We can not say "thank you" enough to Alex and Ani--the Charity by Design "Shark Finn" bracelet has been an AMAZING success. Big thanks go out to all of you who have bought one, shared the bracelet with friends and have continued to support our sales by attending our in store events.
Our most recent in store event in Cranston, RI, raised $1200--including people who shopped in person and our crafty friends who called in their orders to the store during the event. We have also hosted successful events in Portmouth, NH and Boston, MA. The store staff have all been amazing--thank you!
So far, Alex and Ani has helped raise about $40,000 (FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!) for our foundation with the Shark Finn bracelet. Truly, truly amazing.
We continue to be looking for families who need assistance. We were recently able to help a Warwick, RI native (who is actually from the neighborhood we currently live in!) who received a living donor double lung transplant a few months back. The family has had to maintain a residence down in North Carolina for the transplant and aftercare, and those every day expenses add up and are not covered by insurance. It has been amazing to watch her progress since the transplant--she is currently doing very well and we are thrilled to have been able to provide some help. She received her transplant at Duke, where there are many other CF patients awaiting transplant. We are hopeful that we can establish a partnership with Duke to help their patients with the every day expenses related to being sent far from home for transplant.
A big, belated public thank you to the Evans Family Golf Tournament, which raised $4000 for us last year. We are so thankful to have been your 2012 charity!
We would also like to thank Club Finz, a parrothead club from NH/ME, which also chose us as their 2012 charity and raised several thousand dollars for our efforts. Our home club, OSPHC (Ocean State Parrothead Club), also gave us a wonderful donation back in March. In additon, the NHPHC (New Hampshire Parrothead Club) chose us as one of their 2013 charities. These pholks are truly amazing!!!
Thanks to RI Senator Sheldon Whitehouse for his recent donation as well. We are thankful for your continued and ongoing support, and we are thrilled that we got to help with your re-election campaign last year by being in one of your commercials. Thank you for letting us continue to share our story.
The Providence Roller Derby chose us their featured charity at the 5/18/13 bout--a very cool group of kick-ass ladies! Thanks to Boone's Harm, Bella-trix Lestrangle and Shorts for their assistance and invite!
The support we continue to receive comes from all over...truly a testament to Finn's strength and spirit!
We are hosting our annual fundraiser on Saturday, June 8th this year, at Phenix Sportsmen's Club in West Warwick. Tickets can be purchased here. Deadline to purchase tickets in June 3rd, the little man's birthday. We've got some AMAZING prizes for the raffle this year--items from the Paw Sox, Red Sox, John Medeiros Jewelry (two beautiful jewelry sets), booze (and more booze!), and several sports themed baskets just to name a few. We had a blast this year and hope you all attend again (and bring friends!). All the money we raise goes directly to families!
We have ordered more t-shirts and will have them for sale at the event and on-line soon. An online application for assistance will also be added to the blog soon--in the meantime, those in need of assistance can email (finnzfundz@gmail.com) or call (401-527-1773).
We really could not have done this without the support of our community of family, friends and beyond. Truly. Words are woefully inadequate in expressing how much you all mean to us...and how much it means that you have helped us keep Finn's memory and spirit alive...
