Executive Director's Desk
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State of the Union Update
Over the last couple of months,
so many exciting things have happened and are continuing to happen. WE ARE
getting closer to providing the only drop-in cancer support facility that will deliver
critical support whenever it's needed to the over 10,000 men, women, teens and
children who are waiting for a Gilda's Club in the Twin Cities.
The momentum is building as the
awareness and support from the Twin Michelle Silverman  | Cities community continues to grow, and as we proceed with our
initial capital campaign outreach and the contributions come in. I am very proud to tell
you, as of
this week, we have 100% board member participation in our capital
campaign. Other vital avenues of support are the 3rd party events such as the very successful May Day with the Maeflies in-home party reviewed below.
Every Gift Does Count
Recently several people asked me
what size donation it takes for a gift to be considered part of the capital
campaign -- our gifts range from $1,000 to $1,000,000 with pledges occurring over a period of one to five years. Today is a great day to speak with one of
our board members or to me about a capital tribute opportunity in honor, or in
loving memory, of someone special in your life. Please call me at 651-295-1113
or email:
michelle.silverman@gildasclubtwincities.org
Clubhouse Committee
Our
clubhouse committee members are focused upon leasing space and have begun the
search for a clubhouse location.The search is based upon
defined geographical parameters and physical site requirements.
We
are excited to report that there are multiple space options available
for us to
consider and we are
working to further define our program and clubhouse environment. We will use this information to further refine the selection process.
Continued in the column to the right...
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In My Own Words - Derek Cotton
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I was 42 years old with two boys, ages
eight and three, living in Dallas and working for a venture capital
firm in Califormia when I was diagnosed with colon cancer. For the next nine months my life
was all about surgery and chemotherapy--talk about a career change.
People treat you differently when they
find out you have cancer and I
Nikki, Max, Derek  | quickly realized that I needed an outlet to
help me get through what was turning my children's and my world upside down. I tried
several support groups and found out that a meeting once every other week in
the "church basement" or once a month in some hospital or clinic listening to
people's cancer woes just wasn't quite working for me.
A friend
told me about Gilda's Club North Texas, and that I could drop in almost anytime
I wanted or needed to. I made an appointment with a counselor and took the
35-mile trek into downtown Dallas. The
first thing that hit me when I first walked through the Gilda's clubhouse door
was that it didn't have that clinical smell, nor did I have that feeling that
it was even an environment about cancer.
Read More
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May Day with the Maeflies:
a Fundraising Success Story
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Elizabeth and Daniel Gangl scored a winning bid at the 2009 Gilda's Club Twin Cities Golf Event "silent auction". They won a private, in-home performance by the Maeflies, a
renowned
folk rock ensemble, and that's where the concept of the May Day 2010
fundraiser began.
Liz Gangl, Michelle Silverman,
Dan Gangl  | This was not your ordinary fundraising party, it was an intimate evening at the home of the Gangls with the Maeflies performing a live acoustic show, a five course gourmet progressive dinner served butler style, a wide variety of games and challenges such as wine tasting, beat the pool expert, beat the poker pro's plus many more games and a raffle.
There was a goal of raising $10,000 and when the final numbers came in almost $14,000 was donated by GCTC friends and supporters. Thank you Elizabeth and Daniel Gangl for hosting this spectacular event and to all of the volunteers, friends and supporters who made this event a smashing success. It is in-home parties and events like this that make a difference, generating funds that bring us that much closer to opening our doors to begin to serve our community.
Read more and access photo Gallery
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Gilda's Club Twin Cities
Is Going to be a Part
of a National Fundraising Campaign
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Since
1996, the first Friday of each October has been
designated Lee National Denim Day, a
day when supporters nationwide come together to put on their jeans in exchange
for a $5 contribution to the fight against breast cancer. More than $75 million
has been raised to fight breast cancer as a result of Denim Day. This year
Gilda's Club is one of the designated cancer organizations that will receive
money raised on National Denim Day.
As part of this exciting
national campaign, we will have the opportunity to share our mission with the
community. We will reach out to corporations, community groups, schools,
churches, families and friends to join teams to raise money and build awareness.
For this campaign to be a success, and it will be, we need an ARMY of volunteers to develop teams
to:
-Send Tweet's
-Find Friends on Facebook
-Create a video on YouTube
-Join events and spread the
word
-Be a contact at your company.
Many of you have asked is
there something I can do to help open the doors? Well now is the time to get involved, we need
you.
In June and early July we
will be recruiting volunteers and doing training sessions. From July to October
volunteers will be registering teams on the Lee Jeans Denim Day website.
Throughout the campaign, we will be asking our volunteers and friends of
Gilda's Club to join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook. Don't worry,
you'll be trained and the best part is you will share in telling the GCTC story.
If you are interested in
volunteering, please email Carrie.Puterbaugh@GildasClubTwinCities.org
If you are interested in
being a corporate or community group contact, or for more information about
this campaign, please email Laurie.Walker@GildasClubTwinCities.org
Take a look at the Lee
Jeans DenimDay.com website to learn more.
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Don't Miss the July 26th Golf Benefit
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Gilda's Club Twin Cities Presents the Third Annual
Roseanne Roseannadanna Golf Benefit
Don't miss this fabulous golf
benefit offering hole-events, silent and live auctions and a dinner
with fun-filled comedy entertainment by the Brave New Workshop comedy Theatre.
WHEN
Monday, July 26, 2010
WHERE
Minneapolis Golf Club
2001 Flag Avenue South
St Louis Park, MN 55426
Phone: 952.544.4471
CLICK HERE FOR THE EXCITING DETAILS
Media Sponsor
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Executive Director's
Desk cont.
| Notes From the
"All
Hands" Meeting
At our recent GCTC "All
Hands Meeting" we all participated in an interactive visioning exercise.
We
split into teams and everyone present was asked to contribute to a list
of criteria to help our
clubhouse committee create a warm and welcoming environment that will
reflect
our special Minnesota culture.
The response was incredible; you could
feel the
energy of all of the participants as they articulated our Gilda's
culture and
made it come to life, ready to serve the community. You will hear more
about
this in the coming weeks.
As you read on, I also hope you
find inspiration in the story from Derek Cotton and his experience at
the
Gilda's Club in Dallas, as he tells you why our mission is so important.
You give me and our board of directors'
confidence, through your courage, strength and continued commitment.
Together
we will open our doors and begin to serve our community.
With gratitude
-Michelle
Silverman
To See the photo highlights
from the
All Hands Meeting
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Imagine Our
Clubhouse
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Mission
To ensure all people
impacted by cancer are empowered by
knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community.
Our
Promise
Behind our red doors,
Gilda's Club Twin Cities will create a
welcoming community, a place to go to for free support for everyone living
with
cancer--men, women, teens and children along with their families and
friends.
An essential complement to medical care, our innovative
program
will provide networking and support groups, workshops, education and
social
activities.
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Resources
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Kundalini Yoga Class
An
open invitation
from Erika Peterson, GCTC volunteer:
Anyone living with cancer, including families and
friends, can attend a FREE weekly, restorative Kundalini Yoga and Meditation
class every Sunday. This is your opportunity to take part in a class
that will eventually become part of the calendar of activities at
Gilda's Club Twin Cities.
Sundays
5:00-6:00 p.m.
Location
The Penny George Institute for Health and Healing,
2833 Chicago Avenue Minneapolis MN, 612-940-6510.
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Come On
Get Involved |
With a philosophy and program unlike any other
resource in Minnesota, Gilda's Club Twin Cities will fill an important
gap in cancer care and touch thousands of people living with cancer
today.
You Can Help
Make a
personal donation
every
dollar given will bring us closer to opening our doors. Click here to donate
Volunteer
and discover the list of essential and
rewarding things you can do. Click here to volunteer
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