Inaugural Thanksgiving Project SUCCESS!

This year, we’ve tried many new ideas. One of these includes providing Thanksgiving dinner to families, to support making memories together during traditional holiday experiences.

With the help of dozens of volunteers, donors, and a generous anonymous private funder, we raised $6200 to send gift cards to 78 families in Houston and southern Louisiana!

A HUGE thanks to our volunteers and donors for supporting our first ever Thanksgiving Dinner Project, providing 17 families Thanksgiving dinner in Houston. We partnered with Angel’s Place, with the support of a $5,000 anonymous gift, to expand the project to an additional 61 families in southern Louisiana!

Now, more than ever, families need food on the table, with up to 1 in 5 families not having enough food this week, per a recent Washington Post report.

For a Day exists to alleviate the stress of critical illnesses for families with sick kids. These families are even more vulnerable right now, so we’re doubly grateful for the team effort to accomplish such a broad feat.

June 9 - Bradley Arnold Family Event with Geneva Cancer Run

Our family event with the Arnold family was a powerful experience. Little Bradley, age 5 (now age 6), was diagnosed with kidney cancer on November 14th, 2017. He had major surgery to remove a 3+ pound tumor & his left kidney, followed by a lung biopsy. Bradley underwent a 19-week chemotherapy plan. He had a clean bill of health, until weeks ago, when a new spot was found. More treatment is in the future.

As for the event, we partnered with the Geneva Cancer Run, a local 501c3 that raises money for families dealing with cancer. The run is an annual event, and it happened to land on the same day as Bradley’s benefit – seriously! The Geneva Cancer Run decided to make their first stop at the Arnold farm for lunch. The site and sound of 150+ bikes coming down the road and into the driveway is unlike any experience I’ve ever had. Bradley waited in awe and watched as the bikes rode by him one by one, waving and honking. The bikes parked and headed for cover from the incoming rain in the shed, where lunch was served. After everyone was served, the GCR folks, in partnership with another biker group, ABATE (American Bikers for Awareness, Training, and Education), presented Bradley with some Harley Davidson gear. Then, they presented a three-wheel motorized Harley Davidson tricycle. The Geneva Cancer run donated just shy of $1,000 to the family. Upon returning to Geneva for the cancer auction, the auctioneer placed a plate on his head and took in more donations as he walked around, adding another $300 in cash, all given to the family.

As for our foundation, we followed the presentation with our own. We presented the boy with a gift bag from the Mall of America, including stuffed animals, cards, drinking cups, books, and many coupons for free entry into the different amusement zones at MOA. We also presented the family with a gas card, an MOA shopping card, and a two night stay at the Radisson Blu, connected to the MOA. The mother was crying through most of both presentations, and was extremely kind, grateful, and appreciative of all our efforts. This will go down as an experience none of us in attendance will ever forget, and hopefully will lead to an experience the boy and his family will never forget!