Testimonials 2015 2014 Acknowledgements:
Upon
receiving our gift, Jonathan wrote us, “I am writing to express my gratitude
towards the Michael C. Denora Foundation for such a wonderful award that you
have given me. I know that there are an abundance
of recipients and I’m glad that I was chosen to receive this gift towards books
and school supplies. With your
assistance, you have allowed me to come full circle and give back to those who helped
me”.
Some notes from our Wish Recipients of 2013: From Jackie:
Thank you so much. I had an amazing time at Catskill Chill Festival. Thanks to the Michael C. Denora Foundation for providing tickets to this event. It was a fun time for me. I truly enjoyed it. From Alex's Family: Alex is finally finished with all his treatments but still has a few pounds left from the treatments. Thanks to your foundation, he can now go purchase new clothing and hopefully work on a heathier and happier future knowing that others care and his journey was not alone. Thank you for his smile!! Thank you again and know that it is deeply appreciated. God Bless the Michael C. Denora Foundaton and family. Especially Michael!
............................................................................................................................................................... New for 2011 was the creation of the Embrace Kids–Michael C. Denora Scholarship program which assists a student thru the four college years.The coordinated efforts selected Ryan as the recipient of the first Michael C. Denora Scholarship award. Ryan is attending the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and aspires to be a sculptor.
Below is a thank you letter from Ryan:
"I was very fortunate in being the recipient of the Embrace Kids– Michael C. DenoraScholarship, which had an enormous impact on my past year in school.
When I was applying for scholarships this time last year, it was in response to me being hospitalized several times over the course of that summer. Fortunately, I was not hospitalized during my previous freshman year besides the course of normal treatments, but i managed to land myself into the hospital shortly after my spring semester for the pneumonia. Unable to work after my hospital admittance that summer, I searched and applied for scholarships to make it easier for my family and I in the upcoming year.
By receiving thisscholarship, I was able to focus solely on my academics my upcoming sophomore year and not have to worry about the burden of living expenses of being away at school. Before my diagnosis, I was a very independent person and provided everything for myself. I hardly ever had to rely on my parents, since I worked so often in order to provide for what I wanted. After my diagnosis and undergoing a treatment regimen of over 3 years, I am still adjusting to having to rely on other people because I physically cannot.
Through the scholarship, I was able to focus on what I truly wanted and what would be most beneficial to me in the future. Since I did not need to obtain a job, I was able to focus on my academics, and become fully involved in all of my classes and studios. Unfortunately I was hospitalized during the Fall semester and missed four weeks of school, but I was able to catch up when I returned and managed to finish the semester on time with straight A’s. After being hospitalized so long during a semester like that, I realized that school is enough stress on my body along with treatment and that a job would be unattainable for me due to the stress that it would involve on my body. The scholarship helps to provide for the things that a job normally would in my position, since being away at school is such a high expense along with books and supplies.
My academic year concluded with me obtaining straight A’s again in the Spring semester, and making dean’s list both semesters. I also gained an internship with a successful Philadelphia sculptor whom is teaching me the making of life size bronze figures and statues, and also artistic anatomy. The internship is a great experience and resource for me and is already providing resources I know I will use throughout my lifetime. This was all made possible through the time and effort I was able to spend in my classes and studios in order to apply and prove myself worthy of such a great opportunity.
Through my journey of this past year, I have gained a lot of insight into what I dream of accomplishing in my life. Because of my current internship, I am finally seeing the “real world” job of a sculptor and how successful it can actually be. I have always been interested in statues and representational sculpture, but also want to give back to the charities and foundations that have helped me throughout the years through my diagnosis. My life long dream and goal is to make figurative sculpture for the benefit of charities and foundations that help others like they have helped me, raising both awareness and funding. Both my personal life and my academic life would not be as nearly as successful if it were not for foundations like Embrace Kids Foundation being there every step of the way with me and constantly taking enormous weights of pressure off my shoulders. The foundation has made my life so much easier and allowed me to be successful, and I plan to give back and make a difference by turning my academic career into something meaningful for me and for others." FROM OUR 2011 CHRISTMAS WISH FAMILY   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "I want to thank your family for volunteering at the Thanksgiving Day Lunch and for also making the generous donation. We received a lot of compliments about the great food and volunteers. It really lifts the spirits of patient families and staff members. We could not do it without great volunteers like you guys …" Glenn Jenkins
Executive Director / Embrace Kids Foundation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I just wanted to express my gratitude for the lovely dinner that you guys provided yesterday. I was fortunate to be able to partake and I heard the many great things from my families on the unit. They were so appreciate and everything was delicious. Thank you for being so kind. We are so thankful for Embrace!"
The Childrens Hospital Nurses
|
|
|