Design Gives Back

Elijah's Miracle Makeover: Hundreds of Comments Help The Bone Marrow Foundation

One day, not long ago, I visited Elijah in his Ninja Chef bedroom; I had brought his favorite plain hot dogs from Sonic and french fries. A delicious moment for a boy that could eat no food for nearly three years, and, who had never had a bedroom of his own - outside of the hospital -- for the preceding eight years. As we sat on his bed, lunching, that wonderful room wrapped its arms around us. The cozy warmth that so many gave through their time and talent could literally be felt emanating from the colors, images, fabrics and furnishings; it is no wonder Elijah has continued to heal. For Elijah's story watch the video below or read a little more about it here.

                              

Not only did our volunteers help make dreams come true for Elijah, and his brother Isaiah, but, then you and many others reached out with kind comments (views or shares) from all over the internet and Facebook, earning a $1 donation for The Bone Marrow Foundation from us at Design Gives Back, for each comment or share. To date, there have been over 1,000 comments or interactions counted or reported to us! How do we do it? In good faith, our partners, volunteers, sponsors, and blog friends do the counting and let us know the outcome. Your words of belief have value to us. A heartfelt thank-you to all that helped with this effort. Together, we can change things.

Post: Kelee Katillac

 

Volunteer of The Week: Photographer Darla Peters

Darla Peters is one of our Design Gives Back volunteers with enormous talent and a caring heart. As a professional portrait photographer she brought great technical skill and on-site poise to the Daniel family project. A makeover for a family with a sick child can be very sensitive. It takes a compassionate, artistic soul to capture beauty, even in the midst of suffering. Darla did just that. And, the images provide proof of real, physical transformation in the lives of our recipients; see the Elijah Miracle Makeover video. For the work of Darla Peters, go here.

A ROOM FOR BREAST CANCER RECOVERY: Colors to Help Colette Heal

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. 

 Today, our MiracleMakeovertm projects help deserving individuals and families, as well as, the non-profit groups that sponsor them. Through inspiring video episodes and print stories you can see healing rooms for those who are sick, art therapy workshops for kids-at-risk and hope-filled homes for struggling families.  

These MiracleMakeovertm television, internet, and print vehicles become ambassador and outreach for cause-organizations by helping to create awareness and funding. Our partners have included Habitat for Humanity International, Catholic Charities, The Starlight Foundation, Friends of Kids with Cancer, and many others. 

    Before:  The focus of Colette's bedroom was this hospital bed.      

Design Changes Things: When a room is falling apart it seems that things are hopeless. For Colette Gauthier, a cancer patient, this was especially true. So, in two and a half days, and on a tiny budget, we set out to change things. Transforming her rental house bedroom from bleak to beautiful helped her through chemotherapy. The restored and renewed space filled her with hope. A visual reminder that healing is possible for our homes ... and lives.

      

 Thank-you to our corporate partners Masonic Pathways , Sherwin-Williams Paint,  The Fairfield Inn by Marriot and Guideposts Magazine for providing the resources and volunteers that made this makeover possible. You are design heroes.

This Miracle Makeover was first published and aired by Guideposts Magazine to over 8 million readers and 30,000 views on the site and Vimeo. Since Guideposts' is now rebuilding we have just uploaded to YouTube for Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2015.

           Video: Meet Colette! She will make your day...

 

DESIGN GIVES BACK: Aaron Leimkuehler Photographer

 

Documenting our makeovers is one of the most important aspects of what we do at Design Gives Back; making sure that the inspiring stories, recipients, volunteers, donors and amazing rooms are on film (or whatever digital really is) forever, is the goal. Aaron Leimkuehler is one of Kansas City's top interior design and architectural photographers. You may have seen his photos in Spaces Magazine, where he works with Zim Loy, Editor. You can also find him in world-wide books like The Chamber of Curiosity: Apartment Design & The New Elegance. Aaron has tremendous talent and is, also, a really good person. His photos of Elijah's and Isaiah's rooms will be worth the wait. Look for their upcoming publication. Thank-you Aaron for your time & talent!

Travis White Painting: Design Gives Back Partner

 

If generosity of spirit is on your qualifications list for hiring a painter, then Travis White, left, is your man. Travis is always ready to help those in-need. As a result, Elijah and family received a bright, freshly painted new canvas for life. Working with Sherwin Williams' Promar 200 paint we used a custom green color as a base coat. Then, to add vibrancy I suggested we lightly roll-on SW6918 Humorous Green. Steve Smith, right, part of the Travis White crew, gave it an artistic touch and Elijah's green and blue room took form; leaping from the coloring pages that I had helped him make, into reality. Psychologically, green can be an intuitive reference to health. While the bold, cerulean blue that Elijah and I mixed with acrylic paints on canvas -- now called "Elijah Blue" -- is about balance.                                                         

                                                        ~ Kelee Katillac

      Thank-you Travis White & Sherwin Williams!

Volunteers of the Week: Eric Thomas & Crew

                              

Eric Thomas of Thomas Design/Build saved the day for Elijah's reveal. Have you ever had your room measurements be off by just a few inches? A few inches becomes a really big thing in a small space. A whole wall of ready-made cabinetry needed to be rebuilt in 24 hours. In comes long-time Design Gives Back partner Eric Thomas to do the work and slosh through a rain downpour in the wee hours of Saturday morning to get them back to the makeover site to reinstall. DONE. That is just who Eric is --and shows the depth of his goodness. John Farrell, left, & Pat Suckiel helped out too.

 

       Thank-you Thomas Design/Build of Kansas City, MO!

MIRACLE MAKEOVER: Fashionista, Graphic Artist, and Craftsman To The Rescue

Using all of their skills, talents, and courage Design Gives Back team members Sherry Mirador, Andy Fox and Jeremy Wood have come to the rescue of Elijah and Isaiah's room makeovers. 

Sherry Mirador is a gifted seamstress and fashion designer. She has shared her passion for fashion and giving back with our makeovers for the past five years. Sherry is constructing curtains, pillows, duvets and more for the boy's rooms. An eye for detail helps her to create beautifully made products.

"I just love giving my gift for sewing to this family. Working with Design Gives Back allows me to use what I have in the service of others," said Sherry.

 

 

 

Andy Fox, the founder of Brainstorm -- a division of Bennett Packaging & Displays (digital printing), helped interior designer, Kelee Katillac, bring to life her vision of a comic book story in Elijah's room. As a graphic designer, Andy is morphing Katillac's imagery with Elijah's hopes and dreams into large scale murals, framed art and signage. Bennett Packaging & Displays offers cutting edge digital printing and design services.

 

 

Everyone knows that the Ninja Turtles live and fight the bad guys in New York City. Elijah is definite that the bricks in his comic book room have to be brown -- like in NYC. To help make the vision complete, Jeremy Wood, of Wood Wallcovering, Lee's Summit, Missouri, volunteered. 

"It is so great to do something special with our business. Design Gives Back is amazing to work with and the level of project management and development for these families in-need is outstanding," said Jeremy.

 

 

Volunteer of the Week: Marva Ford of Personal Concierge Services

Taking care of things for you, that is what a concierge service offers. And, our makeover recipient family of Jesse, Nakia, Elijah and Isaiah have so needed someone to "take care of them." During the makeover that is now in-progress, Marva Ford has procured everything from Ninja Turtle balloons and gift baskets, to the main stays of life: groceries, therapeutic massage and financial help. Her passion for giving back is contagious and her energy infinite.

 

As a professional in this area, with her business Personal Concierge Services, LLC , Marva, (left) is an expert at finding the right match for her client's needs. For our makeover, she put together a group of Design Angel Donors, to bring comfort and joy to our family.  Heading the list is her husband, Don Ford, a man of great kindness.      

     

 Thank-you to Our Design Angel Donors:

Yvette and Kelvin Lovely                                Sherry and Eugene Pouncil                

Sarah Ryhern, Massage Therapist               Brandi Motley-Rayner & Tiyan, Jordan, Lauryn

Anonymous

Janet Fahey                                                       David & Tanesha Ford

Don & Marva Ford                                           Daryl Tyus, Popeye's of Raytown, Mo.

Personal Concierge Services, LLC.       "We run errands for you!" 913-645-7970

 

RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT: GENEROUS DESIGN GIVES BACK PARTNER

 

                           

The Union Hill Residence Inn by Marriott is providing rooms for the family of Elijah and Isaiah while our makeover team is occupying their home. Since the crew works around the clock it is necessary (and fun for the family) to provide all of the amenities offered by The Residence Inn. As their slogan says " All of the comforts of home."

"We are very excited to partner with Design Gives Back and hopefully add to the joy you are providing this amazing family.  Thank-you for the opportunity to help, " said General Manager, Paige Southard.

In cities around the country -- over the past 20 years -- we have encountered the same generosity from the Marriott management groups. Often, a hot breakfast, activities rooms, dinners, and other standard amenities like swimming pools and workout rooms are provided to our families in-need. The stress of handling critically ill children, hospital bills, and daily work life leaves parents without any mode of rest and renewal. The Residence Inn is like a royal, much needed vacation.

In an era of corporate bottom-lines that may overlook the merits of giving as a company value, Marriott embraces generosity. It is said " When you give, you receive." The success of Marriott seems to prove it.

 

At The Residence Inn (left to right): Marva Ford, DGB Hospitality, Steve Heiffus, DGB Producer, Nakia, Miracle Makeovertm Recipient, Kelee Katillac, DGB Founder

 

 Team Post

MIRACLE MAKEOVER: Bone Marrow Donor to Receive New Room

It was a life or death situation. Isaiah had found out that he was a rare bone marrow match for his little brother Elijah, then five years-old. This would be a chance to save Elijah's life. Without hesitation the 14 year old jumped-in to save his drowning brother. Three years earlier, his 13 year old sister, Essence, had died from the same disease that was trying to pull Elijah under too. But, not to be; Elijah has now been cured of Sickle Cell Anemia by Isaiah's gift of life. We find the valor of Isaiah to be awe inspiring. It is time this young man has a room for hope and happiness. A place designed by him to express goals and dreams of a bright future. Will he become a doctor, politician, or engineer? These are all on his radar. 

 I have been personally assisting Isaiah in the creation of his space.  He has deep sensitivity and artistry of spirit. His room will be insightful, modern and in good taste. His color palette is earthy yet retro: leaf green, chocolate brown, teal, saffron, tangerine and white. So far, he leans toward mid-century furniture silhouettes and edits decisively.

Today, Josh Jett, left, of Home Delivery Service KC, assisted Isaiah, right, and myself, in assembling the FLOR area rug. The modular carpet tiles allowed Isaiah to customize the colors, design and size. The rug is the color "hub" for the new room. Josh references the FLOR website on his I-Phone for installation instructions. Stay tuned for the video reveal to see the final product.

" This is a new start. I am very grateful to Design Gives Back for this opportunity to define my life and world. For years, I have felt just caught       up in events. It felt like the old things in my room were keeping me in the    past. I needed to cleanse my mind and space. I get to choose what happens here," said Isaiah.

 Whatever he chooses to pursue in life, it is already a fact that Isaiah is a true leader. He has shown us the need for bone marrow donors and that it is a rewarding process. Saving a life, what could be better? Bone marrow is needed to heal many diseases. To find out more go to:

                           The Bone Marrow Foundation.org

                               Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.org

 ~ Kelee Katillac 

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