It's beginning to look a lot

like the most wonderful time of the year. How's that for a Monday mash-up? Nothing puts me in the holiday spirit like a live Christmas concert. I really feel like the quinessential Christmas spirit is truly embodied in these kinds of events. Why? Because you have people giving you their talent--something you can't just buy off they shelf. They create it for you right in front of your eyes, your ears.

This gift is all any of us truly have to give, which is ourselves.


This year HOAMC is giving to little children with brain tumors, too. That's right! The Heart of America Men's Chorus is donating a portion of their concert proceeds to The Kyrie Foundation!!!

Saturday, December 4th, 7pm

Sunday, December 5th, 4pm

Plymouth Congregational Church, 202 N. Clifton, Wichita KS

Children 12 and under free with paid adult admission! Click here for ticket information.

And get this: Kyrie Foundation supporters can reserve concert tickets at a discounted rate at their ticket outlet (and can pick tickets up at the "will-call" table at the concert). Just tell the ticket outlet that you are a Kyrie Foundation supporter and you'll get a $3 discount off the regular $18 price. Just $15!!!!!!!

Here's a very important part of the shows: please bring a new, unwrapped toy suitable for a hospitalized child or teen for Frosty & Elf Rita's annual trip to Wesley Hospital. Just bring it with you to whichever concert you attend.

Their ticket outlet is at Creative Awards at 2801 E Douglas in Wichita from 9a-6p Mon-Fri and 10a-2p on Saturday. The ticket outlet can be reached by phone at (316) 652-0926. Orders can also be left on the Heart of America Chorus phone (316) 708-4837, although this number isn't usually answered and is mostly used to take messages.

Please make plans to attend one of these shows with your family! These voices are truly treasures of Kansas!

Prayers please.

If you were at the 2010 Twilight Walk or the Metamorphosis 2010, you would have seen the video that included little Lucy Weber's story, her battle with a malignant brain tumor. Hers is a story of true herosim in a tiny little body. She celebrated her first birthday in the operating room and overcame so many medical procedures, obstacles and treatments. A trooper through and through.

On Saturday, Lucy received her wings.

Her family could really use your prayers and support. Services are this evening in Lenexa, but if you feel inclined to send up a purple balloon, her parents are asking those who do to post their photos on their Facebook page.

For all of us with The Kyrie Foundation, we know this. We feel this. We're in a puddle for this family. Lucy is precisely the reason why we do what we do. It's why you're invited to the Heart of America Men's Chorus Concert. It's why Frosty & Elf Rita are planning their annual visit to Wesley. It's why we're looking for volunteers to help plan for 2011. It's easy to categorize an "event" as just that. An event is never that to us. Everything we do has a child like Lucy, like Kyrie, like Ethan, like Anna, like Frances watching over us.

So please, as you're offering thanks tomorrow with your family, please include the Webers. Please send a card to them or do something good in honor of Lucy or The Kyrie Foundation this weekend with your family. And please remember to count your blessings. We certainly count Lucy as one of ours.

Heart of America Men's Chorus Christmas Fundraiser!

The Kyrie Foundation is the proud beneficiary of the 2010 "All I Want for Christmas" concert performed by the Heart of America Men's Chorus in Wichita! We are so honored to have been chosen for this event, and you should know this vocal organization's mission is also benefit the community in which they live. They care enough to help others, and we are tremendously grateful for their generous spirits and sublime talent.

Here's a bit about the big show:

Saturday, December 4th, 7pm
Sunday, December 5th, 4pm
Plymouth Congregational Church, 202 N. Clifton, Wichita KS

Children 12 and under free with paid adult admission! Click here for ticket information.

Featuring special guest Tom Frye as Murry the Elf

What happens when a wayward elf, down on his luck, crash lands in the middle of our Holiday celebration?  A show filled with fun, laughter, surprises and some great music.
Join HOAMC as we kick off our ninth season with a Holiday show filled with fun and light-hearted music. This show is a perfect family outing and well suited for adults, children, the young at heart, and those of you longing to put the sparkle back into your holiday.

Kyrie Foundation supporters can reserve concert tickets at a discounted rate at their ticket outlet (and can pick tickets up at the "will-call" table at the concert). Just tell the ticket outlet that you are a Kyrie Foundation supporter and you'll get a $3 discount off the regular $18 price. So just $15 to ring in the season with some of the most talented voices in Wichita!  Children under 12 are free with a paid adult.

AND ... we'd love it if you could bring a new, unwrapped toy suitable for a hospitalized child or teen for Frosty & Elf Rita's annual trip to Wesley Hospital. Just bring it with you to whichever concert you attend.

Their ticket outlet is at Creative Awards at 2801 E Douglas in Wichita from 9a-6p Mon-Fri and 10a-2p on Saturday. The ticket outlet can be reached by phone at (316) 652-0926. Orders can also be left on the Heart of America Chorus phone (316) 708-4837, although this number isn't usually answered and is mostly used to take messages.

What a lovely way to kick off the holiday season, eh?

So much to report!

First off--this event was a smashing success! Even with the buckets of rain pouring outside, Metamorphosis 2010 proved to be our largest grossing event to date! So much to tell you about that I need a sec to collect all the thoughts and ideas and moments. Look for another post tonight or tomorrow.

In the meantime, know that we are inside-out with gratitude to our artists, our sponsors and our guests. ;)

Metamorphosis 2010!

So I've been so busy getting ready for this Friday that I haven't had a chance to tell you all about it!

Today, let's talk about the people who are making this event possible. This is the third year in a row that Studio 2131 has generously let us take over the place for this event. We love it because it's a beautiful urban venue with the hanging system in place to display art. No holes hammered into walls! Plus, they are just really good people. This is actually David Morris' photography studio, a great photographer were lucky to have here in the metro.

The space will be decked out courtesy of Ladybird Styling, a new local business created to help you restyle your life. Be it revamping what's already in your closet, rearranging your furniture, helping you shop for the right stuff or stylizing an event, Ladybird can be your fairy godmother. And ... they're donating a closet re-do, so win this and you could have a whole new look in 2011. ;)

Tuesday Spray has once again womaned our event logo and signage designs this year. I love being able to count on her for a) awesome promotion of the event and b) for getting others to take notice of the cause through her artistic talent. She, too, will have artwork there on Friday on which to bid. Lucky us. Lucky you.

Bendet Photography will once again be on hand to capture moments of Metamorphosis 2010. Chris has been a willing participant since day 1, three years ago. He has given us the means to share this event through what he photographs. He is an incredible donor who has been an advocate for this cause simply because he's a daddy. He knows what's at stake. For that, we thank him profoundly.

Karen Schotsch has handmade deliciously beautiful butterfly cookies for us each year, and this year is no exception. It's one of my most favorite things about Metamorphosis. She also volunteers her time along with our friend Michelle to spearhead the catering activities the night of the event. She and Michelle take great pride in making sure our guests have a yummy experience. Please say hi when you see 'em Friday night.

Sara Swenson has generously agreed to share her musical talent Friday night! We are thrilled to have her! This year, as Lilith Fair came to Kansas City, Sara was selected as one of the opening acts--can you believe it? We were introduced to her music through our friend Kelly, and the first time I heard her sing, I was a puddle. The song, her voice, the words--so beautiful and one song in particular had extra special meaning to us. Can't wait to spend Friday night with you, Sara!

Speaking of Kelly, Kelly Jackson of Kelly Jackson Photography, along with Dana Melton, Susan Jackson, Kristi Swob and our Chad did a bang-up job this year procuring donations. Seriously, 99% of the gift items offered this year is because of the work of this handful of people. This event wouldn't be happening without them.

And so what about the noshes and bevvies, you ask? Well, the generosity of Whole Foods Market on Metcalf continues to amaze us. Please, if you're in there checking out, please ask the cashier to extend thanks to the higher-ups for sponsoring this event. This year: a trifecta of gourmet, organic autumn soups will hand— Roasted Tomato Basil, Chicken Tortilla and Apple Butternut Squash.

Once again Sunset Grill supports this event in astounding ways. Their chopped salad will be yours for the tasting, and their philanthropy has also provided the red and white vino for Friday night. A toast to Sunset Grill in Overland Park! Hurrah!

One day a couple of weeks ago, we got an amazing call. From Cabot Creamery. Out of the blue. Based in Vermont, their regional rep called to offer us their delicious, top-of-the-line cheeses for our event. Seriously?!? I've watched enough America's Test Kitchen to know that Cabot consistently comes out on top in their taste tests. So, know that I will be buying Cabot cheese for the rest of my life. I hope you will, too.

Panera Bread and Clock Tower Bakery are all set to donate their fresh-baked goodness, too. For me, a good bread is hard to find, so when two of the best offer their wares, we consider ourselves very, very lucky. Enjoy it with me on Friday night!

On tap for local brewery will be Flying Monkey. Isn't the Wizard of Oz reference fun? ;) Fresh, local and good--all things we love. We thank them and Boulevard Brewery for providing quench to Friday night's thirst. A toast to them both! Hurrah!'

We've heard that some of you have seen Karli Ritter talk about the event on her weather reports for WDAF Fox-4! Yay! And 810 Sports Radio is also giving away tickets to the event! Yay! We love it when people help spread the word. Big thanks for making others aware of an easy way to do big good.

So that's the rundown. Can't wait to share some of the artist with you, too!

So much thanks for your votes!

We're so proud of all of you! So humbled to know that your support put The Kyrie Foundation in the top 5 when other bigger and more tenured organizations couldn't quite muster what you all did. People organizing mass texts at Halloween parties, organizing all-school assemblies, passing out flyers, sending daily e-mails, organizing parade floats, posting all over Facebook, asking workgroups and companies to send out e-mails and so many more phenomenal ideas—all of which catapulted us to the #4 position among over 1,100 national ideas. We are still stunned at the incredible outpouring of support—support that extended beyond our imagination to reach families who understand all too well the importance of our work to raise research funds that will someday cure children's brain cancer.

Even though. we defended #4 and finished near the top two, we did fall short by a mere two spots to be awarded the $250K grant for the month of October. Looking back, know that we did everything we could think of, everything for which we could get approval, to get all the support we could. Oh, the journey. Oh, the enlightenment when you're working with others. It was a tough decision, but we've decided to take a breather from the Pepsi competition, even though Pepsi rolls over those ideas that make it into the top 100. However ... we are planning to re-enter the competition in a couple of months with other organizations who have already contacted us about partnering them in the future. This means keep thinking, keep imagining ways to promote the vote because a few months will pass quickly, and you'll be receiving these e-mails again!

The strangest thing about this kind of competition is that it's as much about what isn't done as what is. What we don't do makes just as much of an impact as what we decide to do. It's all about the little decisions, isn't it? How we decide to spend 60 seconds, if we decide to take action, if we decide to ask other to vote, if we decide to text a vote instead of send an LOL text, if we decide to just DO something instead of yield to apathy. That's what makes all the difference in making the world better, in making your life meaningful.

For us, it was never about the money. It was always about the children. That's why we continue to do what we do in spite of the million different obstacles we face to procure donations, to find volunteers and to get others to care about cancer in little brains. We're not going to stop, and we hope you don't either.

p.s.
Don't forget to join us for Metamorphosis 2010, our third-annual art+gift auction in Kansas City!

p.p.s.
Our friends at 3 Ring Ranch in Hawaii are competing again this month and could use each and every vote.