Finnz Fundz

Entertainment!

2012-01-27T17:59:00.000-08:00

The amazing Glenn Stewart will be our entertainment at our June 2nd fundraising event!!!!

We are THRILLED to have him on board! Check out his great video below and visit his facebook page!!! Be sure to tell him we sent you! :)

We have a venue!!!!!

2012-01-26T14:03:00.001-08:00

SAVE THE DATE!!!!

Our annual June Finnz Fundz event has been booked!!!!

Saturday, June 2nd at Phenix Sportsman's Club (NOT the sportsmans inn--that's in Providence and is a strip club that hires underage girls...important distinction!!!)

Tentative start time is 6pm. Party for the grown ups!! :) Bartender has been retained. Party goes til 1am if you can handle it!

Entertainment pending.

More details to follow!

Thanks again, Club Finz!

2012-01-25T10:38:00.001-08:00

Check out Club Finz website--we've already received our first donation from them and look forward to a great partnership this year!!!

UPCOMING EVENTS

2012-01-23T11:51:00.000-08:00

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Planning Meeting: 2/4/12, 4pm at Indigo Pizza in Coventry, RI

Launch event for the golf tournament: 4/7/12, 2-6pm at Long Shots in West Warwick, RI

Golf tournament: 5/18/12, Swansea, MA

Annual event: 6/2/12

More details coming soon!

Planning meeting!

2012-01-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

We have scheduled a planning meeting for 2/4/12 at 4pm (Indigo Pizza in Coventry), to discuss our upcoming events (golf tournament in May, annual event in June). We are hoping to get some volunteers who would be willing to help with securing donations for our raffle. We are also looking for those with event planning experience who might be able to lend a hand with some of the logistics, specifically for our June event.

If you would like to attend, or need more information, please call Kerry at 401-527-1773 or email finnzfundz@gmail.com

Thanks in advance!!!!

good things are happening!!!!!

2012-01-12T10:46:00.000-08:00

I was having a bit of a rough day today, having had to visit the Providence Children's Museum (which Finn LOVED) as a part of my job. When I got back to the office, it got a whole lot better. I have been, and continue to be, amazed by the generosity of the people we know...

I found out today that Jen Evans and her family have a golf tournament each year, and they donate the money raised to charity--this year, they've chosen Finnz Fundz!!! OMG! There will be a launch event at the end of April/beginning of May, and the golf tournament itself is 5/18 with dinner and drinks afterwards. A big hearty thanks to Jen and her family...

Beyond that, I am really speechless...

What a great surprise!!!

2012-01-10T18:39:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

We just received word that Finnz Fundz was named as the 2012 charity of the year by Club Finz! Club Finz is the parrot head club in southern Maine and the New Hampshire seacoast. A BIG thank you to the club, and to Amy Bruno for the nomination! We are excited to partner with our northern parrot head friends!!! I saw on their website that last year's charity received a check for $2000...so excited for the possibilities for Finnz Fundz!!

This is what it's all about!!!

2011-12-19T07:26:00.001-08:00

We are THRILLED to report that Finnz Fundz has helped it's first family!!!!! Because the family has been inundated with out of pocket costs for medications for their son's care, it has been difficult for them to address other expenses. This includes the most basic expenses, such as getting the oil tank filled. Finnz Fundz is helping to keep the oil going and the heat on this winter by providing fundz for a tank of oil. This is what it's all about, people! Thanks again SO much to all our donors!

A Finn Story...

2011-12-09T11:48:00.001-08:00

My mother told me this story today on the phone. She said she'd hesitated to tell me about it previously, as she thought I'd be upset. I WAS upset, but truly amazed by the story, and I think not ever hearing this story would have been MORE upsetting. I asked her to PLEASE share such stories in the future. And I gently reminded her that, on some level, I am ALWAYS hurt and upset at the loss of my amazing little guy. Finn's spirit is ever present to many of us, and this story just illustrates how amazing these things can be if we are open to them. This occured just before Thanksgiving 2011.

My mother babysits for a little girl named Grace, who is one of the cutest babies I've ever seen. I've heard she's got a wonderful personality and disposition to match. Grace was sitting on my mother's lap on the my mom's couch. Grace was paying keen attention to two pictures on my mom's tv stand. These pictures were of Finn. Grace was babbling quite excitedy at the pictures, saying "hi." She was blowing kisses at the pictures. (Finn used to blow kisses ALL the time, particularly those "sexy kisses" he became known for...) Grace then turned my mom, put a hand on each of mom's cheeks, called her "mama" and gave her a kiss and hug. Grace has never called my mom "mama" before. Finn called my mom "mama". It was like she was channeling Finn. You can't make this stuff up...just amazing.

Ho Ho Ho!

2011-12-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Finnz Fundz is participating in the first annual SantaCon Newport THIS SATURDAY! If you are local, please consider coming and joining in the fun. It's a stroll through Newport to spread merriment and help charities. We're collecting canned goods at the start of the the walk for those who are in need, and will be raising some funds for Finnz Fundz along the way. We'll be making stops at local establishments and having a great time!

A follow up--our friend Brian DID complete his marathon run (GO BRIAN!). Through his kind efforts and donations from his supporters, $500 was raised for Finnz Fundz. We are SO grateful for the support!

We did outreach about Finnz Fundz to all CF Care Centers and Ronald McDonald houses in New England. We are still waiting for families to contact us, but are excited about being able to help them once they do! We'll do more concentrated outreach early next year, and will try to be a presence at some of the Great Strides walks (Cystic Fibrosis Center's biggest fundraiser of the year) to spread the word about our resource.

Thank you, Brian!

2011-10-10T15:46:00.000-07:00

A friend from high school is going to be running a marathon next week...he's using the race as an opportunity to raise money for Finnz Fundz as well, and we are humbled by, and thankful for, his gesture.

From Brian's blog: http://twoselves.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/finnz-fundz/

"For the past few months I’ve been training for a marathon. It’s in Newport, on Sunday, October 16th. Part of my intention in running was to raise money for Finnz Fundz, a non-profit organization formed by my friends Kerry and Patrick Burns. I kept putting it off because I was afraid that some of my nagging injuries would prevent me from ultimately running. Now that I’m sure I will come to the start line relatively healthy, I want to ask my friends and family to donate a small amount of money to the cause.
I will be matching all donations up to a net of $500.
Finnz Fundz is a charity that benefits families who have children with cystic fibrosis. Kerry and Patrick saw that there was a gap in organizations that could help families directly that were victims of financial hardships caused by long term hospitalizations and medical care for children with Cystic Fibrosis. It’s inspired by their personal experience of losing their young son, Finnegan, to this terrible disease. They kicked off the charity in May with a very successful launch party.
I have met Patrick once, and seen Kerry once in 20 years. They are however, 2 of the most inspirational and influential people in my life. Please join me in supporting their important cause, and feel free to drop me a note of encouragement as I try to plod through 26.2 miles!
Just click on donate! Remember, I’m matching so even 10 bucks means 20!"

Summer updates!

2011-09-05T16:44:00.001-07:00

I apologize for not updating the blog sooner. Finnz Fundz had a great summer!

Our launch party was a HUGE success! A big thank you to the nearly one hundred people who attended our party at Indigo Pizza. We are so thankful that Mary Day lent us her hospitality and fabulous space. Larry and the Reverbs rocked the house and provided awesome entertainment, and the kids got to be the stars while doing some karaoke. The raffle was a huge success--we couldn’t have done it without all the great prizes that were donated! We were amazed by the generosity!

With the money we’d raised online plus the money raised at our event, we’re at nearly $10,000!!! SO excited to start helping families! Outreach letters and information have been sent to the CF Care Centers in New England.

We also have some new exciting news--we are partnering with Alex and Ani (www.alexandani.com), a local RI jewelry company that is becoming well known around the world. Owner of Alex and Ani, Carolyn Rafaelian, has approved a bracelet design that will be presented through her Charity by Design division, and twenty percent of all sales of this special charm will be donated to Finnz Fundz!!! We are so excited and thrilled to be working with such a forward thinking company. The design will be going to production soon, and we will reveal it as soon as we can!

Press release

2011-05-08T17:43:00.000-07:00

May 5, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact Kerry Burns, finnzfundz@gmail.com. (401) 527-1773

Local Couple Who Lost Son to Cystic Fibrosis Launch Non-Profit Organization

Coventry, RI – Kerry and Patrick Burns know the difficulty of fighting Cystic Fibrosis and want to use their experience to help other families going through similar struggles. Finnz Fundz, the 501(c)(3) non profit organization the Burns’ founded in memory of their son, Finnegan, is holding an official launch party on Saturday, June 4th, from 4-8pm at Indigo Pizza (599 Tiogue Avenue in Coventry, RI). The event will feature “kid’s karaoke”, a raffle and local musicians.

Finnegan Burns was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at birth. Finnegan thrived in all areas until hospitalized in intensive care in February 2008. For the duration of Finnegan’s 13 month hospitalization, his parents were by his side. Through the kindness of friends, family and strangers, they received much needed financial and emotional support. Kerry Burns, Executive Director of Finnz Fundz, states, “No family should have to decide whether or not they can be with their child at their most needy and vulnerable time due to financial worries.”
The goal of Finnz Fundz is to provide direct financial support to children and families fighting Cystic Fibrosis and facing the often common long term hospitalizations that occur in fighting the disease. Ms. Burns states, “While there are organizations that provide excellent funding for research into the disease and the development of new treatments, we were unable to find an organization that provided direct financial contributions to families; we hope to fill that gap.” Finnz Fundz will outreach families through an already established network of Cystic Fibrosis care centers, focusing initial efforts in the New England Region.

For more information or interviews, contact Kerry Burns at (401) 527-1773.

The launch party is taking shape!

2011-05-07T06:43:00.000-07:00

We have officially booked Larry and the Reverbs as one of our entertainers...working on a second group!

The donations for the raffle are coming in fast and furious! Thanks Anne Marie Archambault Teixeira for the massive amounts of liquor (oh yeah, kids! liquor baskets!!!); Alice Morey for Red Sox tickets (YES!); Amy Bonin Wyman for offering her talents with a handmade felted clutch; Jennifer Hartman Cohn for the kids karate birthday party (valued at $200!); Valdeva Ives Crema for free website design; Jane A Mclellan for a gift certificate to the fabulous Salon Jaz AND Martha Hart Reed, Mariah Capurso and Tara Albrecht Roddick for offering to make some amazing jewelry....we are always accepting more donations, so keep them coming! :)

I have written and released an official press release about the foundation and the event--really hoping for some media coverage!

Thanks to everyone for spreading the word and supporting our event--it looks like we are more than halfway to venue capacity for the 4th!

If you want to reserve tickets, please click on the donate button on the blog, "donate" $10 X the number of tickets you want, and please put in the notes section that the money is for tickets. You'll go on a list and be all set at the door.

A huge thanks to Mary Day and Indigo Pizza (599 Tiogue Ave, Coventry, RI) for not only donating the space for the event, but for closing to the public during that time. We SO appreciate it!

Let's party! Our official launch...

2011-05-02T20:18:00.000-07:00

We are planning to (finally!) officially launch Finnz Fundz, our 501(c)(3) non profit that was founded in honor of our son, Finnegan. Our mission is to help children and families fighting Cystic Fibrosis and coping with the long term hospitalizations that occur in fighting this insidious disease. Our goal is to provide direct financial assistance to families, as well as a sympathetic and understanding ear.
Event is on June 4th from 4-8pm at Indigo Pizza (599 Tiogue Ave, Coventry RI). We are planning kids karaoke from 4-5pm, some great live music, and an awesome raffle (some Alex and Ani will be included!). Oh, and PIZZA! :)
Tickets are $10 per person. Reserve your ticket now as space is limited!
If you are unable to attend, we hope you will consider helping us by making a direct monetary donation (via paypal or checks can be made payble to Finnz Fundz and mailed to 162 Custer Street, Warwick, RI 02889), or by donating goods or services to our raffle. Please share this event, our website and information about us with your Facebook friends.

All donations are tax deductible.

A big thanks to all those who have continued to support us on this journey!

We're official!!!

2011-01-23T16:43:00.000-08:00

We are thrilled to let everyone know that Finnz Fundz is now an official 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization!!! WOOHOO! We are hard at work on our business and fundraising plans. We have several larger donors who were awaiting the word about our tax status--including a jewelry company that is going to design a piece for our organization! Exciting things to come!!!

Finn's birthday...

2010-06-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

It's Finn's birthday today. He would have been 6. Missing him terribly every day, but highlighted on days like this...

As a way to celebrate Finn, we filed articles of incorporation with the secretary of state today!!! Our filing will be official later this afternoon, then we start the IRS process. Slowly but surely making Finnz Fundz a reality!

Op-ed on CNN.com

2009-12-20T08:11:00.001-08:00

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Elizabeth Edwards have co-authored an op-ed that has been posted on cnn.com regarding bankruptcy reform.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/12/15/edwards.whitehouse.medically.bankrupt/index.html

Finn's presence

2009-12-14T12:40:00.000-08:00

I've never been a "believer"--no church for me, thanks--but have always had a sense of "something" bigger than me. Since Finn's death, I haven't know what to believe, and certainly take no solace or comfort from whatever "god" other people believe in, because what Finn suffered through should not have been allowed to happen if there were such a being. Regardless, I have had a sense at times of Finn's presence, in particular one time last week.

We got a magazine at the house. Patrick was flipping through it, and saw a cool art project. There was a picture of the artist and his son, whose name was...Finn. Patrick goes through a few more pages, and comes across an article about places to see in New Olreans. We are spending our first Christmas (though not celebrating the holiday itself at all) with Finn in...New Orleans. I then go through the magazine, and find a picture of three butterflies together. Butterflies are hugely symbolic in loss/transformation in general, and specifically with Finn. After I saw the butterflies, I couldn't help but cry.

The cynical bitter person inside me knows that this could all be explained away as coincidence. But the mom inside me knows that it can't be dismissed so easily.

Testify!

2009-11-05T18:37:00.000-08:00

I testified before the Senate judiciary subcommittee on 10/20, along side Elizabeth Edwards. Al Franken was there, which was cool--he made some funny faces during the hearing and then nailed a conservative policy wonk with his questions. It was a whirlwind trip to DC--less than 24 hours, lots of nerves, then the "high" after my testimony was done.

A link to the full hearing (I testify first)--

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/289547-1

The story was quickly picked up and covered on CNN, then the bill and our story were covered on Countdown with Keith Olbermann on MSNBC. Hearing Keith say my name was pretty awesome--have had a crush on him since his days at ESPN!!!

Link to Countdown Video--

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mxha9xbOSk

I got to do a live interview on MSNBC at the local NBC affiliate the day after the testimony (will try to upload soon) and then did an interview for an NPR show called "The Takeaway", which is out of NY--http://www.thetakeaway.org/stories/2009/oct/23/bankruptcies-rise-medical-debt/

There was an AP story with a picture of me and Elizabeth Edwards that got picked up by many newspapers--including the Providence Journal, Boston Globe, Guardian (UK!) and the NY Times. I am in the newspaper of record!!!!!

Today I did an interview with Fox 25 in Boston--http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myfoxboston.com%2Fdpp%2Fmorning%2Ffighting-to-fix-medical-bankruptcy-laws&h=c9d343eb2a0c69b096d48bb9a1937ba3

It's been quite a trip over the past few weeks. It feels good to be able to do SOMETHING that might help others in our situation in the future. But talking about Finn and what we went through, as composed as I have looked on TV, has been very trying at times. I miss him every moment of every day.

Many thanks to those who have watched and responded to my appearances! Your support means alot!

Helping with the issue of medical bankruptcy

2009-10-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

I was invited to meet with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse on 9/28. The Senator was holding a healthcare roundtable focused on the issue of medical bankruptcy--he is proposing legislation that would help make the bankruptcy process for families (due to medical crises) easier and less expensive, including a provision to help protect such families from losing their homes. It was a great experience, and I even got some press coverage!

Article Link: http://whitehouse.senate.gov/newsroom/news/article/?id=0A86B871-93D9-466E-88E5-F44D4452E8F6

TV Interview Links:
http://www.abc6.com/news/rhodeisland/62411087.html

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/12_for_action/nat_wpri_call_12_medical_debt_hits_all_time_high_20090928_mds

I received a call from the Senator's DC office today, inviting me to come to share my story/testify before the Judiciary Sub-Comittee. I was v. worried that because I started a new job on Monday I might not be able to go. But, I am pleased to say that my director is awesomely understanding about this opportunity, and I will be testifying on 10/20!!!!!!!!!!!!! There will be 5 experts testifying, and then little old me. I was asked by the Senator's staff person if I was ok talking with the media (YES!) because there will likely be lots of press coverage and I may have a chance for my story to be covered in the national press! Wow!

Look out CSPAN, here I come!

welcome!

2009-09-10T14:43:00.001-07:00

As many people who will find their way to this blog know, we are planning to set up a foundation in Finnegan's name in order to help other families dealing with CF and long term (more than one month) hospital stays. We were very lucky to have the support of friends, family, foundations and even strangers during our 13 (!) month intensive care stay with Finn. We have already raised over $1000 thanks to generous donations--including our "Fin for Finn" $5 fundraising drive in honor of what would have been Finn's 5th brithday.

We hope to be able to obtain our non-profit tax id soon, or at least officially start the process. We have to clear some things up financially on our end first, as we don't want anything affecting the funds we have raised.

Once the tax ID is in place, we will start contacting large businesses (think CVS, Target, etc...) for in-kind donations of gift cards, that we can then distribute to families. We will also start planning some big events/fundraisers.

Thanks to all who have supported this endeavor thus far--it is greatly appreciated and all funds raised will be going directly to families. Any operational costs will be taken care of by us.