Design Gives Back

MIRACLE MAKEOVERtm: Thanks Design Angels, Giveaway Winners & Metamorphosis Monday Butterflies!

 

Yesterday, Charlie Grady received his final chemo treatment! Since he has just been declared stable, our little hero is excused from another hard series of treatments. After nearly a year of continuous chemotherapy, he can now become a "normal" eight year-old again. The entire Grady family wishes to thank-you, for all you did to help kick-off their MiracleMakeover. The room Charlie received helped him to recover; bringing healing, hope and happiness. His brother Liam's and sister Katie's space makeovers helped them feel special, too.

Katie, age 13, has been a pillar of strength and encouragement for her little brothers.  Her room makeover celebrated her interests and dreams for life: art, science, history, literature and music. Katie's desire to travel is represented by the butterfly wall above; symbolizing her "wings." Peel and stick vinyl frames from Sherwin Williams capture the cut-out butterfly images mounted with adhesive spray. The room transformation with the before image, shown left, helped her to think beyond her family's stresses and visualize a bright future. Katie's art therapy projects included shadow box collage and "heart colors" pages. The meaning of this project is embodied by the DIY party happening each week at Metamorphosis Monday. Creativity changes things! Thank-you Susan for hosting during the Miracle Makeover  comments week.

" It just shows you how big of hearts people in this world can have, to come together and do something like this for my family," said Katie.  She is right. That is why we designed this tag/ or optional award (we know some don't post awards) for those of you that joined in the MiracleMakeover week... and contributed comments, blog posts, emails or Facebook responses. The project tags below are jpegs that you can take for your blog or Facebook page. You can copy and paste; they can be made smaller, too. Use whichever works in your format. We appreciate you. Because of the "Design Angel" team efforts we collected 5503 comments and/ or responses to our MiracleMakeover Charlie's Room video party! Thank-you so very much. Design Gives Back donated $1 per comment so that makes $2,751.50 to be presented to Friends of Kids With Cancer. Also, $2,751.50 will go into a materials fund for another MiracleMakeover for someone in-need.                         

If you are just finding us here at Design Gives Back, you can read about and see the MiracleMakeover video just below. Also, you can find our kind blog hosts for the event there, too. One of which is Pink Saturday, and another, Spiritual Sunday , are parties that are happening again this weekend. Enjoy the pink tulips from Katie's room shown above.  

 Your kind comments keep us encouraged. We sure appreciate them.

MIRACLE MAKEOVER REVEAL: WE DID IT! OVER 5,000 COMMENTS!

Thank-you to each and every one of you that commented, posted on Facebook, wrote a blog story or added a link. Maybe you clicked "like", emailed a friend, or embedded the video. We thank-you for helping with this heart-felt effort. It is because of these kindnesses that we can report that we received over 5,450 responses to Charlie's Miracle Makeover video and story. Isn't that fantastic?! See what you accomplished! (Cue jumping-up and down! Go ahead and whoo-hoo!)Congratulations and thank-you, thank-you! Team Design Gives Back has triumphed and each of you played a valuable role.

A few interesting facts: That total included 150-plus blog stories averaging 20-60 comments each. Each blogger also earned a $5 donation (5 comment equivalent) for creating the post. There were over 550 Facebook page posts, 280 "likes", and 200 side comments. And, other assorted responses we are still counting. We will have a final total next week on Friday, August 26; and, also announce our giveaway winners in that same post.

Our Miracle Makeover blog hosts pulled in hundreds of comments each. They averaged 200-300 comments and some went way beyond. One passionate and big hearted blogger, Marydon of the Blushing Rose Blog brought in nearly 700 comments! Bless you Marydon. I know how hard you worked for this. Thank-you.

Because Design Gives Back committed to donate $1  per comment from you, Friends of Kids with Cancer will be receiving a check to help serve families with seriously ill kids.  Also, another Miracle Makeover for someone in-need now has the wings to take flight. 

Thank-you to all of our sponsors. Most of which we have featured previously. Especially, though, thank-you to Guideposts Magazine that brought Charlie's story  to eight million readers in the August issue. For the past 50 years Guideposts has been committed to publishing  true stories of hope and inspiration. At www.guideposts.org you can now see inspirational video stories, as well.  

 

 

 

 

MIRACLE MAKEOVERtm: Thanks Residence Inn by Marriott

 

                                                                  

"All the comforts of home" is their motto. As guests of The Residence Inn by Marriott of St. Louis/O'Fallon, the Grady family can confirm that it is true. The hotel sponsored the whole family for rest and renewal during Charlie's MiracleMakeovertm. They even donated a conference room to serve as our art therapy workshop for the week. Hot breakfast in the morning and even some family-style meals in the evening make staying at Residence Inn truly feel like a "home away from home." A special thanks to Beau Mullenix and Joe Farney in the management team for their generosity. 

MIRACLE MAKEOVERtm: Thank-you St.Louis Children's Hospital

                                                                                    

Design Gives Back would like to thank the caring staff at St. Louis Children'sHospital for their support of Charlie's MiracleMakeovertm. Charlie "Santa" -- the toy drive eight year-old Charlie founded -- shares toys at the hospital year-round. Additionally, Charlie, suffering with brain tumors, has received the best chemo-care in the midwest from the excellent team at the hospital. Media support led by Jackie Ferman made it possible to shoot portions of our video there as well.

                          Thank-you Children's Hospital St. Louis!

New Rooms for Katie, Charlie & Liam ... Please Join Hundreds of Bloggers for Miracle Makeover Blog Week August 12 - 18

A Family Miracle: When Design Gives Back helps one sick child in a family, we include the rest of the kids too. Katie, age 13, has been a patient and giving sister to her two little brothers; she really deserved something for herself and help for her room(click on image left to enlarge) too. Seven year-old Charlie has brain tumors from  Neurofibromatosis Type 1. Charlie's grueling chemo treatments have taken a toll on the entire family. Parents John and Kara, navy vets, have been tested beyond the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, by the battle the whole family has been waging against Charlie's cancer. Kara suffers from NF-1, as well. The family is the latest recipient of a MiracleMakeovertm week. And, you readers and bloggers helped make it all possible with your kind comments. The Gradys are an ambassador family for National Childhood Cancer Month, September 2011.

 

B. A. Renaissance Girl: That is the phrase I coined for Katie Grady because she loves history, science, art and music.  I talked with Katie about her goals and dreams for her life. We incorporated her colors and some projects she created in the art therapy room we had set-up at The Residence Inn in O'Fallon. The hotel kindly sponsored the family's stay for the makeover.(A real treat for them as they haven't had a vacation or break from chemo in three years.) The interactive design work with our recipients and their involvement in the room is a hallmark of  MiracleMakeovertm.  Katie made beaded tassel tie-backs for the curtains and collaged shadow boxes. Butterflies framed in a feature wall panel represent her life goal to travel or "fly" the world.  Katie created a vision of life's possibilities within the framework of her new bedroom. Look at what you readers have done for her! Your comments led to this. Thank-you for your kindness to the Grady family. If you are just hearing about it, read on...

Last summer Colette's makeover celebration prompted thousands of comments about the video reveal and those were matched by Design Gives Back with a $1 donation each. Your kind words about the video raised enough to give Charlie's makeover wings. A few months ago I took the MiracleMakeovertm team to Wentzville, Missouri to help Charlie and family. With major support from The Heart Hat Volunteers from McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. we tackled two complete room remodels in thirty-two working hours. The snow-storm of the century couldn't keep us down. You will see Charlie's MiracleMakeovertm video episode here and may share it on your website, blog, intranet or Facebook beginning August 12.  You all have a credit on the video, too! YOU are famous. The print story about Charlie's Makeover is featured in the August issue of Guideposts: America's #1 Inspirational Magazine. 

             

 JOIN THE WEEK: Simply write a kind, uplifting post; OR for the crafty -- you can  "make" something positive. ( Really, any DIY or transformation is perfect! This about creative change.). And then link to the video and story. You can also join one of the blog parties listed below. Last year we had a week of internet goodness as hundreds of posts and stories about gratitude, miracles and transformation were shared. Thousands of comments were left! If you are not a blogger, please leave comments all around and email friends and family. Post on Facebook and anywhere someone might be helped by the inspiring story.

                                     1 Kind Comment From You =

             A $1.00 Donation From Our Sponsor on Your Behalf

Those funds go to help our non-profit partners Friends of Kids with Cancer , The Children's Tumor Foundation and for the next MiracleMakeovertm. You provide positive words and we provide the cash. We believe that you and your words have value! 

Thrifty Curtains: Our makeover materials must be thrifty. We rely on creativity and the kindness of donors to achieve beauty on a small budget. We made curtains with built-in accent borders by cutting sheets so that the top of the sheet(normally running by the pillows across the bed) ran floor to ceiling; creating a gorgeous turquoise banding.The  tab-bows are grosgrain ribbon. Sherry Mirador, Design Gives Back team, did the fine sewing.

Shown left to right: Judy Ciapciak, director, Friends of Kids With Cancer, Charlie and John Grady, Kelee Katillac, Design Gives Back and Corey Black, team leader McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.

     Charlie's MiracleMakeovertm Video Reveal Week is 

                                   August 12-18, 2011

Write a post or leave comments here or with these beautiful bloggers during the week:

Pink Saturday @ at How Sweet the Sound/ Beverly 

Spiritual Sunday  @ Spiritual Sunday /Charlotte & Ginger

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch Blog /Susan

Country Wings in Phoenix @ Country Wings in Phoenix Blog/Sherry       

Please leave us a comment here today to let us know you are with us...

 

WELCOME TRANSFORMATION THURSDAY FRIENDS! PLEASE TAKE PART IN THE MIRACLE MAKEOVER PARTY STARTING AUGUST 12. SEE THE LIST OF LINKY HOSTS ABOVE....

Posted: DGB Media Team & Kelee

 

Volunteers of The Week: The McCarthy Building "Heart Hat" Volunteers

           
 

 Volunteers of the Week: Mary and Merri drove through a dangerous snowstorm, sewing machine in-tow, to help make curtains and pillows for Charlie Grady and family. They are part of the Heart Hat Volunteers from McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. Meet them in the MiracleMakeover Reveal video showing here, starting August 12. Read more about the video and project in the posts below.

The Design Gives Back Team

                                   

Host & Founder: Interior design expert Kelee Katillac has spent over twenty years transforming homes and lives. She is a leader in holistic design and has pioneered color therapy. Katillac has been a guest on CNN, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Discovery Channel, Pure Oxygen, The Family Network and many others. Katillac's work has been featured in the pages of USA Today, House Beautiful, Better Homes & Gardens, Designer Builder, Country Home, Body & Soul, The Utne Reader and hundreds of other publications worldwide. In addition, she is the author of two award-winning books including House of Belief: Creating Your Personal Style and Kids' Rooms for Believing & Belonging. Katillac founded Design Gives Back to help those in-need -- or critically ill -- to have furnished, functional, and hope-filled homes. She has been the national director for Habitat for Humanity's House of Belief DIY Workshop Series, and is currently the Inspired Home Expert for Guideposts: America's #1 Inspirational Magazine. 

"The remarkable story of a woman who says your home should be more than a place that stores your things...but a place where your child feels loved and supported, and a place that reflects who they are and who they want to be.”... Kelee Katillac... House of Belief... its beautiful."      

                                                                                                          ~ Oprah Winfrey

 

Television Production: Design Gives Back Media includes talent and experience from director Sam Sullivant. He has worked on productions for The Oprah Winfrey Show, Extreme Home Makeover, American Idol and others. His corporate video resume includes Ford, Hallmark, Applebees, McDonalds, and Colgate, to name just a few. Sullivant brings cutting-edge technical skills and a warm story- telling perspective to lead our video production team. 

 

 

Fundraising Council: Fund development and charitable oversight is an important part of our projects and our team members from Pelofsky and Associates are responsible for these tasks. Lisa Pelofsky is the President and CEO of the company and heads all fundraising efforts for Miracle Makeovertm projects. Pelofsky and Associates has been providing fundraising consultation and counsel for over 20 years. The firm manages capital campaigns, annual giving efforts, special events and other fundraising activities. They have raised funds for many worthy causes and are experts in the area of healthcare related services. Pelofsky has worked with celebrities such as Magic Johnson, Sally Field, Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White, Nick Cannon, Johnny Damon and many others. 

 

Project Development: Sherry Mirador co-produces non-profit events, fundraisers and cause-related campaigns. She has worked with Magic Johnson, Clay Johnson, Flex Alexander, Columbus Short, Brian White, and others. As a talented designer, Sherry's work is award-winning. She outreaches to help others in the community through creative workshops. Soon to complete her MPA, her business sense and kind personality, make her a true asset.

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Producer: Steve Heiffus co-produces projects for Design Gives Back. As an architectural designer of 35 years he is passionate about building and design. "Transforming homes helps people to have hope, get well, or have a better life," says Steve. Having worked with some of the biggest names in design, including Ted Graber, Mel Dwork, Thomas Britt, Charles Pfister and Sally Sirkin Lewis, he is used to demanding time frames and managing details. Also, his caring disposition makes him essential to the success of our projects.

 

Countdown to the Miracle Makeover Reveal August 12-18! Please Help By Sharing Kind Comments, Emails, Blog, Facebook or Internet Posts

MIRACLE MAKEOVER SNEAK PEEK ABOVE: Liam Grady, age 8, is Charlie's brother and roommate. Liam is a hoot. Just a total hoot. He is profound, kind, and funny. The chalkboard above a desk -- made from Lowe's sawhorses -- provides a place for his daily "Liamisms" that keep the whole Grady family laughing even in a time of hardship. Eric Thomas, skilled craftsman, made the desk top and our window awnings too! The challenge with the makeover for Charlie -- who is suffering from brain tumors -- was to make the room about each of their personalities, goals and dreams. All in a 14' x 14' space. The result is a miracle! You will need to be here for the video reveal starting this Friday August 12 to watch it and be inspired. Maybe even laugh and cry -- the good tears -- just a little. Here is how you can help kids like Charlie and someone new to also receive a MiracleMakeover by participating in the MiracleMakeover Blog Party this coming week:

 The host for the MiracleMakeover August 12-18 Blog Event is:

Here at www.designgivesback.com where the reveal video will be playing. Anytime someone leaves a comment we will donate $1 to Friends of Kids with Cancer or another makeover recipient.

                           1 Comment from you = A $1 Donation From Us For

                    Another MiracleMakeover or for Kids w/Cancer

Please consider sharing at least one of these with your blog readers, friends, company or organization:

1) Post or embed the YouTube video and /or a link to the website OR the video on your blog, company intranet or Facebook. ANYWHERE someone might be inspired!

2)Please ask them to leave comments -- the comments help us raise funds for the charities. DESIGN GIVES BACK provides the money, they provide only comments or posts.

3) The Charlie Grady MiracleMakeover is currently in Guideposts: America's #1 Inspirational Magazine -- 8,000,000 readers. Go to:  

http://www.guideposts.org/inspirational-stories/room-makeover-brings-hope-sick-boy

 4) There will be four other MiracleMakeover bloghosts (three with linky parties) that you can link to as well-- with your post. The comments left at these help earn donations too!

 

5) Our goal is 5,000 comments or the equivalent across the web.  Together we can do it! We did last year for Colette's MiracleMakeover.

 

6) If you write a post and let us know via email we will donate an additional $5.00 in your name to our charities!

 

                 

Meet Liam Grady on this Sneak Peek Video.... You will just love him!  Click on the link below:

http://www.designgivesback.com/2011/07/calling-all-design-angels-a-little-boy-called-charlie-santa-needs-your-help.html 

 

 

Metamorphosis Monday Fans: Susan is posting for the MiracleMakeover on Monday the 15th. It would be so kind if you could include our link in your post for that day!

DIY TIP: Note the clothes-line wheels(couple dollars each) we adapted above, for art display for Charlie's coloring pages (see the video link, above, for more on that, too). The wheels are also from kind Lowe's -- one of our sponsors.

 

WELCOME TRANSFORMATION THURSDAY FRIENDS. PLEASE BE PART OF THE MIRACLE MAKEOVER PARTY!

 Posted DGBMedia Team

MIRACLE MAKEOVER Trademark: Design Gives Back

Miracle Makeover is an official USTrademark of Design Gives Back, signifying stories, projects and programming. Design Gives Back™ provides rooms for hope, health and happiness for those in-need. Since 1992, we have facilitated life-changing workshops, community  programs and inspirational makeovers. 

"Design Gives Backtm welcomes all that love to design, build or decorate.  Our mission is to help those in-need to have more positive living conditions. Hope comes when walls turn from cracked and peeling, to smooth and colorful. The ability to see life differently is prompted by a change in one's surroundings. Cancer patient Colette is an inspiring example of the process.  Through a "miracle makeover" we see her world go from negative to positive in just a few days. Planning a brighter future -- a new job, loving relationships, healthier habits -- is easier when renewed rooms prove that renewed lives are possible for the tired or homeless. It is in this way that design volunteers become heroes, angels and missionaries."                                                                                                                                                              ~Kelee Katillac, Design Gives Back Founder

Volunteers of The Upcoming Week: Pink Saturday, Spiritual Sunday, Country Wings in Phoenix, Metamorphosis Monday & The Painted Garden

Every week of the year, Beverly of the How Sweet The Sound Blog, sets a place at her table for hundreds of bloggers to meet on the weekend and share their posts. She calls her event Pink Saturday and she is dedicating the weekend of August 12-14 to the MiracleMakeover Video Reveal Party for Charlie Grady and his family. Beverly, and the other bloggers, shown here, hosted last year; they gathered hundreds of blog posts to share the MiracleMakeover story and video reveal. Many of you wrote posts sharing something positive, uplifting, mystical, or down-right miraculous. We filled the internet with a week of "light." For each comment that was left Design Gives Back donated $1 to another future makeover. Well, that project is now complete and we are celebrating Aug.12-18 with the reveal. Beverly and friends helped us start a cycle-of-goodness. Now, it is time to continue on and all become "Charlie's Angels" next week with our posts and comments that will seed another makeover for someone in-need and help Charlie's designated charity Friends of Kids with Cancer. Please join in the effort. Beverly, since you are camera-shy let the roses above represent you!

 

 Sherry of Country Wings in Phoenix is also hosting a MiracleMakeover Party post. You have to see, hear and feel her creative posts to believe them! She is the Ms. Ziegfeld of blogging. Especially, when she really cares about a cause....her posts will make you cry and laugh all at once. She is sure to have an amazing post about Charlie and his family. Stop by, be moved and leave a comment. We donate $1 every time you comment from August 12-18 about the MiracleMakeover Reveal video and project . The money goes to help those in-need. 

 

 

Artist (and kind soul) Erin Houghton of The Painted Garden has donated one of her amazing bicycle paintings for the giveaway! Also we will have:

a $50 Mastercard Gift Card

a $100 Hobby Lobby Gift Card

a $200 Lowe's Gift Card will be included in our prizes. 

 

 

 

Charlotte and Ginger of BloggerSpirit are MiracleMakeover Hosts for August 12-18 at the weekly blog event Spiritual Sunday. You can create a post about something positive or uplifting and join in by linking to their party to celebrate Charlie's reveal. Your comments and posts will have a donation made on their behalf by us to Friends of Kids With Cancer. There will be a hundred or so posts at Spiritual Sunday August 12-18.

 

 

 

Susan of Between Naps on the Porch will be posting for her event Metamorphosis Monday in honor of the MiracleMakeover Reveal Party. Her Monday, August 15, linky event features projects and DIY transformations. Join her party, link to the event and over here with your uplifting post. Let us know and your post will count and earn donations in your name from us! 

The Charlie's Room Miracle Makeover story is featured this month in Guideposts: America's #1 Inspirational Magazine with 8,000,000 readers all seeking true stories of hope & inspiration.  Two subscriptions to Guideposts are in the giveaway!      

                                         

8/7  3 P.M. Breaking News: Just posted http://www.blogguidebook.com

Post: DGB Media Team