Tag Archive for: childhood cancer foundation

Our Kind of Charity Event. Designer Heels, Handbags & Mimosas.

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Handbags, Heels, and Horsepower is just a couple days away… Thursday, November 15th.  Hang with your girlfriends with mimosas in hand… while surrounded by 30 beautiful designer handbags and heels that will be up for raffle to help raise money for rare pediatric cancer research.

The Charlotte Auto Show and Isabella Santos Foundation have partnered together for the Handbags, Heels and Horsepower event Thursday, November 15 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Jenn Jackson and Erin Santos stopped by WCCB Rising this morning to talk about the event.

Rising Spotlight: Handbags, Heels and Horsepower

Tickets include: 

  • Admission
  • One raffle ticket
  • Free parking at the NASCAR Hall of Fame (arrive early, parking will be based on availability)
  • Beverages & breakfast.  

But make sure to increase your odds of winning that coveted handbag or heel and purchase additional raffle tickets.  If purchased prior to November 15th, raffle tickets will be available for pick up during check-in of Handbags, Heels & Horsepower with your name/number already written on them. Believe us… that will be a huge time saver for you!

PURCHASE TICKETS & PRE-PURCHASE RAFFLE TICKETS

Nothing Better Than Summer Camp

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Camp CARE 2018

Camp CARE… a weeklong summer camp to give kids fighting cancer, their siblings, and their family support. An emotionally safe place to just be and loads of memories. When children are diagnosed with cancer, a part of their childhood is ripped away from them. They spend countless hours/days/weeks in the hospital and clinics for treatment when other kids are playing games at the pool. Summer memories… every child deserves to have them.

Isabella’s siblings head to Camp Care today for the week. We also love to see cancer warrior Sam (Hope for Sam Rosebrock) and his brother Isaiah returning to Camp CARE.

Thank you Camp CARE for all that you do for kids and their families fighting cancer. We love that you look at a child as the child they are… not just a kid with cancer. And we LOVE that the planning committee is sporting custom ordered Cancer Messed With shirts to kick it all off.

Meet ISF: Director of Corporate Philanthropy

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We have a lot going on at the foundation and we are so excited when more hands join in the mix.  Meet Kerry Winslow, our new Director of Corporate Philanthropy.  Kerry has been volunteering with ISF for years and wanted to take her involvement to the next level.  And boy has she jumped right in… during her first week with ISF in June, she donated platelets for the first time ever and donated blood the next week in honor of Isabella.  Not only is she helping ISF move to the next level, she is managing the event planning for our upcoming Pumpkin Charity Ball.  Her energy and zest fit right in and we love the new perspective she is bringing.  Earlier this year ISF committed to funding $5 million to establish the Isabella Santos Foundation Rare & Solid Tumor Program at Levine Children’s Hospital. Kerry is dedicated to help us figure out how to get there and says she wanted to make a difference by being part of the impact to kids with cancer and the change to our city.

“I am inspired by hard work and grit.  One of the main reasons I decided to get involved with ISF is because I am inspired by the hard work and grit of this foundation.  The idea of a community coming together and building something that will ultimately change the landscape of pediatric oncology in our city, and our country, is truly amazing.”

A little bit about Kerry…

Do you have kids?  I have been married to my husband, David, for 20 years this August! We have 3 children David (15), Audrey (13), and Nolan (11).

What’s one thing on your bucket list?  One thing on my bucket list is to totally disconnect and spend a couple weeks exploring Greece and Italy!

What’s your favorite thing to do?  I love to travel and am always up for a quick trip to the beach or NYC.

What’s your favorite movie?  It’s a toss up between Father of the Bride and My Best Friend’s Wedding! 

What inspire you?  I am inspired by hard work and grit.  One of the main reasons I decided to get involved with ISF is because I am inspired by the hard work and grit of this foundation.  The idea of a community coming together and building something that will ultimately change the landscape of pediatric oncology in our city, and our country, is truly amazing.

Magical Moments

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A very special group of people sent the Santos family on their last Disney trip with Isabella right before she passed away. They knew that her most favorite memories were in Disney… and were determined to give Isabella and her family one last magical moment together. Isabella could barely get out of bed a good bit of the trip, but there were times the magic brought her out of her pain for just a few moments. Here she is watching fireworks right outside her balcony.

“We even decided to take her there just a couple of weeks before she passed away. Make-A-Wish has made this place the one place in the world that brought her the most happiness. We saw the impact that a wish trip had on her mental and physical state, as well as the rest of us. It made miracles happen for us – so many times.”

13-year old Sidney is fighting cancer… and we want to help bring her happiness too! From one magical moment to another, our hearts swell to think that we all could play a part in her WISH to visit the Harry Potter museum in London. We still have $3,000 left to raise to reach the $6,000 fundraising goal by March 31.  DETAILS and DONATE.

LETS BECOME A WISHMAKER TOGETHER IN HONOR OF ISABELLA!

Grief Shocks…

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It will hit you like a rock – how so very MUCH you miss someone, your breath catches, your tears flow, and the sadness can be so great that it’s physically painful. Like the wind knocked the air out of you. The aftershocks of losing someone, even if it’s been five years… the grief shocks.

The loss of a child is a grief that lasts forever. Grief comes on in waves, especially during holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays. There will always be another year older that she should have been, her handmade ornaments will always be placed on the Christmas tree by someone other than herself, and the empty chair at the holiday dinner table will never be filled.

Isabella in Chistmas Jammies

Last week we ran into Mrs. Chrissy at lunch. As many of you know, Chrissy was Isabella’s best friend. Yes, Chrissy is an an adult… but if Isabella wasn’t with her parents or grandmother, she was with Mrs. Chrissy. They did it all together. We exchanged small talk before deciding to all sit down over lunch to catch up. Immediately her lip started quivering and her eyes teared up. She started to explain that she has been doing so well until this past week… she is tripping all over Isabella. Memories hurt, especially during this holiday time. Memories that are causing grief shocks.

“I laid in bed and decided to pull out my Sudoku book, it’s been years since I have brought myself to play. I open up the book and who was the last person to work on a Sudoku puzzle? Isabella. Its like she is making sure I don’t forget her.”

Isabella, Grant and Sophia in Christmas Jammies

Isabella was Chrissy’s shopping partner. Especially during the holidays. Chrissy even bought Isabella a Hanukkah outfit, just an excuse to buy her a pretty dress. Pictured here is Isabella with Grant and Sophia… in Christmas pjs that Chrissy bought them. Chrissy went on to mention that she still hasn’t been able to put up a Christmas Tree in her house since Isabella died. She continues to tend to her memorial site at Calvary Church and took Isabella a Christmas Tree instead.

Grief looks so different on everyone. No grief is right and no grief is wrong. And no amount of time, even if it has been five years, will change the way one feels. Our hearts go out to all those grieving and tripping over their lossed loved ones this holiday season. We hope your grief shocks become a little less intense and you can breathe in the moment of the season.

Give a tax deductible contribution in honor of someone special who is currently fighting cancer or in remembrance of a loved one who lost their battle. It’s a form of action and beautiful memory.

DONATE: isabellasantosfoundation.org/donate-to-isf/

(Remember that many companies will match your contribution. A great way to increase your impact.)