In February I had an opportunity to do something I could never imagine, with the help of ABC's Secret Millionaire.  I got to pretend to be a "secret millionaire" through volunteer work at the charity of my choice, and present the organization with a substantial donation at the end of a day's video shoot. 

As much as I hated not being completely up front with the wonderful women of Genesis Women's Shelter in Dallas, I knew the good I could do by being able to experience the life of a vlolunteer there, would far surpass the transgression if I got to tell the world first-hand not only how incredible this organization is for women and children in North Texas, but how important it is to MAKE the time to volunteer with any group, organzation or person, who needs your help.

For 25 years, genesis women's shelter has been creating Magic in the lives of Women and Children in Dallas, Texas.  Dedicated to ending domestic violence, Genesis works to break the generational cycle, by providing shelter, safety, counseling and HOPE to those who thought there was none.

In celebration of their Silver Anniversary, they are pleased to share the story of "Noah", A story for all ages that celebrates Love and Hope, something you see at Genesis everyday!

100% of the proceeds from the sale of this book will continue to created Magic for the children at Genesis Women's Shelter.  Go to http://www.genesisshelter.org/ right now for more information on how to buy the book, volunteer at Genesis, or just learn how your donation to this cause will help.

Mattress Retailer collecting donations of gift items for RMHD families during ‘Christmas in July’ Drive
 
Sleep Experts is donating the 120 mattress sets needed to fill the new 60,000 square-foot Ronald McDonald House of Dallas set to open in late 2009. The significant donation from the family-owned mattress retailer is valued at $115,000 and is supported by Simmons and Sleep Designs.

Sleep Experts has also named RMHD the beneficiary of its Christmas in July drive and is asking the D/FW community to drop off donations of wish list items—including toiletries, office and kitchen supplies—toys and gift cards at any of its 34 mattress stores through the end of July. The RMHD wish list is available at http://rmhdallas.com/donate/wish_list.html.

Barbara McDermott, executive director of Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, said, “We are truly grateful of Sleep Experts’ generous donation of these mattress sets, which will allow our families even more comfort when they are staying with us at the new house. The donations they will be collecting at the stores this month will also allow us to help even more families in need.”

“At the heart of our business is a commitment to providing comfort to D/FW families in crisis, and we hope that with this donation we can give the gift of a restful night’s sleep for Ronald McDonald House of Dallas families,” said Christine Cook, wife, mom and president of Sleep Experts. “We ask the D/FW community to join us in the ‘Spirit of Giving’ and welcome these families to their new home-away-from-home with an early gift during our Christmas in July event.”

Established in 1981, the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas has served as a home-away-from-home for more than 26,000 families of seriously ill children who have traveled to Dallas seeking medical treatment in area hospitals. By providing a caring, supportive, home-like environment, the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas keeps the family intact and helps allow a family to establish a normal routine in the midst of crisis. It also provides families with the opportunity to share their concerns with other families in similar circumstances. The organization is currently building a new House, which will double its capacity and will open in late 2009. For more information, please contact the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas at 214.631.7354, or visit the website at www.rmhdallas.com.

Saturday, July 25th,  I had a chance to hang out at the Sleep Experts Dallas location on Knox and 75 to collect needed items, Christmas gifts, if you will, for the new Ronald McDonald house opening here in the Dallas area this fall.  I was warmed by the fact that every loyal Wolf fan who stopped by to say, "Hi", and register for our Wolf Prizes that day, did NOT come empty handed.  Each family brought something for the house and the very important people who will be using it.

It made me think about how wonderful it makes you feel to do something, anything, even if it's a very SMALL thing, for someone else.  And if you can stop and imagine for just one moment, while you're driving home in traffic to your family, late for dinner, or backed up on projects at work, how very small that inconvenience is, by comparison to a family who might live hundreds of miles away, yet need medical care for their child HERE in the Dallas area, and feel completely misplaced away from home and anything remotely "normal".

This is where Ronald McDonald house comes in.  I urge you to find a moment in your schedule to either drive by it's location here in Dallas, scheduled to open to families this fall, or at least check out the website and see a beautiful elevation of it, and read all the details about what a wonderful "home" it will be, although temporary, for familes from all over Texas who need to feel some sense of normalcy as they battle illnesses and get needed medical care in our Dallas hospitals.

I am in no way paid to endorse this charity or the works of the wonderful folks at Sleep Experts who have so graciously and generously continued to give not only beds to the new Ronald McDonald House, but have contributed refitted and recycled beds to women's shelters all over the metroplex for years. I am simply touched by their continued efforts to be a Dallas-Fort Worth based business that gives back so generously to it's community. I hope their generosity inspires you to do a small part in making the Ronald McDonald House a warm and loving place with the donation of a Christmas present to it's families this year.  How about a gift card of your choice for a stressed out mom or aunt?  Maybe a local restaurant gift certificate or even local grocery store gift card for a dad who wants to provide a nice meal while staying at the Ronald McDonald House with his sick child?  Imagine how nice it would feel if it were YOU making temporary "home" at the Ronald McDonal House, and realized that a really nice person took a moment and a few dollars to think of you and what you might be going through, and made it just a little easier for that moment, without the interest or need of a thank you.

I'm sharing some information below that you too can access on the web about Sleep Experts and President Christine Cook's great work, and the continued contributions to Ronald McDonald House charities.  If you want to donate, feel free to contact RMH Charities.  I've included that information as well.

If you're hesitant about what MIGHT make a nice gift, understandable, no problem, there's a wishlist on their site!  See below.

Thanks for any and all generosity that flows from the loyal Wolf Fan to needy folks here in Dallas-Ft. Worth.

Lisa

In February I had an opportunity to do something I could never imagine, with the help of ABC's Secret Millionaire.  I got to pretend to be a "secret millionaire" through volunteer work at the charity of my choice, and present the organization with a substantial donation at the end of a day's video shoot. 

As much as I hated not being completely up front with the wonderful women of Genesis Women's Shelter in Dallas, I knew the good I could do by being able to experience the life of a vlolunteer there, would far surpass the transgression if I got to tell the world first-hand not only how incredible this organization is for women and children in North Texas, but how important it is to MAKE the time to volunteer with any group, organzation or person, who needs your help.

For 25 years, genesis women's shelter has been creating Magic in the lives of Women and Children in Dallas, Texas.  Dedicated to ending domestic violence, Genesis works to break the generational cycle, by providing shelter, safety, counseling and HOPE to those who thought there was none.

In celebration of their Silver Anniversary, they are pleased to share the story of "Noah", A story for all ages that celebrates Love and Hope, something you see at Genesis everyday!

100% of the proceeds from the sale of this book will continue to created Magic for the children at Genesis Women's Shelter.  Go to http://www.genesisshelter.org/ right now for more information on how to buy the book, volunteer at Genesis, or just learn how your donation to this cause will help.

Mattress Retailer collecting donations of gift items for RMHD families during ‘Christmas in July’ Drive
 
Sleep Experts is donating the 120 mattress sets needed to fill the new 60,000 square-foot Ronald McDonald House of Dallas set to open in late 2009. The significant donation from the family-owned mattress retailer is valued at $115,000 and is supported by Simmons and Sleep Designs.

Sleep Experts has also named RMHD the beneficiary of its Christmas in July drive and is asking the D/FW community to drop off donations of wish list items—including toiletries, office and kitchen supplies—toys and gift cards at any of its 34 mattress stores through the end of July. The RMHD wish list is available at http://rmhdallas.com/donate/wish_list.html.

Barbara McDermott, executive director of Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, said, “We are truly grateful of Sleep Experts’ generous donation of these mattress sets, which will allow our families even more comfort when they are staying with us at the new house. The donations they will be collecting at the stores this month will also allow us to help even more families in need.”

“At the heart of our business is a commitment to providing comfort to D/FW families in crisis, and we hope that with this donation we can give the gift of a restful night’s sleep for Ronald McDonald House of Dallas families,” said Christine Cook, wife, mom and president of Sleep Experts. “We ask the D/FW community to join us in the ‘Spirit of Giving’ and welcome these families to their new home-away-from-home with an early gift during our Christmas in July event.”

Established in 1981, the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas has served as a home-away-from-home for more than 26,000 families of seriously ill children who have traveled to Dallas seeking medical treatment in area hospitals. By providing a caring, supportive, home-like environment, the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas keeps the family intact and helps allow a family to establish a normal routine in the midst of crisis. It also provides families with the opportunity to share their concerns with other families in similar circumstances. The organization is currently building a new House, which will double its capacity and will open in late 2009. For more information, please contact the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas at 214.631.7354, or visit the website at www.rmhdallas.com.

Saturday, July 25th,  I had a chance to hang out at the Sleep Experts Dallas location on Knox and 75 to collect needed items, Christmas gifts, if you will, for the new Ronald McDonald house opening here in the Dallas area this fall.  I was warmed by the fact that every loyal Wolf fan who stopped by to say, "Hi", and register for our Wolf Prizes that day, did NOT come empty handed.  Each family brought something for the house and the very important people who will be using it.

It made me think about how wonderful it makes you feel to do something, anything, even if it's a very SMALL thing, for someone else.  And if you can stop and imagine for just one moment, while you're driving home in traffic to your family, late for dinner, or backed up on projects at work, how very small that inconvenience is, by comparison to a family who might live hundreds of miles away, yet need medical care for their child HERE in the Dallas area, and feel completely misplaced away from home and anything remotely "normal".

This is where Ronald McDonald house comes in.  I urge you to find a moment in your schedule to either drive by it's location here in Dallas, scheduled to open to families this fall, or at least check out the website and see a beautiful elevation of it, and read all the details about what a wonderful "home" it will be, although temporary, for familes from all over Texas who need to feel some sense of normalcy as they battle illnesses and get needed medical care in our Dallas hospitals.

I am in no way paid to endorse this charity or the works of the wonderful folks at Sleep Experts who have so graciously and generously continued to give not only beds to the new Ronald McDonald House, but have contributed refitted and recycled beds to women's shelters all over the metroplex for years. I am simply touched by their continued efforts to be a Dallas-Fort Worth based business that gives back so generously to it's community. I hope their generosity inspires you to do a small part in making the Ronald McDonald House a warm and loving place with the donation of a Christmas present to it's families this year.  How about a gift card of your choice for a stressed out mom or aunt?  Maybe a local restaurant gift certificate or even local grocery store gift card for a dad who wants to provide a nice meal while staying at the Ronald McDonald House with his sick child?  Imagine how nice it would feel if it were YOU making temporary "home" at the Ronald McDonal House, and realized that a really nice person took a moment and a few dollars to think of you and what you might be going through, and made it just a little easier for that moment, without the interest or need of a thank you.

I'm sharing some information below that you too can access on the web about Sleep Experts and President Christine Cook's great work, and the continued contributions to Ronald McDonald House charities.  If you want to donate, feel free to contact RMH Charities.  I've included that information as well.

If you're hesitant about what MIGHT make a nice gift, understandable, no problem, there's a wishlist on their site!  See below.

Thanks for any and all generosity that flows from the loyal Wolf Fan to needy folks here in Dallas-Ft. Worth.

Lisa