News About CHART

CHART is an active and busy volunteer organization. Check here for the latests news regarding CHART.

2011 in Review

How Can You Continue to Help

2011 was a reasonably good year for CHART however the need to help these families is huge and while we are very proud of what has been accomplished over the last year and previous years we still need your help.

If you are trying to find a gift for someone who has everything, why not donate the amount you would spend on that gift to CHART.  Please supply CHART with their name and address and we will send a certificate to them in the next mail that is suitable for framing along with a thank you note and the name of the donor.

It’s not too late to send your tax deductible donation for the year 2011 to CHART. If every person who receives this newsletter sent $10 we would be able to fund one child for one month of care in an RTC.

Recently I saw a documentary about the March of Dimes.  During the depression in the 1930’s they asked for one thin dime from everyone who heard their request which was helped by President Roosevelt adding his voice to the request.

One million dollars was received from their nationwide appeal.  Well that dime, due to inflation, has turned into one thin $10 bill.  We probably won’t reach one million dollars this year, but if everyone who reads this newsletter sent $10, CHART could fund one more month of care for a sick child.   As you consider the amount you can give to CHART please think about the impact mental illness has on a middle class family with average resources as well as the potential impact on the surrounding community. Please, give your children a hug, say a prayer of thanks, and send a check to CHART.

 

CHART REACHES NEW FUNDING GOAL

Beginning in 2009 CHART had raised enough money to begin funding RTC care of mentally ill adopted children.  In December of 2009 the first check was written for $1,000 to help a family in desperate need of care for their daughter.  What a great feeling, CHART’s mission was being accomplished. 

What motivation!  Here is more motivation for all of us.  This year we have reached a new high in funding.  Since December of 2009 CHART has given $24,500 to fund RTC care for adopted children. This $24,500 only represents the actual funding supplied by CHART.  Much more difficult to quantify are the many families that receive help, information and knowing they are not alone from the website and other forms of support from CHART.  Our web site continues to receive an average of 2,800 hits per month.  That’s another 33,600 people who are trying to figure out how to help their child or family member that may not meet CHART’s criteria for actual funding, but our information is available to help any age family member who may be suffering from mental illness and not know where to turn.

At one time I believed in a year or two of the beginning CHART would find a major donor or celebrity who would decide to help us with one or two large contributions each year.  Well, that’s not the way the world works when we are dealing with mental illness and the stigma that comes along with it.  It takes ongoing commitment and hard work to make this organization work and that’s exactly what our volunteers and board members bring to CHART.   Each time another family is helped or a check is written we are reenergized to continue to fight for these families.

We are only at the beginning, join us and know you can take part in an organization that is and will continue to make a difference in the lives of people who face a terrific challenge.

Costume Jewelry Collection and Sale

As many of you know who have contributed to the costume jewelry sale.  Jo Theriault had an idea to collect costume jewelry that is in good condition from women who are just tired of wearing the same thing over and over.  Suzanne Sell, a board member who lives in Denver, was able to put together a wonderful flyer that really caught the attention of those who saw it. 

WoW!! Did we collect jewelry? So much so that it took many volunteers hours of time to polish and price it.  Thanks to Nancy Mattingly, Mary June Weil, Claudia Lagatto, Carole Peirce, and Rita Daniels who worked tirelessly for hours on two afternoons in early October we were able to price, polish, and bag hundreds of pieces of jewelry.   There was so much jewelry Mary June actually took about 75 pairs of earrings home with her to work on throughout the following weeks so it was ready for our sale on November 19th.   A huge thank you to everyone who contributed their jewelry to this effort. 

Once again Red Sky/Luna Bella offered to help CHART, by allowing us use their patio on Saturday morning during the Plaza Palamino Farmer’s Market and then gave a coupon for $5 off lunch in their restaurant for Saturday, November 19th with every sale.

 The Tour de’Tucson was also taking place that day and so access to the Plaza was limited for a while, however we were able to sell some jewelry and belts to patrons and other vendors.  Rebecca and Megan DeCorse arrived early, helped with setting up, sold jewelry, bought jewelry and put everything away.  Their help was invaluable.  Carole Peirce served as cashier and Jo Theirault sold to everyone she could find in the Plaza.  This is a great project and we are going to continue collecting, polishing and selling throughout the year.  Not only is it fun, but something that many people can take part in whether they live in Tucson or across the country. I’ll keep you posted on where the sales will be as time goes on.

 

Christmas Plant Sale

We are in the midst of our Christmas Plant Sale.  This year we are selling Christmas Cactus and Amaryllis.
As always Mesquite Valley Growers provides the plants for us and orders them especially for CHART.  This year we have added pick up days to make it easier for all of us.  They will be available from December 15th through December 18th; four full days from 9 AM to 5 PM at Mesquite Valley Growers, 8005 E Speedway. CHART’s plants are always easy to find, they are set aside for us so you can be sure yours easily and it will in good shape for gift giving. If you would like to purchase some of them please either call Mary Ann Mulligan at 520 749 2151 or email me at maryannchart@Q.com.

If you are not familiar with Mesquite Valley Growers, it is the loveliest nursery I’ve ever seen.  The plants a gorgeous year round, but especially at Christmas time.  It’s just a wonderful experience to walk through the grounds and now they have opened a new gift shop that has unusual gifts of all kinds.

The plants we receive from them are the best.  The patrons who have purchased them in the past are always delighted with the size and wonderful flowers in bloom at the time they pick them up.  This has been one our best fund raisers over the years.  If you need a last minute gift that will knock your friend’s socks off, please call me at 520 749 2151 or email me at maryannchart@Q.com.

 

From The Desk of Mary Ann

As you read through this newsletter, you can see this has been a very busy fourth quarter for many of the volunteers at CHART, and it has also been very rewarding year.  

In just the last few weeks we received a request from a family who has adopted 10 children over the last 20 years.  Several of the children have had unbelievable needs that have been met by these parents. Just one example of that is one of their little girls was born with a congenital defect that caused her to need reconstructive surgery to her nose.  Last summer the mother and this child spent a good portion of their time here in Tucson because the best nasal reconstruction surgeon is here at the University of Az.  The dedicated Mom in this family stayed at Ronald McDonald House here is Tucson while Dad took vacation from work to take care of the other nine children at home.   

Earlier this year another adopted daughter was demonstrating symptoms of attachment disorder, mood disorder and suicidal tendencies; three of the diagnosis’s covered by CHART’s funding.  Realizing they had insurance to cover some of her care she was admitted to an RTC in Texas.  Unfortunately early last month they received a denial of continued care for their daughter from the insurance company and so it was necessary to bring her home on Thanksgiving Day though everyone agreed she was not ready to be at home.

For weeks the family tried to find another setting for her they could afford to no avail.  They are still appealing the insurance ruling and now are receiving help with this effort from a specialist in the insurance industry; however their daughter still requires immediate treatment to keep her safe.  CHART was able to send a check to cover one month of care in the amount of $9,000 to give the family time to continue their efforts to have the insurance pay for her care.

This could not have been done without the efforts of everyone who sells items, buys items, contributes money, and or works for CHART in some capacity.  All those $5, $10 and $25 and larger contributions added together with a grant or two make such a difference in the lives of these adopted children and their families.  As I have often said, I am the person who gets to hear the relief and the thankfulness in the voices of the parents when I can tell them CHART can help them.  But without your support, in all the many ways you help CHART this would not be a reality.   

This is a good time to just say;

                             THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR CHART
                             AND ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.    WE WISH YOU A VERY
                                                 MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Mary Ann      

Tucson Wine Dinner 2011

This year for our fall event in Tucson we decided to have a change of pace.  The sales and catering staff at Red Sky/Luna Bella, Kim Casey and Jamie Wilson were able to provide exactly what we were looking for and introduced us to Jason Bierlein of Valley of the Sun Fine Wines.  Jason and his company were able to make new and distinctive wines available for all of our guests.

On September 30th 2011 we gathered at Red Sky/Luna Bella to have a fantastic dinner prepared by chef, Steve Schultz.  Steve has won several awards including first place in the Iron Chef contest conducted in Tucson several times and we all know why.  The menu he prepared for CHART guests was memorable and included Pork Loin and Champagne Chicken.  The wine pairings for the evening suggested by Jason fit the menu perfectly. Jason, our sommelier for the evening also provided good information on wine pairings for everyone by visiting each table to answer any questions from the guests.

A silent auction with items donated by The Road Runner, Artist Gail Steuart, Mulligan and Company, Valley of The Sun Fine Wines, Red Sky/Luna Bella, and The Mulligan Family rounded out our event nicely.

There were so many terrific comments from everyone who attended we are looking forward to next year’s event.