital alone requires nearly 300 units of red blood cells and more than 100 units of platelets each month.
“Community Blood Center of the Carolinas has been an incredible partner and supporter throughout Isabella’s cancer journey and with our efforts to carry on her legacy to impact the lives of children with cancer,” said Erin Santos, executive director and president of the Isabella Santos Foundation. “We appreciate the community coming together on March 9 in memory of Isabella and to support local patients who need life-saving blood.”
All donors at these March 9 blood drives will receive an Isabella Santos Center logo purple blanket, Lifesaving Journey shirt, a Cancer Messed With discount card and a Jersey Mike’s cookie. In addition, donors will be entered to win the following giveaways: Wells Fargo Championship Weekly Ticket Book gift certificate for two; John Hardy earrings in 8K yellow gold and sterling silver; Nothing Bundt Cakes; American Girls Doll (two winners); Firebirds gift card; $100 iTunes Gift Card; Y2 Yoga Gift Card and more.
“We value our relationship with the Isabella Santos Foundation, which is the manifestation of Isabella’s legacy of community support and caring,” said Martin Grable, president and CEO of CBCC. “It is very rewarding to partner with such an ambitious and highly successful group of people dedicated to raising awareness of rare childhood cancers. We encourage the public to make a difference by rolling up their sleeves and giving blood in memory of Isabella [Santos] and to save local lives.”
About Community Blood Center of the Carolinas
Community Blood Center of the Carolinas is the local nonprofit, community-based blood center and the primary blood supplier to the region’s hospitals. CBCC collects blood and blood products from volunteer donors in the community to return to the community at the lowest possible cost consistent with the highest possible standards. CBCC is a member of America’s Blood Centers, North America’s largest network of community-based, independent blood centers that provide more than 50 percent of the nation’s blood supply. For more information, visit oneblood.org/cbcc/.
For more information on hosting a blood drive or donating blood in your area, visit www.cbcc.us or call 1-888-59BLOOD. Follow Community Blood Center of the Carolinas on Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/BloodCenter, on Instagram https://instagram.com/cbccarolinas/ and on Twitterwww.twitter.com/CBCCarolinas.
About Isabella Santos Foundation
The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) is a 501(c)3 childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research for rare pediatric cancers, and charities that directly impact the lives of children with cancer. ISF was founded in honor of Isabella Santos from Charlotte, N.C. who lost her battle against neuroblastoma. ISF is committed to improving rare pediatric cancer treatment options in an effort to increase the survival rate of kids with cancer so they can live their dreams. ISF has donated over $3 million to date to expand the scope of pediatric cancer research and treatment, and to fill various needs surrounding childhood cancers.
For more information, visit www.isabellasantosfoundation.org or follow ISF on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IsabellaSantosFoundation), Instagram (www.instagram.com/theisfoundation), Twitter (www.twitter.com/TheISFoundation) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/isabella-santos-foundation/)
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CONTACT:
Jenni Walker – Walker PR Group – 980-339-8041-office/704-649-6571-cell
