March 2021: Kids Helping Kids, A Deadlifts Update, and Happy Birthday to Josh Morrissey!
Spring is here and with it comes some wonderful updates from our Dream Factory community! This month we're shining the spotlight on some schools who worked hard to make dreams come true, updating you on a few of the Dream Kids we've supported through our Deadlifts for Dreams event, and - of course - saying thanks to a few of the incredible folks in our community who lent their tremendous support to The Dream Factory and our families this past month.
The change of seasons also means that the newest edition of The Dreamer - our brand new newsletter - is hot off the presses! Our Spring 2021 issue is out NOW and we are so excited to share stories of Dreams that have come true because of you! Click here to check it out.
Kids Helping Kids: School Fundraisers Make Dreams Come True!
We were so thrilled to hear from a few schools in our community who spent their time and energy fundraising this March in hopes of making more dreams comes true!
Pictured: The students at École R.W. Bobby Bend created this Kindness Tree that raised over $400 to help make more dreams come true!
Pilot Mound School
First, we would like to say a big thank you to our friends at Pilot Mound School for their support during the month of March! They did some incredibly creative fundraisers like guessing how many candies are in a jar, a silent auction (with this lovely cake as one of the prizes!), guess the teacher's middle name, and an Easter hat decorating contest. They raised over $1000 thanks - an absolutely incredible result - all thanks to the kindness and generosity of the staff, students, parents, and community!
École R.W. Bobby Bend
We'd also like to thank our friends at École R.W. Bobby Bend for their continued support. We were so touched to receive a photo of this incredible "kindness tree" from the staff and students, who hosted a "Wear Green for A Dream Day" that raised over $400 to make more dreams come true!
École R.W. Bobby Bend has been supporting The Dream Factory through our school-based programs for nearly 20 years, and have raised over $8000 in that time. That support has created a remarkable impact for Dream Kids and their families!
We could not be more appreciative to all of the staff and students who spent time and energy this month focused on making a difference for kids in our community fighting some tough battles. Thank you!
Thank You to Four Seasons Sales!
This month, we want to send a big thank you to our new friends at Four Seasons Sales for lending their support to The Dream Factory through a very generous $10,000 donation! With an increase in dreams at home, we have more Dream Kids dreaming of outdoor adventures this summer - and Four Seasons Sales wanted to help! This gift, and our new partnership, will help make many of these dreams come true.
We are so grateful to have you as part of our Dream Factory family, Four Seasons Sales! Thank you for believing in the power of a dream come true!
Pictured: Dream Factory Executive Director Howard Koks and Dream Coordinator Shannon Patterson accept at $10,000 donation from the wonderful team at Four Seasons Sales.
Happy Birthday Josh Morrissey!
We also celebrated a very special birthday this month: our incredible Dream Factory Ambassador (and Winnipeg Jet!) Josh Morrissey. We are so lucky to have Josh as an important part of our Dream Factory family, and can't thank him enough for always going above and beyond for us. Josh has been a part of so many special dreams come true, and the impact he's had on our Dream Kids and families is incredible! We hope it was an amazing day!
Note: Photos above taken at events in 2019.
Deadlifts for Dreams - Dream Kid Update
This month, we shared a Dream Kid update with the lifters and donors who have supported our Deadlifts for Dreams event over the last several years - and wanted to share it here too!
Since 2019, Deadlifts for Dreams has raised over $50,000 to support kids like Maya, Logan, and Apollo - who are all dreaming of visiting Disney World once it's safe to do so!
To our Deadlifts for Dreams community - thank you. You have helped ensure these dreams WILL come true as soon as they are able to.
Planning for Deadlifts for Dreams 2021 (this September!) is well underway - so stay tuned for more information coming soon! ⠀
Maya (Deadlifts for Dreams 2019):
So much has changed since 2019! Maya finished treatment on October 12th, 2020 (Thanksgiving Day 🙏🏻) and has been on the go ever since! She is so full of spunk and energy and is living her best life every single day! While she is still looking forward to getting to Disney World, when it’s safe to do so, she is enjoying spending time with her cat Paris, playing with her sister Brielle, and having fun with friends at daycare! Thank you again for supporting The Dream Factory and families like ours. We appreciate you!
Logan (Deadlifts for Dreams 2020): ⠀
Logan is doing amazing! He has finished all of his chemo treatments and absolutely loving feeling and living like a ‘normal’ kid again!! He’s always very proud to say ‘he kicked cancers butt!!’. Today, Logan is looking forward to the time where it is safe to travel, and his dream of visiting Disney World and meeting his favourite character, Lightning McQueen can finally come true!
Apollo: (Deadlifts for Dreams 2020):
Apollo has been on maintenance for about a year now, and his last MRI came back clean! No new growths and no changes and we are ever so happy about that! The best part is that instead of having MRI’s every four months we have now been moved to every 6 months which is music to our ears. Our son is growing leaps and bounds, has so much energy and has recently turned 5 and is excited about starting kindergarten into the fall. We are excited for all new chapters ahead and hopefully some day soon going to Disney World to visit the super heroes and princesses!
Meet A Dream Maker: Aunt Monica's Attic
Talk about made with love! Aunt Monica's Attic is one of our absolute favourite spots in Winnipeg to pick up the perfect toys and gifts for our Dream Kids, and they have always, always gone above and beyond to make sure it's a very special experience! Whether it's by hosting a Princess Party, or helping us find the perfect toy for a child having a tough day - Aunt Monica helps create magic memories for our Dream Kids.
This month, we were so touched to learn that Aunt Monica has lovingly handmade fabric "Dream Balls" as a community project to support The Dream Factory. These beautiful pieces sell for $7.99 and $5 from each sale will help make more dreams come true.
Head on over to Aunt Monica's Attic today to get yours! Our thanks again to Aunt Monica for everything she does to help make dreams come true!