Bethesda Row Shop for the Cause for Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic
Kendra Scott/Smile Valley for Tiny Sparks Foundation
The Make-A-Wish team, including (second from left) President and CEO Lesli Creedon, and Board Member Katherine Kallinis Berman of Georgetown Cupcakes, with Elisa Marshall of Maman, and xx of Simon Pearce Kimberly Hellebuyck.
Bethesda Row events held Feb. 8 helped two local charities -- Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic and the Tiny Sparks Foundation.
The Shop for a Cause event sent a portion of sale from participating stores -- Anine Bing, Jenni Kayne, Luke's Lobster, Maman, Sassanova, Simon Pearce, Veronica Beard, and Wylie Grey -- to the local Make-A-Wish Foundation to fulfill wishes for kids in our community fighting critical illnesses.
Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic is a local nonprofit that creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The vision is to grant the wish of every eligible child at the time it can have the greatest impact on their mental, emotional and physical health – giving them the hope, strength and joy to battle through their illness. This year, the group granted its 11,000th local wish.
Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic receives about 450 referrals every year for children in northern Virginia, DC and Maryland through partnerships with local children’s hospitals. It is funded through local philanthropy, and our governing board is comprised of local corporate and civic leaders.
For more information about donating or volunteering for Make-A-Wish, contact Lesli at lcreedon@midatlantic.wish.org, and see more at wish.org/midatlantic.
Smile Valley Pediatric Dentistry Event -- Tiny Sparks & Big Hearts
Pediatric Dentistry also presented the fundraiser Tiny Sparks & Big Hearts at Kendra Scott Bethesda. Each purchase helped families at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital's Newborn Intensive Care Unit through the Tiny Sparks Foundation.
The foundation focuses its efforts on promoting positive psychosocial outcomes for families who are suddenly faced with the high stress environment of a critical care unit. The majority of the funds raised by Tiny Sparks are used to help area NICUs develop interventions to promote family-centered care.
It has also helped establish the Two Hearts Mental Health and Wellness Program that offers mental health and wellness support to Georgetown NICU families and NICU staff by providing onsite consultations to treatment providers and brief interventions.
For more information, and to donate, see https://www.tinysparksfoundation.org