Press from Atlanta about Miranda Lynch

Our heroes are always making the news and Miranda Lynch is no exception. Read this touching article about how she is helping people from a village in South Africa.

Schools Now Being Featured

MaryMargaret Presents at Middletown Elementary

This is what we have been pushing for – to get schools to notice and participate in our web site. A number of stars lined up for that to happen recently.  First, we had the privilege of speaking to the entire student body at Middletown Elementary school last week. MaryMargaret’s spring break was different than theirs so it provided her with a rare opportunity to speak to the school about Kids Are Heroes as well as her Music for Life program.  The presentation was a resounding success – our mission was designed to spark as many young minds as we could to get involved and from what I hear it worked beyond our expectations.  Apparently children are posting ideas in the hallways about what they can do and parents are readying themselves to nominate their children.

Our first school showcased is Thurmont Middle.  Something tells me Middletown Elementary will be next.  We are thrilled and are hopeful that this will be the start of an outpouring of school involvement.  So if you know of a school that you think should be featured – have them nominate themselves in the ‘For Schools’ section.

Honorary Member of LRR

Anna Lemick is a hero featured on the Kids Are Heroes web site.  She has actually been featured more than once.  One of the “perks” of being on the web site is being included in the monthly fund raisers hosted by the FSK Mall.  Each month the folks at the mall have been generous enough to donate the fountain coins to one hero’s charity.  Anna had the fountain coins for January.  She collected $537.00 and donated it all to Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc.  They were so excited they made Anna an honorary member of the rescue group, complete with framed certificate. Way to go Anna!!

Successful Event

Last night was MaryMargaret’s “An Evening of Music for Life!” at Holly Hills Country Club.  Singer (and hero parent) Mark McKay entertained while guest bartenders (including yours truly) served the guests.  I would like to thank Meg Klackner and Dan Grose, who were not only my fellow guest bartenders but were also responsible for bringing many people to the event.  Two heroes from the web site, Anna and Julia Lemick, were there to solicit donations and support MaryMargaret’s efforts.  All in all it was a great night of fun and we raised over $400.00, which brings our total close to $900.00.  Thanks to all who came out and supported us, and we look forward to seeing you again on March 22nd!

The Stage is Set

MaryMargaret’s Music for Life program is under way.  We have had one small fund raiser and have started using social media outlets to raise money.  This is a process that will require momentum which I am sure we’ll get.  But now we are finally faced with our first major fund  raiser.

On Friday, February 20th, beginning at 7PM the Holly Hills Country Club in Ijamsville is hosting An Evening of Music for Life.  Recording artist Mark McKay and his band will be live and playing his unique style of “roots rock” for our enjoyment.  Three local celebrities (who aren’t really famous) will be guest bartending for tips for the cause.  Children from the Kids Are Heroes web site will be greeting and manning the donation table.  This is all to benefit MaryMargaret’s Music for Life program where she plans to buy 150 MP3 players for the kids at Children’s Medical Center in Washington DC.  MaryMargaret had a 10 day stay at that hospital when she was six and she knows how frightening it can be.  She feels that the therapeutic value of music will calm fears and make children happy during this difficult time of their lives.

This is a rare opportunity where Holly Hills opens its doors to the public.  Please support MaryMargaret’s cause by coming out and enjoying some music, light fare and a lot of fun.  Click here for more details, sample music and how to register.

Getting Creative Now

One would imagine that if saddled with the task of raising over $12,000.00 in this economy that it might be quite daunting.  That is the Music for Life program.  Since it is to benefit children with cancer, we think about that every time we get a bit discouraged and we are instantly rewarded with new resolve.  One has to be creative and I think we have found something that is just that.  On Friday, January 30th, from 8-10PM, MaryMargaret and I are going to use our Twitter accounts to put on a kind of “show” that will hopefully entertain everyone. We will “blip” our favorite songs so that people can listen, and might throw in a few videos every once in a while.  The idea is that if people like what they hear and see they can use a special Twitter account to “tip” us actual money (in small doses) that will benefit the fund.  See more details at this link.  If it becomes popular we will do it weekly.  It is free to use Twitter, so to create an account simply go to Twitter.com.  You can follow KidsAreHeroes and MMsMusicForLife.  Let me know if you need help getting started.

Key 103 Public Service Announcements

The really nice folks at Key 103 were nice enough to let us record two PSA’s – one for Kids Are Heroes and the other for Music for Life. Please leave us a comment if you hear them on the radio!!

Ten-Year-Old Helps Cancer Kids

MaryMargaret is no stranger to helping other people.  But now she is taking on her most ambitious task to date, and that is to raise enough money to buy 160 MP3 players – one for each child that attends both camps at Camp Friendship this year.  Last year she gave them Webkinz, but this year she is raising the bar quite a bit.  Check out this video – it is her plea for these children stricken with cancer.

If this video moves you, kindly share it with your friends and colleagues.  Again, here is the information on how to help out:

Make checks payable to the Carol Jean Cancer Foundation.  Mail checks to:

Kids Are Heroes
Att’n: Music for Life Fund
PO Box 622
New Market, MD 21774

OR you may donate online at http://www.giveforward.org/MusicForLife

Twitter users please check out http://www.kidsareheroes.com/musicforlife7.htm

For more information on Music for Life, check out http://www.kidsareheroes.com/musicforlife1.htm

For more information about Camp Friendship, look up http://www.cjcf4kids.org

Thank you all SO MUCH for helping.

JT Roberston Update

If you have been keeping up with our heroes you would know that J.T. Roberston from New York has been getting disabled and disadvantaged kids to ride the Arcade and Attica Railroad.  Here is a video update on his story from Good Morning America: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5891930&page=1

Fountain Coins are Back!

Well Santa is now finished with the fountain at the Francis Scott Key Mall here in Frederick.  I’m a big fan of Santa but I’m not sad to see him go.  After all, he was hogging our fountain for the last two months.  Well now little 7-year-old Anna Lemick is the featured hero at the mall, which means all the coins that are thrown into the fountain will go to her charity.  Her charity is Labrador Retriever Rescue.  So if you happen to be at the mall, please make a special trip to the fountain and throw in a few extra coins!

If you are not local to Frederick, MD, you may still donate by going to the Fountain Coins section of our web site.  Either way, you’ll make Anna and all her little lab friends really happy.