Sunday Sharing: We should be {Frugal} with our Money but Never with our Hearts, Our Love or our Compassion for Others

This week on Sunday Sharing I wanted to feature the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation.  I receive regular emails from Andrew's Caringbridge site...this was a site I learned about a few years past...my daughter was a few months old and was fighting for her life and I don't remember where I learned about Andrew but when I read the loving words and on his site with this gorgeous young man fighting so hard I started to follow his journey.  His journey did not end when he went to heaven for the love this young man had within him and his family has grown in only the way love can grow.  Here is the information from the "About the Foundation" page.  Please visit www.bepositive.org to learn more about this amazing young man, his family, and the foundation built with love.

The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation honors the memory of Andrew McDonough, a 14 year old athlete and ‘A’ student at Salesianum HS from Wilmington, Delaware.  Andrew went from playing four soccer games on January 27, 2007 to cardiac arrest and a diagnosis of leukemia and sepsis just 48 hours later.  Andrew’s blood type and the family’s motto was, and continues to be, “B+” …“Be Positive”.  Andrew’s valiant journey was chronicled by local and national media and his website received over 1,000,000 hits in the first six months.  Andrew went to Heaven on July 14, 2007.

                                  Do Good
Inspired by Andrew's caring attitude and positive outlook, we established the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. There are four objectives, but the overarching goal is to "Do Good" ... as Andrew did!  With your help, we will continue to achieve our four specific objectives.

Objectives           

1. Do Good by providing financial support to families of critically ill children.  To date we have helped 200 families in over 30 states with almost $200,000.

We have helped numerous families from around the country in their time of greatest need...

“I remember just crying and crying with unbelievable gratitude when I received the grant.  It was on a day that I had a $3,500 injection to purchase for my daughter.  I cannot tell you the positive and life-changing experience B+ hasbeen to our family. Not just with the money, but the friendships, the passion of the family, and the new supporters and friends that my daughter now has.  I want to THANK the foundation, the financial supporters of the foundation, and the family and friends of Andrew McDonough."  

                  -- S.M., mother of child with cancer

“I can’t believe anybody who did not know me would help me when I needed it.  A million thanks to them…the B+ Foundation.”
                  -- G.W., mother of child who

                  passed away in March 2008

 

“As a kid with cancer, it was nice to know that there are people out here in the world that LOVE me and helped my family.  Thank you Foundation of Andrew McDonough.  Thank you a million times!” 

                                                         -- K.B., 11 year old warrior with cancer 

 “Thank you very much for the wonderful donation.  My parents used the money to pay some medical bills and I got some comic books too.”   

                                                         -- R.D., 9 year old warrior with cancer

"Foundations like B+ truly understand the emotional and financial roller coaster that families impacted by pediatric cancer encounter. Your foundation is a true blessing."                                           -- L.C., mother of child with cancer

"Words cannot express my extreme gratitude of thanks for the wonderful generosity that you have shown our family in our desperate time of need.  It is comforting to know that there are still so many wonderful people that are willing to help... We are truly blessed to be included in the phenomenal B+ Nation." 

                                                          --K.T., mother of child with cancer

 

        B+ and You Help Families Across the U.S. (in dark blue)

2.  Do Good by funding medical research for pediatric cancers and improvements in chemotherapy.

We recently awarded the Nemours Center for Childhood Cancer Research (DE) our first research grant for $250,000.  The grant has been earmarked to fund a High-Throughput Screening device, which will accelerate the drug-discovery process to develop new chemotherapy treatments and ultimately a cure for pediatric cancer.
We are also working with Dr. Thomas Walsh, Head of the Immunocompromised Host Section of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Washington, D.C.

3.  Do Good by spreading the B+ message and helping others to "Live Like Andrew" -- set goals and try your best, show affection, and be comfortable with yourself.

Through outreach efforts and talks we share the lessons Andrew taught us, including: have fun, have faith in God, keep our lives in perspective, appreciate our blessings, and make time for our loved ones.  In short, we need to “Live Like Andrew”.

Andrew’s father, Joe, has spoken to dozens of groups including school and church groups, service organizations such as the Kiwanis and Rotary Club, sports teams, as well as being the keynote speaker at commencement exercises. More about his talks here.

4.  Do Good by providing financial aid to families with kids who want to attend Salesianum High School in Wilmington, DE.  This is in memory of the school Andrew loved.

We currently have 7 scholarship recipients who have demonstrated financial need...

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to go to Sallies through the Andrew McDonough Scholarship Fund.  You have been unbelievably generous to me and my family.  Thank you so much.”   

--J.H., scholarship recipient

“I am so grateful to be able to attend Salesianum School and I am very happy there.”       --J.G., scholarship recipient

“You cannot imagine how much your family has changed my family’s life forever.  Thank you very much for your assistance.”
--J.D., scholarship recipient            

If you'd like to contribute to the B+ Foundation, we can provide acknowledgement letters for your tax deductible donations.
Kindly send your donations to:

Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation
101 Rockland Circle
Wilmington, DE 19803

Or donate online with your credit card.

The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation is an IRS-certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.