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A Thanksgiving Update

11/26/2017

 
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​It's been two months since I last blogged and I have so many wonderful updates to share!  It has been amazing and full of new experiences.   

I participated in The Smile Network International "Be The Change Gala" on September 30th.  I donated four special cakes to the silent auction.  Later that night, I got to kick off the live auction by donating Cakes for One Year (one per month).  It was so exciting to speak in front of such a large audience (I think there were 500 people)!  I am very grateful for the opportunity and delighted to have been able to help The Smile Network International raise money for such an important cause.  My sincere thanks to Ms. Barb Stinnett and Mr. Al Favelsky for their incredible generosity and support of me and Cakes for a Cure.  Their kindness and generosity is truly inspiring.  It was an absolutely phenomenal evening that I will always remember.  And, a huge thank you to both Ms. Maureen Cahill and Ms. Kim Valentini for all of your support and the wonderful work that you do.  

I also had the opportunity to attend a Neurofibromatosis Symposium at The University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital sponsored by The Children's Tumor Foundation.  I learned more about the disease and how it affects people, the genetics of NF, and some of the advancements in research for treatment options.  I was really encouraged by the research and work being done to help people with NF.  It was incredible to hear from the researchers who are funded by The Children's Tumor Foundation.

I recently made a cake for my friend Matt Elsass.  He plays for the Eden Prairie High School Football (#91).  They won State this weekend - Go Eagles!  I'm so happy for him and his wonderful family.  Matt also makes the best root beer ever!  Congratulations on a great season, Matt!  

A special thank you to my neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Agarwala.  They gave me a gift card to Michaels to buy supplies.  I purchased some additional cake decorating tips that I love.  Thank you!

I had the opportunity to attend a Guy Fawkes Day party hosted by the Rowntree Family.  They had a gigantic bonfire, it was so much fun.  Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Rowntree for your generous donation to The Smile Network International.  Please check out my Guy Fawkes cake on the Cakes page. 

A special thank you to Mr. and Mrs. O'Neill for your continued support and generosity.  Ella helped me make a minion cake for her birthday party, it turned out great.  I enjoyed teaching her how to decorate. 

And last but not least -- I can’t thank Ms. Teresa Nerge enough.  She was one of my karate teachers.  I trained with her for six years!  She is also a super talented cake decorator and came over to teach me how to make frosting roses.  It was so fun, thank you!

I reached my $3,000 Goal for 2017!

9/24/2017

 
September has been such an incredible month! I am super excited to share that I reached my 2017 goal of $3,000 in total donations this month. Everyone has been so generous and supportive. Thank you all so much. And a special thank you to Mrs. Sara Hong for making the donation that put me over the top of my goal!

Also, this month I was interviewed on WCCO radio by Ms. Roshini Rajkumar. The executive director of Smile Network, Ms. Maureen Cahill, invited me to join her (thank you so much Ms. Cahill and Ms. Rajkumar). It was so much fun - check out the pictures below. You can also listen to the broadcast here (we start at 20:21). I can't wait to go to the Smile Network gala later this month.  
As great as the experience was, what was more amazing and special was the response I got from one of the listeners, Mrs. Cheryl Beilke.  She was listening to the broadcast as she drove her husband home from surgery at the Mayo Clinic. When she got home she reached out to me on my website and requested a fishing themed cake for her husband Roger. Her donation was incredibly generous, she supported all four of the charities!! It was very special to meet her, she drove over an hour (each way) to pick up the cake. She is a such a thoughtful and generous person. I will never forget the experience. Thank you so much Mrs. Beilke! We are keeping your husband Roger in our thoughts and prayers.  ​
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Adding a fourth charity - The smile network international!

9/3/2017

 
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Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed your August and are excited for back-to-school.

Earlier this month Ms. Barb Stinnett  and Ms. Kim Valentini invited me to attend the The Smile Network International Board of Directors meeting. I had the opportunity to present the Cakes for a Cure story to the Board Members and also learn more about Smile Network. It was amazing and I had so much fun.

Smile Network provides life-altering reconstructive surgeries and related healthcare services to impoverished children and adults in developing nations. Volunteer doctors and nurses donate all of their time and medical companies provide many of the supplies required. Smile Network pays for the cost of travel and lodging for the doctors and nurses and for the cost of medicines for patients.  The average cost of a surgery to fix a cleft palate is just $500.

Being able to smile is an instant boost of confidence. Smiling can make someone else happy. Imagine smiling at someone and they run away because they think that you are cursed. It sounds horrible, but it happens.  Smile Network fixes cleft palates so that someone can smile again, and be confident in themselves.   

I was so moved by their efforts, and how thoughtful, kind and generous the Board of Directors is, that I decided to add Smile Network as a Cakes for a Cure charity. I hope that we can help them make a difference.  If you would like to learn more about their efforts please visit the Smile Network website.

I would also like to thank all the people who ordered cakes recently.  You are making a difference!
  • Sri Latha Ganti (Mathnasium of Chanhassen West) - Mrs. Ganti ordered two half-sheet cakes to celebrate back-to-school at her Mathnasium Center.  Thank you for your donations to The Children's Tumor Foundation and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
  • The Bellefy Family - Mrs. Bellefy ordered a football cake for Andrew's birthday.  Happy birthday Andrew!  And thank you for the donation to The Children's Tumor Foundation.
  • The Christie Family - Mrs. Christie ordered a baseball themed chocolate half-sheet cake for Carson and Mathew's birthday party.  Happy birthday Carson and Mathew!  And thank you for the donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.​

    Author

    My name is Mary Margaret and I started Cakes for a Cure.  This is my blog, check back often as I try to keep this updated with fun information about what I am doing.

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