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Often,
with Spring can come new ideas. The Sweet Pea Foundation is
working on a new concept we are calling “Hugs from Grace.” The
idea is to provide a patient with a themed party bag if they
happen to be in the hospital during their birthday or over a
major holiday. For instance, on Easter we provided 30 “Hugs from
Grace” to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Memorial
Children’s Hospital. Each bag included window clings, a stuffed
bunny, an activity book, coloring sheets, and several other
Easter themed items. The children were able to decorate their
room and celebrate the holiday.
We
have also included a stewardship component to the “Hugs from
Grace.” Students from several schools have designed and created
handmade cards and signs for the patients. The cards are very
clever and include themes that incorporate a particular holiday
or birthday. Thanks to the many students who have donated their
time to help brighten the day of a sick child.
The
Foundation is also enhancing its commitment to providing books
to patients. The benefits of reading are well documented and no
matter how sick a child, a book is a perfect gift. In addition,
the books can be used for years after a child has left the
hospital. This spring, the Foundation is dedicating more funds
to purchasing and delivering books to hospitals and
organizations that are caring for sick children.
Sweet Pea Foundation news
continued.....
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Recent
Photos
Left: Pete Letherman received Marmion Academy's
Ad Regnum Dei award for our work with the Sweet Pea
Foundation
Right:
A
portion of the mural painted in a treatment room at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in
Mishawaka, Indiana
.JPG)
Left: DVD players for every patient room in the pediatric wing
of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana..
Right: Hugs of Grace - The Sweet Pea Foundation recently created
a program for patients to decorate their room during a stay at
the hospital |
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•
Over 5,875 toys, 355 books, and 357 "Big Ticket" items (i.e.
crib aquariums, mobiles, CD players, DVD Players, Game Boys,
bouncy seats, swings, etc.) have been purchased and delivered to Riley
Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Children's Memorial
Hospital in Chicago, Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Elkhart
General, Goshen General, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, & Kentucky's Children's Hospital in Lexington.
• The Sweet Pea
Foundation makes an annual contribution to the Ronald McDonald
House of Indiana that allows a family to stay in a room each
night throughout the year free of
charge. To date, the Foundation has donated over $14,000.
• An endowment has
been established to provide parents with massage therapy
treatments when a child is receiving care at Memorial Children's
Hospital in South Bend, Indiana.
•
Several murals have
been commissioned and painted in the entryway and treatment room
of the pediatric unit at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in
Mishawaka, Indiana.
•
Over
950 lbs of pop can
tabs have been collected and recycled for Ronald McDonald House
Charities.
•
The Foundation has
mailed more than 50 "Grace-E-Gram" care packages to children
being treated at hospitals across the country.
•
100 percent of contributions received go toward programs that
help sick children and their families.
•
The Sweet Pea Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) as recognized by the Internal
Revenue Service.
•
The Sweet Pea Foundation was established in May of 2003 in
memory of Grace Elizabeth Letherman (a.k.a. Sweet Pea).
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KICKOFF CLASSIC GOLF
OUTING
 The 8th annual Kickoff Classic golf outing has
been scheduled for September 2, 2011. If you are interested in sponsoring
the event or would like to participate, please contact Pete Letherman at 574-296-1310. Look for more details about the
outing this summer.
Congratulations to winners of the 2010 Kickoff
Classic: (pictured left to right) Duke Mabry, Tom Borger, Ed Hardig and
Scott Bucher.
St.
Patrick's Day
We will be hosting our 9th annual Blarney Bash on
Satursday, March 17th at the Knights of Columbus in Elkhart. This Irish celebration is a family event with crafts and a
special menu for the children. Please join us for corned beef
and cabbage, ham and potato casserole, soft drinks, and green
beer.
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