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LOVELETTER

LOVELETTER | PAGE 4 NEWSLETTER DATE

Leaving a Legacy of A GUARDIAN SCHOLAR “A legacy isn’t leaving something College Student for people, but leaving Jesse Smith Learned something in people.” “Grace, Gratitude, arly this year, Special Love and Grit” at Camp E families said a difficult - bye to Tom Baker, a gentle and t 19 years old, Jesse Smith caring man who with his wife, A has the world in front of him. Sheila, founded Special Love in He’s on course to earn his associ- 1983. The couple lost their 13- ate’s degree in Fire Science Tech- year-old daughter, Julie, in 1975 nology from Reynolds Community after a short battle with lympho- College in Richmond next year ma. They turned their enormous and to become a career firefighter grief into something positive: – his dream for many years. Special Love. Special Love’s first Camp Fantastic in 1983 hosted 29 campers. Tom Baker (right) and then NOVA 4-H Center Director John Dooley led it. The Bakers had read about a camp “Beating childhood cancer in upstate New York that catered week-long Camp Fantastic. After Tom once said, “For me, camp is more than just beating to children with cancer and want- much planning, the first camp for is the one place where kids with a disease. It’s about ed to provide that same oppor- children with cancer debuted in cancer and their families can truly tunity to children like Julie in the 1983, hosting 29 campers. rest, get away from all the troubles beating a whole series Greater Washington area, so Tom and have a good time.” of setbacks.” approached the National Cancer Tom and Sheila already knew that “when a child gets cancer, At Tom’s funeral, Special Institute, where Julie had been treated, as well as the Northern the whole family gets cancer,” Love’s Senior Director of But Jesse’s path hasn’t always been Va. 4-H Center to partner on the so it didn’t take long for Special Outreach and Programs so clear. When he was four, the Love to host its first family Dave Smith said, “Through Chesterfield, Virginia, native was weekend, an opportunity that Tom’s own courageous person- diagnosed with acute lympho- ality, he taught us it’s okay to was unheard of in those days. blastic leukemia. He underwent act silly, especially when it More programs quickly fol- treatment for more than two years brings a smile to a child with at then the Medical College of lowed, with young adult pro- cancer. And he taught us it’s gramming and the siblings-only okay to show people we care, Virginia in Richmond. But the BRASS Camp, ultimately to because that’s why we’re here, to (continued on page 4) offer year-round events. Finan- care for each other.” cial assistance also was quietly Tom left an indelible legacy of added to Special Love’s mission INSIDE THIS ISSUE Special Love for everyone who through both the Emergency knew him – one that will last Welcome, Jan Bresch! 2 Relief Fund and the Kay-Moore for generations to come. Upcoming Fun-Raisers 3 Scholarship Fund. How How, Tom Baker! Fantastic Flashback 4 Tom and Sheila Baker, 2015 Lights of Love 5 Thank you, Tom Baker, for your extraordinary vision and caring (1938-2018) Camp Countdown 6 www.specialove.org Summer 2018 LoveLetter | Page 2

Jan Bresch Named Special Love’s Executive Director pecial Love welcomes Special Love Board of S Jan Bresch, who has Directors for the past six joined the organization in years and worked closely the newly created role of with Dave in his role as Executive Director, as Dave CEO. Smith decided to follow his "Working and advocating for for outreach and children and families has long programs. Jan is responsible been the core of who I am,” for leading all aspects of Jan said. “I'm Special Love’s excited to have mission to sup- “Working and the opportunity port children advocating for children Shop till you drop and to work with with cancer and Dave shared that "Jan's help Special Love at the and families has long Dave and the their families. familiarity with Special Love same time! Simply start been the core of Special Love and her extensive connections your online shopping Jan joins Special team to bring joy who I am.” within the pediatric cancer world by entering Love after spend- and comfort to will help Special Love expand our smile.amazon.com and ing the past 15 our families." community of support." years as the Executive Vice select Special Love as your For the past 30 years, Dave President and Chief Operat- Welcome, Jan! . We’ll receive a has been the driving force ing Officer of the Prevent portion of the purchase behind Special Love’s Reach out to Jan via email at Cancer Foundation. Prior to price of all eligible items. delivery of unique and [email protected] or her time at the Foundation, There’s absolutely essential programs in 888-930-2707. She’s eager to Jan was the Director of no cost to you! support of families dealing meet Special Love’s families and Development and Public with childhood cancer. In his many supporters. It’s easy! We smile when Relations for the Children’s new role of Senior Director, you “smile” with Amazon. Inn at the National Institutes Outreach and Programs, #startwithasmile of Health, and has served as Dave will lead the organiza- an advisor for other non- tion’s efforts to expand and profit organizations such as enhance outreach and pro- Stupid Cancer. She has also grams to better serve our served as a member of the families.

A Salute to Buddies at Fantastic Friends Weekend n important — and her diagnosis. Her classmates friends do at camp: swim, play A sometimes neglected — were afraid to include her in kickball, eat huge amounts of part of a pediatric patient’s activities, and they pizza, relax, roast cancer recovery is maintain- eventually stopped “Besties” do what marshmallows over a ing joyful, calling and visiting. campfire, tell stories best friends do supportive “In some ways, she — and laugh, a lot. . was abandoned,” at camp: swim, Thanks to the Danny Tom once said. When Tom and play kickball, eat and Julie Funkhouser Fantastic Friends Sheila Baker Fund for generously Weekend grew huge amounts looked back at sponsoring a portion of from that need to of pizza, relax — their late the weekend — and for hold on to this daughter’s and laugh, a lot. taking the time to join vital network of cancer journey, these special campers at support. they recalled SplashDown Water- her friends This July, the weekend once park on Saturday and around the were unsure again was bustling with campfire that night. how to react to “besties” doing what best www.specialove.org Summer 2018 LoveLetter | Page 3 A MOM’S LETTER “Dear Special Love, Calendar Alert: Putting the “Fun” in Fundraisers oin us at these fundraisers runner-focused with profession- Your love is never ending. We feel Southern MD route. and spread the word! al timing by Federal City Run- your love as you all have gathered J www.ibewlocal26.org ners. Run and/or sponsor! around us in our time of need. August 23-26 | 21st September 24 | Blacksburg C&O Towpath, Washington, Comcast Outdoor Film Battles Cancer Golf Tournament Here’s another example of the DC. www.specialove.org/ Festival for NIH Charities | | Great golf in beautiful southwest special I want to share specialevents/fallinloverunwalk Four family films this year: Virginia, hosted by the Blacksburg with you ...As we were explain- Coco, Black Panther, The Country Club’s Women’s Golf ing to our daughter about feed- Lion King, Wonder Woman. Association. www.blacksburg- ing tubes, trying to be as gentle Strathmore, North Bethesda. battlescancer.org as we could, she jumped in with, www.filmfestnih.org ‘Oh, I know that. My friends at October 19 | PSI 21st camp have those. Their food goes September 22 | 7th Annual Charity Golf Tournament | through a tube. I've seen them in IBEW Local 26 Poker Run | Fantastic golf and all-u-can-eat noses and tummies.’ Ride by bike or car and crabs — with a PSI matching

collect the winning hand. donation. How How! Argyle Being at Camp Fantastic is not Country Club, Silver only so fulfilling for her but December 13 | Celebration Spring, Maryland. the knowledge the campers gain is of Charity Gala | Holiday www.plan-sys.com just amazing. And even though we event supporting the medical never ever wanted to be where we October 20 | 6th Fall staff and mobile infirmary at are today, things are less scary for in Love 10K Run & 5K Camp Fantastic. Winchester, our daughter as she knows other Run/Walk | Hosted by www.celebrationofhope.net kids who have them and saw them Special Love, the race is out having fun, too. Thank you so both family-friendly and very much for this.”

can create things, beautiful Washington, DC, and “WHAT I CAN DO” things filled with joy and love Virginia, including Fairfax

by Kristen Kellar-Graney, M.S., volunteer, I can lend an ear, a and color, things that bring County, Richmond, and tumor biologist and clinical shoulder, or a hand when they giggles on the best and the south to the Norfolk area. worst days. And we can create researcher – and Special Love need it. And I can bring snacks; The success of this program has pop-up camp I always have snacks. memories together. And I can be thankful that I become a been overwhelming and enables borrowed quote: Don’t let As a tumor biologist, I cannot small part of their journey. us to invite more friends and A what you cannot do interfere guarantee that chemotherapy colleagues to join us in our with what you can do. is going to work, or not have What I can do is what I do. And mission. If you’re interested in side-effects, or make their I will do more. volunteering with Special Love at As a tumor biologist, I cannot one of the hospitals, or volun- child terribly sick, or even This year to date, the Special take away the fear a parent has provide a cure. But as a teering or sponsoring Children’s learning that their child has Love team has been welcomed Cancer Awareness Month in Special Love volunteer, I can into the lives and families of cancer. But as a Special Love sit and talk or play with their September (we’re hosting a more than 80 children in our special event in Fells Point on child when a parent needs a nine (and increasing) hospital moment with a clinician, or to September 15), or at any of the clinic “pop-up camps.” George- weekend or weeklong camps for take a phone call, or a walk to town University Hospital will clear their head. our patients, their siblings, and be added this fall. their families, please reach out to I cannot add hours to the day Our local population of pop- Special Love. and months to the year, but up campers is being treated at I can give a parent a few I guarantee that after your Johns Hopkins, University of first encounter moments of respite. I can put Maryland, and Sinai Hospi- a smile on a child’s face, with these tals, with about 20 patient wonderful making them forget, if even interactions per month. I just for a moment, that they children and their Kristen and Brian Graney (center personally have the privilege families, you will couple) give time and talent to have cancer. I can turn them of being in each of these Special Love. Here, they host an into superheroes and Mardi realize the power hospitals monthly. We also of what you can do. awareness event in the Gras mannequins, or bugs or spend time with children in Baltimore area. butterflies, and together, we www.specialove.org Summer 2018 LoveLetter | Page 4 FantasticFlashback: To One Young Man, “Keep Your Chin Up” Made The Difference n the last day of 2017, former board member in the learned to think more positively, childhood cancer, and foster care O Special Love received a 1980s. Today, she lives in North to look at life differently. in Baltimore, Maryland. generous donation in honor of Carolina with her In 1988, Carl “There is a reason you are the way a former camper. Not unusual. husband and is grand- “There is a reason you wrote a letter you are, think the way you think, mother to four. to Winnie and have faced the things you’ve When remembering are the way you are, saying, “I’ll faced,” Carl writes. “The world camp, she recalls one think the way you think, never give up needs something only you can young man in partic- and have faced the because you give it. Your dream, your story, ular – Carl Price. things you’ve faced.” didn’t give and your contribution is what Three up… You once humanity needs.” decades ago, Carl said keep my chin up, so I talk was a teenage to the clouds above me, keeping camper battling my chin up as high as it will Our Honored nasopharyngeal go.” Winnie kept the letter. 2018 Guardian carcinoma. He also This January, the two arranged had grown up as to meet again for the first time Scholarship a foster child. since camp. “It was a wonderful Recipients 2018 1989 Unfortunately, he reunion,” Winnie says, smiling. But when we was all too familiar ■ Heather Alba, The tried to locate the camper to with emotional childhood Today, Carl travels the country Maria Kenny Guardian tell him he was remembered trauma. speaking about childhood Scholarship by a friend, we discovered a trauma. (His website is ■ Tarik Green, The At camp, Carl and Winnie forged wonderful story. www.carlmprice.com.) His Peggy & John Lingenfelter a . Through Winnie’s book, Tell Me Where Home Is, tells Guardian Scholarship Winnie Peele Morgan was a encouraging words (what Carl his story of poverty, neglect, ■ Alexandra Hancock, Camp Fantastic leader and now calls “positive vibes”), Carl The McGowan Family Guardian Scholarship Grace and Grit (cont. from p. 1) Honoring Jesse’s resilience, Throughout the turmoil that ■ Kevin Hernandez, Special Love recently named pediatric cancer brings to a The Atherton Family latent effects of the pediatric Guardian Scholarship him a Guardian Scholarship child, Jesse remembers his cancer and his chemotherapy ■ Andrew McCaffrey, winner, the time at camp as have posed challenges in school. The Erik Andrew Stephens prestigious therapeutic – Guardian Scholarship “I’m one of the fortunate ones who award “celebrations of ■ Hannah Neathery and beat cancer,” Jesse explains. “But presented what we could Morgan Treon, The beating cancer is more than just to former do, not pity Richmond Shag Club beating a disease. It’s about beating campers for what we Guardian Scholarships a whole series of setbacks, physical- with the couldn’t ... I ■ Erin Schulte, The ly, mentally, and emotionally. It’s help of firmly believe my Bresch Guardian Scholarship about overcoming physical limita- important success is tied ■ Jesse Smith, The donors. to the three Caleb Ingram Guardian tions such as nerve damage and Scholarship muscle weakness caused by chemo- Jesse was attitudes I ■ Abby Snider, The therapy. It’s about overcoming honored learned at Funkhouser Family cognitive deficits induced by more with the Special Love Guardian Scholarship chemo drugs. It’s about overcoming Caleb camp: grace, ■ Serena Wade, The the insecurities related to my Ingram Guardian gratitude, Dennis Chastain Guardian appearance. It’s about overcoming Scholarship, generously and grit.” Scholarship donated by David and the lack of confidence on the soccer Interested in donating a scholar- field, on the volleyball court, on the Annette Ingram of San ship in your name or the name basketball court. It’s about over- Pedro, California. The of someone you love? Contact coming a victim mentality and Ingrams and Jesse have shared (Above) The Caleb Ingram Robin Couch Cardillo at replacing it with an ‘I’ve got this!’ thanks and well wishes across Guardian Scholarship recipient [email protected] or attitude.” the country. Jesse Smith now and at Camp 888.930.2707. Fantastic in 2008 www.specialove.org

LoveLetter | Page 4 Heartfelt Thanks to Special Love’s Casino Casino Royale Shines Light on Long-time Supporters Royale Major Sponsors

pecial Love’s ed at the gala, Etter marveled High Roller

S annual gala – at “everyone’s enthusiasm and FD Associates, Inc. Casino Royale! – once genuine caring. The impact Double or Nothing Benefactors again was a smashing Special Love is making is success, with more impressive, and the Laulhere E&G Group Offit Kurman, Attorneys at Law than 300 guests danc- Foundation is fortunate to play a ing, dining, bidding small part.” Beginner’s Luck Patrons

on auction items, and Borger Management Former president of NIH’s “gaming” at the Hilton Clark Construction Group Recreation & Welfare Associa- EagleBank McLean Tysons tion Schools accepted the third Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Corner in April. Insperity annual Light of Love Award, Walter P Moore We honored two very impor- which fittingly will be renamed Perkins+Will tant partners: The Gwen in his honor. Randy has been PGN Architects

Laulhere Foundation and long- instrumental in the nonprofit’s Gaming Table Sponsors

time volunteer, supporter, and growth since its beginning, Bard, Rao, & Athanas board member Randy Schools. serving children with cancer The Christman Company and their families for more than The Julie and Danny The Laulhere Foundation has three decades. Funkhouser Fund funded BRASS Camp and Jones Lang LaSalle Americas (Top) BRASS leaders surround Bill other camps since 1999, The gala included a special The Novick Group Etter (blue suit) of The Gwen Laulhere surpassing the $1-million tribute to Special Love’s late Foundation, inducted into the Circle of Love threshold. Bill Etter, the co-founder Tom Baker and his husband of Foundation Presi- wife, Sheila – with gifts sup- (Bottom) Light of Love recipient dent Tracy Laulhere, was on porting weekend camps and a Randy Schools talks of more than three hand to accept the Circle of memorial at the Northern decades supporting Special Love Love trophy. With BRASS Virginia 4-H Center, the site of Camp leaders well represent- many Special Love camps.

Generous, Energetic Real Estate Managers Keep Giving at 13th IREM Gala! nce again, the Institute of O Real Estate Management Chapters 8, 77, and 92 knew how to party at its 13th charity gala. And Special Love was the lucky benefactor! Presenting Special Love a gen- erous gift of $82,000, IREM topped its previous record, for (Above) Special Love campers painted a total of $668,000 donated a colorful watercolor to auction at the since the gala began in 2006. IREM gala (it sold for $1,300!) This important donation goes (Left, above) Camper Kate, an honored to vital programming for guest representing Special Love at the children with cancer and their gala, is wowed by magic tricks families, including weeklong camps and weekend getaways. (Left, below) IREM leaders take a break in the fun to present a check for Thank you to all the IREM $82,000 to Special Love’s Dave leaders, members, and sponsors Smith and Camper Kate who make this a “go-to” event each year, filling the ballroom at Congressional Country Club in May. www.specialove.org Summer 2018 117 Youth Development Court | Winchester, VA 22602 31 Center Drive, Box 2062 | Bethesda, MD 20892 888.930.2707 | www.specialove.org

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BackBurner | Mark Your Calendars for Fun, Fun, Fun! September 22 | Special Love’s camp-eligible families. new) are welcome! KOA Cares Day | A fun day filled Northern Virginia 4-H Center, Franconia Fire Depart- with games and camper antics Front Royal, VA ment, Franconia, VA at the KOA Campground in November 17-18 | Parents’ January 4-6 | Williamsburg, VA. Free for all Getaway Weekend | Take a Fantastic Winter Special Love campers and open to break and meet other parents on Weekend | Skiing, all camp-eligible families. Wil- the same pediatric cancer journey tubing, sledding, or liamsburg, VA. www.koa.com/ as you. The relaxation and net- sipping cocoa — it’s campgrounds/williamsburg working are invaluable — you your choice! Don’t October 12-14 | Octoberfest deserve it! Open to camp-eligible miss this fun weekend Weekend | Get ready for more and bereaved parents. George for 13- to 25-year-old fall fun — pumpkins, games, Washington Hotel, Winchester, cancer patients. 4-H special treats! Open to all Virginia Center, Front Royal, Families take advantage of adaptive VA, and Bryce Resort, Mt. ski equipment during Ski Family December 2 | Jackson, VA Weekend at Canaan Valley Resort The Holiday Party! | If you’ve been January 18-21 | Ski Family here before, you Weekend | Schedule your know it’s non-stop holiday weekend to spend festive fun. If you with Special Love families. Special Love, Inc., is a non-profit, haven’t been here, You’ll love the fun and cama- IRS 50(c)(3) organization, and all you need to join us raderie of this special camp donations are tax-deductible. Audited to launch the sea- event. Open to all camp- financial statements are available on son. All camp eligible families. Canaan our website, www.specialove.org. families (old and Valley Resort, Davis, WV CFC #49642 | CVC #100078