What do video games have to do with raising money for charity?

by Becky P. (Ivie-Flower Mound)

For the third straight year Leala U., one of our Graphic Designers in Flower Mound, is joining 650 other people who will be playing video games for 24 straight hours to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. Leala is generally a pretty quiet person. I can tell you from experience that if you engage her in conversation about this cause you will see something very different. It clearly means a lot to her and she was extremely excited when I mentioned we could help with her fundraising efforts.

So what can you do? Read her story below. I can’t begin to explain to you why this cause is SO important to Leala, so I thought I would let her tell you on her own. Then visit her fundraising website and make a donation. It's that simple.

Leala's Story...

There are lots of ways to raise money for great causes, but I can’t think of one more fun than playing video games. For the third year in a row, thousand of gamers from across the world will come together on October 16 for Extra Life, a 24 hour gaming charity marathon. And I will be among them yet again, playing all day and night to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network.

This year though will be extra special for me, as I’ll be playing in honor of a little girl named Emma Bradford. I heard her story a few months ago online as it circulated throughout the community of people who play one of my favorite games, a family game called Wizard 101. She was a Wizard 101 player as well who had passed at the very young age of 7 years old. When it came time for Extra Life again this year I thought of her and wanted to dedicate my portion of the fundraiser to her memory. I tracked down her family online to explain what I wanted to do and get their blessing. Emma’s father Shane has been so gracious and supportive in sharing her story with me. Born with a congenial heart defect, Emma braved several surgeries in her short time that allowed her to live a happy life. A determined, smart and fearless young girl, Emma was an inspiration to her friends and family with her spirit. In an even more touching twist of events, I learned that Children’s Miracle Network had served as a valuable resource to Emma’s family in the difficult times of her surgeries.

The picture below is a special one to her family. It was taken on her last day at church. Though it wasn’t planned or intended, Emma is right in the center and the only light shining down in the photo is highlighting her.

I am so honored to be able to not only share her story but to be able to raise money for an organization that was able to touch her life, by playing one of our favorite games.

You can find more info about the event on their website.

You can also visit my sponsorship page.

Thank you so much for your support.
Leala U. (Ivie-Flower Mound)

Upcoming Events

by Becky P. in Flower Mound, TX

We have a number of really exciting events coming up over the next couple of months so I thought I would post a quick update.

First, Ivie will be serving as a Corporate Chair for the 2011 Big D Climb, which raises money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This event isn't your everyday 5k - it's a 52-flight climb to the top of the Fountain Place building in Dallas. We are putting together a committee of associates to help come up with ways to promote this amazing event and ideas for the day of the event as well. Last year we had over 30 associates participate and everyone was incredibly touched by both the comraderie of it as well as the physical demands. The feeling of making it to the top was unlike any other!

Another event we've added at the last minute is to celebrate National Day of Service & Remembrance on September 11th. We will be holding a drive in Flower Mound to collect paper goods for Christian Community Action, a local organization that provides food, shelter and training for families in need. They have a constant shortage of key products like bathroom tissue, facial tissue and paper towels - basic items that most of us take for granted - so we hope to provide a good supply to restock their shelves for a while. We also have a group that will be volunteering at their facility on Saturday 9/11. Anyone interested can send an email to IvieCares@ivieinc.com.

We are also in the process of creating an Ivie Cookbook. Recipes are being submitted by associates all over the country and will be pulled together to create a nicely bound book. We will be selling these books to raise money for the Family Resources Domestic Shelter in Davenport, IA where one of our main offices is located. Look out for more information on how to purchase one of these books. So far we have some great recipes coming in.

We have several more items in the works that we will post about next week so stay tuned.

Making a Difference with Junior Achievement

Recently, several Associates used volunteer release time from the Ivie Cares program to teach Junior Achievement classes in local schools. Junior Achievement provides professionals the resources to help children learn about important skills necessary to competing in a global economy (you can learn more about their Dallas chapter here: http://www.jadallas.org/). Lesson topics include how to save money, be a good citizen, and how to do well in a job interview. We asked some of the partcipants to share their experiences with us. Their comments are below.

“I’ve had a great time with our class. They really want to know about the working world and they ask a lot of really great questions. Our teacher has been great with chiming in when she has something to say and we’ve had very little behavioral problems even thought they are 9th graders. Great experience overall.”
-Rachel Bradford

“Travis and I are kicking ignorance’s butt with on-topic advice for the 1th graders. Yesterday was our first session, and it went well. Travis got them some treats we put in Ivie cups, and they enjoyed all of the materials (especially when we “rapped” about them).”
-Chris Ray

“I will miss those little guys. They were so sweet. On my last day they all wrote thank you notes and drew pictures, which are so cute! This was a very fun, rewarding experience. The kids are so eager when you show up and they’re grateful for all the little things JA provided for them. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves kids and is looking for a fun way to volunteer. I look forward to doing this again in the fall!”
-Sabrina Warren

Helping Out With Earth Day

by Katie Turk

On Saturday, April 17th, Katie Turk and Emily Huston braved a chilly spring morning to participate in the Friends of the Riverfront Earth Day cleanup event. A portion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, north of Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River, was beautified by over 400 volunteers. The group pulled weeds and invasive species, cut down and collected dead branches, planted flower bulbs, and spread mulch and gravel. All the volunteers had a great time. Despite the cold, everyone did their part, and the trail looks great!

Racing for the Cure, Rain or Shine

by Emily S. in Ivie Bentonville

It’s 7 a.m. on a Saturday. Outside, it’s a mishmash of ominous clouds, pouring rain, thunder and lightning. You wake up, thinking the obvious: It’s a great day for a 5K!

Despite the dreadful weather the morning of April 24, several members of the Ivie Bentonville team and their families showed up to run the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Luckily, the rain died down before the race began, so Team Ivie was able to finish the race along with about 5,000 other brave participants. Approximately 16,000 signed up, which made reaching a goal of $1 million in donations possible.

The race is the Komen Foundation’s signature event that helps raise awareness and funds for breast cancer education, screening, treatment and research. We hope to take part again next year (with any luck, in better weather)!

Pictured above:
Front row, from left: Fabian Lagunes, Aaron Schmid, Emily Schmid, Shelby Harrison, Sara Prince and Morgan Prince.
Back row, from left: Sarah Terry, Drew Terry, Carol Baserman, Kurt Baserman and Marquetta Thompson.