Archives for February 2017

FT Cares Foundation donation press release PDF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Kim Whitehouse
630-363-6826
info@sendasmiletoday.org

Send A Smile Today™ receives donation from FT Cares Foundation

Aurora, IL – February 24, 2017 – Send A Smile Today™ was the recipient of a generous donation from the FT Cares Foundation 2016 Light the Torch walk. Send A Smile Today™ was a charitable partner with the September 2016 event. The donation from FT Cares Foundation will continue Send A Smile Today’s mission to reach more cancer patients by helping to fund future card making events, website maintenance, postage, marketing materials, and card making supplies.

About FT Cares Foundation
The FT Cares Foundation works to transform lives, locally, nationally and globally. Through the Foundation, we’re committing our resources and employees to show how much First Trust Cares and how, together, we can help change the world. The Foundation partners with many organizations in the DuPage community which are making an impact. Together with our parent organization, First Trust Portfolios, located in Wheaton, IL the Foundation is proud to make an impact in its community, and has a mandate as well to impact others around the nation and the globe. For more information, visit ftcaresfoundation.org

About Send A Smile Today™
The mission of Send A Smile Today™ is to let cancer patients know that they are never alone by regularly mailing uplifting greeting cards: from time of cancer diagnosis – through treatment – to survivorship. Cards are mailed monthly to ANYONE of ANY AGE with ANY TYPE of cancer in the United States and are meant to provide hope, love and support. Send A Smile Today™ is a service provided by the Kim’s Crew Foundation™, an Internal Revenue Service approved 501(c)(3) organization. To date, Send A Smile Today™ has mailed over 1,600 greeting cards to 200 cancer patients in 37 states. For more information, visit sendasmiletoday.org

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During 2016 we mailed monthly uplifting greeting cards to 123 cancer patients throughout the United States. Since we began our service in 2014 we have mailed over 1,600 cards to nearly 200 cancer patients in 37 states! It is because of the help from our supporters that makes this possible. Thank you to our many supporters – you are truly making a difference in the lives of others.

Here are our other accomplishments from 2016:

– Conducted two card making events: 1) Lunch N Learn at FT Cares Foundation in Wheaton, IL and Austin, TX in June and 2) Riverside, IL to honor a former card recipient, in July

– Received handmade cards, envelopes and Forever stamps from Girl Scout troops, businesses, individuals and families

– Held our 2nd annual bingo fundraiser in August

– Selected as charity partner for the FT Cares Foundation Light the Torch walk in Wheaton, IL in September

– Established “Gift a Copy” partnership program in December with Small But Mighty Books where children, that we support, will receive a free Amazing Annabelle book in 2017

– Walked as team Send A Smile Today in our 5th annual Susan G Komen Chicago Race for the Cure in September

– Featured in a Naperville NCTV17 television newscast in July

– Maintained our social media presence with 26% growth with our followers in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Like us! Follow us!

– Founder Kim Whitehouse named 2016-2017 Ford Warriors in Pink Chicago Model of Courage and was interviewed by radio station 93.9 MYFM host Brooke Hunter in October

– Founder named Chicago suburb Glancer Magazine’s Hero Mom of the month in February

– Founder selected as Chicago Woman magazine’s Mover & Shaker in October

Aurora, IL – December 7, 2016 – Aurora, IL – December 7, 2016 – Send A Smile Today™ announces a new partnership with Small But Mighty Books. Small But Mighty Books’ will be releasing their first book in January, a story for kids fighting cancer called Amazing Annabelle.

Through Small But Mighty Books’ “Gift A Copy” program, donors can gift a copy of Amazing Annabelle to a child fighting cancer, and Send A Smile Today™ will send the book to one of the children they serve through their monthly greeting card service.

Each gift copy of Amazing Annabelle costs $20 and will include a sticker on the inside front cover recognizing the donor’s generosity. These gifts will ship out in January when Amazing Annabelle is released. This program is such an easy way to spread some kindness around the world, and give joy to a child who’s fighting cancer.

“Having a child diagnosed with cancer is absolutely heartbreaking,” said Kim Whitehouse, founder of Send A Smile Today™. “We hope the book will ease children’s fears about every step of their cancer fight and help their family with the stress that comes with a cancer diagnosis. We are excited to be able to offer this special gift to those children that we support on a monthly basis.”

Gift A Copy pre-orders of Amazing Annabelle can be made now by purchasing online at http://www.smallbutmightybooks.com/gift-a-copy/

About Send A Smile Today™
The mission of Send A Smile Today is to let cancer patients know that they are never alone by regularly mailing uplifting greeting cards: from time of cancer diagnosis – through treatment – to survivorship. The cards are meant to provide hope, love, and support to ANYONE of ANY AGE going through ANY TYPE of cancer in the United States. Send A Smile Today™ is a service provided by the Kim’s Crew Foundation™, an Internal Revenue Service approved 501(c)(3) organization. To date, Send A Smile Today™ has mailed over 1,400 greeting cards to nearly 200 cancer patients in 37 states. For more information, visit sendasmiletoday.org

About Small But Mighty Books
Small But Mighty Books writes books for kids with serious medical conditions. Their first book Amazing Annabelle, a story for kids fighting cancer, releases January 2017. The book was written by Dyan Fox, whose daughter went through a cancer diagnosis in 2015. Small But Mighty Books donates 50% of their profit from sales of Amazing Annabelle to Unravel Pediatric Cancer, a charity that funds pediatric research. Through Small But Mighty Books’ “Gift A Copy” program, donors can gift a copy of Amazing Annabelle to a child fighting cancer, and Send A Smile Today™ will send the book to one of the children they serve through their monthly greeting card service. Visit smallbutmightybooks.com for more information.

Read article at Chicago Woman Magazine: http://chicago-woman.com/profiles/mover-shaker-Kim-Whitehouse/

BCA Month Mover & Shaker: Kim Whitehouse
Kim Whitehouse, founder of Send A Smile Today, celebrates her 5th year cancer-free from a 2011 breast cancer diagnosis. This month, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, she reflects upon the journey she took while overcoming cancer.

by Morgan Forst
October 11, 2016 3:00 PM

How was the cancer initially detected?
I felt the lump myself. Periodically, I would do self-breast exams so I knew what my “normal” felt like. When I pressed kind of hard in one spot I felt something small and hard pea sized in my right breast. I did not feel the same thing on my left breast. I knew what I felt could be cancer because in a prior year’s health class, the nurse passed around a breast prosthetic with tiny beads inside so we could feel what breast cancer felt like. What I felt in my breast that day felt like that prosthetic. I was only 38 and had not yet had my first mammogram. I had no family history of cancer. I was in shock when after a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy concluded, it was Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma… breast cancer.

How did you feel when you first received the diagnosis of breast cancer?
I was scared, frightened and worried. My hand was shaking as I wrote down every word my doctor told me on the phone call that day. I cried. I knew other people who had died of breast cancer and I couldn’t get those thoughts out of my head. My children were just 6 and 9 at the time and the thought of not being around for them or for my husband was devastating. I never felt alone when I was first diagnosed. This is why I wanted to be part of the Ford Warriors in Pink program. Not only do I want to help support the other Ford Models of Courage, but I want to help those recently diagnosed or living with cancer. Some cancer patients might not have the strong support system like I had. Thankfully, there are great resources like Ford Cares in place to help those with breast cancer. Two years after my diagnosis, I felt a strong passion to give back to other cancer patients and to let them know they are never alone. In 2014, I founded non-profit Send A Smile Today. Send A Smile Today provides hope, love and support to those with cancer by mailing uplifting greeting cards monthly to anyone with cancer.

What message would you like to provide women in the community about breast cancer?
My message is to let other women with cancer know they are never alone. Others have gone through the same thing as you. Cancer survivors have many successful positive stories to share. Do not let the negative stories you may hear from others get to your soul – they will destroy your inner peace and strength. Remain focused. Take it one day at a time. Live a healthy lifestyle so you can say you are doing everything you can to make sure the cancer stays away and never returns. Reach out to support resources like Ford Cares where you will receive the support to make it through the weeks and months ahead. Set small goals and celebrate when you reach each and every one.

Access video here: http://www.nctv17.com/send-a-smile/
Posted on July 21, 2016

local woman is making days a little brighter for those battling cancer.

When Kim Whitehouse was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 she knew she wanted to help others, the way her support system helped her through the disease.

“I remember one day I walked out to the mailbox, and it was a really, really rough day, emotionally and physically, and I looked in and there was a card for me. And I immediately felt empowered and energized just knowing someone took time out of their day to root for me and let me know they were thinking of me, and so at that point I knew – I want to do this for other people,” said Whitehouse.

So she started “Send a Smile Today” a volunteer program that sends letters regularly to those fighting cancer.

“We do this to let people know they are not alone fighting cancer, it’s a win win because the people making the cards get so much out of it because they are directly helping someone who needs help. And those who receive the cards really appreciate it and look forward to it every month they enjoy knowing they are supported and not alone,” she said.

Now cancer free; Whitehouse hosts events herself and even allows others to host their own events, hand-making the cards to send to patients all over the United States.

If you know someone battling cancer you can get them on the mailing list as well.

“They can sign up on our website, and anyone can log on and sign up a loved one or themselves and it’s all private we don’t give out any information or you can email us or just come tell me and we will get you cards,” she said.

To date the group has mailed 1200 cards to 160 cancer patients across 33 states.