Re: I need your creative juices to flow!!!

[Guest guest]

Ruth -

What a wonderful idea! I don't know if I can much help with a theme, but I

might have an ornament idea that you could use . . . .

Most craft stores sell make-your-own-ornament supplies prior to the

holidays, including those clear plastic balls that you can fill with stuff.

What if you asked everyone on the list to create a ball representing their

child? If you gave everyone a date and had them mail you the ornaments you

would probably get a tree full.

Whatever you choose to do, I wish you the best of luck. It's a wonderful

idea and a worthy cause.

Michele Hatfield, mom to Berkeley 16mo CHARgE & 5

I need your creative juices to flow!!!

>

> Hi everyone!

> I Have a big favor to ask everyone. I know some of you are very creative

and

> artsy and all that, so I need your help. I will explain.

> Every year here in SLC, they do what's called the " Festival of Trees " in

> Dec. to benefit Primary Children's Medical Center. People decorate a tree

> and donate it and they are all put on display and then people purchase the

> tree and all that comes w/it (that would include all the decorations,

> lights, and things that come under the tree). It is SOOOO huge and they

> often have hundreds of trees that are donated and they are just

BEAUTIFUL!!!

> The trees sell to corporations, private donors, and individuals for

anywhere

> from $1,000-35,000. The proceeds are used by the hospital to help families

> pay that can't afford medical care (we have personally benefited from this

> before!). It is such a huge deal it is done in the convention center here.

> Oftentimes, parents will make a tree to dedicate to a child that died in

the

> previous year in the hospital. Remember , mom to who died last

> Nov.? She made a beautiful tree in memory of him. Other parents who have

> children that survived will make a tree and focus it on what their child

> went thru and take that opportunity to educate the public. Other trees

have

> nothing to do w/medical things but are done out of love for the hospital

and

> the community (ie, our adoption agency made a tree w/the theme of angels

and

> the whole thing was dedicated to the beauty of adoption) Here's what I

want

> to do.....

> We want to make a CHARGE tree. I want to do it in a way that it can

educate

> the public about what CHARGE is, who it affects, how it affects, what it

> means, etc. I learned so much walking around and looking at all of the

trees

> last year that parents had dedicated to a particular syndrome or disease

> that their child has, my husband and I really felt that we should do

> something on CHARGE this year.

> I want to find a theme for the tree that would appropriately describe

our

> kids. Like I said, they did angels for the adoption tree, some do

> Disney-themed trees, bear themes, one lady whose child had died loved that

> the train thing, so everything on the tree and under the tree had

> something to do w/ the Train. Do you see what I mean?

> Companies donate things to put under the tree and the more valuable they

> are, the higher the tree sells for. My hubby suggested contacting the

> CHARGERS football team and seeing if they would donate a signed jersey or

> tickets to a game or something like that, but I don't know how to go about

> that.

> Any ideas? I hope that this will be an opportunity to bring CHARGE out

into

> the publics eye. There has to be something that would appropriately

describe

> our kids-their strength, their resilience, their struggles and joys.

Please

> let me know! Our deadline is approaching quickly and we are still trying

to

> find donors for the tree, ornaments, lights, etc. Thanks everyone so much!

>

> Ruth in SLC

>

> PS BRandon is 27 mos old, 33 lbs and 35 inches tall! He's a monster!!

>

> _________________________________________________________________________

> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

>

> Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

> http://profiles.msn.com.

>

>

> " 5th CHARGE Syndrome International Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, July

> 20-22, 2001. Information will be available first in CHARGE Accounts, the

> CHARGE Syndrome Foundation's newsletter. "

>

> For information about the CHARGE Syndrome

> Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter)

> please contact marion@... or visit

> the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation web page

> at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ruth,

How about making some ornaments that show a person (mom, dad,

grandparent, angel, etc.) holding a child up to the sky & the child

reaching for the stars-like the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation's new logo-

(go to chargesyndrome.org to see the logo)

Lori: Mom 2 CHARGEr, Cheyenne

> Hi everyone!

> I Have a big favor to ask everyone. I know some of you are very

creative and

> artsy and all that, so I need your help. I will explain.

> Every year here in SLC, they do what's called the " Festival of

Trees " in

> Dec. to benefit Primary Children's Medical Center. People decorate

a tree

> and donate it and they are all put on display and then people

purchase the

> tree and all that comes w/it (that would include all the

decorations,

> lights, and things that come under the tree). It is SOOOO huge and

they

> often have hundreds of trees that are donated and they are just

BEAUTIFUL!!!

> The trees sell to corporations, private donors, and individuals for

anywhere

> from $1,000-35,000. The proceeds are used by the hospital to help

families

> pay that can't afford medical care (we have personally benefited

from this

> before!). It is such a huge deal it is done in the convention

center here.

> Oftentimes, parents will make a tree to dedicate to a child that

died in the

> previous year in the hospital. Remember , mom to who

died last

> Nov.? She made a beautiful tree in memory of him. Other parents who

have

> children that survived will make a tree and focus it on what their

child

> went thru and take that opportunity to educate the public. Other

trees have

> nothing to do w/medical things but are done out of love for the

hospital and

> the community (ie, our adoption agency made a tree w/the theme of

angels and

> the whole thing was dedicated to the beauty of adoption) Here's

what I want

> to do.....

> We want to make a CHARGE tree. I want to do it in a way that it can

educate

> the public about what CHARGE is, who it affects, how it affects,

what it

> means, etc. I learned so much walking around and looking at all of

the trees

> last year that parents had dedicated to a particular syndrome or

disease

> that their child has, my husband and I really felt that we should

do

> something on CHARGE this year.

> I want to find a theme for the tree that would appropriately

describe our

> kids. Like I said, they did angels for the adoption tree, some do

> Disney-themed trees, bear themes, one lady whose child had died

loved that

> the train thing, so everything on the tree and under the

tree had

> something to do w/ the Train. Do you see what I mean?

> Companies donate things to put under the tree and the more

valuable they

> are, the higher the tree sells for. My hubby suggested contacting

the

> CHARGERS football team and seeing if they would donate a signed

jersey or

> tickets to a game or something like that, but I don't know how to

go about

> that.

> Any ideas? I hope that this will be an opportunity to bring CHARGE

out into

> the publics eye. There has to be something that would appropriately

describe

> our kids-their strength, their resilience, their struggles and

joys. Please

> let me know! Our deadline is approaching quickly and we are still

trying to

> find donors for the tree, ornaments, lights, etc. Thanks everyone

so much!

>

> Ruth in SLC

>

> PS BRandon is 27 mos old, 33 lbs and 35 inches tall! He's a

monster!!

>

>

______________________________________________________________________

___

> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at

http://www.hotmail.com.

>

> Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

> http://profiles.msn.com.

[Guest guest]

Ruth,

You could get people who were willing to send you photos of their CHARGEr and you could make little round ornaments with their pictures on them to show how darn adorable they all are! You get get pics of them with their physios, doing sign, or anything cute and adorable. The many faces of CHARGE or something like that...

Mom to Kennedy 2.5yr old CHARGEr, 11, 9, and wife to GraemeNew Brunswick, CanadaVisit the "Weir homepage" at: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/5716ICQ #1426476

I need your creative juices to flow!!!

Hi everyone!I Have a big favor to ask everyone. I know some of you are very creative and artsy and all that, so I need your help. I will explain.Every year here in SLC, they do what's called the "Festival of Trees" in Dec. to benefit Primary Children's Medical Center. People decorate a tree and donate it and they are all put on display and then people purchase the tree and all that comes w/it (that would include all the decorations, lights, and things that come under the tree). It is SOOOO huge and they often have hundreds of trees that are donated and they are just BEAUTIFUL!!! The trees sell to corporations, private donors, and individuals for anywhere from $1,000-35,000. The proceeds are used by the hospital to help families pay that can't afford medical care (we have personally benefited from this before!). It is such a huge deal it is done in the convention center here.Oftentimes, parents will make a tree to dedicate to a child that died in the previous year in the hospital. Remember , mom to who died last Nov.? She made a beautiful tree in memory of him. Other parents who have children that survived will make a tree and focus it on what their child went thru and take that opportunity to educate the public. Other trees have nothing to do w/medical things but are done out of love for the hospital and the community (ie, our adoption agency made a tree w/the theme of angels and the whole thing was dedicated to the beauty of adoption) Here's what I want to do.....We want to make a CHARGE tree. I want to do it in a way that it can educate the public about what CHARGE is, who it affects, how it affects, what it means, etc. I learned so much walking around and looking at all of the trees last year that parents had dedicated to a particular syndrome or disease that their child has, my husband and I really felt that we should do something on CHARGE this year. I want to find a theme for the tree that would appropriately describe our kids. Like I said, they did angels for the adoption tree, some do Disney-themed trees, bear themes, one lady whose child had died loved that the train thing, so everything on the tree and under the tree had something to do w/ the Train. Do you see what I mean? Companies donate things to put under the tree and the more valuable they are, the higher the tree sells for. My hubby suggested contacting the CHARGERS football team and seeing if they would donate a signed jersey or tickets to a game or something like that, but I don't know how to go about that.Any ideas? I hope that this will be an opportunity to bring CHARGE out into the publics eye. There has to be something that would appropriately describe our kids-their strength, their resilience, their struggles and joys. Please let me know! Our deadline is approaching quickly and we are still trying to find donors for the tree, ornaments, lights, etc. Thanks everyone so much!Ruth in SLCPS BRandon is 27 mos old, 33 lbs and 35 inches tall! He's a monster!!_________________________________________________________________________Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com."5th CHARGE Syndrome International Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, July20-22, 2001. Information will be available first in CHARGE Accounts, theCHARGE Syndrome Foundation's newsletter."For information about the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter)please contact marion@... or visit the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation web page at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

[Guest guest]

, we must have been on the same wavelength! I was thinking about

the photos too! I think thats a great idea! How bout close ups of

hands. 6 pictures, each picture for each letter of CHARGE! I think

the idea of the CHARGERs Jersey is a cool idea!

Chantelle

[Guest guest]

I also thought of pictures of our children. It would show the many

faces of CHARGE. We could send pictures in of our children doing

things they enjoy, as well as there therapies and such.

Donna Mom to Pat 8 and Zach (CHARGEer) 4

-- In CHARGEegroups, " Ruth Braga " <erniencharge@h...> wrote:

> Hi everyone!

> I Have a big favor to ask everyone. I know some of you are very

creative and

> artsy and all that, so I need your help. I will explain.

> Every year here in SLC, they do what's called the " Festival of

Trees " in

> Dec. to benefit Primary Children's Medical Center. People decorate

a tree

> and donate it and they are all put on display and then people

purchase the

> tree and all that comes w/it (that would include all the

decorations,

> lights, and things that come under the tree). It is SOOOO huge and

they

> often have hundreds of trees that are donated and they are just

BEAUTIFUL!!!

> The trees sell to corporations, private donors, and individuals for

anywhere

> from $1,000-35,000. The proceeds are used by the hospital to help

families

> pay that can't afford medical care (we have personally benefited

from this

> before!). It is such a huge deal it is done in the convention

center here.

> Oftentimes, parents will make a tree to dedicate to a child that

died in the

> previous year in the hospital. Remember , mom to who

died last

> Nov.? She made a beautiful tree in memory of him. Other parents who

have

> children that survived will make a tree and focus it on what their

child

> went thru and take that opportunity to educate the public. Other

trees have

> nothing to do w/medical things but are done out of love for the

hospital and

> the community (ie, our adoption agency made a tree w/the theme of

angels and

> the whole thing was dedicated to the beauty of adoption) Here's

what I want

> to do.....

> We want to make a CHARGE tree. I want to do it in a way that it can

educate

> the public about what CHARGE is, who it affects, how it affects,

what it

> means, etc. I learned so much walking around and looking at all of

the trees

> last year that parents had dedicated to a particular syndrome or

disease

> that their child has, my husband and I really felt that we should

do

> something on CHARGE this year.

> I want to find a theme for the tree that would appropriately

describe our

> kids. Like I said, they did angels for the adoption tree, some do

> Disney-themed trees, bear themes, one lady whose child had died

loved that

> the train thing, so everything on the tree and under the

tree had

> something to do w/ the Train. Do you see what I mean?

> Companies donate things to put under the tree and the more

valuable they

> are, the higher the tree sells for. My hubby suggested contacting

the

> CHARGERS football team and seeing if they would donate a signed

jersey or

> tickets to a game or something like that, but I don't know how to

go about

> that.

> Any ideas? I hope that this will be an opportunity to bring CHARGE

out into

> the publics eye. There has to be something that would appropriately

describe

> our kids-their strength, their resilience, their struggles and

joys. Please

> let me know! Our deadline is approaching quickly and we are still

trying to

> find donors for the tree, ornaments, lights, etc. Thanks everyone

so much!

>

> Ruth in SLC

>

> PS BRandon is 27 mos old, 33 lbs and 35 inches tall! He's a

monster!!

>

>

______________________________________________________________________

___

> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at

http://www.hotmail.com.

>

> Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

> http://profiles.msn.com.

[Guest guest]

Ruth, wonderful idea! The Festival of Trees is done

here in Atlanta with proceeds going to the childrens

hospitals here. Never thought of a charge tree. Where

is it again that you live?

Lydia mom to chrgr Kim

--- Ruth Braga wrote:

> Hi everyone!

> I Have a big favor to ask everyone. I know some of

> you are very creative and

> artsy and all that, so I need your help. I will

> explain.

> Every year here in SLC, they do what's called the

> " Festival of Trees " in

> Dec. to benefit Primary Children's Medical Center.

> People decorate a tree

> and donate it and they are all put on display and

> then people purchase the

> tree and all that comes w/it (that would include all

> the decorations,

> lights, and things that come under the tree). It is

> SOOOO huge and they

> often have hundreds of trees that are donated and

> they are just BEAUTIFUL!!!

> The trees sell to corporations, private donors, and

> individuals for anywhere

> from $1,000-35,000. The proceeds are used by the

> hospital to help families

> pay that can't afford medical care (we have

> personally benefited from this

> before!). It is such a huge deal it is done in the

> convention center here.

> Oftentimes, parents will make a tree to dedicate to

> a child that died in the

> previous year in the hospital. Remember , mom

> to who died last

> Nov.? She made a beautiful tree in memory of him.

> Other parents who have

> children that survived will make a tree and focus it

> on what their child

> went thru and take that opportunity to educate the

> public. Other trees have

> nothing to do w/medical things but are done out of

> love for the hospital and

> the community (ie, our adoption agency made a tree

> w/the theme of angels and

> the whole thing was dedicated to the beauty of

> adoption) Here's what I want

> to do.....

> We want to make a CHARGE tree. I want to do it in a

> way that it can educate

> the public about what CHARGE is, who it affects, how

> it affects, what it

> means, etc. I learned so much walking around and

> looking at all of the trees

> last year that parents had dedicated to a particular

> syndrome or disease

> that their child has, my husband and I really felt

> that we should do

> something on CHARGE this year.

> I want to find a theme for the tree that would

> appropriately describe our

> kids. Like I said, they did angels for the adoption

> tree, some do

> Disney-themed trees, bear themes, one lady whose

> child had died loved that

> the train thing, so everything on the tree

> and under the tree had

> something to do w/ the Train. Do you see what

> I mean?

> Companies donate things to put under the tree and

> the more valuable they

> are, the higher the tree sells for. My hubby

> suggested contacting the

> CHARGERS football team and seeing if they would

> donate a signed jersey or

> tickets to a game or something like that, but I

> don't know how to go about

> that.

> Any ideas? I hope that this will be an opportunity

> to bring CHARGE out into

> the publics eye. There has to be something that

> would appropriately describe

> our kids-their strength, their resilience, their

> struggles and joys. Please

> let me know! Our deadline is approaching quickly and

> we are still trying to

> find donors for the tree, ornaments, lights, etc.

> Thanks everyone so much!

>

> Ruth in SLC

>

> PS BRandon is 27 mos old, 33 lbs and 35 inches tall!

> He's a monster!!

>

>

_________________________________________________________________________

> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at

> http://www.hotmail.com.

>

> Share information about yourself, create your own

> public profile at

> http://profiles.msn.com.

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

How big is the tree. If its compleatly paper, how bout putting foot

prints walking around and up the bark of the tree?

Chantelle

[Guest guest]

Hi Ruth,

I think this is a wonderful idea and would love to help in any way that I can.

The whole star idea and putting photos of our kids and blurbs from the families

telling why they are stars is a great idea. Are you being able to round up

things for under the tree? Please let me know. I have lots of friends who may

donate things like longaberger baskets, discovery toys,ect.... I have never

seen this sort of things so I'm not sure what is displayed.

Please let me know what you need from me.

Nicol mom to 6 (CHARGE) and Jordan 2

--

On Fri, 22 Sep 2000 14:02:11

Ruth Braga wrote:

>Hi everyone!

>I Have a big favor to ask everyone. I know some of you are very creative and

>artsy and all that, so I need your help. I will explain.

>Every year here in SLC, they do what's called the " Festival of Trees " in

>Dec. to benefit Primary Children's Medical Center. People decorate a tree

>and donate it and they are all put on display and then people purchase the

>tree and all that comes w/it (that would include all the decorations,

>lights, and things that come under the tree). It is SOOOO huge and they

>often have hundreds of trees that are donated and they are just BEAUTIFUL!!!

>The trees sell to corporations, private donors, and individuals for anywhere

>from $1,000-35,000. The proceeds are used by the hospital to help families

>pay that can't afford medical care (we have personally benefited from this

>before!). It is such a huge deal it is done in the convention center here.

>Oftentimes, parents will make a tree to dedicate to a child that died in the

>previous year in the hospital. Remember , mom to who died last

>Nov.? She made a beautiful tree in memory of him. Other parents who have

>children that survived will make a tree and focus it on what their child

>went thru and take that opportunity to educate the public. Other trees have

>nothing to do w/medical things but are done out of love for the hospital and

>the community (ie, our adoption agency made a tree w/the theme of angels and

>the whole thing was dedicated to the beauty of adoption) Here's what I want

>to do.....

>We want to make a CHARGE tree. I want to do it in a way that it can educate

>the public about what CHARGE is, who it affects, how it affects, what it

>means, etc. I learned so much walking around and looking at all of the trees

>last year that parents had dedicated to a particular syndrome or disease

>that their child has, my husband and I really felt that we should do

>something on CHARGE this year.

> I want to find a theme for the tree that would appropriately describe our

>kids. Like I said, they did angels for the adoption tree, some do

>Disney-themed trees, bear themes, one lady whose child had died loved that

> the train thing, so everything on the tree and under the tree had

>something to do w/ the Train. Do you see what I mean?

> Companies donate things to put under the tree and the more valuable they

>are, the higher the tree sells for. My hubby suggested contacting the

>CHARGERS football team and seeing if they would donate a signed jersey or

>tickets to a game or something like that, but I don't know how to go about

>that.

>Any ideas? I hope that this will be an opportunity to bring CHARGE out into

>the publics eye. There has to be something that would appropriately describe

>our kids-their strength, their resilience, their struggles and joys. Please

>let me know! Our deadline is approaching quickly and we are still trying to

>find donors for the tree, ornaments, lights, etc. Thanks everyone so much!

>

>Ruth in SLC

>

>PS BRandon is 27 mos old, 33 lbs and 35 inches tall! He's a monster!!

>

>_________________________________________________________________________

>Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

>

>Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

>http://profiles.msn.com.

>

>

Get your FREE Email and Voicemail at Lycos Communications at

http://comm.lycos.com

Hi everyone!

I Have a big favor to ask everyone. I know some of you are very creative and

artsy and all that, so I need your help. I will explain.

Every year here in SLC, they do what's called the " Festival of Trees " in

Dec. to benefit Primary Children's Medical Center. People decorate a tree

and donate it and they are all put on display and then people purchase the

tree and all that comes w/it (that would include all the decorations,

lights, and things that come under the tree). It is SOOOO huge and they

often have hundreds of trees that are donated and they are just BEAUTIFUL!!!

The trees sell to corporations, private donors, and individuals for anywhere

from $1,000-35,000. The proceeds are used by the hospital to help families

pay that can't afford medical care (we have personally benefited from this

before!). It is such a huge deal it is done in the convention center here.

Oftentimes, parents will make a tree to dedicate to a child that died in the

previous year in the hospital. Remember , mom to who died last

Nov.? She made a beautiful tree in memory of him. Other parents who have

children that survived will make a tree and focus it on what their child

went thru and take that opportunity to educate the public. Other trees have

nothing to do w/medical things but are done out of love for the hospital and

the community (ie, our adoption agency made a tree w/the theme of angels and

the whole thing was dedicated to the beauty of adoption) Here's what I want

to do.....

We want to make a CHARGE tree. I want to do it in a way that it can educate

the public about what CHARGE is, who it affects, how it affects, what it

means, etc. I learned so much walking around and looking at all of the trees

last year that parents had dedicated to a particular syndrome or disease

that their child has, my husband and I really felt that we should do

something on CHARGE this year.

I want to find a theme for the tree that would appropriately describe our

kids. Like I said, they did angels for the adoption tree, some do

Disney-themed trees, bear themes, one lady whose child had died loved that

the train thing, so everything on the tree and under the tree had

something to do w/ the Train. Do you see what I mean?

Companies donate things to put under the tree and the more valuable they

are, the higher the tree sells for. My hubby suggested contacting the

CHARGERS football team and seeing if they would donate a signed jersey or

tickets to a game or something like that, but I don't know how to go about

that.

Any ideas? I hope that this will be an opportunity to bring CHARGE out into

the publics eye. There has to be something that would appropriately describe

our kids-their strength, their resilience, their struggles and joys. Please

let me know! Our deadline is approaching quickly and we are still trying to

find donors for the tree, ornaments, lights, etc. Thanks everyone so much!

Ruth in SLC

PS BRandon is 27 mos old, 33 lbs and 35 inches tall! He's a monster!!

_________________________________________________________________________

Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

http://profiles.msn.com.

" 5th CHARGE Syndrome International Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, July

20-22, 2001. Information will be available first in CHARGE Accounts, the

CHARGE Syndrome Foundation's newsletter. "

For information about the CHARGE Syndrome

Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter)

please contact marion@... or visit

the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation web page

at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

[Guest guest]

Just one more suggestion . . . you may want to trace the kids hands (maybe signing "I love you" as well and put teach child's name & age on the back. On the front it can say, "thanks for giving us a hand" or "Helping Hands, Loving Hearts" or something like that.

Shari Willis

Re: I need your creative juices to flow!!!

-------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~><!-- |@|begin eGroups banner|@| runid: 8150 crid: 4125 --><a target="_blank" href="http://click./1/8150/15/_/22564/_/969748177/">Start a new group!</a><!-- |@|end eGroups banner|@| -->--------------------------------------------------------------------> Hi Ruth,I think this is a wonderful idea and would love to help in any way that I can. The whole star idea and putting photos of our kids and blurbs from the families telling why they are stars is a great idea. Are you being able to round up things for under the tree? Please let me know. I have lots of friends who may donate things like longaberger baskets, discovery toys,ect.... I have never seen this sort of things so I'm not sure what is displayed. Please let me know what you need from me. Nicol mom to 6 (CHARGE) and Jordan 2-->Hi everyone!>I Have a big favor to ask everyone. I know some of you are very creative and >artsy and all that, so I need your help. I will explain.>Every year here in SLC, they do what's called the "Festival of Trees" in >Dec. to benefit Primary Children's Medical Center. People decorate a tree >and donate it and they are all put on display and then people purchase the >tree and all that comes w/it (that would include all the decorations, >lights, and things that come under the tree). It is SOOOO huge and they >often have hundreds of trees that are donated and they are just BEAUTIFUL!!! >The trees sell to corporations, private donors, and individuals for anywhere >from $1,000-35,000. The proceeds are used by the hospital to help families >pay that can't afford medical care (we have personally benefited from this >before!). It is such a huge deal it is done in the convention center here.>Oftentimes, parents will make a tree to dedicate to a child that died in the >previous year in the hospital. Remember , mom to who died last >Nov.? She made a beautiful tree in memory of him. Other parents who have >children that survived will make a tree and focus it on what their child >went thru and take that opportunity to educate the public. Other trees have >nothing to do w/medical things but are done out of love for the hospital and >the community (ie, our adoption agency made a tree w/the theme of angels and >the whole thing was dedicated to the beauty of adoption) Here's what I want >to do.....>We want to make a CHARGE tree. I want to do it in a way that it can educate >the public about what CHARGE is, who it affects, how it affects, what it >means, etc. I learned so much walking around and looking at all of the trees >last year that parents had dedicated to a particular syndrome or disease >that their child has, my husband and I really felt that we should do >something on CHARGE this year.> I want to find a theme for the tree that would appropriately describe our >kids. Like I said, they did angels for the adoption tree, some do >Disney-themed trees, bear themes, one lady whose child had died loved that > the train thing, so everything on the tree and under the tree had >something to do w/ the Train. Do you see what I mean?> Companies donate things to put under the tree and the more valuable they >are, the higher the tree sells for. My hubby suggested contacting the >CHARGERS football team and seeing if they would donate a signed jersey or >tickets to a game or something like that, but I don't know how to go about >that.>Any ideas? I hope that this will be an opportunity to bring CHARGE out into >the publics eye. There has to be something that would appropriately describe >our kids-their strength, their resilience, their struggles and joys. Please >let me know! Our deadline is approaching quickly and we are still trying to >find donors for the tree, ornaments, lights, etc. Thanks everyone so much!>>Ruth in SLC>>PS BRandon is 27 mos old, 33 lbs and 35 inches tall! He's a monster!!>>_________________________________________________________________________>Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.>>Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at >http://profiles.msn.com.>>Get your FREE Email and Voicemail at Lycos Communications athttp://comm.lycos.com"5th CHARGE Syndrome International Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, July20-22, 2001. Information will be available first in CHARGE Accounts, theCHARGE Syndrome Foundation's newsletter."For information about the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter)please contact marion@... or visit the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation web page at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

Hi everyone!I Have a big favor to ask everyone. I know some of you are very creative and artsy and all that, so I need your help. I will explain.Every year here in SLC, they do what's called the "Festival of Trees" in Dec. to benefit Primary Children's Medical Center. People decorate a tree and donate it and they are all put on display and then people purchase the tree and all that comes w/it (that would include all the decorations, lights, and things that come under the tree). It is SOOOO huge and they often have hundreds of trees that are donated and they are just BEAUTIFUL!!! The trees sell to corporations, private donors, and individuals for anywhere from $1,000-35,000. The proceeds are used by the hospital to help families pay that can't afford medical care (we have personally benefited from this before!). It is such a huge deal it is done in the convention center here.Oftentimes, parents will make a tree to dedicate to a child that died in the previous year in the hospital. Remember , mom to who died last Nov.? She made a beautiful tree in memory of him. Other parents who have children that survived will make a tree and focus it on what their child went thru and take that opportunity to educate the public. Other trees have nothing to do w/medical things but are done out of love for the hospital and the community (ie, our adoption agency made a tree w/the theme of angels and the whole thing was dedicated to the beauty of adoption) Here's what I want to do.....We want to make a CHARGE tree. I want to do it in a way that it can educate the public about what CHARGE is, who it affects, how it affects, what it means, etc. I learned so much walking around and looking at all of the trees last year that parents had dedicated to a particular syndrome or disease that their child has, my husband and I really felt that we should do something on CHARGE this year. I want to find a theme for the tree that would appropriately describe our kids. Like I said, they did angels for the adoption tree, some do Disney-themed trees, bear themes, one lady whose child had died loved that the train thing, so everything on the tree and under the tree had something to do w/ the Train. Do you see what I mean? Companies donate things to put under the tree and the more valuable they are, the higher the tree sells for. My hubby suggested contacting the CHARGERS football team and seeing if they would donate a signed jersey or tickets to a game or something like that, but I don't know how to go about that.Any ideas? I hope that this will be an opportunity to bring CHARGE out into the publics eye. There has to be something that would appropriately describe our kids-their strength, their resilience, their struggles and joys. Please let me know! Our deadline is approaching quickly and we are still trying to find donors for the tree, ornaments, lights, etc. Thanks everyone so much!Ruth in SLCPS BRandon is 27 mos old, 33 lbs and 35 inches tall! He's a monster!!_________________________________________________________________________Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com."5th CHARGE Syndrome International Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, July20-22, 2001. Information will be available first in CHARGE Accounts, theCHARGE Syndrome Foundation's newsletter."For information about the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter)please contact marion@... or visit the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation web page at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

[Guest guest]

Ruth -

Hi! Ironically, our daughter is going to have a CHARGE tree in the

Atlanta Festival of Trees this year too! My sister is sponsoring it and we

decided to go with things that loves - anything with lights, movement

or music! With our kids having so many vision and hearing problems, they

seem to be mesmerized by these things. We will also have CHARGE brochures

(from the Foundation) surrounding the tree as a " skirt " that people can pick

up and read or take with them.

Good luck with your tree! I cant wait to hear what you decide to do! It

would be so neat if more of us could get into the Festival of Trees in lots

of different citys. My sister in Kansas City has run it for years, so I

know that a lot of places do it! Good Luck!

Amy - Mom to (4) and (2 3/4) CHaRgE

Atlanta, GA

Fundraising Chair,CHARGE Syndrome Foundation

[Guest guest]

Amy, Lydia here. Your the first email I have seen from someone local. I live in Marietta and very familiar with the festivial of trees in Atlanta. Where do you live in the Atlanta area? Would love to hear from you. lydiarivers@...

Lydia mom to chrgr Kim 14, Alia 14, 16, 19

caedaniel@... wrote:

Ruth -Hi! Ironically, our daughter is going to have a CHARGE tree in the Atlanta Festival of Trees this year too! My sister is sponsoring it and we decided to go with things that loves - anything with lights, movement or music! With our kids having so many vision and hearing problems, they seem to be mesmerized by these things. We will also have CHARGE brochures (from the Foundation) surrounding the tree as a "skirt" that people can pick up and read or take with them. Good luck with your tree! I cant wait to hear what you decide to do! It would be so neat if more of us could get into the Festival of Trees in lots of different citys. My sister in Kansas City has run it for years, so I know that a lot of places do it! Good Luck!Amy - Mom to (4) and (2 3/4) CHaRgEAtlanta, GAFundraising Chair,CHARGE Syndrome Foundation"5th CHARGE Syndrome International Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, July20-22, 2001. Information will be available first in CHARGE Accounts, theCHARGE Syndrome Foundation's newsletter."For information about the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter)please contact marion@... or visit the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation web page at http://www.chargesyndrome.org