Get your voting finger ready,

because something BIG is coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Art Auction 2010!!!!

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for all of our GoodSearchers. It might be the easiest-peasiest way to help The Kyrie Foundation ever created. We are delighted with each & every one of you who have made your homepage GoodSearch for The Kyrie Foundation. To date, we have earned over $750 just for searching the internet like we'd be doing anyway.

For those of you who don't know what GoodSearch is, here's a little info:
You reading this on the web right? You likely search on the web, too, right? With Google, Yahoo!, etc ... What if you simply used GoodSearch instead? What if every time you typed in something to search, a penny went to research? GoodSearch is powered by Yahoo!'s search engine, so you get the same relevant finds you would with Yahoo!. Just go here and then select The Kyrie Foundation where it asks "Who do you GoodSearch for?"

And now here's something to make it even easier: download the GoodSearch Toolbar for The Kyrie Foundation! Just click here to install the toolbar at the top of your browser. This will make it just as easy as the Google search bar already in your toolbar frame. It'll look like this:

And this will also be an easy reminder to use GoodShop. Did we mention that? Yep, you can do your online shopping through GoodShop at your regular online stores, Target, Amazon, iTune, eBay, etc., and a smidgen goes to The Kyrie Foundation, too. Totally free--no added fees or anything. Chad & I are in the market for a new fridge. Looking at Lowes right now online to purchase via GoodShop. Ka-ching! Cool food for us, research $ for the foundation. Love that.

So thankful for the makers of GoodSearch. It's so nice to have support like this, an easy tool like this. All it requires is a person to care enough to click. That's it.

Thank you GoodSearchers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What are you thankful for today?

Uppercase Living Sale!

I got a great phone call from Niki Gehring last night with another super do-good idea. Niki is an independent sales director with Uppercase Living, the company that creates beautiful wall designs with inspiring words and images, like this:

and this

and this.

See that cheerleader? That's a giant cut-out photo. Yep, Uppercase Living can to that kind of stuff for you, too.

She's offering to donate 100% of her commission (the proceeds) of everything you purchase from now until the end of June--next Wednesday!  Here are the details:

Uppercase Living offers a unique and affordable way to stylize your home, and express your personality with one-of-a-kind vinyl lettering and decor.  Every one of our expressions is made to order...you choose your size and color. 

Place an order with Uppercase Living from now until Tuesday, June 29th and all the proceeds from your order will be donated to The Kyrie Foundation. 

 

In addition, ALL VINYL is currently  

BUY 1 GET 1 FREE  

(unlimited quantity!)

 

Here's what you do:

1. go to http://nikigehring.uppercaseliving.net where you can view all that UL has to offer, and make your purchase online. 

2. send and email to Niki Gehring at gehringn@msn.com.  Include your name and order number.

 

NEED IDEAS???

To view a video that showcases the Uppercase Living used in Niki's home go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dAieWzWzdo

 

Please share this offer with your friends and family!

 Let's see how much we can raise for the Kyrie Foundation in the next 5 days!

 

Contact Niki Gehring  with any questions or for ideas

Independent SENIOR DIRECTOR

316.259.9609

gehringn@msn.com

http://nikigehring.uppercaseliving.net

 

New shirts! New shirts!

To celebrate 2010 as the year we bestowed our very first $50,000 research grant, we commissioned a new t-shirt design!

Kansas City artist Kristen Keller generously agreed to donate her design skill and innate talent to create an image that embodied all that we have become as a foundation and our intent as we move forward in this battle. Isn't it GEEE-OR-GEEE-OUS?!

She made a woodcut design first and then applied artistic layers to create dimensional interest. See how she hand-lettered "Spreading Our Wings" to go with the bird icon? And how at the top, she hand-lettered "50K Strong?" I just love it. What a talent! And to have her share her gift with us is extraordinary. Thank you, Kristen for standing beside us!

We've got the design in this sky-blue color ...

As well as a charcoal grey.

Adult sizes in either color are S, M, L, XL, 2XL. Youth (S, M, L) and toddler sizes (2, 3, 4) are in the sky blue only.

As for the back, it looks like this—again, hand-lettered by Kristen.

So ... if you want to place an order, just visit our site here! We plan to have them at our upcoming Kyrie Klassic golf tournament and 2010 Twilight Walk for purchase as well.

Thank you!

A great, big thank you to all of your who came out to Blinging for Babies! We had a successful night raising money to fight pediatric brain cancer!! Thank you, shoppers for fighting cancer with your Friday night! Thank you, Nana Norma for the ever-delicious mint brownies and punkin' cake! Thank you, Brittany + Brittany's mom for hosting such a nice event and offering great specials!

And we have to show you these COOKIES!!!

Can you believe how absolutely gorgeous these are? Like little works of art. So ... if you are looking for something special for your next soiree, please consider Emma's Sweet Treats by Sheri Springer. I'm telling ya, the attention to detail is stunning. These are designer cookies! You can reach Team Springer by phone (316)777-0372 or email me at team_springer@cox.net. Thank you, Sheri!


And, lucky you/lucky us, Brittany is keeping the order open this week, so if you missed Friday night, but still want to place an order, please e-mail Brittany, brittanywest@hotmail.com.

Bling with us tonight!

Swing by on your way home or on your way out! I'm hitting the road bound for Wichita this afternoon just to check out all of Brittany's Premiere Jewelry. And even if you're not if the market for sparkly things, come by and say Hi. We'd love to see you!

Don't forget!

Today: KAKE-TV the midday news show to see Lacie & Brittany talk about the foundation and about our event tomorrow night! We'll post a link after the airing, if we have one.

Tomorrow evening: Blinging for Babies! 6-9p at the Sedgwick County Extension Office on west 21st Street. It's the big, mega-Premiere Jewelry fundraiser where 100% of the profits benefit The Kyrie Foundation! Gift-giving ideas, anyone? So ... grab your best gal pal and drop by after work or get out of the house for an hour or two with us! Cool jewelry, free snacks and do-good shopping!!! Plus, I'll be there, and you can't miss that. ;)

Why wouldn't I?

It always comes down to little decisions, doesn't it?

Ham or turkey.

Comedy or drama.

Make the appointment or ignore it.

Speak up or keep it to yourself.

Go or don't go.

Call or don't call.

Write or don't write.

Do it or do nothing.

Sometimes people tell me that what we're doing is so big and so important that they never would have the time/energy/ideas/wherewithal to endeavor such a monumental task like daring to take on brain cancer for sick children. I often lose my breath hearing this.

If we weren't doing this, than who would?

I'll let you in on a little secret we have here:

We don't have the time/energy/ideas/wherewithall either. All we do is say "yes."

I am not a superhero here. None of us have any special charitable powers. We just keep saying "yes." We keep thinking that sending an e-mail and making a phone call might just work. We keep trying whatever idea we think sounds good and does good. We operate on blind faith 100% of the time. And ... we don't "make the time." Believe me, I WISH I could make time. We spend the time.

It's irrational, but sometimes when I hear of another family discovering that their child has a brain tumor or I hear we've lost another child, I feel partially responsible. If only I knew a celebrity to help us, if only we had a global corporate sponsor, if only we had a thousand volunteers, if only ...

And that's the irony. Sometimes we want a big magic fix. But big never just appears on it's own. Humans often take big for granted. Big appears as a result of a million little things piled up. Big concerts happen because of hundreds of production people. Big inventions happen because someone spends a lot of little minutes thinking. Big faith manifests from a multitude of everyday circumstances. Big cures happen when someone decides to take on tiny details.

Big results happen because of little decisions. On or off? Go or stay? Yes or no?

And I've been sent to tell you that this is a "yes."

KAKE-TV tomorrow!

The Kyrie Foundation is going to be on KAKE-TV Channel 10 in Wichita tomorrow during their midday news show! Look for Lacie and Brittany West to tell you about our Blinging for Babies fundraiser this Friday evening at the Sedgwick County Extension office. Woo-HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blinging for Babies!

Hey, all! Don't forget about this Friday evening. It's Blinging for Babies, a mega-event hosted by Premiere Jewelry superstar Brittany West. This is your chance to shop for great jewelry—a style to suit everyone—where all of the proceeds benefit The Kyrie Foundation! That's right. All of your shopping does good.

So don't miss your chance to shop for birthdays, special occasions, just because, soon-to-be-mommy gifts, Valentine's Day & Mother's Day 2011, and, if you're like me, some easy & early Christmas shopping THIS FRIDAY!

6:00 pm to 9:00 p.m.
Sedgwick County Extension Office
Sunflower Room
7001 W. 21st St. North
Wichita, Kansas

Free admission! Free parking! Free refreshments!

Plus, we'll have our Kyrie Foundation table there with something BRAND NEW!!

Another Do Good Idea

You're never going to believe this!

What if I told you that two amazing souls on this earth decided to turn their special day into a special way to do good?

Well, that's exactly what Donna Fritz and Bob Newell did. Donna is the dear mother of longtime commentator and generous volunteer Kristi Swob. Kristi's dedication to The Kyrie Foundation's goal has been nothing short of extraordinary. So when it came time for Kristi's mom and her sweetheart, Bob, to plan their wedding, instead of registering for gifts, they decided to ask their guests to donate to charity. Donna & Bob chose the Ronald McDonald House and ... The Kyrie Foundation!!!

Is this not one of the loveliest things you've ever heard of!?! We are so incredibly blessed by this extreme act of do-goodness. Oh, for love to be so loving ... isn't it just so good?

So a whopping thank you to all of Donna & Bob's generous guests. It is no wonder they have chosen such extremely special people to be their friends. And a warm and monumental amount of gratitude to Donna & Bob for including a sweet little girl's life and purpose in their celebration. The love you two share for one another has grown to encompass so many now. The Kyrie Foundation wishes you both a blessed and beautiful marriage!!!

Something to set your June right.

Since we're all about goodness in all its forms here on Kyrie's blog, thought we'd share this. Makes me feel good. Hope it does for you, too.

Kyrie's auntie Amanda passed this song to me last summer. Thanks, Manda!



p.s. You can see Manda showcase fashions from Foggy Bottom Boutique this Saturday night around 9 p.m. at Suede Lounge in Old Town. All proceeds from the fashion show benefit The Kyrie Foundation!