The first fundraiser of the year was the 2nd annual "Donoroo Extravaganza" at Clarendon Hills Middle School (CHMS),
Clarendon Hills, Illinois, on May 16, 2009.
(Pictured above) The Marquee at Donoroo CHMS 2009
The talented students and faculty of CHMS, lead by teacher Kelly Ditmars, put on a dazzling and diverse display of musical and
dancing acts. Families baked goods for sale, students and families donated their artwork and other items of interest for a silent
auction, and along with admission proceeds, CHMS raised $2,516 for The Foundation and another $2,516 to "CHMS Gives Back" Charity that
benefitted 3 families in need in the CHMS community. PHOTOS Donoroo CHMS 2009
"Donoroo 2009" on Saturday, July 25, 2009 at Chord-on-Blues in St. Charles, Illinois featured 2 local professional bands from
the Illinois' Fox River Valley, "The Riz" and "Johnny Perona and the Faque Brothers", raised over
$1,730.PHOTOS Donoroo 2009 At 'Chord On Blues'
(Pictured above) The Marquee at Donoroo 2009
The intrinsic reward in the hard work of running The Foundation is in the awarding of grants according to the goals of
The Foundation.Mission Statement
And it's more rewarding when you discover
worthy beneficiaries that align particularly well with these goals.
Two NEW beneficiaries were found that fit this description: Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network and Illinois Institute of Technology's Center for Workzone Safety & Mobility!!! We were very excited to be able to support them this year.
The Foundation disbursed over 83% of its TOTAL assets this year as follows:A $5,000 grant was made to Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Missouri University of Science & Technology . The occasion of the event was EWB's annual "Rice and Beans Dinner". The officers of The Foundation could not attend; therefore, they requested Paul Hamilton, an EWB member and project manager, a recent graduate of MS&T, and a veteran of 2 trips to Solola, Guatemala, to make the presentation. Thank you, Paul.
Letter of Acknowlegement from MS&T Click here to view
A $500 grant was made to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, Gateway Affiliate.
Letter of Acknowlegement from MADD Gateway Affiliate Click here to view
A $500 grant was made to Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network. Gift of Hope had 3 volunteers at Donoroo 2009, providing information and signing up organ donors.
(Pictured above) Gift of Hope volunteers at Donoroo 2009, Chord on Blues.
Letter of Acknowlegement from Gift of Hope Click here to view
A $1,000 grant was made to Illinois Institute of Technology's Center for Workzone Safety & Mobility (CWZSM).
Letter of Acknowlegement from IIT's Center for Workzone Safety & Mobility Click here to view
Net revenues (income minus expenses) before awarding charitable grants was $5,219.28.
Unrestricted grants to our beneficiaries was $7,000.00, or over 83% of available cash (the sum of the previous 2 line items).
Assets in the amount of $2,397.01 remained in The Foundation's cash account as of the end of fiscal year. This cash will be used as
up-front fundraising expenses for our next year.
Annual Financial Statement Click here to view the 2009 Annual Statement
IRS Tax Returns Click here to view the 2009 tax return as filed with the IRS.
Fundraising: CHMS is already planning the 3rd Annual "Donoroo CHMS 2010" Talent Show with The Foundation as one of the beneficiaries. This showcase of young and talented kids (and Faculty) will take place on Friday, May 21, 2010 at CHMS.
We've learned that smaller events, that are less costly upfront, result in a more efficient return on our investment. So our major fundraiser, which will ALWAYS have a musical theme, will continue to be at a smaller venues. As for when and where the grand event, "Donoroo 2010", will take place, that is not yet known. The Foundation's Director (and chief events coordinator), Clare Donohue, Gavin's 1st cousin, is getting married to Josh Lund in July 2010. So it most likely will be held in late Summer or Fall 2010. "Chord-on-Blues" was a perfect venue for Donoroo and we hope to have it there again this year. STAY TUNED!!
And we hope to count on the individual support of you, The Family and Friends of The Foundation, to achieve the goals of Our Mission Statement.
Beneficiaries: Our Mission Statement in creating the Foundation was to benefit the very worthy pursuits that Gavin was involved in when his young life was cut short.
The goal of supporting the work and research into construction work zone safety was ACHIEVED!!! The Foundation made a $1,000 grant to this year to The Center for Work Zone Safety & Mobility (CWZSM) at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. It was a small contribution in terms of CWZSM's overall budget, but for The Foundation it was a very meaningful grant.
The goal of promoting donation of vital organs to the living beings was also ACHIEVED!!! We'll probably never know the extent that Gavin's organ's have helped the living, but we do know that his skin and corneas were donated and have undoubtedly made a profound improvement in the quality of someone's life. Think about it! Gavin literally lives on in someone...The Gift of Hope.
We've seen first-hand how powerful the work of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is and we would like to continue funding them. As we update this website, EWB from Missouri University of Science & Technology is planning a project to install a potable water distribution system in Nahualate, Guatemala. This project is being planned and executed by young undergraduate engineers, led by Dave Malawey who took over the reins from Paul Hamilton at the start of the year. These engineers are designing a deep well, pump station, water storage tank, piping distribution, and outlet taps for a small agricultural village in the southwestern foothills of Guatemala...a village that is desperate for water that is free of pathogens and other contaminants. As the design phase nears completion, the team will travel to Nahualate to procure materials and install the system they designed.
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), too, is in our future because of the very difficult and important services they provide to victim families. They provide helpful, invaluable advice and are present unfailing when necessary, even in courtrooms.
The goal of providing some level of music education to an underprivileged, but promising musician has not yet been achieved. Therefore, the Foundation would like to provide a grant this year to an as yet unknown musician.
We hope you will continue to support us in all of these endevours. Thank you.
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