Important Updates
UDance B+ Hero Holiday Party
The students of the University of Delaware hosted the 7th Annual B+ Hero Holiday party on Sunday attended by about 30 B+ Heroes, their families, and hundreds of UD students. It was a really great day. My man, B+ Hero Kai (pictured here), had a really great time. To the average person, Kai looks like a normal, healthy kid. You just don't know what these kids and their families are dealing with. And, those fortunate enough to survive ,often face chronic side effects for life. #can'tjudgeabookbyit'scover
Big Week for Federal Cancer Legislation
This week, both the House & Senate passed the 21st Century Cures Act. This legislation will re-authorize the Creating Hope Act (voucher incentive for pharmaceutical companies to develop childhood cancer drugs) and the Moonshot Project among other things. The bill heads to President Obama next and he has signaled that he intends to sign it.
Perhaps even more critical is the STAR Act. The STAR Act is the most comprehensive childhood cancer bill to have ever been developed. The STAR Act has 270 co-sponsors in the House! How rare it is to have bipartisan and bicameral support. The House passed the STAR Act earlier this week but now it's up to the Senate to act. Will they? Don't know...we're running out of time. Please take a minute and call your Senator and ask them to support an affirmative vote on the STAR Act. Don't be nervous...the receptionist will be the one taking your call and they hear from constituents all the time. Thank you.
The B+ Jr. Board Hosts Inaugural Event
For the past year, a group of middle school and high school-aged kids have formed the Junior Board of The B+ Foundation. Their inaugural event – created by and run by kids – will be a New Year’s Eve Party for kids AND their families. This event will be held at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts in Wilmington, DE from 8:30pm-12:30am.
Buy your tickets today!
The Diamond State Classic is Around the Corner
The Diamond State Classic is one of the premiere national, girls high school basketball tournaments in the country. During the week between Christmas and New Year's, teams from around the country will descend on St. Elizabeth High School in Wilmington, DE. The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation is the primary beneficiary of the tournament. As in past years, we will have 8 B+ Heroes (kids who have fought cancer) paired with teams in the 'national' bracket (St. Francis Healthcare Cup). Come out and support the kids in the Opening Ceremonies at 4:45pm on 12/27. Thanks.
Limited Only by Your Creativity
I love this one! Lorianne Kalb is a 7th grade math teacher at Gunning Bedford Middle School. In an effort to marry philanthropy with math, she asked her students to use their geometry and estimating skills to guess how many candy corn pieces were in a jar. Each guess cost $1.00 and the students raised $130 for The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. Isn't that cool!
Ali's B+ Holiday Challenge
I love what Ali posted on Facebook:
Many of you are going to send out dozens and dozens of holiday cards and spend a fortune on gifts this year. We'd like to offer you a good-natured challenge with several options. Help us fight #ChildhoodCancer, on behalf of the 36 kids who will be diagnosed with cancer each day - even during the Holidays.
Here are 3 ways you can help. Or, you can even come up with your own way to help this holiday season!
1) Add up all of the money that you spend on cards AND postage this year and donate 46% (46 kids are diagnosed each school day) of that total amount to The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation to fight childhood cancer.
2) Better yet, donate ALL of the money that you would have spent on cards and postage to our cause. With the festive, family photos that would've been on your card, send a virtual card on Facebook or by email. Share with your family and friends that you opted for a virtual holiday card to help fight childhood cancer. We've already heard from B+ Supporters who have done that this year!
3) Pretend that you have one extra family member - a B+ Hero who has cancer. Donate the money that you would have spent on that extra family member's gifts. Pooled together, this money will help buy medicine for a child with cancer, stave off eviction, buy food, and cover necessary medical supplies to name a few things.To donate For Our Heroes, please visit https://www.beposfdn.org/donate/
Sorry for putting so much in this update...a lot going on.
Live Like Andrew
Ali & Andrew's Dad
www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough