Melissa LarrisonMy name is Melissa Larrison. I am a mom to 3 beautiful children. Jada who is nine, Kaia who is eight, and Hanna Rae Rose who is our CDH angel. I was diagnosed at nineteen weeks and went to OKC to deliver as it was close to family. Hanna’s defect was relatively small and easy to fix. Unfortunately her little body couldn’t get over other complications with her care and she passed away after twenty one days of fighting. I joined Cherubs in October of 2008 and the amount of support I have received is immeasurable. Cherubs has become part of my family and I am forever grateful for them. I now hold a board position on the parent board. I am the Fundraising Coordinator and the Virginia state representative. Please feel free to contact me for any of your Cherubs needs. |
Friday, March 22, 2013
MEET OUR VOLUNTEERS - Melissa Larrison
Friday, September 18, 2009
Volunteering at CHERUBS
If CHERUBS has ever helped you - allowed you a place to talk or ask questions when you needed it. Helped you to make friends with other CDH parents. Supplied you with information during one of the worst times of your life. If we've done this and you are able to have some spare time to give back, please do so. This is a group effort and we need and welcome any CDH parent who wants to volunteer to help other CDH families!
Some of the Volunteer Positions at CHERUBS include:
Volunteer positions for those with a lot of time and dedication and a huge willingness to help the CDH community:
State & International Representatives - Our Reps are well... representatives of CHERUBS. They are our hearts at the local level, working with families and hospitals. They represent us at local get-togethers, events, fundraisers, conferences, etc. They match families together, visit parents in the hospital, plan local events. Some run their blogs or sites. They are the local faces of CHERUBS and what we do and what we stand for and this position is one that requires a strong moral compass, a lot of compassion for others going through CDH, a willingness to sometimes put their own CDH emotions and journey aside to focus on other families, courage to stand above innapropriate behavior and be a local leader at the support group level, professionalism and class to remember that you are representing a charity and that you are part of an international group, and mostly it requires a completely unselfish heart to give of yourself to others without going into the position wanting support for yourself. But the rewards are amazing.... knowing you were there for a CDH family in their darkest hour. Knowing you matched up 2 local families who can now depend on each other for support. Or watching a cherub meet another cherub for the first time at a get-together. It's amazing.
This volunteer position is one of the hardest at CHERUBS. It's easy for parents to sometimes lose focus on who they are supposed to be helping (other CDH parents). This position has a great title and a lot of responsibility, but it's not for everyone. It requires a dedication to CDH parents and to CHERUBS - since after all, that's who you are representing.
We are looking for 2 Co-Representatives for each state and country - 1 parent of a survivor, 1 grieving parent. We have a lot of positions to fill! If you would like to volunteer, please let us know!
*We highly recommend you read the Volunteer Checklist to make sure that you're ready to volunteer directly with other CDH parents.
Volunteers positions for those who want to help a larger scale, with a few hours a month to help and a lot of ideas and energy to contribute:
The following are all great committees that need more members:
Conference Committee - help plan our international conferences, find conference sponsors, find volunteers for the conference, help us at the conference, help set round table discussions and more.
Awareness Committee - help us to come up with, plan and execute many different projects to help promote CDH awareness. This includes helping us on our new Congressional Bill to help protect CDH Awareness from the trademark on "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness"
CHERUBS HOPE Totebag Committee - help us to find the items that we need to keep this totebag project going. Whether it's helping to make blankets or collect items for the bags or putting together handprint kits, or recruiting members and the public in donating to these bags, we have a lot of work going into these bags and need help! This project is a WONDERFUL project to help other CDH parents and to honor / remember your cherub while working with other CDH parents!
Fundraising Committee - help us come up with fundraising ideas and events and recruit participants!
Grant Committee - help CHERUBS to research and apply for grants for various projects.
Angel Ball Committee - local NC committee to plan the event, find sponors, volunteers and more for our Halloween Angel Masquerade Ball
Volunteer positions for those who want to help and work directly with other CDH parents but who only have a little bit of time to help:
*We highly recommend you read the Volunteer Checklist to make sure that you're ready to volunteer directly with other CDH parents.
Card / PM Volunteers - Volunteers that send out birthday, memorial, and holiday messages through our site
On Call Parents - Volunteers willing to listen to other CDH parents who are having a rough day and need to talk. You must be willing to publically post your phone number and e-mail address and to take calls at all hours of the day or night sometimes.
Volunteer positions for those who want to help but have very limited time:
Research Committee - this committee searches for the latest CDH research articles and submits them our Research Library. They also help to review our newsletter research section, our CDH Research Survey Results and test our research site. This is the perfect volunteer position for anyone who likes to do internet research!
Translation Committee - this committee translates our materials into other languages. We currently need translators for all languages who can help with the newsletters, baby book and more.
5 Easy Steps To Volunteer!
1. Read over the Volunteer Roles to see what each position does.
2. Read over the Volunteer Checklist to see if you're ready to work directly with other CDH parents or in another capacity.
3. E-mail us at volunteer@cdhsupport.org and give us the following information:
- Your Name
- Your Address
- Your Phone Number
- Your E-mail Address
- Your Cherub's Name and Date(s)
- Which volunteer positions would you like to volunteer for?
5. We'll contact you shortly! Thank you for volunteering to help CHERUBS help families affected by CDH!
Friday, January 23, 2009
CHERUBS on Cafepress
$500 means A LOT OF CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA AWARENESS!!
And that's not including holiday orders during December!
http://www.cafepress.com/cherubs
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
2008 Has Been A Busy Year At CHERUBS!
So far in 2008, we've done a lot at CHERUBS:
CDH Awareness Video2008 International Member Conference was a huge success!
CDH Street Signs Awareness Program begun
CHERUBS Facebook Goodsearch Group
Fight Against Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia at Change.org
CHERUBS is chosen out of 55,000 charities to be goodsearch.com charity of the day
Customizable CDH Awareness Ribbon is created
Let Me Tell You About CDH Logo is created
Ask Me About CDH Logo is created
Angel Ball was an amazing event
Golf Tournament was so much fun
ATV Rally
CHERUBS on Zazzle.com
CHERUBS Random Acts of Kindness Cards
New CDH Logo For Teenagers
Ohio Member Picnic once again successful!
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research Site
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Educational Items added to cafepress
Anatomy of CDH graphics freely distrubted
Personalized CDH Awareness Ribbons Items added to cafepress Opposition to Trademark on "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness"
"CDH Awareness Platform" for Beauty Pageants started
"Take A Stand Against CDH" campaign started
Oklahoma City, OK newspaper "The Oklahoman" article
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill, NC News 14 television interview
Durham, NC "Herald-Sun" newspaper article
Rochester, IN newspaper article
National ATV Magazine article
Carolina News Wire press release
3 more Advisory Committee additions
1 more Volunteer Coordinator
New Volunteer Software Installed
Also coming in 2008:
Stopping Trademark on "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness"
2008 Conference Speech Videos
2008 CDH Research Survery Results
CHERUBS name changed to CHERUBS - The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Awareness and Support
"Cooking with Cherubs" Cookbook Vol.III
"Stories of Cherubs" Vol. II
2009 Cherubs Calendar
Happy Birthday Jeremiah Car Show
Monday, September 1, 2008
CHERUBS Angel Ball
CHERUBS Golf Tournament
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Autographed Sports Items Needed For Charity Auction
We need any autographed sports items. If you have items to donate in honor or in memory of someone or know of a sports celebrity who would be willing to participate, please let us know! You can reach us at events@cherubs-cdh.org
Donate a basket for CHERUBS auction in honor / memory of your cherub!
At our CHERUBS Angel Ball in July we are conducting a silent auction. The auction will include many art pieces by some wonderful artists but also will include baskets donated by businesses and CHERUBS members in honor and memory of loved ones.
We sent this e-mail below to local businesses asking for participation on this auction, but families can participate too! My family will be donating 2 baskets - 1 in memory of my son, Shane (CDH cherub) and 1 in memory of my sister, Debra (lost to cancer). Please consider donating a basket in honor or in memory of someone that you have loved and lost.
You can talk to other CDH families about donating baskets and ideas on what to include in basket on our web site at http://www.cdhsupport.org/members/viewtopic.php?t=1597
Please forward this to family and friends who you think would want to participate! Thank you so much!!!! :)
Dawn
-------------------
Dear Sir / Madam,
I am contacting you on behalf of a local charity that I volunteer for, CHERUBS. CHERUBS is hosting a charity Angel Ball at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens on Saturday, July 26, 2008. This will be a beautiful white-tie formal event, with local rock band The Stone Age Romeos playing, 106.1 radio DJ Keith Todd as M.C., a silent auction and much more. Details can be found at http://www.cherubsangelball.org
We are looking for sponsors for the silent auction. We are requesting gift certificates, tickets, or products that can be placed in elegant baskets that will be up for auction. For example, one company is donating a gift certificate to their rental property at Hatteras, a dinner for two at a local restaurant, a gas card, sunglasses, beach towels, sunscreen and a map of the Outter Banks. Ideally, we would love a basket already filled with items representing your company. These will be featured on a table along with your business cards or brochures. This will be a wonderful and beautiful way to advertise your company while supporting a good cause.
In exchange for participating, your company will receive public acknowledgement in the Durham Herald-Sun, Raleigh News & Observer, event materials and on our web site which receives over 30,000 hits per month. The clientele for this event will be upper-class Triangle residents and this would be wonderful exposure for you. Donations would be tax-deductible. Baskets would need to be received by July 1st.
CHERUBS is a non-profit 501(c)III organization that was created to help families of children born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). CDH is a severe birth defect that affects 1 in every 2500 babies – over 1500 babies a year in the United States alone. CDH occurs when the baby’s diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs to migrate into the chest cavity and prevent lung growth. Correction requires drastic surgery and long hospital stays for these babies. CDH is fatal in 50% of cases. The cause is not yet known. CHERUBS supports families and medical care professionals by offering information, research, support and raising awareness. CHERUBS, which is run solely by volunteers, receives no grant funding and subsists on donations and fundraisers alone.
If you are interesting in participating please fill out the sponsorship form at http://www.cherubsangelball.org There is a catering sponsorship deadline of May 15th to be listed on the tickets and printed literature. We will be placing an ad in the Durham Herald-Sun and The Raleigh News & Observer at the end of this month so if you would like to be included in this ad please sign up by April 24th.
Thank you so much for your consideration. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Dawn M. Torrence
CHERUBS President & Founder
http://www.cdhsupport.org
CHERUBS, 270 Coley Rd, Henderson, NC 27537, USA
events@cherubs-cdh.org
252-492-6003
Sunday, April 13, 2008
CHERUBS 2008 Charity Golf Tournament
Brier Creek Country Club, Raleigh, North Carolina
July 28, 2008
http://www. cherubsgolftournament. org
Official CHERUBS Golf Tournament web site is up! Player and sponsor registration, information and more!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Events & Projects at CHERUBS
From CHERUBS web site at www.cdhsupport.org/awareness
Happy Birthday Jeremiah Car Show
CDH Street Signs Awareness Program
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Brochure
Random Acts of Kindness Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Cards
Children's Holiday Card Drawing Contest
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Ribbon Items
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Ribbon Car Magnets
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Return Address Labels
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Jewelry
CDH Awareness Wings Logo for teenagers
CDH Awareness Flourish Logo for teenagers
Let Me Tell You About CDH Logo
"I Save Cherubs" Items for Medical Professionals
Holiday Raffles - Local Raffles in Honor/Memory of Cherubs
Valentine's Day Fundraiser - Cupid Posters for Stores
"Cherub On Board" Maternity Shirts
"Cooking with Cherubs" Cookbook
Media Blitz - Let's Get This Writing Campaign Going! :)
Letter for Contacting Newspapers and Magazines
National CDH Newspaper Campaign
Personalized Graphics for CDH Awareness
CHERUBS Facebook Goodsearch Group
CHERUBS Fight Against Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Campaign
CHERUBS on Zazzle
CHERUBS on Wikipedia
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
2008 Fundraising, Awareness and Get-Together Events Schedule
January, 2008 - CHERUBS Name Change! CHERUBS - The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Awareness and Support
January, 2008 - CDH Research Drive
January, 2008 - Silver Lining Newsletter Issue Published
February, 2008 - Valentine's Day CDH Awareness Poster Sales
February, 2008 - CDH Awareness Media Drive
February, 2008 - CDH Awareness Ribbon Car Magnets Sale
March, 2008 - Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research Survey Results
March, 2008 - CDH Parent Reference Guide Information Drive and Packet Parties!
April 19, 2008 - CHERUBS ATV Ride (Attica, IN)
April, 2008 - Silver Lining Newsletter Issue Published
May, 2008 - Celebrity Auction
May, 2008 - Ebay Member Yard Sales
June 14, 2008 - Michigan Member Picnic (Lansing, MI)
June, 2008 - Texas Member Picnic (location to be announced)
June, 2008 - North Carolina Member Picnic (Raleigh, NC)
July, 2008 - Ohio Member Picnic (Columbus, OH)
July 25, 2008 - CHERUBS International Member Conference (Raleigh, NC)
July 26, 2008 - CHERUBS Angel Ball (Duke Gardens, Duke University, Durham, NC)
July 26, 2008 - CHERUBS Silent Angel Auction (Durham, NC)
July 27, 2008 - CHERUBS Golf Tournament (Wake Forest, NC)
August, 2008 - Silver Lining Newsletter Issue Published
September, 2008 - CDH Parent Reference Guide Information Drive and Packet Parties!
October, 2008 - Australia Member Conference
October, 2008 - Trick-or-Treating for CHERUBS CDH Awareness Drive
November - Silver Lining Newsletter Issue Published
December, 2008 - Holiday Coin Jar Fundraisers
December, 2008 - CHERUBS Tree Fundraiser (Wake Forest, NC)
December, 2008 - Holiday Raffles
Stay tuned to our site for more info!
Conference & Get-Together Information - http://www.cdhsupport.org/members/viewforum.php?f=9
Fundraisers & Awareness Events Information - http://www.cdhsupport.org/members/viewforum.php?f=184











