Post # 135 - Helping A Friend Win A Home Renovation - 4/2/2010

A friend asked for some creative assistance. Over the past two years, she and her fiancé' have encountered a string of unfortunate events, including their newly purchased home burning down.

She discovered a contest in This Old House Magazine - A Photoshop Re-Do. $10K to renovate your house. Our challenge was to condense her story down to 200 words or less.

This is the essay that was submitted:
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A 1925 Arts and Crafts home built Ford tough that not even a fire could destroy!


In April 2009, my fiancé and I purchased a 1925 Craftsman bungalow in the Henry Ford Historical Home District in Dearborn, MI. We used all of our wedding funds for collateral in order to close on the house of our dreams and complete some renovations before moving in. On move-in day, May 30 2009, our house caught fire. Fortunately, the fire was swiftly contained and we thought the damage wasn’t bad at first. We spent the next six month dealing with legal fees, insurance adjusters, and city officials before restorations could begin - the second time. Unfortunately, the funds from the insurance settlement will not cover the cost of all the needed repairs. The last piece we need to polish is the home exterior.

Our dream is to have a simple, family-only wedding in the backyard of our newly refurbished home. We hope that the tears shed over the past year can be washed away with tears of joy on our wedding day. We still believe that we can make this house a home. Will you help us?

From http://thehermanletters.blogspot.com

Favor for a Friend - 1/27/2010

A very couragous friend of mine has an undiagonosed illness. In an effort to cope, and also document her treatment, she has started an anonymous blog. Others use her blog as a reference for specific procedures that she has undergone. A doctor submitted her blog, entitled "Queen of Optimism" has been selected as a finalist in a contest.  Polls are open until February 14th.

Please take the time, and if possible, please pass this along to your friends. There are some prizes, but the real prize here would be a moral victory.  Attached is the link.

http://medgadget.com/2009bestpatient.html

It's a great blog--really well written.  My friend was telling me that other patients and families of patients use the blog as a reference, for the various procedures that she has undergone.  The address for the blog, if you're interested, is:   http://medicalpuzzle.com/

Thank you!

From http://thehermanletters.blogspot.com

Post from a Friend

My friend Joy posted this about the Faygo Wii project on her blog. I'm very appreciative.

You can read and follow her blog, as I do at http://intenseauburn.blogspot.com/

From http://thehermanletters.blogspot.com

Essay #6: Letter to Faygo and Children's Hospital sent 12/3/2009

When the contest ended on 12/1, we were a few hundred votes ahead (we had almost 1700)--there shouldn't be any issue. The announcement comes on 12/15. Thanks again. Drink your Faygo!

I sent this note to Faygo tonight. I wanted to let Faygo know that they essentially have a free commercial here, if they want it.

I carbon copied my contact at Children's Hospital. This was my way of letting Ellen to know that we're coming. I always see people like Brandon Inge and Nick Lidstrom actually doing things with the kids. I'd prefer the "spend some time there" approach, versus "pass it over the counter" approach. Maybe giving some notice would help. We'll see.

Someone mentioned the idea of having a Wii Delivery Party ahead of time at one of the local establishments (Cheli's? Hockeytown?) on the day of delivery, for anyone interested. Count me in.

But first things first--they have to name the winners.
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Dear Faygo,

I am a big believer in random acts of kindness--I feel that it lifts the spirits of the giver, as well much as the recipient. I also believe in the strong bonds of family and friendship. Lastly, I believe in giving back.

I am a lifelong Michigan Resident who is blessed and fortunate to have a great job at Chrysler. I have a great family—a wife and two kids, eight and six. Faygo has been a part of my life, as long as I can remember. I feel strong ties, especially in these times, to a local company like Faygo that employs Michigan residents.

Eight years ago, my family and I spent some time at Children’s Hospital of Detroit. My daughter had some precautionary studies done, related to a heart murmur. I was always impressed with their care and support. Moreover, I felt great sympathy to those parents and children dealing with much more than a heart murmur.

Back in October, I sent separate notices to my friends, and to Ellen Burnett, Director of Major Gifts at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. I notified them that I had entered an essay contest through Faygo. I stated that if we won, I would donate the prize to Children’s Hospital. Ellen confirmed that the Child Life Division at Children’s Hospital could use the Nintendo Wii.

I saw this as a great opportunity to do something positive, and rally a great bunch of people together, during really hard times. Furthermore, I saw this as a great opportunity to reinforce the idea of “giving back” for my kids. The past seven weeks have been amazing—family, friends, and friends of friends from around the world rallied around this cause. People really wanted to see this through. .

Through all of this, there was a great feeling about Faygo. There are people all over the country and world, who grew up with Red Pop, Rock and Rye, and Faygo Root Beer, who absolutely love it. My essay practically wrote itself—it came so easily. I’ve essentially become a walking, talking Faygo advertisement.

When the voting closed on Tuesday, it appeared that our entry was in first place by a few hundred votes. I know the results come out on 12/15/09-- I just wanted to make you aware of my intentions, in case Faygo wants to be a further part of this. “Family, Friends, Faygo” has a nice ring to it.

I want to thank you for the opportunity, and for a lifetime of refreshment.

Sincerely,

Jerry Herman

cc: Ellen D. Burnett
Director, Major Gifts
Children's Hospital of Michigan


From http://thehermanletters.blogspot.com