Party with a Purpose- Aiden

January 10th

Hi Meredith!


Lauren Eide suggested I reach out to you directly. My son is going to be celebrating his first birthday in March, and we are expecting between 70-100 people. He really doesn't need anything, and I have felt called to try to do something special. I would like to ask the guests to donate to Miller's foundation in lieu of gifts. I'm planning on setting up a collection at the party and would really like some sort of handout to tell Miller's story and educate everyone about SMA. Lauren mentioned you had something from the Chik Fil A fundraiser and suggested I see if you possibly had extras?


Miller's life, and the love and strength of your amazing family, has been such a blessing for me. My son was born 4 days before Miller, so I think of your angel often when I look at my son. I am undoubtedly a better mother and better person because you shared Miller with the world. I cannot thank you enough for that.
I want to make sure everyone knows about Miller, so he can touch their lives, as well.


Thank you so much,


Courtney

*This is the follow up message that Courtney sent me on Facebook:

Hi Meredith!


I wanted to shoot you a quick note. Aidan's birthday party was today, and it was great. It was a bit smaller than expected, but we were able to raise a fair amount of money for sweet Miller. I should have a final amount and some photos for you this week, but as of right now it's just under $400. The best part is that we were able to share Miller's story with a whole bunch of people that hadn't heard it before. I am so glad we were able to do this, and extremely grateful to you for the wrist bands info cards. I have a lot of family from the Harrison area that will now be sporting Miller gear. He's taking over the state!


We also were able to give out some copies of this month's Peekaboo magazine. Aidan's photo is one of the ones used in the story, and you did such an amazing job with the article. We've been sharing that with everyone every chance we get. I hope you're doing well, and please let me know if ya'll need any help for the upcoming event next week.  I'm happy to help any way I can.

*Is that not awesome???  It touches our hearts in an unexplainable way when people offer to have birthday parties in memory of Miller.  I LOVE that Aiden’s picture was in Peekaboo.  Those were randomly selected by the editor, so we had nothing to do with it.  How appropriate?  Here is the picture…..he is the one on the far right.  PRECIOUS!!!

Cupcakes & Cocktails

Cupcakes & Cocktails was a HUGE success!!!!  With the help of a wonderful committee, lots of volunteers, and our extremely generous sponsor & supporters, we raised $200,000!!!!!   Can you believe that???  I can’t!  Every time I say it outloud it gives me goose bumps!  Can you imagine the number of people we are going to be able to help with that $200,000?!!  Circle of Life, Families of SMA, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital are going to be getting very nice checks from the Miller McNeil Woodruff Foundation!  That makes my heart SO happy:)!  Along with our 3 main benefiting charities, we have a few other ideas up our sleeves, so stay tuned to see how we distribute the money.  We will probably wait until the end of August or early September (after our other events), and present 1 large check to each organization.  What a good feeling that is going to be!  We are so proud of the impact that our Little Man has made in this world, and we thank all of you for welcoming him into your hearts and supporting our cause.  We wouldn’t be able to make the difference we are making without your support!  I hope you know how much we appreciate you!  We are truly grateful for EVERY penny we raise! 

*Here is the video that Scott Marshall, from KNWA, put together for us. He spent COUNTLESS hours of his personal time on this video, and it turned out so good.  It is hard to watch, but it captures our story so well….. 

(Remember to scroll to the bottom of the page and PAUSE the Playlist so that you can hear the video)

Here are some pictures from the day:

Opening up the birthday candles…..

Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Noblin, volunteering their time…..

Holy birthday candles……

Mrs. Dolan’s Service Class from Springdale High School volunteered all day long to help us set up for the event!  Such SWEET kids!!!  You could tell that they all had the biggest hearts, and they really were a HUGE help!  These girls cut up the limes for the Corona…..

Setting up the Silent Auction.  We had SO many items!!!

Our hardest 2 workers!  The event would NOT have happened without Gail and Rhonda!  In fact, I feel like I am FOREVER indebted to the entire Feagans Family!!!  They are some of Miller’s biggest fans!!!

SHS students putting together the kitchen…..

Nurse Peg doctoring Kara’s battle would from cutting limes.  (Kara happens to be my bosses daughter…oops!)

Nancee ….another one of the amazing Feagans Family members.  It was only appropriate that her picture be taken in front of her computer.  Bless her heart, she has spent more hours in front of that computer over the last 90 days for Miller, than she probably has the whole time she’s had the computer!  Love you girl!!!

Victoria and Jayme working hard to set up the Silent Auction…..

Mrs. Dolan’s Service Class from Springdale High School…..

The autographed Razorback Baseball jerseys that Clay Goodwin arranged for us to have for the Silent Auction.  Notice the #’s……3/28/11.  LOVE THESE!!!

Lunch Break.  THANK YOU to Chick-fil-A for providing lunch for our hard working volunteers!

On the way to the event, my sister noticed as she was driving up to the Town Center that the tents on the terrace made 5 peaks!!!  HELLO MILLER!!!!!!!!!

My family…..

Me with some of my besties (who just happen to be committee memebers).  These girls were such a huge help!  Not just physically, but emotionally and mentally, too!  Love you girls!

Me with my mom and sister.  So glad they got to be a part of the weekend and help us celebrate…..

Proud mom and dad…..

Mom and Lindsey…..

Nana and Papa…..

The band, Little Joe and the BK’s…..

Neile posted this picture from behind Patrick and me while we were speaking.  Look how full the room is…..AMAZING!

We ALL lit candles and sang Happy Birthday to Miller.  This was one of my very favorite parts of the night.  I could just imagine the big ole smile on Miller’s face as he was looking down from Heaven with all of these people gathered in 1 place, all singing Happy Birthday to him.  What a special, special moment….for a SPECIAL, SPECIAL Baby Boy!

Our friend, Traci Maland, captured this video.  950 people singing Happy Birthday to our sweet boy…..

Me with Amy (Patrick’s cousin, Mike’s wife)

Me with Sarah (Mamie and Burke’s mom).  Check out www.mamiespoppyplates.com to learn more about Mamie’s story…..

Me with Stacey.  Wish I got to see more of this girl……

Meagan Baker with her new crib.  She got this crib in the Silent Auction.  Does she have a baby girl?  NO.  Is she pregnant with a baby girl?  NO.  Are they thinking about having kids anytime soon?  NO.  “But it is beautiful and it was such a good deal”, she says.  Her husband was not a happy camper, but it definitely has made for a funny story.  She posted this pic on Facebook the next day with the status update:  “This is what happens when I attend a silent auction with an open bar.”  LOL! 

I wish I had gotten more pictures from the evening, but we were just so busy.  We did have a family friend that took some pictures, so when she gives them to us I’ll be sure to share.