thebfund

Learn how we are changing lives

Main navigation

Blog

Where in the World is Rebecca??

by

Last month, The B Fund featured Rebecca Skoler, a 15-year-old from Needham, in our “Be Inspired” page. She is using her time and talents on the golf course to make a difference in the lives of critically ill children and their families by fundraising for The B Fund. Whether she’s in Florida, Massachusetts, or even Israel, this girl just can’t be stopped!

So, where in the world is Rebecca Skoler now?

She just finished up the 2017 Pepsi Little People’s Championship at the Westview Golf Course in Illinois. And she didn’t just compete – she was the tournament champion!

Rebecca shot 77 & 70, breaking par for the first time in a tournament shooting -1 in the final round.

The golf course isn’t the only place where Rebecca shines – she’s also an integral part of The B Fund’s efforts to help raise awareness and funds for critically ill children and their families

Since our last post, Rebecca’s fundraising effort has raised $972.00 for The B Fund, and she’s not done yet!

Take a moment to make a pledge or offer your support by clicking on this link.

Where is Rebecca heading next?

Next week, she will be heading to Israel for three weeks! There she will compete in the Maccabi Games. This incredible opportunity aims to empower Jewish-Americans through athletic and cultural programs in Israel.

Thanks to Rebecca and all of her supporters who are making a difference in the lives of critically ill children and their families. We are so proud of Rebecca!

 

Big City Moms highlights The B Fund’s Founder

by

The B Fund is grateful to be featured on Big City Moms’ weekly SuperMom feature and honored they recognized its Founder, Kathleen VanDernoot.  Learn more about The B Fund, its Founder and her perspective on being a mom. 

For those of you who are not familiar with Big City Moms, it is an online community for expectant and new parents. Founded by sisters Risa Goldberg and Leslie Venokur in 2004, Big City Moms quickly became the most trusted destination for moms, dads, expectant parents, and families.  From our perspective, this is a must visit site! In addition to their incredible online community, they also host the“Biggest Baby Shower Ever” event in cities across the US.  This must-attend event is an invaluable resource for expectant and new parents that offers the opportunity to test the latest gear, learn from the experts, meet other new and soon-to-be parents, and going home with the latest products on the market.

 

BE INSPIRED: Meet Ben

by

As Ben approached his 10th birthday, he wasn’t just thinking about cake, presents, and parties. Ben, who’s been involved with The B Fund since its founding, wanted to use his birthday as an opportunity to give back. With the help of his teacher and classmates, Ben created 50 Be Bags for critically ill children and their families.

As The B Fund kicked off its Be Bag Drive this spring, Ben decided to use this opportunity to chair a drive. Be Bags are carefully crafted activity bags that provide children in hospitals with a special diversion as they await treatment. Since The B Fund’s founding, The B Fund has created over 650 of these bags.

Ben’s participation has been crucial to The B Fund’s success in creating and delivering these bags, and as he grows older, he has been eager to take on more of a leadership role to assist these families. In fact, he is well on his way toward earning our “Be Involved” Badge as a result of his incredible efforts!

 When Ben approached his teacher about his project, she was happy to help. Ben and his teacher brainstormed ways to get more of his classmates involved, and his mother reached out to other parents. Ben’s optimism and enthusiasm was infectious; his classmates and their families were happy to contribute, both for Ben’s sake and for the families The B Fund serves!

 As the drive went on, more and more families were engaged in donating items for these bags. Ben’s initial goal was to create 25 Be Bags, and as his birthday approached, he felt confident that his classmates had contributed enough items to reach this goal.

 On Ben’s birthday, his whole class got together to assemble the bags. In just 30 minutes, Ben’s class created their Be Bags and decorated handmade cards. Ben was elated to see that he not only met his goal of 25 Be Bags, but surpassed it: the class actually created 50 Be Bags altogether!

 Ben demonstrates  The B Fund’s mission to educate and empower participants to use their time, talents, and treasures to benefit critically ill children and their families. Not only did he devote his special day to helping others, but he involved his entire class in creating these Be Bags! Ben’s leadership and kindness are inspiring, and we hope that some of his classmates see his work and realize just how fun and easy it is to help others! To learn more about Be Bags or getting involved, email us at info@thebfund.org

BE INSPIRED: REBECCA SKOLER

by

The B Fund kids are just as talented as they are generous! Rebecca Skoler has volunteered with The B Fund since our founding. She participates in a unique educational opportunity in Florida, where she excels at golf while completing her high school coursework. Because golf plays such a huge role in Rebecca’s life, she wanted to find a way to use it to help meet the needs of her community.

Leadership Links is a nonprofit organization that provides an interactive way to use Rebecca’s golf talent to give back! For every birdie Rebecca makes in tournaments this season, donors can pledge to give a specified amount to Leadership Links and The B Fund. In a typical month, Rebecca competes in three tournaments. She averages two birdies per round. That means that even a small individual pledge can make a huge difference.

My favorite part of working with the B Fund is watching our actions and activities inspire others. I also enjoy watching a group of people with all different ages, personalities, and ideas come together with a single mission of changing the world.

(Rebecca)

The B Fund encourages children of all ages to use their time, talents, and treasures to give back to families caring for critically ill children. Rebecca demonstrates our mission wonderfully. Not only is she pushing herself to improve her golf, but she is striving to channel her talent into greater social good. The B Fund team is so proud of her!

Take a moment to make a pledge and or offer your support by clicking on this link.

You can make a one-time donation or pledge an amount per birdie. Thank you for your support!

 

If you know of someone who is performing acts of kinds, both large and small, email us at info@thebfund.org to learn how to nominate them and share their story. #beinspired #thebfund

BE INSPIRED: PENELOPE FIREMAN

by

The B Fund Founding Member and Board Member, Penny Fireman, has been honored by One Family Inc. for her dedication and tireless efforts to support the nonprofit organization’s commitment to prevent homelessness and break the cycle of family poverty in Massachusetts. During its 2017 TRANSFORMING FUTURES event, the organization recognized her contribution to promoting pathways to economic independence through advocacy, education, and innovation.

As a board member, Penny has played a critical role in the growth and success of the One Family Scholar Program, which supports single parents in their effort to earn a college degree. To date, more than 300 One Family Scholars have been awarded a college degree. Within six months of graduation, 90% of these scholars had found employment or were pursuing an additional degree.

Penny showcases her time, talents, and treasures in each of the organizations she supports. Her dedication to her community is a true testament to the gracious and kind individual she is. She goes above and beyond to volunteer at Tenacre Country Day School and other various community organizations.

This Wonder Woman cannot be stopped! After beating cancer in 2013, she went on to run the Boston Marathon in 2015, biked the Pan-Mass Challenge in 2017, and earned the title “Master of Pokemon Go.”

We are grateful for all Penny does to support her community. We truly could not assist families caring for critically ill children without her kindness and generosity! She is a true inspiration to us all. The B Fund cherishes our “Lucky Penny.”