Looking back on the last week, I can't help but think about how crazy it has been.  In the last week we've presented our little charity to two interested hospitals, received another $1000 grant from another Walmart (thanks Shelton, CT!), traveled to PA for a spaghetti dinner fundraiser, continued to secure fun prizes for our Long Island fundraiser on August 15th and created all sorts of multimedia (e.g., posters, tickets, etc) for the event as well. 

Both hospitals are interested and we're figuring out exactly what we'll be providing them and when - just need to iron out some details.  We'll hopefully be announcing those soon.  As for the prizes, 2 more wineries in Long Island have sent us prizes and we've secured a few other themed baskets. 

As for the spaghetti dinner, a first for this co-founder of the charity, it went really well.  We sold 293 tickets, fed about 225 people, had an amazing group of 21 volunteers who helped us pull it all off and had a fantastic time with everyone while we raised money for the charity.  Awesome stuff.  Feel good stuff.  A really nice way to help spread the word about Brady's Smile.  Thanks to everyone who helped plan the event, volunteer for the event, attended and ate at the event, and helped us celebrate the success of the evening at our little gathering after the event.

That's it for now - stay tuned for more details on our exciting summer and thanks again for the continued support!

I wasn't sure what to write in this next blog.  I've been sitting here for a few days wondering what to write.  Without a doubt, in the last two weeks, I think I've experienced more highs and lows with this charity than I ever have before.  This whole non-profit charity thing is a strange business model - you expand by helping more children, but by default, that means there are more children that need to be helped.  It's weird - as successful as I want this "business" to be, there is so much of me that would love to see it go away because no demand exists.

But demand does exist.  There are that many sick children.  There are that many parents watching their children in pain.  There are that many people who need our help and come to our attention.  It's interesting when you really think about it.  We celebrate our successes but rarely do our supporters see the sadness that defines our entire being.  Think about it - people contact us on a an almost-daily basis to tell us about a loved one in pain or friend's child who is dying.  There isn't  a week that goes by that we don't know a child who takes a turn for the worse or possibly dies.  We truly are a magnet for pain, dispair and anguish.  We experience an entire side of life that we never thought we would - a side that most people, laying in their beds, before they fall asleep, pray to God every night that they never experience.  But we do.  It comes day in and day out.  More and more.  And it's sad.  This is the tough part to starting a charity focused on helping children in need, especially from a medical standpoint, put in a position they have no control over. 

But there are so many good things happening too.  We also hear just as many stories about children defying the odds.  The child who refuses to give up.  The child who pushes through tough periods that parents don't think, no, rather, know, they wouldn't be able to make it through.  That's awesome.  That's how we gain strength as a charity, as parents, as friends and as adults, by watching these amazing children push through the pain and rise to the occasion.  Our heroes grow.  Our heroes keep popping up all over the state and the region and the country.  They too define why we exist - because there is hope - there is a reason to help - there is a reason to move forward and continue to contribute to something bigger than ourselves.  Because we love children.  We can't help it - we do - we love these fantastically marvelous little men and women, driven by innocence, hilarious due to their innocence, but so dependent on us due to that innocence. 

So it's a balance right?  We want to help as many children in need as we can but with that comes a whole new level of awareness of all the bad that is out there.  Despite the bad, we will continue to celebrate the good.  We will continue to push for more good.  We will continue to try and expand as quickly and swiftly as we can to penetrate more hospitals, impact more children, and ease the pain of more parents.

I'll end this post with this.  We received a letter about one week ago and I sat in the parking lot of the Post Office with tears in my eyes.  Why?  It was the most heartfelt letter we've ever received and highlighted exactly why we do what we do, without prompting them to do so.  They simply saw the value in the work we did - the long nights and extended weekends of stuffing bags, making blankets and serving meals.  And they got right at the heart of it - in a simple letter - a simple letter that directly understood the inspiration that guides us.  That's right - the good, overshadowing the bad.  And to think....this is just the beginning.....more to come!