Gatherings with Purpose Giveaway
Modern Woodmen of America’s 2009 Gatherings with Purpose Giveaway was designed to honor those who gather to give back by volunteering, raising money for a local cause or meeting a community need. Nearly 100 terrific stories were entered in the contest. Five finalists were selected, and public online voting determined the grand-prize winner of $5,000 — $2,500 for the volunteer submitting the story, plus a $2,500 donation for his or her cause. The five finalists’ stories are listed below.
Grand-prize winner: Bringing sparkle into the lives of children with special needs
Sarah Herr of Bettendorf, Iowa, shared the story of what she calls a wonderful, but perhaps unlikely partnership between a high school cheerleading squad and Hand-in-Hand, a nonprofit organization providing services for families with special needs.
The Pleasant Valley High School cheerleaders decided to create a high school-based cheerleading squad specifically designed to include students with special needs. To find potential participants, the squad volunteered to gather and cheer at Hand-in-Hand’s annual Family Fun Walk fundraiser. The group dressed in uniform and spent the morning managing the games and painting designs on eager little faces. During the walk, the girls cheered on the participants with shouts of, “Hand in Hand, yes we can!” Through this gathering, the cheerleaders met several young girls and their families who enthusiastically supported the idea of starting a new cheer squad to include students with disabilities. Within two weeks, 10 girls with disabilities – from Down Syndrome to autism – signed on to be the first Spartan Sparkles. Since this time, the Sparkles have cheered through two football seasons and one basketball season in front of packed crowds and standing ovations. To express gratitude to Hand-in-Hand, the cheerleaders gathered on a Saturday afternoon over the summer, collecting donations for Hand-in-Hand. The group raised both awareness and $2,000 in donations. Two weeks later, when they attended the next Family Fun Walk, the Sparkles had much to cheer about!
Sarah has chosen to donate all winnings to the purposes in her story, $2,500 to the Spartan Sparkles and $2,500 to Hand-in-Hand.
More than tackles and touchdowns
Jodie Johnson of Bethlehem, Pa., and Northeast Bethlehem Raiders youth football families gathered a community to help one of their own.
Parents and students, including Jodie’s 7-year-old son, first learned about volunteerism through football. Volunteers are necessary to help keep games running – from lugging helmets and cones to working concessions and picking up garbage after the games. The group also works to raise funds to improve the playing conditions of the field. Jodie has often heard other teams ridicule the condition of the Raiders’ home field. In October, Jarred Scott Phillips, a 9-year-old Raider player, died unexpectedly of a bacterial infection that spread to his heart. While the team was grieving, players and families, even those from opposing teams, worked together to raise funds to help the family cover medical and funeral expenses. The group gathered at the Raiders’ Oct. 10 game to collect donations for the family and hold a bake sale. “To stand back and watch mothers, fathers, grandparents and kids pull together … putting our “team” needs aside … has been astonishing,” Jodie says. “Gatherings do end up with a purpose!”
Carnival helps fight cancer
Rebecca Slattman of Defiance, Ohio, shared the story of a community carnival to benefit Tiana Bishop, a 9-year-old battling rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of cancer.
Rebecca learned a lot when she became a member of Tiana’s benefit committee. She learned that gold is the color of children’s cancer. She learned that together, a few people can make a big difference. Rebecca was assigned to children's activities and games. After brainstorming possible ideas, her team recruited hundreds of volunteers to help with the event, which included inflatable activities, a dunk tank, clowns, face painting and yard games. Months of planning came to life when more than 1,000 of community members attended the event. “The outpouring from the community and the school was overwhelming,” Rebecca says. On the way home that night with her husband and children, Rebecca saw a falling star shoot across the sky. It was the perfect end to a perfect day – a day in which several thousand dollars was raised for the Bishop family to help with their ongoing medical and everyday expenses.
Making a splash in the community
Judith Alton of Hartland, Maine, and the Hartland Community Swimming Pool Committee gathered to resurrect children’s dreams.
The town of Hartland was in financial trouble and unable to finish and maintain a community swimming pool. A group of local residents stepped in and has been working for two years to complete the pool project to provide activity and exercise for children and adults in the small town. To raise money and gather for good, the group planned Sunday dances for the community. The dances attracted teenagers and also included auctions to raise money. The fundraising continues for electricity, bathrooms, showers and changing rooms. The longer the project goes unfinished, the greater the chance for damages to the current structure. “The children in town have very little to do,” Judith says. “This pool would mean so much to them.”
Sending joy to America’s heroes
Cheri Archibald of Oakley, Idaho, and a group of family and friends gathered on Veterans Day to serve those who serve us and our country.
The Archibalds got involved in what they feel is an endeavor of love. Project Rudolph strives to help servicemen and women know they are not forgotten. During the Project Rudolph party in Idaho, volunteers put Christmas bags together to send to America’s forces – those who are spending the 2009 holiday season away from their own families. The group wrote letters and stuffed 1,150 Christmas packages to be sent to troops all over the world. “As friends and neighbors, old and young, we gathered together to help one another serve.” Cheri says. “Christmas music played, smiles were seen, laughter was heard, and sore feet and legs continued to move down the assembly line … our little group has made it our mission to bring a little bit of seasonal cheer to soldiers who stand on foreign soil because we asked them to.”