Winter, 2014

Issue 25

Emily's Intro...

Sarah and Marie, two of my Christmas blessings.

As I sit down to write this intro, I force myself to get into the holiday spirit. Our whole family has been battling some form of illness for the past week and a half. Christmas is in four days, and Marc hasn't started his shopping. He is losing his patience with me as I need more and more of his help with the list of things that need to be done. The girls are grumpy and whiny, and I am less than sympathetic to all their needs. I try to convince myself that I am not sick. I go from thinking I can go out for a run and tackle my to-do list like a champ, to feeling like I could throw up any minute as a cold sweat washes over me. I think I can, I think I can...

Right now the house is empty and I try to focus. The girls begged and begged to go shopping with Marc, and he begrudgingly obliged, giving me some time to catch up on wrapping and time to sit and type. I actually have time to focus without interruptions. I even put the "holiday" music channel on, but all that does is make me cry. I am grasping for something positive to say. Honestly, I am at my breaking point as I try to fight my desire to skip right over Christmas while my conscious reminds me what the season is all about. I love giving gifts and spending time with friends and family. I hate the feeling of missing my Sophie, --- which every holiday seems to intensify --- and the stress that the commercial holidays puts on my loved ones. I am bitter that Sophie isn't here; this will be the eighth Christmas without her, and it seems to get easier for everyone but me.

I should know better than to complain. I have so much to be grateful for, and I know and really do realize the true meaning of Christmas. I also know what true pain is, and I have a glimpse of the pain that kids fighting cancer are feeling right now. And I know sadly that there are other parents who know, feel, and share my pain, but I will put on a happy face and try to snap out of my doldrums. I am very sad, but I am also blessed, and I know it.

I am grateful for my family, friends, and for you, my loyal SFSF supporters. I am grateful for all the ways you have embraced SFSF in 2014, from running our race, to organizing your own fundraisers, to making a donation, to buying items from the gift store, from spreading the word about SFSF, and all the ways in between. Each and every act has made a difference this year.

I am grateful for my health and for the health of my kids. I am grateful for all that Marc does to provide for our family. I am grateful that three weeks ago, I ran my second marathon. I am most grateful for my SFSF team members who helped raise almost $70,000 for St. Jude. (Because honestly right now, I don't feel like I could run a mile!) I am grateful for my Mom and sister Sarah who find the time during this busy time of year, to put this newsletter together so I can be reminded of my blessings and be provided an opportunity to share them with you.

I suppose adding the "stress" of writing a newsletter introduction is a blessing in disguise. It forces me to pause and think more about all of my blessings, and reading the articles below shows me more of all I have to be thankful for. I will try to remind myself what great "gifts" SFSF gives to Sophie in heaven and what a great party she is celebrating up there.

I hope that this issue of Smiles for the Season reminds you of all the good there is in the world, even when our own lives can get bogged down with sadness, stress and negativity. I count you among many of the things that I will be eternally grateful for. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me to see through the darkness.

I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I cannot wait to see what blessings SFSF will receive in 2015.

With gratitude and hope,

Emily Quayle

SFSF Board President

Sophie, Sarah, and Marie's Mommy

Early and Enormous Christmas present for SFSF

It doesn't get much better. Just last week SFSF Board President Emily Quayle was notified that SFSF was awarded $10,000 by The Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court, as part of The Honor Project. As part of a civil action heard by Judge John Russo, The Honor Project is what's known as a "cy-pres," meaning if there are unclaimed funds in a class action settlement, a judge can use the cy-pres doctrine to distribute remaining funds for beneficial use.

Over 250 Ohio charities were beneficiaries of the $6 million dollars distributed in the third phase of The Honor Project. In order to facilitate the distribution of monies, Modgility was hired to automate communication, application, and review processes through a secure on-line portal. When Emily became aware of The Honor Project in August by Mo Loesch, a dear friend committed to the fight against pediatric brain cancer who was employed by the court to work on this special project, she submitted the SFSF documentation to be considered for an award. Currently there are more than 40,000 charities registered as 501c3 organizations in Ohio; just over 250 charities shared in the award.

Upon receiving the news, Emily immediately contacted SFSF Board members by email, asking them to vote on a proposal to "donate $5000 of the award to The Cure Start Now, in the name of Lauren Hill." Lauren Hill is the 19-year-old, Mount St. Joseph freshman basketball player, suffering from DIPG. Lauren was able to play basketball in November to sell-out crowds, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for TCSN; she is committed to spending her remaining time with family, raising funds for The Cure Starts Now, a foundation dedicated to DIPG research. SFSF Board members approved the allocation, more than happy to "pay it forward" and help Lauren with her personal mission of raising a million dollars.

Team SFSF Makes Grand Showing in Memphis

Team SFSF at the St Jude Heroes Pasta Party.

Team SFSF, 44-strong, descended upon Memphis for the 2014 St. Jude Marathon Weekend, December 5-7, raising $69,381, of the over $8 million donated. Despite the steady rain on Friday, Saturday's race temperatures in the 50's compensated somewhat for the 15-20 mph winds. In addition to the race participants --- 15 marathoners, 14 half marathoners, and 15, 5K runners --- there was an added contingency of 11 friends and family members who traveled to Memphis as Team SFSF supporters and spectators. One of Team SFSF's Gold Heroes, Megan O'Brien from Virginia, who surpassed her fundraising goal, missed the weekend event because of sick kids, who graciously passed on their sickness to her.

With the $20,000 donation from SFSF, the team was among the top 10 fundraisers. Hailing from eight states: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin, the team made an impressive showing in their hot pink SFSF race shirts, and were out in full force for the St. Jude Hospital Tour, the Expo, the Pasta Dinner, the Heroes Lounge, and of course, the streets of Memphis. More than half of the team (25) members were first-time participants, although ten, second-timers were actually first-timers since they were registered last year, but never ran because of the cancellation of the 2013 race. Nineteen team members were veteran participants, with Team Captain Emily Quayle running for her seventh consecutive year. Team members ranged in ages from 11-68, proving that running and supporting St. Jude through SFSF has no bounds.

Seth Cooke, Charly (Emily's brother) Miklaski's friend from Tyler, Texas, finished 12th overall in the marathon, with a time of 2:48:59; so awesome, considering there were over 18,000 race participants in Memphis.

Feeling more organized and mentally and physically prepared --- despite several training injuries ---the team members were ready to keep their momentum going following their races. They all met in the downstairs, banquet room of The Local on Saturday night, for dinner, celebrating race finishes, PRs, friendships and Sarah (Emily's sister) Smith's 40th birthday with a surprise cake. Beale Street beckoned and team members danced and sang the night away into the wee hours of Sunday morning, all vowing to return next year, with even more runners and spectators.

SFSF thanks the team (see below) for their hours of training, their successful fundraising, and their awesome support --- all in the name of Sweet Sophie Girl, who was treated, and treated, oh so well, at St. Jude in 2007.

SFSF extends a special thanks to all the donors who supported the SFSF Team and happily announces that official fundraising ends Dec. 31, 2014. Donations gladly accepted by visiting the Team SFSF fundraising page.

The 2014 SFSF St. Jude Marathon Team, by race category:

Marathoners:
Angie Allen, Jonas Cooke, Seth Cooke, Clay Emge, Kimberly Emge, Leigh Ann Frederick, Allie Garcia, Renee Haveman, Lance Herron, Trina Lengyel, Charly Miklaski, Emily Quayle, Jen Slater, Nina Stanossek, Jenny Walker

Half Marathoners:
Becky Blackwell, Kelly Bova, Charity Cooke, Leslie Deebach, Joanna Gifford, Beth Hamel, Lauren Hicks, Andrea LaForce, Mark McDonald, Amy Nguyen, Michele Pascuzzi, Sarah Smith, Heather Tinsley, Amy Wilds

5K Runners:
Jamie Collins, Chris Derra, Mike Derra, Kathy Farquhar, Tate Farquhar, Trent Farquhar, Tracy Ford, Doug Karn, Misty Karn, Kelle Illitch, Travis Illitch, Susie Miklaski, Peter Oklobdzija, Gino Rinaldo, Sean Slater

Spectators and SFSF Supporters:
Kimberly Cooke, Peter Cooke, Damian Frederick, Felipe Garcia, Jesse Hamel, Scott Haveman, Scot McCain, Wendy McCain, Ron Stanossek, Jeffrey Troyer, Mike Walker

Signs in the lobby at St Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide-open-heart that thinks of others first.

~ George Matthews Adams

Guy Goldyn is Truly Golden

Guy Goldyn

Seven-year-old Guy Goldyn of Avon Lake, Ohio, celebrated his October 23rd birthday thinking not of the presents he would receive from his party guests, but of the donations his guests would make to Smiles For Sophie Forever. As a sign of appreciation, mini, SFSF footballs were given as party favors to all the guests.

In more than golden-style, his guests donated $90.00 to SFSF (per Guy's request) in lieu of birthday presents for Guy. For Guy's party, guests were invited to the Regal Cinema at Crocker Park in West Lake, Sunday, October 26, to see "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." For Guy, his friends, and for SFSF, it was a "special, wonderful, good, very good day."

According to Guy's mom, Jenn, who moved to Avon Lake with her family just two years ago, Guy's reasons for choosing SFSF as his birthday charity were plentiful. Namely, Guy is friends with both CJ Stobe and Erik Van Euwen, whose mother Kristin and parents, Kristin and Peter, serve and served, respectively, on the SFSF Board, and whose families are avid SFSF supporters; his mom ran the 2014 SFSF Bash & Dash, and his family are members of Holy Spirit Church (where the Quayles attend) and where he had often seen promotional SFSF material in the church's vestibule and church paper, and where Pastor Beatty so graciously promotes SFSF activities and functions.

SFSF thanks Guy and his birthday guests for their donation, and wishes Guy a belated, but very happy birthday!

Fit Me Up Fits Up SFSF

Gio Theodore selling snacks for SFSF.

Board members Amber and Paul Theodore of Fit Me Up (FMU) were involved in SFSF fundraisers for three, consecutive months. Gio, their 4-year-old son, had a sale of his own at an early, weekend-long, summer family garage sale, selling lemonade, cookies, donuts, and water, adding $26.00 to SFSF coffers in August, 2014.

FMU then sponsored the September 22 yoga class conducted by Katie Brown, with profits of $440 going to SFSF in September. The one hour class began with a few words by Emily Quayle and the shavasana closing featured, fittingly so, the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Those in attendance were given a stainless steel SFSF travel cup or a SFSF mini football keepsake.

FMU member Jen Kappler held a Mary Kay catalog/online party, with a display of goods at FMU. Any orders which referenced "FMU" were entitled to a 20% discount, as well as free shipping, with all profits earmarked for the SFSF Go For the Gold Campaign, which ended Oct. 6, 2014. On October 31, Jen's FMU/Mary Kay fundraiser added $209.90 to the SFSF treasury.

SFSF thanks Amber, Theo, Gio, Katie, and Jen and all those who supported their fundraisers, fitting up SFSF!

Yogis at FMU for SFSF.

SFSF grants surpass $540,000

Since September, 2014, the Foundation has helped 21 families and awarded $21,000 in grant money, bringing the total amount of family grants awarded to $378,253. The grand total donated by SFSF, including donations to The Cure Starts Now ($82,000) and St. Jude ($70,000), is $542,253.

Every month, the SFSF Grant Committee approves applications for financial assistance for families of children with brain cancer. The children of the families who received grants in September, October and November 2014 are:

Daniel, age 1 - ATRT
Ava, age 1 - anaplastic astrocytoma grade III
Eli, age13 - glioblastoma multiforme
Aiden, age 7 - DIPG
Anonymous, age 6 - anaplastic astrocytoma
Nevaeh, age 4 - optic glioma
Esmeralda, age 4 - PNET
Dylan, age 2 - medulloblastoma
Anonymous, age 18 - gllioblastoma multiforme
Addyson, age 6 - pilomyxoid astrocytoma
Emma, age 11 - germ cell tumor
Talon, age 5 - choroid plexus carcinoma
Anonymous, age 9 - astrocytoma
Ruth, age 11 - DIPG
Nicholas, age 9 - glioblastoma multiforme, grade IV
McKenzie, age 14 - anaplastic ependymoma
Anonymous, age 10 - ATRT
Kayden, age 7 - pilomyxoid astrocytoma
Jeremy, age 12 - germinoma
Rasheta, age 9 - anaplastic astrocytoma
Austin, age 13 - ganglioglioma

In This Issue

Early Christmas Gift

St Jude Marathon Weekend

Donations in lieu of presents

FMU for SFSF

SFSF Family Grants

2014 SFSF Ornament

Holiday Shopping Extravaganza

Trenton Schools Fundraiser

Valley Ford supports SFSF

2015 Appeal

Shop Online to help SFSF

Last call for 2014

SFSF ornament

The dated, 2014 SFSF commemora- tive Christmas ornament is still available. Extremely light-weight, the ornament can be mailed with a first-class postage stamp. Made of stainless steel, with the SFSF logo, the bright, primary-colored rainbow hangs from a red ribbon. The $10.00 ornament is seventh in the series, and may be ordered, locally, and in time for Christmas by contacting Emily. Need to simply complete the collection, visit the SFSF Gift Store.

Early Christmas Shopping Under One Roof

Christmas shopping at its best, and most convenient, welcomed SFSF supporters at the Second Annual Holiday Shopping Extravaganza, held Saturday, November 15, 2014, at Holy Spirit Church in Avon Lake. Planned and organized by Kristin Van Euwen, former SFSF Board member and two-year SFSF Bash & Dash director, the event raised $2353 for SFSF. The event featured 28 vendors, ranging from the long-established Tupperware and Pampered Chef, to the all-time favorites Tastefully Simple and Thirty-One, to the up-and-coming Keep Collective. In addition to the nationally-known vendors, several area crafters were also on hand, all guaranteeing that ordered goods would be delivered in time for Christmas giving.

SFSF sponsored a Bake Sale and sold SFSF merchandise, providing exposure to the benefactor of the Extravaganza. A Chinese auction, including many items donated by the vendors present, satisfied those who like to take a chance.

A lunch of pizza, soft drinks, coffee, and of course, baked goods, was available for purchase for those whose shopping time became visiting time and break time.

SFSF thanks Father Beatty and Holy Spirit Church for providing the venue; Kristin Van Euwen for planning and organizing the event; the volunteers who worked the event; the SFSF bakers, and the shoppers who all made the Extravaganza a success, and hopes that it was a pleasant beginning to everyone's Christmas shopping.

Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling.

~ Edna Ferber

What a Week It Was!

THS Principal, Mike Doyle, with Melissa Cabauatan.

Thanks to the work of Mrs. Melissa Cabauatan, teacher of the hearing impaired and Trenton High School cheerleading coach, the week of Sept. 22-26 was designated as SFSF week at Trenton High School. In a perfect ending to September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the students rallied in their support of raising both funds and awareness. By week's end, the Trenton community raised $1330.88 for Smiles For Sophie Forever.

The fundraising activities included spare change collections during the lunch hours, a returnable bottle/can drive, selling of gold ribbons and stickers, a 20% profit day at Yogurtown on West Rd. in Trenton and culminated with a "Minute-To-Get-It" collection at Friday night's (Sept.26) football game which sent the JV Cheer team scurrying up the bleachers collecting donations from the fans between quarters of the game.

With the support and full cooperation of Trenton School District Superintendent Rod Wakeman, THS Principal Mike Doyle, Mrs. Cabauatan and her co-coaches, the THS Cheer Teams, the student body, and the Trenton Community, the fundraiser surpassed expectations.

The SFSF banner with Sophie's picture was displayed all week long and at the football game as well, providing donors with authenticity of Sophie, The Foundation, and the reality of childhood cancer.

Along with the excitement of the THS 2014 Homecoming pep rally, Oct. 10, 2014, Mrs. Cabauatan, along with her coaches and cheer teams, presented Susie Miklaski, Sophie's grandma, with an "enormous" check representing the donation to SFSF.

SFSF is so grateful to Mrs. Cabauatan, who felt, "....compelled to help awareness too" after witnessing the time and effort of her Trenton friends and classmates who were training and fundraising for the St. Jude Marathon Weekend, (See St. Jude Marathon).

SFSF thanks the entire Trenton community for its great effort and fantastic fundraising.

Michelle Maci, Melissa Cabauatan, Susie Miklaski and Kelly Leone at the THS Homecoming Pep Rally for the SFSF check presentation.

Terry Lazar's (left) new Ford Raptor courtesy of Brian O'Donnell and Valley Ford Trucks.

Power of the press pleases SFSF

Only days after publishing the fall Smiles For the Season newsletter, (Sept. 16, 2014), SFSF Board member Andrea Bucci received an email from Brian O'Donnell of Valley Ford Trucks in Valley View, Ohio, who read the newsletter. Brian, who had run the SFSF Bash & Dash several years ago, receives and reads the newsletter regularly. In Brian's words: "...after reading your last newsletter we just wanted to help out. We are hosting a

customer appreciation golf outing Friday (Sept. 26, 2014) at Briarwood, and would like to make a donation on behalf of our customers and vendors. We would also like to raffle off a new Power Wheels Ford Raptor at the outing, with 100% of the ticket sales going to SFSF."

And they did! The 2014 Customer Appreciation Golf Outing in Broadview Heights, Ohio, held just 10 days after the release of the on-line SFSF newsletter, benefitted, in part, SFSF. Along with the $1000 donation, the $5.00 raffle tickets for the Ford Raptor F-150 netted an additional $645 for Smiles For Sophie Forever and a new Power Wheels Ford Raptor F-150 for Terry Lazar, the winner of the raffle.

According to Brian, "Sophie's story is inspiring to me and my family. Hoping we can do something again next year. " SFSF thanks Brian O'Donnell, Valley Ford, and all those who attended for their generosity. As revealed in an email to Brian, the day before the outing: "A great cause for donation...my first born died at age five from a brain tumor in 1991. It's a life-changing tragedy I wish on no one. Glad we are doing this." SFSF agrees and is glad too!

2015 Has Heavenly Appeal

The 2015 Annual SFSF Appeal should arrive in mailboxes in late January or early February. With its midnight blue color and bright, shiny stars it has the look of Christmas. Please don't mistake the appeal for a lost or extremely late holiday greeting. "Reaching for the Stars" celebrates having reached the half million dollar mark in monies awarded for the tri-fold mission of SFSF, with the hope of reaching for the stars, that of giving away a million dollars. With the help of generous SFSF supporters, the dream can become a reality.

To date, the 2014 Annual Appeal has added $13,955.06 to the SFSF treasury, allowing for more family grants, more money to research, and more money to St. Jude.

SFSF gives a special thank you to Geoff and Emily Stover, who have made a 30-month pledge of $10,000 for the 2014 appeal, and are right on the mark with their pledged amount. Geoff, who, while living in Westlake and Avon, worked with Marc Quayle, is the first donor to make such a pledge. Geoff has now changed jobs, and the Stovers have relocated to the Cincinnati area, however their continued support of Marc and Emily and SFSF has not moved. The Stover's comittment to SFSF is so greatly appreciated.

Be on the watch for the appeal and become one of SFSF's shining stars.

I will honor Christmas in my heart,

and try to keep it all the year.

~ Charles Dickens

Help SFSF With Last-Minute On-line Shopping

While Amazon and many on-line stores are advertising guaranteed delivery for Christmas, SFSF joins the bandwagon, reminding SFSF supporters to use Amazon Smile and iGive stores, designating Smiles For Sophie Forever as their "charity of choice." It's a one-step way of donating to SFSF, and it doesn't cost shoppers anything extra.

iGive logo

~ Sincerest Sympathies~

SFSF extends heartfelt condolences to the family of RJ Cornelia on the passing of their dearest RJ. Little RJ, this past fall's Smiles For the Season "Spotlight" passed away on Dec. 1, 2014. This very brave young man will be remembered and honored by those who loved and knew him. Certainly RJ is pain-free and wholly-healed, playing with his Bruder trucks. Continue following the work of his family at Prayers for RJ on Facebook.

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