Wednesday, October 7, 2009

One Minute of Your Time Could Help To See $500,000 Go Toward ALS Research


In 2006, Susan Hills watched ALS take her father’s life. Now, she’s on a quest to give $500,000 for ALS research but she needs your help! She entered her dog, Jack Hills, in “The Cutest Dog in America” competition and needs your votes to help him secure a spot in the finalist bracket. If Jack wins the competition, Susan will give $500,000 of the prize money to The ALS Association for research!

There are only 3 weeks left of the competition, and each week a new finalist is selected.

Please, vote for Jack today and every day this week by visiting the site below.
http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/vote.cfm?h=1368EA1F0EB642A3DFFE93B405815D75#

Help Susan and Jack create a world without ALS.

Watch Jack's video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1os0ubEg1w

View Announcement on Facebook

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Donate to AGSF


A Giving Spirit Foundation truly appreciates everyone's support at Autumn Fest 2009 yesterday.  The event was a success and we could not have done it without you!

If you weren't able to attend and would still like to donate, it's not too late.   You can donate any amount at any time right here:




Saturday, October 3, 2009

It's a Great Day for Autumn Fest 2009!

It'a beautiful day in Davidson and we're busy setting up and getting ready for a great evening!   Don't have a ticket?  Don't worry, tickets will  be available at the door. 


Don't forget the 50/50 raffle!  You'll be able to purchase those at the event as well.


Dinner will be served at 5:00 and the Blue Dogs will go on at 7 p.m.  We know you will enjoy it!  You do not need to bring any paper tickets as we will have your name at the registration table.
  • Please bring a blanket or chairs to sit on for our picnic dinner.
  • Parking is limited at St. Alban's, so we encourage you to walk or carpool to the event.
  • It it's rainy on Oct. 3, check your email in case of a rain change.  (Rain location is Davidson Elem. gym)
We look forward to seeing you and sharing our commitment to A Giving Spirit Foundation with the Woodall Family and the Blue Dogs!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Autumn Family Fest with The Blue Dogs

Please join the Davidson and Charlotte community 
at the 2009 Autumn Family Fest 
for the benefit of A Giving Spirit Foundation.

When:  October 3, 2009,  5 - 9 p.m.
Where: St. Alban's Green
             301 Caldwell Lane
             Davidson, NC
             Google Map It
What:  Food, games and family entertainment.  The Blue Dogs will perform live from 7 - 9 p.m.
  


Ticket and Raffle Options:
  • $500, A Giving Spirit Ticket includes family ticket to event and (2) raffle tickets for the 50/50 raffle.
  • $300, A Loving Heart Ticket includes family ticket to event and (1) raffle ticket for the 50/50 raffle. 
  • $150, A Helping Hand Family Ticket includes family ticket to event. 
  • $75, A Helping Hand Individual Ticket includes admission to the event for (1) person. 
  • $25, Student ticket for the The Blue Dogs performance only (7-9 p.m.)  





Don't forget the raffle!   
$50 Raffle ticket for the 50/50 raffle.  AGSF will receive half of the proceeds from the raffle and the winner will receive the other half (Winner need not be present) 




For more information, please email laurasleague@gmail.com.

    Meet the Blue Dogs!

    A Giving Spirit Foundation is excited that the Blue Dogs will be headlining this year’s Autumn Fest fundraising event.   While the band calls Charleston, SC home, they got their roots in Davidson when three of the original members went to Davidson.  They played together informally until they graduated and then named their band and officially launched the Blue Dogs in 1987.

    Fast forward 22 years and nine albums later, the Blue Dogs have a huge following around the country and especially here in the Charlotte area.  Their music crosses a variety of genres but may best be described as Americana/Country-Rock. Fans of all ages can’t help but find themselves dancing up front by the stage once the band gets going.

    Listen to the music: www.bluedogs.com  or www.myspace.com/bluedogs



    The Blue Dogs are:
    Bobby Houck: acoustic guitar, harmonica & vocals
    Hank Futch: upright bass, acoustic guitar & vocals
    Greg Walker: drums & percussion
    David Stewart: electric guitar & vocals


    Discography:
    Music For Dog People (1991)
    Soul Dogfood (1993)
    Live at the Dock Street Theatre (1995)
    Blue Dogs (1997)
    For The Record--Live (1998)
    Letters From Round O (1999)
    Live at the Florence Little Theatre (2002)
    Halos and Good Buys (2004)
    Live at the Workplay Theatre (2006)

      Videography:
      Live at the House of Blues (2004) 45 minutes.
      Live at the Dock Street Theatre.again (2008) 99 min.

        Tuesday, August 11, 2009

        Date set for Autumn Festival 2009

        Saturday, October 3

        Save the Date for this year's Autumn Festival. Our first event in 2008 was a great success and fun for the whole family. This year, A Giving Spirit Foundation is thrilled that the Blue Dogs will be bringing us their unique blend of Americana rock and roll music by headlining the family-friendly event.

        When: Saturday, October 3
        Where: Davidson, NC on the grounds of St. Alban's Church
        Map It

        Entertainment: Games and family fun; the Blue Dogs

        Check back for more event details and ticket information

        Saturday, June 27, 2009

        ALS Advocacy - Call To Action

        An Important Request from the ALS Association, Jim "Catfish" Hunter Chapter
        **ALS ADVOCACY - CALL TO ACTION**
        Dear Friends,
        As you may recall, we sent out an email two weeks ago asking you to call your Representative and Senator to ask them to reinstate the $400,000 annual funding that was cut from the House version of the state budget. We had an outpouring of support and the Chair of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee presented an amendment to reinstate a portion of the funding in the final version of the House budget. Unfortunately the House defeated the measure but this tells us that our collective outreach was heard by one of the most important members of the House HHS committee!

        WHAT NEXT?
        Now the details of the budget are being worked out in a special conference committee made up of appointed members of the Senate and the House. We have an opportunity to be reinstated if we can convince them that this is important enough.

        We need you to call or email the Representatives and Senators listed below to let them know that if they do not fully reinstate this funding ($400,000 recurring), it will be devastating for people with ALS and their families inNorth Carolina. The ALS Association would be forced to cut vital programs and services including ALS clinic funding. North Carolina would, in a sense, be abandoning and turning its back on what many people believe to be its most vulnerable citizens. We need these calls to be made or emails to be sent as early in the week as possible.

        I have listed the contact information below for the people who will be deciding the HHS budget. I have also included a sample phone script. Please take the time now to call or email each person listed below.

        You should know that since the NC General Assembly approved the $400,000 recurring grant in 2005, many wonderful things have happened for people suffering with Lou Gehrig’s disease in NC. I have highlighted a few of these advancements below:

        Number of PALS receiving services:
        In 2005: 150
        In 2008: 300 +(There are thought to be 700-900 patients in NC)

        Support Groups:
        In 2005: 9
        In 2008: 13
        (Located throughout NC)

        Medical Equipment Closets
        In 2005: 1
        In 2008: 4
        (Located throughout NC)

        Care Services Staff
        In 2005: 2
        In 2008: 4
        (Helps PALS secure services, provide counseling services and training for families, hospices, nursing facilities and hospitals to provide better care for people with ALS.)

        Patient Support Grants:
        In 2005: $31,000
        In 2008: $201,000
        (This increase includes assistance for in-home care, transportaion services and assistive technology equipment).

        ALS Clinic Support:
        In 2005: $65,000
        In 2008: $247,000
        (We added a new clinic in eastern NC and greatly incrased funcing to others)


        Senate HHS Appointees
        1. Sen. Doug Berger; (919) 715-8363, Doug.Berger@ncleg.net
        2. Sen. William R. Purcell; (919) 733-5953,William.Purcell@ncleg.net
        3. Sen. Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr.; (919) 715-3001,Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net
        House HHS Appointees
        1. Rep. Beverly Earle; 919-715-2530, Beverly.Earle@ncleg.net
        2. Rep. Dr. Bob England; 919-733-5749, Bob.England@ncleg.net
        3. Rep. Verla Insko; 919-733-7208, Verla.Insko@ncleg.net(PLEASE THANK HER FOR LEADING THE HOUSE EFFORT TO REINSTATE OUR FUNDING)
        4. Rep. Jeff Barnhart; 919-715-2009, Jeff.Barnhart@ncleg.net
        5. Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield; 919-733-5898, Jean.Farmer-Butterfield@ncleg.net
        6. Rep. William D. Brisson; 919-733-5772;William.Brisson@ncleg.net
        7. Rep. Randy Stewart; 252-443-6923; Randy.Stewart@ncleg.net
        8. Rep. Jennifer Weiss; 919-715-3010; Jennifer.Weiss@ncleg.net
        If they cannot work out their differences in committee then it will go to:
        1. Speaker of the House; Joe Hackney; 919-733-3451,Joe.Hackney@ncleg.net
        2. President Pro-Tempore of the Senate; Marc Basnight, (919) 733-6854,Marc.Basnight@ncleg.net

        SAMPLE PHONE SCRIPT:
        Representative/Senator __________, My name is ________________ and I want to talk to you about the $400,000 annual funding that is in jeopardy of being cut for people with ALS.

        This is such a small amount in the HHS budget but it represents a very large part of the ALS Association’s budget. Elimination of this funding would sever a lifeline for North Carolina’s most vulnerable citizens.

        If you do not know what ALS is, many consider it to be the world’s worst disease. (BRIEFLY SHARE YOUR CONNECTION).

        Please, do whatever you can to protect the entire $400,000 appropriation. Eliminating any part of it would be too much. If you cut this funding from the budget, the ALS Association will have no choice but to significantly cut programs like respite care, transportation assistance, assistive technology access and worst of all, ALS clinics. This would be devastating to the many people who count on these critical services. I know you have to cut somewhere but please do not take away these services for people with ALS when they are already dealing with the biggest crisis of their life.

        Thank you for your time and more importantly your support!