CJ’s Traveling Afghan Project article!

December 15, 2009 on 11:52 am | In Down syndrome, Articles, Charity, Crafts, Adoption | No Comments

CJ was one of the first bloggers who found my blog back when Joey was born! I credit CJ for getting me addicted to blogging!!!
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Appleton mom CJ Field’s crocheted afghans comfort families with Down syndrome

By Kara Patterson
Post-Crescent staff writer

APPLETON — Sometimes, when Appleton mom CJ Field is crocheting afghans, her 5-year-old daughter Emmalee gets out her own crochet hook and ball of yarn.

Like many children her age, Emmalee, who lives with Down syndrome, tries to do what her mom does.

These days, crocheting and boxing up afghans for other families with children who live with Down syndrome takes up much of Field’s free time. Field, a nanny, creates afghans as an outgrowth of the T21 Traveling Afghan Project, an effort she began in March.

One afghan is traveling the country and overseas, visiting family after family. The families take photos with the afghan for the project’s Web site, which also displays pictures of children with their individual afghans.

“Afghans represent security and safety and warmth and comfort,” Field said late last week. “It’s essentially like sending a hug. Emmalee helps me pack up the afghans and send them off. Every time she picks out colors and I make her one, she wants to shove it in a box.”

Field started the project to further unite an online community of bloggers that gains strength in sharing similar family experiences. That project and community are inspiring her to hold an offline awareness-raiser and benefit Wednesday for an international Down syndrome orphan ministry.

The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at Harmony Cafe, 233 E. College Ave. A suggested donation at the door is $5.

It supports the work of Reece’s Rainbow, a Maryland-based adoption agency that finds homes for children with Down syndrome and other special needs. The event is Field’s way to rally others around the agency’s fourth annual Christmas Angel Tree Project.

“I think it’s a really good push for awareness,” said Michelle Zoromski of Combined Locks, who is adopting a 5-year-old girl with Down syndrome from Eastern Europe through the agency. “Other families would love to bring children home and they don’t have resources or support to do that.”

Andrea Roberts, the agency’s executive director, said this season volunteers such as Field are raising funds for a specific child awaiting adoption. The agency’s goal is for each volunteer to raise at least $1,000 for the child’s adoption fund.

Money from donations, a silent auction and sales of contributed afghans Wednesday will funnel into the fund for “Melissa,” an almost 4-year-old girl from Eastern Europe.

Field, whose daughter was 15 months old when she adopted her through Florida’s foster care system, said she hopes the event might bring the child who is waiting overseas one step closer to home and family.

“Once a family is matched for Melissa, I will be making Melissa an afghan of her own,” Field said.

Weekend of fun!

July 28, 2009 on 3:41 pm | In Down syndrome, Friends, Charity, CDSC | No Comments

For me anyways, we decided to keep the kids home since Joey is being taken off his stomach medication, we didn’t know what kind of “surprises” we may get, along with the fact that lately, we just don’t know how Joey’s is going to behave. So I went out and volunteered my time for my favorite non-profit organization, The Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress.

Anyways, Saturday was the CDSC’s Summer Picnic and being on the board of directors, I thought it was important that I be there to help out in any way that I could. I had a great time, I ran the registration table and was able to sit under a nice shady tent all day out in the beautiful weather! I also got to put more faces with the names of CDSC families!

Holly, Sam and I at the registration tent!
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And of course, I got to see two of my favorite people, Melissa and Dillon!
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Sunday was the 2nd Annual Benefit Ride and Concert for Corey where all the proceeds went to the CDSC. Again, I was able to sit under a nice shady tent out in the beautiful weather and this time, listen to awesome music by The Whiskey River Band!

Me, Corey and his mommy, Cecily!
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Bikers have the biggest hearts!!!
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And I got to see Melissa and Dillon 2 days in a row!
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The Whiskey River Band who generously donated their talent for such an awesome cause!
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2nd Annual Cans 4 Corey!

January 11, 2009 on 12:45 pm | In Charity, CDSC, Buddy Walk | No Comments

Once again, my dear friend Cecily is hosting Cans 4 Corey to help raise money for the CDSC! If you’re in Connecticut, I hope to see you there!!! Start saving your soda cans today! Here’s my post from last year!


Cans 4 Corey

Please help raise funds for the
Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress!

2nd Annual Can & Bottle Drive
March 28, 2009 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
M&M Redemption Center
200 Church St
Wallingford, CT 06492

“Team Corey” is raising funds and awareness for the CDSC’s
5th Annual Buddy Walk at Hammonasset Beach State Park on
September 26, 2009.

All proceeds will sponsor the Buddy Walk and the CDSC.

Come out and donate your cans & bottles!

Best Buddies & Pepsi

August 3, 2008 on 8:53 am | In Charity | No Comments

pepsi-online-card.jpg

Benefit Ride & Concert 4 Corey

July 21, 2008 on 10:24 pm | In Down syndrome, Photos, Charity, CDSC | 1 Comment

Yesterday was the Benefit Ride & Concert 4 Corey and it was a success! The band rocked, the motorcycles were awesome, it was so much fun! Being there volunteering made me realize something about yesterday, the CDSC not only benefited from raising money (always good) but a new group of people that not many knew much about Down syndrome left there with a new knowledge & awareness about Down syndrome. And I can tell you one thing., bikers have HUGE hearts! They reached into their pockets and gave so much money to the CDSC! Thank you to any of you I met yesterday and are reading this today! Also, thank you to The Whiskey River Band for providing our entertainment yesterday!!!

One of our local newspapers’ photographers showed up yesterday and check out this picture, she looks familiar, LOL! Also, click here for more! Below are more pictures that were emailed to me. Unfortunatly, I didn’t get to take any pictures. When I took my camera out of it’s case, I discovered that my camera’s screen is cracked! My heart sank, so now I need to buy a new camera… anyways, here are some more pictures!

Benefit Ride & Concert 4 Corey

June 11, 2008 on 4:16 pm | In Down syndrome, Charity, CDSC, Buddy Walk | No Comments

Joey’s best buddy Corey, well, his mom and I are both on the Buddy Walk committee for the CDSC. Cecily is always find new and brillant ideas on ways to help sponsor the walk. In March, she put together Cans For Corey. And now, she’s putting on Benefit Ride & Concert 4 Corey on July 20 from noon to 4:oopm featuring the Whiskey River Band. Tickets are $25 for adults and $8 for kids. ALL PROCEEDS from this event are going to sponsor the CDSC’s Buddy Walk which is going to be held on September 27.

So, if you’re a motorcycle rider, love Southern Rock, or if you just want to come out and have a good time, join us at Peckham Park in Middlefield, Connecticut on July 20th!

You can click on Corey for more details!

Benefit Ride & Concert 4 Corey

Cans For Corey

March 29, 2008 on 2:26 pm | In Down syndrome, Charity, CDSC, Buddy Walk | 6 Comments

Cans for Corey was held today and it was a HUGE success! We raised $1000 for the CDSC’s Buddy Walk just by collecting cans & bottles! Can you believe it?? $1000 in recycling! And the Boy Scouts even showed up to help! Not too shabby!

Cans For Corey

March 11, 2008 on 2:17 pm | In Charity, CDSC, Buddy Walk | No Comments

To all my Connecticut readers and even any readers in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island if you’re willing to make the drive, one of my dear friends is hosting a Can & Bottle Drive to help raise funds to sponsor the CDSC’s 2008 Buddy Walk, Saturday, March 29 from 9-1:00. If you’re interested, I made a separate page with more information, head on over for more details!

Cans For Corey

Cans For Corey

Local benefit

September 24, 2007 on 5:55 pm | In Down syndrome, Prayers, Charity, CDSC | No Comments

Any of you here in Connecticut, please check this out especially if you’re in the Stamford area. A young man’s family that belongs to the CDSC needs help financially due to the unfortunate remission of their son, CJ’s leukemia. There is going to be a benefit at Murphy’s Townhouse Cafe in Stamford on October 13 from 3-6:00. Also, please pray for CJ to make a full recovery.

Chickahominy Volunteer Fire Department

May 4, 2007 on 12:54 pm | In Down syndrome, Charity | 5 Comments

This was just posted on one of the message boards I belong to and wanted to share it with everyone….

Here’s the link 

Members, friends, and families-

We are writing to inform you of a great opportunity to support a fire station for their work with a person with Down Syndrome. Station 10 of the Hanover County, VA Fire Department (Chickahominy) is a finalist in the Firedog Across America contest, sponsored by Circuit City.

They were named a finalist out of over 5,100 entrants, specifically for their work with a gentleman in the community who has Down Syndrome. The members have taken him in as an associate member of the station, and it has done wonders for both him and the firefighters.

Between now and May 13th, people will have the chance to vote for which finalist they like the best. Every vote earns a $1 donation from Circuit City to that station, and the firehouse with the most votes receives an additional $100,000.Station 10 is currently in 2nd place in the voting, and needs our help to win the Grand Prize.

The link to vote for the station is attached. You can watch the short video and read the essay that was submitted to get a feel for the impact they’ve had on the community. It is a true inspiration. They are finalist #6. After voting, you will receive a confirmation
email from Firedog. Be sure to click on it to confirm your vote.

We are trying to get the word out to as many people as possible, so after voting please forward this to your networks of friends and family, and support this most worthy cause.

Another reason I love the Irish!!!

April 26, 2007 on 9:39 am | In Down syndrome, Articles, Charity | No Comments

One Thousand To Lose Hair To Raise Money For Down Syndrome published in the Gallaway Advertiser on April 26, 2007.

One thousand people in the city and county will have the hair on their heads, chests, and legs stripped bare in a fundraiser to raise money for Down Syndrome services in Galway.

The Hair Today…Gone Tomorrow head shave fundraiser on June 9 is the first project in the annual Making Galway Proud Initiative, and those who can’t bear to part with the locks on their head can participate by having their chests or legs waxed.

The initiative which has been running for the past four years was established by the building community to create awareness for low profile charities in Galway.

In year one the initiative raised enough money to send two 40ft containers with toys and clothes for the children of Imizamo Yethu in Cape Town in time for their first Christmas and build 100 new homes in the village.

In year two the Circle of Life art competition run in conjunction with Judy Greene was a huge success raising €400,000 for autism services in Galway.

Last year four organisations in the city — Galway Hospice, Meals on Wheels, Galway Alzheimer’s, and Galway Contact each received a new vehicle and a cheque for €10,000 to help them further their work for the elderly in Galway.

This year’s campaign entitled Climb Every Mountain aims to help parents climb one of the many mountains they meet throughout their struggle for a better life for their Down Syndrome children.

Other projects planned for the year include fun events like ‘Developer’s Housewives’ and ‘The West Thing,’ as well as the annual “Making Galway Proud Ball”, which has become a staple event for the group.

Truckers Are Good Buddies

April 19, 2007 on 2:32 pm | In Down syndrome, Articles, Charity | No Comments

A great artcile about a group of truckers over in Ireland have found a great way to raise money for people with Down syndrome. Read more here, written by Denis Croke.

Polar Plunge!

February 5, 2007 on 9:11 pm | In Friends, Charity | 1 Comment

A very good friend of mine from high school, Matt, is swimming in the Missouri Special Olympics Polar Plunge in February and I just wanted to share the link in case any of you might want to donate to his goal of $500. Help Matt out if you have some extra cash!

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