"Cadillac Cares" Salutes Four Amazing Volunteers

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by: jotrizila
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Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 Time: 1:03 PM
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"Cadillac Cares" would like to salute four amazing volunteers, one from each organization - Big Thought, Heroes for Children, The Family Place and Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas - participating in the "Cadillac Cares" Facebook Challenge, sponsored by the Metroplex Cadillac Dealers and running through May 9, 2011.

Fans of the Metroplex Cadillac Dealers Facebook page can vote once each day for one of the non-profits to determine which will be awarded a $50,000 advertising campaign for their organization in June. Each charity has a button on http://www.facebook.com/MetroplexCadillacDealers. The other three charities will receive $1,000 cash donations.

Big Thought
Mark Melton, who has volunteered with Big Thought for 3 years, is passionate.

"Our public education system is broken to such a degree that nearly half of the students in Dallas drop out before graduating from high school. I have seen how education has changed the course of my own life and am passionate about finding ways to improve the system. I'm involved with Big Thought because the things they do work. Children's futures are literally changed for the better because of the work Big Thought does, and it's important to me to work with organizations that are impacting lives and not just spinning their wheels."

Melton's favorite Big Thought program is Creative Solutions, which "takes kids that have been arrested and are on probation, and puts them through a series of classes with artist mentors that teach them how to express themselves in positive and productive ways. Whether its poetry or song, painting or sculpture, or theater or spoken word, these kids find themselves in a supportive creative-learning environment that encourages them to get back on track. Most importantly, this program works. It takes kids that are already headed down a bad path, and turns them around. Each year I talk to the kids at their annual program and hear about how the program has changed their lives. My favorite thing to see are the kids that have graduated from the program and come back from their college campuses to help mentor the students currently in the program. "

He continues, "At this [annual] program the kids write, produce and act in a variety show where they perform original skits and sing songs for a crowd of their parents, teachers and probation officers. The first time I attended the program I was taken aback by the content in the skits. It doesn't take long to recognize that the drugs, crime, physical and sexual abuse, as well as the abandonment issues addressed in the skits are not made up. These kids are acting out their real lives on a stage for all of us to see. It's difficult enough to get an education when your home life is stable, but these kids have additional hurdles to overcome. It was emotional to watch, and hearing from them after the show, telling me their personal stories about how Big Thought has been able to change their lives for the better, was moving to say the least."

Melton notes that Big Thought is really starting to take off and is getting national attention, with requests to help others build similar programs around the country. Winning the $50,000 advertising campaign would help not only in promoting the organization's mission, but in recruiting more volunteers and donors who will be vital as Big Thought continues to grow.

Heroes for Children
Susan White has been involved with Heroes for Children for 5 years. She became involved to honor her 20-year-old husband's battle with cancer. He "represents the demographic in the patient population that is often overlooked by other organizations."

"Heroes for Children was started by two moms who suffered the unthinkable devastation of losing their young daughters to cancer. Since its inception in late 2004, Heroes for Children has provided several million dollars in financial assistance. Today, we help children and families in hospitals throughout the state of Texas to focus on the most important aspect of treatment - the child," White states.

This non-profit is really there for families of children with cancer. White notes: "We act quickly - checks are sent out weekly and some are sent out the day that they were requested...We help families with children who are aged 0-22 - most children's' charities have a cutoff of age 18. We help families stay afloat financially - for example: mortgage/rent payments, utilities, wheelchair ramps for their homes, car payments. We help families stay afloat emotionally - for example: social events, wigs, and funeral assistance. We help families have hope - for example: sperm banking, Laptops for Love."

Laptops for Love is one of White's favorite programs. Many patients receiving cancer treatments have immune deficiency issues that render them unable to maintain contact with the outside world (friends, school, etc). Laptops for Love provides these patients with a new laptop which allows the patient to complete their homework (some even attend class virtually through Skype), maintain dialog with their teachers, maintain social relationships (e-mail, Facebook, instant messaging, Skype), and offers a distraction from treatments.

A $50,000 advertising campaign "would mean the world to us. There are always more families and children that we could assist. More media translates to increased awareness, which results in more contributions and ultimately more children assisted. I would hope that communities in outlying areas whose population believes that they would "rather their dollars stay local" would realize that pediatric oncology centers aren't in every town that has an adult cancer treatment center. Pediatric cancer patients have to uproot themselves and move to ‘the big city' to get treatment. Most people don't realize this. A sick child in Canton, TX has to go to Dallas or Houston, for example. They don't come home at night. This alone results in huge emotional and financial stress factors for families."
"I'm moved every week by Heroes for Children's impact. You can't put a price tag on hope."

The Family Place
The Family Place leaves no stone unturned in helping women and children recover from their abuse and get their lives back to normalcy in a safe environment, says Joanne Teichman, who has been with the non-profit for about 10 years.

"Over the years, we have seen violence escalate in family situations, and especially most recently as financial burdens due to the current economy have put stress on families," she states. "It is heartbreaking to know that a woman and her children's lives might be in danger because they are trapped in an abusive household, and it is empowering to know that The Family Place can offer immediate and safe shelter in dangerous situations."

Teichman adds, "I am moved every day when I hear the news that somewhere, a woman and her children died at the hands of a jealous and abusive husband. It reinforces the need for The Family Place in our community."

The organization provides emergency shelter, counseling and emergency relief - everything women and children need to stay safe and escape from their batterers at one confidential location. Services include intensive counseling, medical care, psychological evaluation, day care and after-school programs for children, and job, technical and life skills training for adults, all easily and safely accessible. Further, The Family Place provides transitional housing, a wide array of outreach services, client legal services and public education.

A $50,000 advertising campaign would allow The Family Place to publicize their mission, their programs and their needs to continue the flow of financial support, she notes. Donations of time and money are always welcome, as is taking the time to learn about The Family Place and spread the word to friends.

"The number of people who need help keeps rising, and the costs of helping them keep going up. How does one just turn their back?"

Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas
Kendall Brown, M.D. is a pediatrician and has been serving as Board Chairman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas since 2008. He says, "My involvement…somehow ‘completes' what I am unable to do with medications, X-rays and surgeries. I can treat infection and remedy conditions of disastrous proportions, but what I can't do is restore the magic and innocence of childhood. That is the spark and power of a ‘Wish' granted from the Make-A-Wish staff and volunteers."

Magic! Dr. Brown believes that is one of the keys to this organization. "The Make-A-wish Foundation enables me to be Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy all wrapped up in one…365 days a year. It's a wonderful feeling knowing that I am a part of an organization that makes joy and magic happen for almost 500 children a year across North Texas."

He continues, "The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America has existed for 30 years and has granted over 250,000 ‘Wishes' over that time to children who have suffered from life-threatening medical conditions. In North Texas, we have been responsible for almost 5000 ‘Wishes' alone. We grant children the ability to ‘go', to 'do', to ‘meet' or to ‘have' something special. The choices are limited only by the child's imagination. They simply dream of the ‘what if?', and it's the job of the Make-A-Wish Foundation to make it happen."

However, Dr. Brown offers this reminder, "Unlike most fairy tales, Make-A-Wish doesn't have a Magic Wand or a Fairy Godmother to make ‘Wishes' come true. The average cost of a ‘Wish' in 2011 is $7000. We need people, Foundations, and Corporations to help us make the ‘Wishes' possible."

The $50,000 advertising campaign "would enable us to increase public awareness about what Make-A-Wish's mission and calling is," Dr. Brown states. "Furthermore, even though we aggressively pursue outreach in our community to find as many qualified children to receive a ‘Wish' as possible, we can further educate and enlighten a family to the fact that their child may be able to have a ‘Wish' as well."

Before he became involved with Make-A-Wish, Dr. Brown had a good friend whose child was granted a ‘Wish' when he had a brain tumor - he went to Los Angeles to meet the cast of "The Simpsons." While there, the boy passed. "Before he went to sleep, he shared with his parents that he had had ‘the best day of his life'. To this day, 15 years later, his parents cherish this last experience that they shared with their son. For me, that is the summation, in total, of what Make-A-Wish can do for these kids."

"I am humbled and amazed by the resilience of the human spirit. What these children endure, what they wish for, and how the community responds to those needs and desires is an awe-inspiring experience. I am honored to be associated with so many outstanding people."

For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/MetroplexCadillacDealers.

About the Author

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and global expansion. The Metroplex Cadillac Dealers are comprised of eight dealerships throughout North Texas, pledging their commitment to the community through various philanthropic initiatives. Cadillac remains committed to the community in acknowledging those whose contributions have impacted the lives of others and have enhanced the local community overall. More information on Cadillac and their charity affiliations can be found at www.metroplexcadillacdealers.com.

Visit your local Cadillac dealer
Arlington: Moritz Cadillac - 2001 North Collins Street, Arlington, Texas 76011 (817) 461-2222
Dallas: Sewell Cadillac of Dallas - 7310 Lemmon Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75209 (214) 350-2000
Denton: James Wood Cadillac - 3906 I-35 E South, Denton, Texas 76210 (940) 591-9663
Fort Worth: Frank Kent Cadillac - 3800 Southwest Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76116 (817) 989-4400
Garland: Massey Cadillac, Inc. - 11675 LBJ Freeway, Garland, Texas 75041 (214) 348-2211
Grapevine: Sewell Cadillac of Grapevine - 1001 East State Highway 114, Grapevine 76051 (817) 912-3000
Plano: Crest Cadillac - 2701 N. Central Expressway, Plano, Texas 75075 (972) 578-7511
Weatherford: Jerry's Cadillac - 3118 Fort Worth Highway, Weatherford, Texas 76087 (817) 594-8784

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