When students at Flower Mound, Lantana and Keller schools rallied to raise money for their North Texas neighbors suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF), they made a $10,726 contribution toward a cure.
This degenerative lung disorder impacts about 30,000 children and young adults, whose life expectancy is a short 37 years. For 2013, Change for CF organizers hope new schools will join in this worthwhile cause.
“Every dollar raised helps add years to the lives of those living with CF,” said Andrea Grubbs, Change for CF coordinator and Flower Mound mother of three. “We would love to have more schools participate in this worthy cause. I encourage clubs, PTAs, neighborhoods, churches and other community groups to help us make a Change for CF.”
Grubbs will provide marketing materials and support to hold a community Change for CF drive, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Northeast Texas chapter.
Last year, students at several schools made a difference by bringing in $5,726 worth of pennies, quarters and dollars.
• Donald Elementary in Flower Mound brought in $400 with a PJ Day.
• Flower Mound’s Bridlewood Elementary teamed up with Lantana’s E.P. Rayzor Elementary to collect $4,569 for Change for CF.
To help support the efforts of these local students, Dennis Engelke, Executive Director of the CoServ Charitable Foundation, announced that Change for CF would receive a $5,000 grant to increase the total to $10,726.
“We were extremely proud to partner with our community’s elementary schools to support the CFF,” Engelke said.
The CoServ Charitable Foundation (CCF) enables the company to support community service, education and youth, the environment and disaster relief. CoServ funds the trust in three ways: employee contributions; an annual golf tournament in Lantana, Texas; and Operation Roundup®, a program in which CoServ electric and gas customers “round up” to the nearest dollar on their bills.
Last year, CoServ and its customers contributed more than $3 million to local civic organizations and non-profits such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Last year’s efforts were spearheaded by Rachel Driscoll and Jennifer Laplante, local moms who became involved with the cause because of a personal connection to someone with CF.
“We were thrilled to help these CF families. The reward here is knowing that we can prolong the lives of children and young adults who struggle every day to take a breath,” Driscoll and Laplante said.
Although classrooms at some of the schools earned parties to celebrate, the parents and students involved felt contributing to the CFF was the driving motivation.
“These students gave so generously to help other children and young adults living with CF,” said Bridlewood mom and Change for CF volunteer Jill Welke. “As recently as the 1950s, babies diagnosed with CF did not even live to start elementary school, and today we have hope of a cure in our lifetime. I believe that as a community, we can make an even bigger impact in 2013.”
For information on donations or holding a Change for CF event, contact Andrea Grubbs at [email protected].
Tickets are on sale for the 9th Annual North Texas Wine Opener, May 4, 2013 at Royal Affairs Ballroom in Lewisville.
Guests will enjoy a seated dinner prepared by acclaimed chef Morris Salerno of The Grotto; a selection of fine wine generously supplied by Newton Vineyard; and a silent and live auction led by GDP Auctioneer Services.
For tickets to the North Texas Wine Opener or information on sponsorship opportunities, call the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Northeast Texas at 214-871-2222 or visit www.cfwineopener.org.
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