A Message from the Executive Director
How kind can you be? That is the question that my daughter’s school is basing their messaging around this year. It resonates on so many levels and is especially significant when thinking about the kindness our Candlelighters’ donors and partners put forth daily. I am consistently awed by the commitment shown by our donors and partners who contribute their time, talent and treasure to support our mission of hope for local families battling childhood cancer.
During this time of year, it is your kindness that I am most grateful for. I am eternally grateful for our staff, board members, hospital partners, organizational partners, foundation partners, chapter lead volunteers, Ride for a Child riders, our new Portland Thorns friends, Thursday Night Motocross collaborators, WCP Cares team, Diamonds by Passerini, Portland Montessori school, every business that donated in-kind wine, outings, dinners and more, and every single donor that has helped us sustain our programming this year. Your partnership and collaboration allows us to be in the hospital once a week with our snack cart, provide bi-monthly catered dinners and lunches to children in treatment and their families, provide emergency financial assistance, do a holiday toy drive and put together events around the state so that families can build community and create a sense of belonging and support which is so desperately needed during the lifelong journey of pediatric cancer.
A special thank you and welcome to new board member, Steven Kassing. Steven’s family has been very involved with Candlelighters for many years through his son Connor and we are very excited to have his vision and guidance as a newly minted board member!
As we celebrate Thanksgiving and the holiday season, I also would like to acknowledge that this time of year can be especially difficult for our bereaved families and those that are experiencing challenges with their health. Please know that Candlelighters staff is here to support in whatever way we can.
I hope that each one of you experience random acts of kindness each day and are inspired to be kind to your loved ones and those that you do not know personally. To quote from a website I stumbled upon, Kindness is Everything. Be Kind Today.