Start with a record number of attendees (over 300 charitable souls showed up), add new table sponsorships (a big hit as it turns out, thanks to some very generous people), throw in our fantastic sponsors and prize do-nors, and the result is a substantial increase in revenue over last year.

In fact, after expenses, The Kara Fund earned over $30,000. For us, that’s big! For the families that we serve, that’s comfort, and lots of it.

Held again at Traditions at the Links, the Open Your Hearts dinner dance lasted about five hours, and prob-ably could have gone longer, with people dancing and bidding the night away.

Honoring DECA’s grEAt WorkIf you have read our newsletters or checked out our Facebook page

(facebook.com/thekarafund), you’ve probably noticed that the East Syracuse Minoa High School DECA group always seems to be doing something to benefit The Kara Fund. Whether it’s a fashion show or a ce-lebrity basketball game, ESM DECA has been great to us, raising over

$10,000 in a very short time.

We thought it was time to honor them by acknowledging their great efforts begun under advisor Darlene Baker (who was Kara’s

advisor when Kara was DECA vice president) and continuing under the guidance of Robert Anzalone. They were honored as our special guests for the evening and, at their annual banquet in May, Mark MacDougall presented them with a plaque thanking them for all they’ve done.

Thank you, DECA!

Now THAT’S AN EvENT!3rd ANNuAl “opEN Your HEArTS” diNNEr ANd dANciNg EvENT wAS THE BiggEST YET!

Our Mission: To provide comfort to seriously ill children and their families through goods and services that will support them in their time of distress.

News for Friends of The Kara FundSharing Smiles

July 2015

Poignant Observations...One of the evening’s highlights was a series of moving reflections on Kara MacDougall’s life, deliv-ered by someone who knew her pretty well: her brother Matt. While space prohibits a reprint of the en-tire speech here, we’d like to share Matt’s closing thoughts, in which he summed up Kara’s legacy to this organization, and to all of us:

My sister wasn’t able to become the impactful teacher she said she was going to be, but The Kara Fund is now giving books to chil-dren who are too sick to go to their school’s library and check one out. Kara hasn’t been able to help underserved communities as she wanted to, but The Kara Fund is now giving some families with seri-ously ill children essential supplies they do not have access to. My mother, father, brother and I can-not go back and thank the hun-dreds of community members who supported us when Kara was sick, but because of you here tonight, The Kara Fund can help us pay that support forward.

On behalf of all of Kara’s family and friends I want to thank all of you so much for your outpouring of support tonight and for helping us to keep everything that was good about my sister still here with us, in The Kara Fund.

Consider us inspired, Matt.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Kara Fund Inc.5827 Augsburg CircleEast Syracuse, NY 13057

www.thekarafund.net

Debbie AbreuAssociate Director

Mike AlbaneseDirector

Bob CampeseDirector, Scholarship Chair

Michele ConteAssociate Director

Joe GigliottiDirector, Marketing Chair

Teri GreinerDirector, Event Chair

Ann MacDougallAssociate Director

Dan MacDougallAssociate Director

Kathy MacDougallDirector, Secretary

Mark MacDougallDirector, President

Matthew MacDougallDirector, Vice President

Diane MaloneyDirector

Jami MockDirector, Treasurer

Bill MugridgeCHOICES Liaison

Cindy NagleAssociate Director

Paul NagleAssociate Director

Redenne VirgilDirector

KARA foldover BC 11-12-12 1:15 pm Page 1

page 2 July 2015

The Kara Fund has been fortunate to receive so much good will and so many donations from many new people and places. We would like to recognize the incredible generosity of our community of fundraisers:

That’s the Spirit!The sixth-grade student council at Pine Grove Middle School recently held a Spirit Week, and part of it involved collecting dona-tions to The Kara Fund. Guided by their advisor, Lisa DiCosimo, the council raised over $1,000. Wow!

Knights of Columbus Honors a FounderThe Knights of Columbus gave a generous donation to The Kara Fund in memory of Charles Prusik, founder of the Eastwood Knights of Columbus council and father of Eileen Christopher. We are grateful to them for keeping his memory alive by helping others through their support.

We’re Thrilled to the Bone!Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists recently held a Blue Jeans Day to raise money for The Kara Fund. A big thanks to the staff there!

Here Come the Girl ScoutsGirl Scout Troop 10499 from the East Syracuse Minoa district likes to help organizations by using some of the proceeds from their cookie sales. This year, one of the Scouts suggested The Kara Fund to troop leader Abby Vero, and the result was several hundred dollars earmarked for us. Thank you to the troop for your outstanding efforts!

For families who spend long hours in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) worrying about their very

sick infant, a snack can be a welcome distraction. For lactating mothers in a NICU, it can also provide necessary nutrition. Our Bill Mugridge has found a way for The Kara Fund to serve both of these needs. Working with the Crouse Hospital NICU, Bill has arranged for The Kara Fund to supply food for weekly family support meetings held there, as well as snacks for lactating mothers (they get a special diet) and the family lounge.

The Kara Fund Comfort Care Program continues to support the Golisano Children’s Hospital families with gas cards and gift cards to local restaurants.

Great job, Bill, and thanks also to our generous donors!

.

comforT cArE progrAm Now providiNg SNAckS for STrESSEd fAmiliES

Kara’s Corner

United Way Contributions Are GrowingA huge thank you to all the United Way contributors who will be donating over $4,000 to The Kara Fund this year. Awareness is growing, thanks in part to people like Ellen Kuno, who made a presentation to the Liverpool School District’s union representatives explaining how to sign up. Thanks, Ellen!

RemindeR: The KaRa Fund is a uniTed Way–qualiFied chaRiTy. iF you give To The uniTed Way, you can designaTe The KaRa Fund as youR RecipienT. JusT puT “KaRa Fund inc.” on youR pledge caRd FoR The 2015 uniTed Way campaign.

BOARDOFDIRECTORS

The Kara Fund Inc.5827 Augsburg CircleEast Syracuse, NY 13057

www.thekarafund.net

Debbie AbreuAssociate Director

Mike AlbaneseDirector

Bob CampeseDirector,Scholarship Chair

Michele ConteAssociate Director

Joe GigliottiDirector,Marketing Chair

Teri GreinerDirector,Event Chair

Ann MacDougallAssociate Director

Dan MacDougallAssociate Director

Kathy MacDougallDirector,Secretary

Mark MacDougallDirector,President

Matthew MacDougallDirector,Vice President

Diane MaloneyDirector

Jami MockDirector,Treasurer

Bill MugridgeCHOICES Liaison

Cindy NagleAssociate Director

Paul NagleAssociate Director

Redenne VirgilDirector

KARA foldover BC 11-12-12 1:15 pm Page 1

www.thekarafund.net page 3

“Runway Kara” a Runaway Success...

CompassionNet is a pediatric pal-liative care program that supports families caring for children with a life-threatening illness. With your donations, The Kara Fund has com-bined efforts with CompassionNet for a number of initiatives lately. Here are three:

Air ConDitionErs to tHE rEsCuEWorking through CompassionNet, the The Kara Fund recently made a donation to a family so that they could purchase two air conditioners. Their daughter has a serious illness that can result in seizures when she’s overheated. According to the CompassionNet social worker, the family is “amazed that there is support from The Kara Fund for something like this—something that will make their home safer for their

daughter, and more comfortable for the whole family.” The social worker concluded with this: “What a huge impact this will have on their whole quality of life!”

PHoto ProgrAmOne special focus of CompassionNet is offering Perinatal Palliative Care—care that’s provided during preg-nancy, delivery, discharge, and/or death when an unborn or newborn baby has a potentially life-threatening illness. During these times of stress and sadness, most families don’t even begin to think of scheduling a photo session with their child. Ac-cording to Alicia Colangelo, one of the organization’s case managers, “CompassionNet offers this service through the grace and care of our photographers and the financial sup-

Follow Us on Facebook!To get details on the latest news and events from The Kara Fund, like our Facebook page:Facebook.com/TheKaraFund

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The Kara Fund strives to enhance the quality of life ofchildren with life-threatening diseases, and theirfamilies.

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port from The Kara Fund. Since the start of our working relationship with The Kara Fund, CompassionNet has offered photography to seven families.”

sibling DAyBecause of the overwhelming effort needed to care for a very sick child, siblings can often feel a bit lost in the shuffle. With financial support from The Kara Fund, Compassion-Net recently held a special day for the siblings of seriously ill children. Activities included arts and crafts, games, music, and evening some programs for parents so they could participate. As one parent noted, “This was a wonderful idea! So much of their lives are centered around the care of their seriously ill brother or sister, so it’s nice to have a special day for the siblings.”

The Kara Fund Teams up with CompassionNet

DECA did it again! The East Syracuse Minoa chapter held a fashion show on January 17 at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel, and called it Runway Kara. Guests enjoyed food, raffles, and a variety of fashions, with all net proceeds go-ing to The Kara Fund. It was another tremendous effort from DECA on our behalf. Thank you, DECA students and staff of ESM!

BOARDOFDIRECTORS

The Kara Fund Inc.5827 Augsburg CircleEast Syracuse, NY 13057

www.thekarafund.net

Debbie AbreuAssociate Director

Mike AlbaneseDirector

Bob CampeseDirector,Scholarship Chair

Michele ConteAssociate Director

Joe GigliottiDirector,Marketing Chair

Teri GreinerDirector,Event Chair

Ann MacDougallAssociate Director

Dan MacDougallAssociate Director

Kathy MacDougallDirector,Secretary

Mark MacDougallDirector,President

Matthew MacDougallDirector,Vice President

Diane MaloneyDirector

Jami MockDirector,Treasurer

Bill MugridgeCHOICES Liaison

Cindy NagleAssociate Director

Paul NagleAssociate Director

Redenne VirgilDirector

KARA foldover BC 11-12-12 1:15 pm Page 1

5827 Augsburg CirCle eAst syrACuse, Ny 13057

315-656-0840www.thekArAfuNd.Net

Upcoming Events to Support The Kara Fund!

kickiNg for kArA:ESM Soccer to Hold Daylong Event on September 19 to benefit The Kara FundOn Saturday, September 19, the East Syracuse Minoa High School girls and boys soccer teams will unite to benefit The Kara Fund with six games, including two alumni games. All concession stand and T-shirt sales will be donated to The Kara Fund. Please come out support these teams!

JV GIRLS: 10:00 a.m.VARSITY GIRLS: noon

JV BOYS: 4:00 p.m.VARSITY BOYS: 6:00 p.m.

GIRLS ALUMNI GAME: 2:00 p.m. BOYS ALUMNI GAME: 3:00 p.m.

SwiNgiNg for SmilES:The 2nd Annual Kara Fund Golf Tournament Set for July 24Sign up online now. Space is limited.

This year promises to be even more fun, because we’re going to have two levels of competition: foursomes of casual golfers will compete on one set of nine holes while more competitive golfers will play the other nine simultaneously. All skill levels are welcome!

WHERE: Arrowhead Golf CourseWHEN: Friday, July 24

FORMAT: Captain & CrewDONATION: $50 per personREGISTRATION: 2:00 p.m.

START TIME: 2:45 p.m. shotgun startAFTER GOLF: hors d’oeuvres and drink specials on patio

DONATION INCLUDES:• hamburger and hot dog—before golf • 9 holes with cart

• Closest to the pin • Longest drive• Door prizes and awards

Ready to play? Questions? PLEASE go to tHEkArAfunD.nEt to sign up or to get more information. DON’T WAIT! Registration is limited to 35 foursomes. Get your “fore”some together and register today!

All net proceeds will benefit The Kara Fund. We really hope to see everyone there!