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Boston Voyager Highlights The B Fund’s Founder

The B Fund is grateful to be featured on Boston Voyager’s website. The Boston Voyager interviewed our founder, Katheen VanDernoot, discussing The B Fund’s story and mission, challenges she has faced along the way, and the importance of children in The B Fund’s work. Read more about Kathleen and The B Fund in the piece here: http://bostonvoyager.com/interview/meet-kathleen-vandernoot-b-fund-metro-west/

Boston Voyager is a media outlet devoted to highlighting the best of Beantown – from freelance makeup artists that will dazzle you to the best Meeup groups in town. It is the Boston publication for Voyage Media, which aims to build a platform that fosters collaboration and support for small businesses, independent artists and entrepreneurs, local institutions and those that make cities interesting.

Valentine’s Activity Inspires 233 Participants to Make Cards for Those in Need

For the past few years, The B Fund has delivered cards to local hospitals on Valentine’s Day as a way of letting children know that others are thinking of them on this special day. Many children do not have the opportunity to pass out Valentines with their classmates, especially if they are staying in hospitals for an extended period of time.

This year, The B Fund decided to increase the impact of our card-making activity by reaching out to some local parents and teachers to get their children involved. For this program, The B Fund also partnered with Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center. In addition to delivering the cards there, The B Fund donated $2.50 to the hospital for each card submitted.

Considering this was our first attempt at a larger Valentine’s Day activity, we couldn’t believe the outpouring of generosity from 233 caring individuals of all ages who submitted cards! Thanks to their kindness, children at Floating Hospital for Children were able to experience the joy of knowing that kids their age were thinking of them on this holiday.

“It’s great to know that an activity as simple as making a Valentine’s Day card can make a difference in the lives of sick children!” said Jessica, a mother of 3 who invited her children’s school to participate in the activity.

This activity involved children of all ages, including two preschool programs, several upper elementary classrooms, and even some adults who joined in the fun! Children as young as 3 were able to use their own time and talents to better the lives of children staying in local hospitals.

Participants took their card-making task very seriously, with some even attaching their cards to beautiful scrapbooking paper! Altogether, schools and families submitted 285 cards for children in need.  

Since this activity was such a resounding success, The B Fund plans to add Valentine’s Card-Making to its lineup of signature activities!

Check out some photos of our volunteers, the cards, and the children who received them!

Be Inspired: Brody Raises $1550 for Meal Vouchers

This November, Brody, age 10, was selected for a Summer of Service Grant from Disney and Youth Service America (YSA). He was one of 270 young leaders chosen throughout the country to facilitate a project making communities healthier, greener, and stronger.

The grant assisted him in implementing a project aiming to raise $1500, the amount required to provide one month of vouchers for two parents caring for a critically ill child. When a family stays in the hospital, meals cost approximately $25 each day. In an already stressful time, these meals can provide an unnecessary burden, so meal vouchers can make a big difference.

Brody decided to reach his goal by organizing several of The B Fund’s signature activities: a Sweet Sale, a Recycle Drive, and the Halloween Candy Drive.

Brody’s Sweet Sale engaged 24 children of all ages, who took the time to bake delicious sweets for the holidays. The treats included cookies, candied apples, and even a Barbie Cake! The sweets were packaged in tins and sold to families for their holiday parties. At the end of the sale, the items completely sold out, and Brody raised $697.31 toward his fundraising goal.

Brody also held a Recycle Drive in his fourth grade class at Field Elementary School in Weston, MA. For this project, his classmates brought recyclable bottles, cans, and other containers to be exchanged for cash. This drive engaged 20 students, who donated 39 plastic bottles, 8 paper bags, 12 cans, and 36 plastic containers toward Brody’s fundraising goal.

Lastly, Brody played an integral role in The B Fund’s 5th Annual Halloween Candy Drive. He helped to invite his school to participate in the drive and organized materials by sorting all of The B Fund’s flyers and cards for the elementary schools in his native Weston. Overall, 301 students at Brody’s school created treat bags for families in local hospitals with their donated Halloween candy.

Throughout his project, Brody maintained a fundraising page to update friends and family members about his progress. In addition to participation from his various events, this page also helped Brody reach his goal, as several individuals donated directly to his page.  

When asked about his experience, Brody said, “It felt really good knowing that I got to have an experience with my friends. Together we were able to do a good deed for a family caring for a critically ill child.”

At the end of his project, Brody not only met, but exceeded, his initial fundraising goal! He raised $1550 toward meal vouchers for a family in need.

Brody was thrilled when his efforts were featured in his local newspaper, the Weston Crier. Read more about his grant project here.

Do you know someone who’s using their time, talents and treasures to help those in need? Nominate them to be featured for our “Be Inspired” piece! Email us at info@thebfund.org for more information.

Be Involved: Valentine’s Day Card-Making

Making a difference this Valentine’s Day has never been so easy to do!

This Valentine’s Day, The B Fund will donate $2.50 to Floating Hospital For Children at Tufts Medical Center Child Life Department for each card created through our Valentine’s Day Card Making Activity.*

When a family stays in a hospital for an extended time, even a gesture as simple as a card can make a huge difference. Take a moment to show these families you’re thinking of them by joining us for The B Fund’s Valentine’s Card-Making Activity. Your efforts will not only brighten someone’s day, they will also raise funds to support critically ill children and their families while they are in the hospital.


WHAT is this activity?

You will be coloring cards for children in the hospital. The B Fund will provide you with a card template to print, and an electronic toolkit that contains everything you need to successfully implement this activity.

WHO can get involved?

  • Families
  • Schools
  • Community groups
  • Anyone looking to make a difference!

WHEN does this take place?

February 1 – 12, 2018. To ensure the timely delivery of the cards, The B Fund must receive all cards by Monday, February 12th.

WHERE does this take place?

Worldwide!

WHY should I get involved?

There are so many benefits of involving your family, class, or community organization! Here are just a few:

  • Teach children the importance of kindness, empathy, and respect.
  • Raise awareness and funds for critically ill children and their families.
  • Spend quality time with your family and friends.
  • Brighten a child’s day by showing them that someone is thinking of them as they await treatment in the hospital!

HOW can I get involved?

Participation is simple and fun: email info@thebfund.org to request your toolkit, and The B Fund will provide you with a card template and electronic resources to help you get started!

Happy Valentine’s Day! We can’t wait to see your beautiful treasures!

 

*up to $5,000. In order for cards to be delivered to patients, participants must follow all instructions in The B Fund’s Valentine’s Day Toolkit.

Be Inspired: Meet Dare!

Meet Dare! He is driven, compassionate, and mentally tough.

Dare has partnered with his local Boys and Girls Club in Dorchester, MA to organize a screening of the movie Black Panther for children in the area. The movie is based on the popular comic book series by the same name, which is notable for having featured the first African-American superhero in mainstream American comics.

Many children served by this Boys and Girls Club would not otherwise be able to afford to see Black Panther on their own. Determined to empower these kids, Dare decided to start a GoFundMe page to cover the cost of movie tickets and refreshments. As of January 23, 2018, Dare has raised $1,800 toward his overall fundraising goal of $2,000!

“I think it’s important for kids to see superheroes that look like them on the big screen,” Dare wrote when asked what inspired him to get involved, “My goal is to empower them.” Dare also attributes his desire to give back to his background and religious beliefs.

“Being a Christian and African, it’s part of my beliefs and values to always help others in need,” he wrote, “It also makes me feel good helping others.”

Here are some fun facts about Dare:

  • His family and friends would describe him as loving, caring, and passionate.
  • As a child, his favorite toys were toy planes.
  • His favorite app is Instagram.
  • His hobbies include playing sports, spending time with family, and reading.
  • He believes that helping others feels rewarding.

We ask The B Fund kids to answer the question, “What will you be?” to encourage them to think about the change they want to create. Dare answered this question by pledging to be the difference.

Dare is truly an inspiration for his desire to make an impact on a community in need. His efforts show that collective acts of kindness can make an enormous impact, as 24 people have contributed to his fundraising page thus far. By facilitating the fundraiser, Dare has not only helped to empower children in Dorchester, but he’s also inspired each of his donors to take action and be the change!

Do you know someone who’s using their time, talents, and treasures to help those in need? Nominate them to be featured for our “Be Inspired” piece! Email us at info@thebfund.org for more information.

Be Inspired: Meet Dianna, Stephanie and Candace!

Meet Dianna, Stephanie, and Candace!

From left to right: Candace Lyons, Dianna Abrams, Stephanie Vogt

All three of these ladies were instrumental in implementing a Be Bag Drive that engaged nearly 200 participants at Temple Sinai of Sharon and its preschool, Gilson JCC Early Learning Center. Altogether, their community created 80 Be Bags that will provide families with a special diversion as they await treatment in area hospitals.

Since they all played a role in making this event a resounding success, The B Fund would like to highlight all three in this week’s “Be Inspired” piece!

Dianna, Stephanie, and Candace are all heavily involved with JCC Greater Boston (JCCGB), one of the largest Jewish organizations in the Boston area. It strives to promote Jewish life and connect families to activities in the region to create a greater sense of community.

To get to know each of these women a bit better, we asked them a few questions:

Stephanie Vogt can best be described as sweet, caring, and compassionate. She enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures, and she is involved with Children International in addition to JCCGB.

When Stephanie learned about The B Fund, she loved its purpose immediately, as she loves organizations that help and support children. When asked why it is important to help others, she said, “Everyone can use a helping hand at some point in one’s life. It makes me happy to see someone else smile.”

Here are some fun facts about Stephanie:

  • Her favorite movie is The Notebook.
  • If Stephanie had one hour to herself to do anything, she would get a massage.
  • Her favorite toy as a child was an indoor climbing structure.
  • Her favorite app is Facebook!
  • She thinks that helping others feels fulfilling.
  • Stephanie’s friends and family would say that she is thoughtful, hardworking, and loving.

The B Fund asks kids to consider how they will make a difference in the world by answering the question, “What will you be?” Stephanie completed this sentence by pledging to be “a helping hand.”

Candace Lyons can best be described as loyal, caring, and funny. She loves reading, traveling, and doing arts and crafts with her family.

As a Family Connector for JCCGB, Candace plans programs and events for families in the Boston area. She finds this role rewarding because it connects her to families in the area and helps other families to make similar connections.

When asked why it is important to help others, Candace said, “We only have one chance to live the best life we can, and helping others is not only personally rewarding, it can mean the world to someone else. As a mom, it’s even more important to me to show my girls that there is a world beyond our home and that helping others can connect them to our community.”

Here are some fun facts about Candace:

  • Her favorite movie is Beetlejuice.
  • Her favorite toy as a child was her Cabbage Patch Kid.
  • Her favorite app is Facebook.
  • Candace thinks that helping others feels very rewarding!
  • If Candace’s family had to describe her, her husband would say that she is dedicated, her daughters would say that she is loving, and her friends would say that she is a good listener.

The B Fund asks kids to consider how they will make a difference in the world by answering the question, “What will you be?” Candace completed this sentence by pledging to be “a positive force.”

Dianna Abrams can best be described as kind, empathetic, and nurturing. She loves working out and writing, and, like Candace, she is a Family Connector for JCCGB.

This winter, Dianna wanted to plan a service-oriented event for Temple Sinai of Sharon’s Tot Shabbat. After hearing about The B Fund on a radio program, Dianna decided to reach out and inquire about kid-friendly activities. When she learned about our signature Be Bag program, this seemed like the perfect holiday activity for the Temple Sinai community!

When asked why it is important to help others, Dianna said, “I feel we are raising our children in a world that was tougher than when we grew up. I find it so important to teach our children and the next generation that the world can be a beautiful place but it is up to them to make that difference.”

Dianna strives to set a good example for her children in everything that she does. When asked to reflect on how her closest friends and family see her, she wrote, “I hope my children and my family see me as someone who will always put their needs before my own. I hope they know I always give my best to make their world a little more fun and light!”

Here are some fun facts about Dianna:

  • Her favorite movie is Rudy.
  • Her favorite toy as a child was her soccer ball.
  • Her favorite app is Instagram.
  • Dianna believes that helping others feels fulfilling.

The B Fund asks kids to consider how they will make a difference in the world by answering the question, “What will you be?” Dianna completed this sentence by pledging to be “kind to others.”

The B Fund is so grateful for all of the hard work that Dianna, Candace, and Stephanie put into organizing their Be Bag drive. Thanks to their dedication and willingness to help, their community was inspired to use their time, talents, and treasures to create fun-filled Be Bags that are sure to brighten children’s days.

Do you know someone who’s using their time, talents, and treasures to help those in need? Nominate them to be featured for our “Be Inspired” piece! Email us at info@thebfund.org for more information.