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Wings of Hope
2009 Events, Event Reports & Photos
March 29th - Spotsylvania, Virginia
I have a request for Wings of Hope for March 29, in Spotsylvania, Virginia for a Memorial Service for a woman who suffered from 5 chronic diseases before she passed on. Her sister is responsible for all funeral expenses, and not able to absorb the cost of butterflies. She stated,” The release of butterflies are like a peaceful calm feeling that would help the old and the young adjust to the passing of my sister and most of all to remember her.” She has requested assistance from Wings of Hope.
Unfortunately no butterflies could be donated to this event. It was deemed to be too early in the season for a safe butterfly release in this location.
April 11th - Gainesville, Florida
Heather & Kira Radcliffe, mother & daughter were brutally murdered two years ago in December. Friends & family are dedicating a gazebo memorial in their honor. Kira loved butterflies, so they want to release butterflies at the dedication.
They requested butterflies for a mass release.
Butterflies have been generously donated to this event by Jodi Hopper of Wish Upon A Butterfly, and another benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous.
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Event Report:
Sent: Monday, May 25, 2009
Thank you so much! It couldn't have gone any more perfect. I am working on pics but the ones I have right now are too big to send you so this week I should be getting smaller files able to email. Please be patient with me I have every intention on sending you pictures. In the mean time I do have photos on my facebook account if you are able to see them. There is an open global group called Never Forgotten and there are pics from the event posted there as well.
Thanks again for all your help!
Erika
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Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009
Subject: pictures from Heather and Kira's Dedication
Since the dedication in April, Bob, Heather's dad passed away from a massive heart attack in August.
Thank you again so much for making this release happen! Everything was perfect and we played Celine Dion's song "Fly little wing" while they were being released.
Erika
Click a photo to see enlargement
(All photos © 2009, Photographer)
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April 25th - Ellenboro, North Carolina.
“The Mother/Daughter Blessing Ceremony and Princess Tea”.
Most people worked in the Textile Mills which have closed or shut down, leaving numerous families without a source of income. As a result, Rutherford County is ranked #1 in North Carolina for both Spousal/Child abuse and Meth Labs. Most people have lost hope. Sandra and her church have a food pantry that distributes food to 80 families each Saturday. They sponsor a “Day of Caring & Sharing” each year for people in their community to come and find clothing, household items, toys, books and to have haircuts and medical checkups. They are planning a special day for Mothers and Daughters all over the county to come and be treated like royalty.
Many young girls and mothers have never had the opportunity to get dressed up and or enjoy being treated like royalty. They are planning to surround the entire day with a butterfly theme. They have church members who are adopting little girls for the day for those who do hot have an attending mother. They would like the girls to release the butterflies as a symbol of their realization that they are beautiful butterflies created by GOD for a special purpose and that one day soon they, too will spread their wings and bring hope to others around them.
Rutherford County N.C. is located in an isothermal belt, so they have a temperate climate most of the year.
Thank You's to Jodi Hopper of Wish Upon A Butterfly for donating butterflies to this event and to Nancy Hobart of Flutterby Butterflies for paying for the shipping of the butterflies.
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Event Report:
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009.
Just wanted you to see how special our Princess Tea was on April 25, 2009. Sorry that I haven't sent photos before now. I was just able to get a copy of some of the photos taken by a professional photographer in our community. This photographer died suddenly only 2 weeks after the Princess Tea. As you can see in the photos, we had many happy princesses. Some of the girls' fathers made a surprise visit to dance with the princesses to the song, "Butterfly Kisses". The Butterfly Release Ceremony was the perfect ending to our Royal Day.
Thank you for sending such a blessing to our community. You will never know just how your gift has touched so many young girls, their Mothers, Grandmothers, and even their Fathers. You sent us a beautiful reminder that there is still Hope and Beauty all around us. GOD's love is ever-present and eternal. Every princess received a live butterfly to release. I wish you could have seen the awe on each face. The song, "I Will Rise", was sung while the butterflies were released. Each princess also received a stained-glass butterfly as a reminder of this day. As we held the stained-glass butterflies up to the light of the sun, we were reminded that it is only by the "SON's" Light that we can see the true beauty within.
May the LORD continue to bless your efforts to help those who need Hope and Encouragement.
Under HIS Wings,
Saundra C.
Liberty Baptist Church
Ellenboro, NC
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June 10th, Lafayette, Colorado.
Butterfly release for the 10th anniversary celebration of the Hospice Care center in Lafayette, Colorado on June 10.
Linda Rogers graciously donated butterflies for this event.
June 13th, Orlando, Florida.
Wings of Hope has a request for an event on June 13. in Orlando Florida.
This event is called the “Celebration of Life” dedicated to Caylee Marie Anthony and all children who have died far too young. The event will begin with the release of butterflies and will end with a candlelight prayer and a children’s’ choir singing.
If you have the opportunity to donate butterflies to this event, this could be an amazing release.
Please contact me at lbaylor@linkunet.com.
Thank you for your considerations,
Many Blessings,
Alicia
Greathouse Butterfly Farm donated 100 butterflies for this event.
June 18th - Cedar Knolls, New Jersey
I have a request for Butterflies from Wings of Hope for a special graduation of children and adults with autism in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey. The school is planning to create a butterfly habitat in their Horticulture department. We, at Wings of Hope encourage the development of butterfly habitats for our releases. So I would really like to encourage your support for this release.
They are also requesting information of setting up misting systems etc. so if you have any expertise you would love to share with them, please let me know that as well, and I will connect you with them.
Please contact me at: lbaylor@linkunet.com if you are able to donate butterflies or expertise to this event.
Many Blessings,
Alicia
DeeDee Nunn of Sweet Memories Butterfly Farm graciously donated 12 Mourning Cloaks to this event. Una McGurk donated shipping costs.
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Event Report:
From: Sean Byrne
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 9:29 AM
Subject: Re: Butterflies for your graduation
Hello Alicia,
Thank you for your donation of twelve Mourning Cloak butterflies. They arrived on the day of graduation in the pouring rain. Literally, they appeared as the graduates were lining up. There was no time to get them situated in the Greenhouse. I rushed them to the refrigerator where they spent the night. The following day was the first beautiful day in quite a while. The graduates all came down to the Greenhouse to send the Butterflies off on their new journey.
All of the Butterflies made it safely, except for one. That Butterfly lost a leg; however, it also survived and was as hearty as the rest.
We placed them in a mesh laundry basket in our Greenhouse. Our Horticulture teacher was humored by how eager they were to take off. The Mourning Cloaks were flapping their wings or nibbling on some strawberries from Food Services.
One graduate, we will call her Mary, sat herself down right in front of the mesh laundry basket without any prompting.
The butterflies began to take off as soon as we opened the laundry basket. Mary kept reaching into the basket, placing butterflies on her finger and then setting them free. They landed in her hair or fell on the ground and she went to their rescue. The young men who graduated were not as daring as Mary. But, they too were engaged in this special event.
There were many smiles as the Butterflies flew about our Butterfly Garden and beyond.
Thank you for enriching our graduation week with your generous contribution.
Warm Regards,
Sean Byrne
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July 19th - Newberg, Oregon
This event was held on July 19 in Newberg Oregon. Nora’s Fund and the Providence Newberg Medical Center’s Perinatal Loss Committee held a remembrance ceremony at the Nora Madelyn Fund’s butterfly sculpture memorial in the Providence Newberg Medical Center healing garden.
The Nora Madelyn Fund for Infant and Child Loss provides support and resources to bereaved families who have experienced pregnancy loss or the death of a Child.
Nora Donston (A Butterfly Affaire) and Jacob Groth (Swallowtail Farms, Inc.) generously donated butterflies to this event.
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Event Report:
From: Raina Dey
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009
To: lbaylor@linkunet.com
Subject: Thank you
Ms. Baylor,
On behalf of the Nora Madelyn Fund for Infant and Child Loss, the Providence Newberg Hospital Perinatal Loss Committee, and the families and guests who attended the ceremony, thank you for your generous donation of butterflies for our remembrance ceremony held last Sunday, July 19, 2009.
The Nora Madelyn Fund for Infant and Child Loss provides support and resources to bereaved families who have experienced pregnancy loss or the death of a child.
After a ceremony and candlelighting in the hospital chapel, we adjourned to the Healing Garden to the site of the Nora Madelyn Fund butterfly sculpture which memorializes children lost before their time. As each child's name was read, the family released their butterflies. I've attached a few photos to show you how the ceremony unfolded. (A slideshow is also posted on the Nora Madelyn Fund Web site at: http://www.noramadelyn.org)
The families and guests were honored to be able to release individual butterflies in memory of their children who had died.
As just one example, a mother and father whose daughter died nearly 30 years ago found the ceremony and butterfly release so moving that they feel they have now been able to remember and memorialize their daughter in a way that gives them the peace they have been searching for.
After the release, our families and guests spent many moments of peaceful reflection watching the butterflies begin their journey into the world.
And so, again, we thank you for your generosity. Your gift has touched many lives.
Warmly,
Raina Dey
Nora's Mom
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August 29th, Cupertino, CA.
The Wellness Community of Silicon Valley released butterflies in honor of those affected by cancer, in order to raise funds to open the Silicon Valley affiliate of the Wellness Community. They are a non-profit which provides support, education and hope for cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers.
Unfortunately no donations were available at this time.
September 11th, Hauppauge, NY.
I have another request for Wings of Hope for September 11th in Hauppauge, NY.
Back in 2004, Innovative Stone proudly carved and donated the cornerstone of the Freedom Tower for the World Trade Center site. On July 4th 2004, the cornerstone was set in place at a special ground breaking ceremony and unveiled by Governor Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg and Governor McGreevey.
When the base plans at One World Trade Center were revised in 2006, the Freedom stone was returned to the Innovative Stone facility where it currently resides. This September 11th, the Freedom Stone will be made available for public viewing, which will be marked by a special ceremony.
The Freedom Stone is part of history, written and photographed on a global spectrum. Innovative Stone will ensure the Freedom Stone, as inscribed will remain a symbol of “THE ENDURING SPIRIT OF FREEDOM” and “TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001”.
They are requesting donations of Monarch Butterflies to be released as a symbol of remembrance for the souls that were lost that tragic day.
If you are able to donate Monarch butterflies for this special event, please contact me at lbaylor@linkunet.com
Thank you for your generous thoughts and actions.
Many Blessings,
Alicia
Chris Hebdon of "Susquehanna Butterfly Company" generously donated Monarchs to this event.
October 10th - Houston, Texas
We have a request for butterflies for a Wings of Hope event on October 10, in Houston Texas. This event is in honor of Perinatal Loss Month. They are holding a Remembrance Ceremony for all the families who have previously experienced the loss of a child. It would be very symbolic of releasing our children to heaven.Chris
Sharon Maiden of "Me & My Monarchs" generously offered to donate butterflies to this event. Unfortunately the weather was bad on the day and the release had to be cancelled.
October 28th - Grapevine, Texas
A Butterfly garden was dedicated in memory of Holton David Spradley who died on his 5 month birthday of SIDS. The day of the dedication would have been his third birthday. His mother was comforted on the day of his death by a butterfly and butterflies have become the symbol of Hope for this family. His family has also started raising money each year for First Candle an organization committed to SIDS research.
Connie Hodsdon of
Flutterby
Gardens
donated Monarchs
and Linda Rogers of Timshell Farms paid the shipping expenses for this event. Thank you Connie and Linda for your generosity and support.
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Event Report:
Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009
Subject: Holton David Spradley Memorial Donation
Hi,
My name is Kathy Spradley and I am Holton Spradley's mother. You guys were so amazing and donated butterlies to be released last week at the dedication of my son's butterfly garden on what would have been his 3rd birthday. Since his death butterflies have comforted me in so many ways. I cannot thank you enough for providing them for us, it was so perfect for the ceremony. I have attached some photos that I think you would like to see. The one close up of the butterfly in a hand is so cool because in the background is our pastor, Cindy Ryan who actually secured the butterflies for us. She wore her butterfly stol e for the occasion. The others are of my family etc.
Warmest Regards and with sincere thanks,
Kathy Spradley
www.Holtonsdriveforsids.com
Click for enlargement >
(All photos © 2009, Photographer)
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November 20th - St Augustine, Florida.
I have a request for Wings of Hope on November 20, in St. Augustine, Florida, the Haven Hospice Love & Remembrance Memorial, to commemorate loved ones who are no longer with us physically but remain close in hearts & minds. We come together to remember and honor the many family members and friends who have helped shape our lives and we give thanks for the gifts they leave behind.
If anyone has butterflies they would like to donate to this event, please contact me privately at:
lbaylor@linkunet.com
Thank you and many blessings,
Alicia
Sharon Maiden of "Me & My Monarchs" has generously donated butterflies for this event.
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Event Report:
From: Donna M. Maso
Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 3:18 PM
Subject: a note of thanks...
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." ...Albert Pike
TO: Wings of Hope, Ms Alicia
Sharon Maiden
Greathouse Butterfly Farm Inc
I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for those who "did for others" at our Haven Hospice - St Augustine Community Memorial, November 20, 2009. Many families and attendees said they thought the Memorial was "soulful," the butterflies made the program "special" and attendees said they felt comforted. THANK YOU, ALL.
I read the story from Sharon Maiden at the Memorial and thanked Wings of Hope and Greathouse Butterfly Farm. One woman said she was deeply affected by Ms Maiden's story and hospice's work, and she will make a donation to further hospice work.
One elderly man was SO grateful he could open the envelope donated by Ms Maiden, which included a yellow butterfly - representing a secret wish for his deceased wife. Lots of people dried their tears during the butterfly release; they all made their wishes. One little grandson helped release butterflies from the Greathouse mass release box - in memory of his grandfather.
Thank you for helping survivors' families to dream and wish.
Donna Maso, MSW
Social Worker, Haven Hospice
www.havenhospice.org
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