Two nights after we found out Trek was going to die I laid in bed sobbing to Jarrett that I just wanted to go to the happiest place on earth-Disneyland. I did not know how we were going to afford it, I did not know if we were going to have huge medical bills or anything about the future I just knew I wanted to go make a life long memory for our family with Trek, I wanted to forget that my heart had just been ripped from my chest for a few days. We immediately started calling Make-a-wish foundations. There were sooo many! We felt excited and like they might be able to help us get to Disneyland. After one week of my mom, me, Jarrett, my sister, and even some blog readers trying to find us help, we came up with nothing. EVERY SINGLE make-a-wish was for children over 2 1/2 years old. The child had to be able to voice their wish in order to be granted one.
Trek was never going to live to be 2 1/2 years old. We ended up going anyways with the money we had set aside for Thailand and with some help from friends and family, it was the best investment of my life. We talk about Disneyland ALL the time! It is our best travel memories with Trek, it was a week of pure magic and bliss. I will never forget it.
a bug’s life ride!
Trek checking out Beauty-hey he had a thing for brunettes
Trek and daddy waiting in line for the Mickey Mouse ferris wheel
I want everyone in our shoes to have the opportunity to have a magical family vacation-worry free
After we went Jarrett and I talked that we wanted to start a Make-a-Wish foundation for babies, for little children that will not make it to their 3rd birthday. We want families in the face of impossible news to also be able to escape for a week to somewhere magical to make special memories with their little one.
Nothing like this currently exists.
I have started researching about non-profits and quickly became overwhelmed! There is so much that goes into it and I would love to be able to grant a dream vacation in the next few months for a little baby or toddler who is terminally ill.
I would welcome any thoughts or advice as we move forward to make this amazing foundation come to being. Feel free to leave information in the comments or you can email me at jarrettandchelsea@gmail.com.
If anyone has any experience starting a non-profit organization I would love to talk to you if you had a minute so I could pick your brain!
Thank you so much, we are very excited to honor Trek’s life in this way.
I hope to be able to help you in some way. I do have someone that you can contact that just started a non profit org. I don’t know her personally, but have read her blog and kept updated after a mutual friend asked for prayer for her. She just started a foundation to help families dealing with PPROM. Here is the website for her foundation: http://www.cwcpprom.org. Here is the blog that details her journey with PPROM: http://connercombs.blogspot.com/. There is also a FB page for her foundation: just search for the conner wayne combs foundation. If I can think of anything else, I will let you know. Once it is started, I would love to do a fundraiser for it!!! I think this idea is AMAZING and I support your efforts 100%.
thank you so very much Paige! i will let you know what I find out. thanks for your support, it means a lot-xoxo
What a gorgeous idea, You guys are so lovely! I don’t have any idea about setting up but I’ll share this post on my Facebook account and maybe someone I know will?!?! xx
thank you so much! i need all the help I can get!
Oh Chelsea – I can’t believe the timing of your post. I’m afraid my comment is going to be a mini blog post of its own, but I am so happy to share this with you. Yesterday I was at the local farmer’s market with my younger daughter who is visiting for a few days. We were perusing the luscious pastries at the Czech bakery stand and the gentleman who runs the stand looked at me and said, “Wow – your t-shirt – ‘Embrace Life’ – that certainly says it all, doesn’t it?” I grinned and enthusiastically agreed and a few seconds later he expanded a little on that comment and then again. (OK – Trek, I hear you!) So I proceeded to give him the Reader’s Digest condensed version of Trek’s story from his birth in your driveway to now. He was amazed, delighted, touched and we had the most lovely conversation about what it means to actually embrace life. It was as though the crowded market faded into the background and there were just the three of us talking about Trek and his very special life. It was pretty amazing! As we got ready to move on to the next stand, he sincerely thanked us for sharing Trek’s story and I could see that this would be more than just a moment in time for him; that he had just been moved in a way that would be with him always. So – just wanted you to know that Trek left his footprints in a bustling farmers market in mid-Michigan and that his message continues. I don’t know anything about setting up non-profits, but I love the idea for the foundation to honor Trek. What a wonderful way to give families of the littlest ones that precious time to create their own memories. I too will share this idea with friends and try to help you find the resources you would need to persue this dream, too!
that is so kind and thoughtful and made my heart melt how you shared about our baby. I love hearing stories like that! thank you so much-xoxo
My husband is an accountant and could give you some financial tips that are specific for non-profits.
thank you so much Susan! I will keep your email and put you (your hubby) down for accounting questions! thank you so much-xoxo
I still think about this all the time and even though you may think we are still busy trying to figure our life out;) I want to help with anything you need! It is my joy. i love you and am excited to see how it all works out.
i plan on you being my right hand woman! i love you and I will let you know stuff as I find it out
Chelsea, what a BRILLIANT idea! I had no idea all the make-a-wish foundations were for older kids only…this will fulfill such a huge need for so many families like yours.
I don’t know anything about nonprofits, but would be happy to help you out on the publicity/blogging/social media end once you get started.
thank you so much Kate, I will let you know when we get to the social networking part:)
How wonderful! I don’t much about starting one up, but you know I will do ANYTHING you need me to and will see what I can find out. Love y’all!
thanks so much aunt Jalene, i probably will love some help! I will let you know
It’s Susan again. I am also almost a MSW (master of Social Work). I would be happy to help with any social work needs you have. I know that you must have worked with or spoken with one at the hospital? Did Make a wish have one?
Sometimes it’s nice to have someone who has those specialized skills, especially dealing with the loss of a baby and all the grief stages that includes. Just a thought…
I never even thought of that! I am sure that would be wonderful to have, especially since most of the parents would have just found out and have such a short time with their baby:( I will email you! thank you, Chelsea
You may try contacting Brooke Desserich at A Cure Starts Now. They started a non profit after their daughter Elena died of a rare brain cancer. They have a webpage and a facebook page.
thank you Kathi, I will check that out!
Just let me know what I can do to help. I don’t know anything about starting such a geat giving foundation, but would love to see other families benefit from your experiences. All should have the opportunity to Embrace Life!
thanks Tammie, I will. I know I will need help, I will let you know when I do-xoxo
such a perfect way to remember baby Trek. Not sure how to set it up but so cant wait to see it all come together xxx
thanks Lisa, I am excited too!
Would love to help in anyway that i can, such a wonderful idea!!
thank you Danielle, I will let you know, thanks for being there for us. love ,Chelsea
Hi, Chelsea,
I’m a development professional (higher education) but never started my own not for profit. I suggest you also look at joining http://www.Linkedin.com, create a profile and use it for connecting with others not for profit execs. You or Jarrett may already be on there?
Find some fundraising groups, and look for CFREs (CFREs who are Certified Fundraising Executives) who are on there all of the time with their posts. There are so many pages devoted to not for profits and it’s a whole social network out there with many experts who would be happy to assist.
If you would like, I can suggest Linkedin “groups” for you to join when you want to in order to access their knowledge.
Sincerely,
Connie
wow-thanks Connie, that is great advice! I know this is going to be a whole other world so any help is greatly appreciated. Jarrett has an account but I will get one and check out those groups. I will let you know if I need help finding them-thank you so much. Chelsea
You are so welcome, Chelsea. I also Googled “Starting a non-profit” and a slew of websites came up (some connected with consultants happy to help you for a % of the proceeds) but it’s a good start for self education and would alert you to what it takes to be a 501(c)3 organization. Just let me know when you are on Linkedin and I’ll try to connect with Jarrett’s account, too.
Thinking of you all and baby Trek each day.
Connie
Belle doesn’t hold a candle to your beauty…both inside and out!
awwwwww!!! that made my whole day! thank you so much