Organizations we love ~ (Here's why...)

Brad and his family ~

Organ and Tissue Donor Registry is so important!

Visit Donate Life California or Donate Life America on the web to sign up!

                                                                                   

Betty Moody hugs a very grateful
 (and emotional) Michael Lause
who now lives and runs with her son's lungs

I support organ donation in memory of my husband's dear friend Brad Moody.

Officer Bradley Alan Moody died on October 7, 2008 from injuries sustained in a car accident a few days prior, but not before giving the generous gift of life!

Brad's lung recipient, Michael Lause, was just days away from the end of his life when Brad's lungs became "available".  Brad's selfless choice to register as a donor answered another family's prayers. Lause had pulmonary fibrosis and truly received a "miracle".

Today, Michael participates in the Nor Cal COPS memorial run, running with Bradley Moody's lungs and actively promotes organ donor registry.

Do you have your pink dot yet?

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Beautiful mom, beautiful children :)

Donating blood saves lives!

Visit Bloodsource Centers or another blood donor location to learn how many lives your donation can save!

Robynn and family
during a friend's wedding ~

I support the subject of donating blood in memory of friend Robynn Goodell.  Robynn was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer in early 2008.  It was only when friends discovered that Robynn needed blood, that many of us learned the importance of giving blood. {You taught us this Robynn!}

Just one pint (normal donation amount drawn) can save up to three lives!  The whole process takes only an hour of your time (from start to finish - donation time is probably less than 1/4 of that time!). An hour of YOUR time to save three lives - pretty easy way to touch someone in a most amazing way!

You can also organize your own blood drive (we did!).  BloodSource makes it easy to do and just imagine how many people you can help!



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Steven and "Jade" :)

Boy Scouts of America  "The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation's largest and most  prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains  them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness."

Did you know you can donate to Boy Scouts?  Their website encourages donations: "Support the organization that builds young people of character and confidence" to help send a scout to camp or financially help a scout in some other way.

The Furtado Family in happier times ~

I support the Boy Scouts of America in memory of my Godson, Steven Daniel Furtado, and in support of the family who misses him so much.  Steven was the all-American boy. He was a football player, band member, hunter, friend and a proud Eagle Scout.  According to his mom Denise, a long-time friend of mine, Steven always knew he wanted to be a scout.  She told me, "All he wanted to do when he started first grade was be a boy scout and for 12 years it shaped who he became." 

On Mother's Day 2008, Dan and Denise Furtado received the worst news a parent could possibly receive.  Law enforcement officers knocked on their door to inform them that their beloved Steven had been murdered.  An ex-boyfriend of his new girlfriend had murdered Steven and his girlfriend.  As the four year anniversary nears, the pain remains for this needless and horrible crime against their son.  The murderer is serving life in prison, but that will never resolve the hurt the Furtado Family lives with daily.

Steven Daniel Furtado receiving his Eagle Scout

Denise and I had a lengthy conversation about what organization I could support to best honor Steven.  She and husband Dan attend an annual Victim's Rights memorial event at the California State Capitol each year which is important, but I really wanted to choose a charity or organization that supported the "true" memory of  Steven.  Denise loved the idea of supporting scouts so the choice was made!

If you'd like to support scouting in honor of Steven or "just because" please click on this link.

Rest in Peace

Brad, Robynn and Steven ~

We will always remember you

and honor the life you lived!