|
UPCOMING EVENTS:
The Holiday Card 2010
Ready or Not Foundation is pleased to present the third annual Holiday Card. The Holiday Card has generated over $600,000 in funds over the last two years directed to pediatric brian cancer research. With over one hundred and fifty merchants throughout the Coastal Bend, consumers are sure to save as they take advantage of the 20% discount at their favorite store for early holiday
shopping. This year La Palmera Mall is our title sponsor for the
card and they are proud to have over 24 stores participating this year. In addition, they will be hosting our VIP kick off party on Wednesday October 20th for sponsors and participating merchants in
their newly renovated Centre Court, For more information about
merchants participating please visit us at www.buythecard.com or go back to the home page and click on our icon "Buy the Holiday
Card" and it will take you right to it. Help us spread the word,
perhaps you know a merchant who would like to be included next year or a company who might want to advertise in our brochure, please encourage them to visit our website or call us at 855-8006 . This is our largest fundraiser of the year and its success is growing each year. It is fitting that our logo is a tree , and as in nature, our hope grows with every year that we are closer to finding better treatments and a cure for the number one cause of cancer death in children. All throughout Texas, similar programs run during the same time period raising millions of dollars for cancer and other life threatening diseases. It is a privilege to be on the forefront of raising dollars for such an important cause. Saving 20% is like double tax free shopping weekend!!!
How can anyone lose when we SHOP SAVE MONEY SAVE LIVES !!!!!!!
PAST EVENTS:
READY OR NOT FOR THE HOLIDAYS CARD 2009
Ready
or Not Foundation plans to have a holiday card to sell in
the Coastal Bend area. The holiday card will entitle
the bearer to a certain discount with participating retailers
during the busy holiday shopping season. The holiday card's
effective dates will be time limited to Oct 23-Nov 1st, but
it should generate both holiday savings for the consumer and
increased revenue for the participating retailers. The
holiday card will allow shoppers to give to a worthy cause,
and still save money at the same time. Our goal is to raise
$150,000 with this card. More details for this holiday card
will be forthcoming. For more information about becoming
a participating merchant, volunteering or purchasing a card
please visit the website www.readyornotfortheholidayscard.com . There will be a Kick Off party Oct 22 at Julian Gold in Corpus
Christi
DEC.
8TH HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE, DALLAS TEXAS
Home
of Mr. & Mrs. Greg Bender, Hosted by Jenkins Bender
READY OR NOT FOR THE HOLIDAYS CARD 2008
Ready
or Not Foundation plans to have a holiday card to sell in
the Coastal Bend area. The holiday card will entitle
the bearer to a certain discount with participating retailers
during the busy holiday shopping season. The holiday card's
effective dates will be time limited to a long weekend, but
it should generate both holiday savings for the consumer and
increased revenue for the participating retailers. The
holiday card will allow shoppers to give to a worthy cause,
and still save money at the same time. Our goal is to raise
$150,000 with this card. More details for this holiday card
will be forthcoming. For more information about becoming
a participating merchant, volunteering or purchasing a card
please visit the website www.readyornotfortheholidayscard.com
.
CARS
FOR A CAUSE
The
Ready or Not Foundation has established a partnership with
Porche and Volkswagen of Corpus Christi, TX. Brad West,
owner and president of Porche and Volkswagen of Corpus Christi,
will generously donate $300 for every new Volkswagen and up
to $1,000 for every new Porche sold. One-hundred percent
of all donations to the Ready or Not Foundation go directly
to fund pedriatic brain cancer research. Please ask
for Brad West and mention Ready or Not when visiting the showroom
located at 4331 S. Staples, Corpus Christi, Texas.
JUDITH
ANN JEWELS/ERICA COURTNEY TRUNK SHOW MAY 8-10, 2008
Judith
Ann Jewels in Houston, Tx hosted a very special evening on
May 8, 2008. Jewelry designer Erica Courtney made a
special appearance at the store May 8th through the 10th in
support of the Ready or Not Foundation. Guests shopped her
fabulous collection and bid on a pear shaped 8.88ct green
Tourmaline pendant set designed especially for this event.
With a minimum $100 donation guests were eligible to
win a 1 carat diamond. Ten percent of all proceeds from
this 3 day event benefit the Ready or Not Foundation.
LUNCHEON
2007
We
had a very successful Ready or Not Foundation afternoon on
August 22, 2007, at noon at "V Boutique Hotel" in
Corpus Christi, Texas. With fine Asian cuisine and a
guest speaker, we had over one hundred women join us for lunch and
raised $50,000 for our pediatric brain cancer research
efforts. Dr. David Poplak, director of the Texas Children's
Cancer Center in Houston, Texas presented an overview of his
institution's research efforts in the area of high grade
brain tumors. Lunch was underwritten and a cash bar was available.
The afternoon was entitled: "100 Reasons to Give:
Women Ready To Make a Difference." The
ladies were invited to visit our green boutique where Ready
or Not Foundation T-shirts and our "Jackie" earrings
designed by Stephanie Wells of Double Happiness were
available to order. Everyone was encouraged to
wear green as a reminder of our logo, and the tree that saved
Jackie's life. We look forward to making this an annual
event.
FASHION
SHOW AND FUNDRAISER
Goosefeathers and G2 Urban Menswear Go Green!
Fashion Show, held Friday, May 11th, 2007, 7 p.m.
Beverages and Light Hors d'oeurves.
Shopping all day on May 11th and 12th
Goosefeathers
and G2 Urban Menswear in Corpus Christi, Texas
sponsored a fashion show benefiting the Ready or Not Foundation.
On a beautiful cool south Texas night, the audience was treated
to fabulous outdoor summer men's and women's
fashions on a sixty (60) foot runway - - - fashions from designers
such as Trina Turk, Nannette Lepore, Nicole Miller,
Chase and Sully, True Religion, Seven for all
Mankind, Franklin Graham, Seven Diamonds, and many others.
Beer and Wine were donated by local businesses, Liquid Town
and Andrews Distributing, respectively. Catering was donated
by Bernards. The fashion show and food was underwritten
by the founder of the Ready or Not Foundation, Barbara Canales.
As a backdrop to the fashion show, the guests were treated
to great music and a slide show featuring Jackie and friends
upon a twelve (12) foot outdoor screen. Some of the
slides also provided crucial information about brain cancer
- - thus reminding everyone of why we had all come together.
Attendees were asked to donate $100 to receive a 20% discount
on all Goosefeathers and/or G2 Urban Menswear purchases
for the weekend of shopping. The event proceeds were in excess
of $25,000 (all costs were underwritten), and the evening
was a great kickoff to launch the Ready or Not Foundation
fundraising efforts. The event was also the venue for
unveiling the different styles of Ready or Not Foundation
t-shirts and baseball (received as stylish and of high quality).
Additionally, Goosefeathers (Ben and Tiffany Foster) was able
to prevail upon the owner/designer (Stephanie Wells) of ‘Double
Happiness' to create an exclusive earring designed for
(and raising money for) the Ready or Not Foundation, and this
exquisite earring premiered at the fashion show. Goosefeathers
has been marketing the ‘Double Happiness' jewelry
line for years, and maintains a great relationship with this
hip Los Angeles based business - - thus allowing for the design
of the beautiful earrings. Stephanie Wells obliged with
a spectacular chandelier earring containing Russian Amazonite,
and 18K gold plate appropriately named "the Jackie."
To view a picture, of these earrings, please click on STORE
on the home page), and please know that twenty-five percent
(25%) of the proceeds from the sale of the earrings is contributed
to Ready or Not Foundation. Dozens of earrings were ordered
the night of the fashion show, and many more pairs of earrings
have since been ordered. Guests shopped until they dropped,
and a great time was had by all. The Fosters have already
agreed to host next year's grand fashion event (next May),
and other tenants in the shopping center have expressed an
interest in participating. Ready or Not Foundation wants to
(again) express their appreciation for all of the volunteer
models, and to Goosefeathers and G2 Urban Menswear
(of course). For more information on next year's
event, please feel free to email Stephanie Martinez (smart911@sbcglobal.net)
or Matt Stevens (mstevens1@stx.rr.com).
Please view all photos and newspaper article under Media and
News on this website.
BIG
DOGS FOR A BIG CAUSE
The
"Big Dogs for a Big Cause" event occurred on May
23rd, 2007. The event was hosted by Douglas
Allison, Buddy Bell, and Hector Canales, at the Corpus Christi
Yacht Club. This unique collection of generous contributors
reached deeply into their own pockets, and donations were
in excess of $100,000. Further, more than $50,000 was raised
to specifically provide underwriting for the Ready or Not
Foundation events (so that 100% of all other donations go
directly to research).
This
gentlemen's group of donors gathered for fine dining and
spirits. After a fair amount of consuming, imbibing,
and casual conversation, the mood turned to the heart of the
matter. Every person at the table was intimately familiar
with the reason for the assembly - - Jackie Black and her
search for a cure for brain cancer. Some of the guys
were long time friends, some business associates, some fishing
and hunting buddies, and all of them blessed with successful
businesses and compassionate hearts. After being reminded
of their own blessings in their lives, the group was asked
to give the seed money to make the Ready or Not Foundation
a viable charitable organization. The group was told
the mission was to change the grim statistics for children
diagnosed with brain cancer. The informal presentation
emphasized that research was the key to unlocking the sciences
that must eventually lead to a cure (thus benefitting both
children and adults). There was a lot of discussion
about creating a movement that would endure long after Jackie
emerged from her treatments. These gentlemen answered
the call. These gentlemen have planted the seed of hope,
and have laid a foundation so that Ready or Not Foundation's
efforts must succeed. I am in awe of their generosity.
They are true BIG DOGS and they are my heroes.
The
gentlemen's group decided to re-convene at a future date
(the when and the where are yet to be decided). At the
next gathering, the Big Dog Trophy will be awarded to the
guy with the best "Big Dog" story (whoever catches
the biggest marlin, or turns up with the best trophy buck,
or other worthy triumph/ story). Of course, the re-assembly
of the group will allow for the participants to be updated
with respect to how their money has been funneled into pediatric
brain cancer research. Ready or Not Foundation hopes
to duplicate this event in San Antonio, Houston, Austin, and
the Rio Grande Valley, in 2008.
PRINTED
MAIL PIECE
In
the first week of May 2007, Ready or Not Foundation generated
a printed mail piece that was distributed to over four thousand
(4000) homes. The printed piece included an open letter from
Barbara Canales recalling her personal story with Jackie's
pediatric brain cancer. The letter made an appeal for
others to give dollars to pediatric brain cancer research.
The mail piece included a copy of the a newspaper article
that originally published in the Corpus Christi Caller Times,
and picked up by the Associated Press (thus, carried all over
Texas). You may read this news article by clicking on
"NEWS," on this website. The article provides
an overview with respect to the formation of the Ready or
Not Foundation. Moreover, the mail piece contained a
fact sheet reciting the most vital brain cancer and pediatric
cancer statistics, and this fact sheet was provided in an
effort to promote awareness of the grave reality of malignant
brain cancers with children. Finally, a Ready or Not
Foundation envelope was enclosed enabling recipients to make
a donation. To date, Ready or Not Foundation has received
over $40,000 in donations as a result of the mail piece.
Some donations were smaller, and others were larger - - -
and all are greatly appreciated. One child emptied his
piggy bank, and gave all that he had saved ($30). Another
friend to Jackie stepped up in a big way, and donated $5000
to help make a difference in this fight against pediatric
brain cancer. Since this mail piece was sent out (May,
2007), the Ready or Not Foundation has continued to receive
donations every week (and this mode of fundraising to fight
cancer will continue).
As
with most charitable organizations, the Ready or Not Foundation
is limited in its ability to send out a mail piece.
There were budget constraints with the first mail piece.
At the same time, we have now learned that the mail is a perfect
way for many people to contribute (in their own way, and in
their own time, and without their feeling any pressure).
Further, we have now learned that the mail is a perfect way
to built ‘grass roots' support of this fight against
pediatric brain cancer (and Ready or Not must be, and will
be, a grass roots effort). The truth is: pediatric brain
cancer is hard to talk about, and the use of the mail allows
our telling of Jackie's story in a way that is personal
and private. I have been overwhelmed with the generous
responses to the mail piece, and by the many personal notes
of encouragement that often accompany the responses.
It is my hope that this internet site will provide the same
refuge to potential donors.
Ready
or Not will send future mail pieces, and hopes to continue
growing the ‘grass roots' support for pediatric
brain cancer research. If you have a list of addresses
that you think may be a great audience for this cause, then
please feel free to share your list. Your list may be a neighborhood
group, and church group, or a school or social club directory
- - - and all are appreciated. I fervently believe that
there are so many wonderful and generous people out there,
and that many potential donors will contribute as they learn
that 100% of their tax deductible contribution will go directly
to pediatric brain cancer research. Also, what an incentive
as every dollar contributed is matched by another dollar from
an outside source. (See "GOALS").
We will save lives. We need to get the word out, and
Ready or Not Foundation would love your help.
BILLBOARDS
In
late May 2007, Ready or Not Foundation launched its first
billboard in south Texas. The billboard is a large 12
feet by 40 feet, and is easily visible from a major highway
leading from the airport to Corpus Christi, Texas. The
billboard space has been generously donated by Cooper Advertising
of Corpus Christi, for a period of three (3) months.
The billboard's graphics and design are the creation of
an accomplished creative director in advertising, Rose Gomez
(a friend since childhood). Photography provided
by Raymond Gray, of Gray Photography in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The purpose of the billboard is to increase awareness;
that is, awareness of the reality of pediatric brain cancer,
and awareness of our community's need to be involved in
the effort to find a cure for pediatric brain cancer, and
awareness of the Ready or Not Foundation. This billboard
is our first attempt at mass advertising, and Ready or Not
Foundation is dedicated to having more billboards in other
metropolitan areas. The billboard will also help to
promote the Ready or Not Foundation website, and allow people
to associate our logo with brain cancer research.
The
billboard shows Jackie peeking around a tree and yelling,
"Tag! You're It! Are you Ready to Make A Difference."
Looking at Jackie on that billboard makes me believe
that others will draw inspiration from Jackie's playful
and courageous spirit. Billboards are a great means of reaching
out to members of the community. Billboards are also
quite costly. If you know anyone who might be willing
to donate any corporate or other billboard space, then please
let us know. Ready or Not Foundation will continue to
experiment with various billboard designs, and continue to
reach out to communities through billboards (and other means).
|
