2004

Greensboro Relay for Life

The IBBA Wings of Hope for 2005 started out with a Relay for Life in Greensboro , North Carolina .  It was scheduled for May 22-23.  They dedicated the event to a beautiful 10-year old girl who was diagnosed with lung cancer and a rare bone cancer. She was first diagnosed with the bone cancer at age 7 - one of the worst cases the doctors had ever seen. She said she was visited by an angel who told her she would be okay. Her next bone scan came back completely normal. However, subsequent scans revealed a tumor in her lung, which they operated on. She went into remission until this past March, when her scan found six tumors in her lung.  Butterflies were donated by Donna Pless, Melanie McCarthy of The Monarchy; Edith Smith of ShadyOak; and Fran LeMasters of All-A-Flutter. 

Carlie Brucia Memorial Garden Dedication

On May 29^th, there was a memorial garden dedication for Carlie Brucia in Florida .  The Carlie Brucia memorial event took place on Saturday May 29th around noon, at the Central Church of Christ in Sarasota .  The dedication event celebrated Carlie's life as well as introduced the newly developed Garden of Joy & Prayer Walk at the church, where Carlie's body was found.  Butterflies were donated by: Edith Smith, Laurel Brown, Fran LeMasters, Velma Begley, Mercedes, Mona Miller, Chris at Clearwater, Melanie McCarthy, Rocio, Donna and Fran at Allaflutter, Mari Gruber,  Jodi Hopper, Tiffany Neal, Tammy Spivey and Donna Pless.  The Girl Scouts assisted Mercedes in delivering the glassine envelopes to children in the audience and the butterflies were released at the end of the ceremony into the garden.  Any deceased butterflies were put into Carlie’s mothers scrapbook. 

Dream Come True

Mari Gruber had a grand opening on June 5^th.  Proceeds from the event were to benefit Dream Come True, a local non-profit organization which fulfills wishes for seriously, chronically and terminally ill  children . Currently there are nearly 20 children in her county who are eligible for dreams, but funds are needed to fulfill their requests.  Several of these kids will surely not live to adulthood.  Butterflies were  donated by Edith Smith, Velma Begley, and Melanie McCarthy.

Olivia Relay for Life

Michelle Collier donated butterflies for an Aug. 6^th Relay for Life ceremony in Olivia , MN . 

American Diabetes Association

We finished the year with a Wings of Hope at the Albuquerque Bio/Aquarium Park held on Sunday, October 17th.  This event was for the American Diabetes Association, which is their number one fund-raising effort. They wanted to have a butterfly ribbon cutting, to commence the walk along the Rio Grand Bosque (walk path).  They had two young Walk Ambassadors hand out the butterflies to walkers to release.

We are unfortunately having to consider charging, at a reduced price, for future charitable organization releases.  Hopefully this will encourage more breeders to donate butterflies for these events.  I would like to see more breeders get involved with Wings of Hope, because not only does it help the individuals and organisations concerned, but it is also rewarding personally and incidentally helps to promote the IBBA. In July, the Board of Directors allotted $1000 to help cover shipping expenses for breeders. 

Jodi Hopper, Wings of Hope Coordinator

Hospice For Children

Penny Wilson donated butterflies to Hospice for children to release in memory of close family members who have passed away.  Hospice has a camp each year to help these kids learn how to handle the loss.   Penny also donated to a foundation called Compassionate Friends of Tiffany house, these are parents who have all lost children and are learning how to deal with and handle their loss. 

Butler Relay for Life

Jodi Hopper a Wings of Hope butterfly release for Relay for Life in Butler , PA.  

Texarkana:  Walk for Life

Linda Rogers sent Monarchs to a Wings of Hope butterfly release for the Walk for Life with a hospital in Texarkana , Texas for the participants to release in memory of those lost to breast cancer.

Little Falls Relay for Life

Anne Clune and Ralph Ritchie donated Monarchs for release at a local Relay for Life event in Little Falls, MN as they do every year.

Hazleton Relay for life

In June, Rick Mikula did a Wings of Hope for Relay for life, in Hazleton .

Angel Flight

Fran LeMaster donated 50 butterflies to a Fall Festival, put on by one of the large garden centers in her area.  It was an event to benefit "Angel Flight".  They were tagged and released in September.

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