On Sunday and Monday, the Chartway Promise Foundation once again showcased its unwavering dedication to raising awareness for pediatric cancer and funds to make dreams and wishes come true for medically fragile children and their families. The organization's 24th Annual Charity Golf Event, "Swing Fore Smiles," and the preceding "A Night for Hope" fundraiser were powerful demonstrations of how a community can come together to bring joy, hope, and smiles to young Promise Heroes like 6-year-old Lily, who is bravely facing cancer.
The festivities started with the elegant "A Night for Hope" fundraiser, an inaugural event, held under the glittering lights of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) on September 24. The evening celebrated generosity, featuring a cocktail party with a silent auction. Attendees, including Chartway Credit Union board and team members, leaders in the credit union industry, partners, sponsors, and volunteers, engaged in lively bidding, vying for an array of exciting items and knowing that with every bid, they were contributing to the Chartway Promise Foundation's mission.
During this memorable night, the foundation also shared a video revealing the recent granting of a dream for a special young man with cancer. Promise Hero Levi, who lost his leg from the knee down due to Synovial sarcoma, was honored during Old Dominion University's football game the weekend before. Thanks to funds provided by the Chartway Promise Foundation to Toby's Dream Foundation, he took to the field to receive virtual reality goggles and an omnidirectional treadmill that would allow him to realize his dream of running again. The video left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who attended the evening's event.
More examples of the powerful nature of giving were also part of the evening; guests heard from Mike Robey, founder of Hooked on Hope VB, a Promise Foundation companion charity. Not only does Robey work to help medically fragile children and their families by providing fishing adventures through his organization, he and his family are also beneficiaries of the Chartway Promise Foundation, "My daughter Lauren and our family felt the love of the Chartway Promise Foundation firsthand through our battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at CHKD. We received a Roc Solid playset and were granted a wonderful dream through the Toby's Dream Foundation," said Robey. "The impact was so profound, we started Hooked On Hope."
George Hofheimer, who recently biked 3,500 miles from Seattle, Washington to Dewey Beach, Delaware, and raised over $30,000 to support the Chartway Promise Foundation and Children's Miracle Network, was honored for his coast-to-coast fundraising effort. The fruits of his labor, in the form of a giant check for $15,800, was presented to the Children's Miracle Network.
“Bad things happen to good people all the time and doing something weird like biking across the U.S., you can raise awareness and funds for people, so it’s just like a cherry on the top for me to be able to be part of this evening and to support the Chartway Promise Foundation’s great work,” said Hofheimer.
Following the heartwarming "A Night for Hope," the Chartway Promise Foundation continued to make an impact with its "Swing Fore Smiles" golf tournament on September 25. Held at the picturesque Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club, this event was more than just a day on the greens; it was a day of dreams realized. Participants created memorable experiences for brave children and their families with every swing of the golf club.
The highlight of this day on the links was a Dream Reveal when Lily and her family were surprised at the charity golf event. After hearing about Lily's obstacles in her cancer journey and her wish to visit Disney World, the President of the Chartway Promise Foundation, Christine Wilson, knew that joy, hope, and smiles were to be found with Mickey and friends in Orlando, Florida. "It was so moving to see Lily's reaction when she learned her Disney dream is coming true through our charity partner Toby’s Dream Foundation," said Christine Wilson. "And we're so honored to help create life-changing moments for Lily and many other children like her facing medical challenges." Lily's Disney World trip is scheduled for early November when they'll roll out the red carpet at Give Kids the World Village, where she'll get to meet her favorite characters and experience the magic of Disney.
The Chartway Promise Foundation has granted nearly $15 million to medically fragile children. Funds from the weekend's events will directly support wish-granting and other programs run by the foundation's charitable partners. "We are dedicated to strengthening communities by partnering with companion charities to fund memorable experiences for medically fragile children and their families," stated Christine Wilson. "It's an honor to be part of these surprises that bring immense joy and make a lasting impact."
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