www.nwmf.org
Hopes, Dreams, & Smiles Fund
How it all began: In 2004, the first year of the Kick’n Up Kountry music festival in Hallock, Minnesota, a gentleman by the name of David Wells called about tickets for the show. He asked what entertainers were coming and I read off the list of artists and when I got to the name of Neal McCoy, he said “You have got to be kidding!!! That is my daughters favorite artist ! She is 14 years old and has leukemia.” If I buy tickets do you think you could make it possible for her to meet him? I told him to have her write a letter to Neal McCoy, and send along some pictures, which she did and I contacted Neal McCoy’s road manager and he said “Of course he’ll see her!”
When it came time to meet him, I walked beside her in the line and when I seen the joy, smiles, and excitement I just brought to that girl for even one day or one weekend I became determined to make this happen for more children with a life threatening illness.
I have continued to work toward finding a non-profit organization that would help to raise funds for this part of the festival and help me put smiles on more children’s faces. Just this year I have now accomplished that task . The Northwest Minnesota Foundation headquartered in Bemidji, MN. has agreed to oversee and manage this fund.
David , Diane, and Brittany Wells have now volunteered to be the host family for this part of the festival since it meant so much to Brittany that first year. They now meet with the hospitals, and the families that will be coming each year and take care of them at the festival.
The first meeting of the advisory board was held at the Best Western in Thief River Falls on Oct .17, 2007. At that meeting it was decided to allow the child with the life threatening illness, the parents, and one sibling to attend the festival through the Hopes, Dream, and Smiles fund. The child receives a gift bag with lots of fun things to remember the weekend by, and the whole family receives VIP tickets, an overnight stay at a motel, special seating at the festival, an autograph and picture taking session with the artists and a Limo ride to and from the festival. The cost of this was determined by the advisory committee to be $2000 per family.
We work with area hospitals to select children that will enjoy this weekend. They have to be a country music fan and have a life threatening illness. We have been working with Meritcare Hospital in Fargo, and Altru Hospital in Grand Forks. The committee decided to include Gillette’s Children’s Hospital and the Mayo Clinic..
This year 12 children were chosen to attend the festival with their families, but due to being ill from their Chemo treatments, only 5 were actually able to attend.
I received the sad news recently that Brandon Lunski had passed away. Just 19 years old. I am so honored and pleased that I got to put a smile on his face and give him an enjoyable weekend while he was here. This makes me even more determined to make it possible for even more children with a life threatening illness to spend an enjoyable weekend at Kick’n Up Kountry next year.
I am asking area people and organizations to help me make this happen and if you choose to help I am thanking you in advance.
Will you help? If so you may send a check directly to:
Attn: Ritchie Houge
Northwest Minnesota Foundation
4225 Technology Drive NW
Bemidji, MN 56601
Checks are tax deductible to the extent allowed by the law and should be made out as follows: NMF/ Hopes, Dreams, & Smiles Fund.
You will be recognized on my website: www.kicknupkountry.com and on the Northwest Minnesota Foundation website: www.nwmf.org and in the Kick’n Up Kountry 2008 Festival Program.
Sincerely,
Ardell Larson, President
Kick’n Up Kountry, Inc.
Click Here to go to the NWMN foundation's site:
www.nwmf.org
Thank You
Letters
Hopes, Dreams, & Smiles Fund Contributors
~Friends who
have showed they care~
Ace Hardware209 Main Ave NThief River Falls, MN. $25.00American Legion Auxiliary Post #214P.O.Box 263Lancaster, MN. 56735 $100.00American Legion Post #88P.O.Box 81Greenbush, MN 56726 $500.00Eye Clinic of North Dakota620 N 9th StBismarck, ND 58501 $50.00Front Street Millwork, Inc.1416 E Front AveBismarck, ND 58501 $50.00Grand Forks Ramada InnP.O.Box 13757Grand Forks, ND 58208 $150.00Grand Forks Welding nd Machine Com1812 Gateway DrGrand Forks, ND 58203 $500.00Home Lumber Company of Thief RiverP.O.Box 675Thief River Falls, MN 56701 $50.00Karlstad Eagles Aerie No. 3486P.O.Box 206Karlstad, MN 56732 $892.00Roxanne Kulyk3469 300th StLake Bronson, MN 56734 $200.00Ardell Larson249 So State AveLake Bronson, MN 56734 $200.00Mattracks, Inc.P.O.Box 214Karlstad, MN 56732 $2000.00North Dakota Mill & Elevator AssociationP.O.Box 13078Grand Forks, ND 58203 $100.00Carol Stark278 Grassy Hills LnGrand Forks, ND 58201 $100.00Thrifry White Drug of Thief River Falls201 Horace Ave NThief River Falls, MN 56701 $50.00TriSteel ManufacturingP.O.Box 14716Grand Forks, ND 58208 $150.00US Bearings & Drives, Inc.1324 7th Ave SGrand Forks, ND 58201 $200.00Pictures from the 2008 Kick'n Up Kountry Music Festival
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