B+ Gives $250,000 Grant to Fight Pediatric Cancer

Thanks to your help, the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation proudly awarded its first childhood cancer research grant for $250,000 to the Nemours Center for Childhood Cancer Research in Delaware.  This grant will enable the purchase of a High-Throughput Screening device that reduces the time to screen potential new drugs from years -- to days.  Details | Video

 

B+ 5K Raises $80,000!

Over 1700 friends, family, B+ Heroes and their teams, and seriously good runners joined us June 18th!  The rain couldn't dampen the enthusiasm and Andrew cleared the skies just in time for the start of the race.  THANK YOU to everyone who braved the weather, and all those who supported us from afar.  You helped us raise $80,000!  That's twice what we raised last year.  You're amazing! Team stats and donation pages are still available.  INDIVIDUAL TIMES through 60 minutes are available now.  If you didn't get a shirt, contact us to pick it up.  Photos |  Details | Bud Keegan Images

  • The B+ Foundation is proud to partner with MLS W.O.R.K.S., Major League Soccer's community outreach program, not only because MLS will bring national awareness to our Foundation, but because Andrew often dreamed about playing in MLS.  In a way, now, he is.  Press Release here.
            

  • Congratulations to the U14 Boys YMS (Yardley Makefield, PA) Soccer Team who won the FCDelco Players Cup Tournament and were awarded the Andrew McDonough Trophy.  If you ever want to see it, it resides at the USTC sports complex in Downingtown, PA.  Pictures here.

  • Thanks to everyone who joined us and helped make our B+ FUN Raiser such a success!  We raised almost $40,000!  Pictures and details here.

  • Congratulations to Emily Lodge of the U14 Chantilly (VA) Hotspurs soccer team who received the Andrew McDonough B+ Award given annually at the prestigious Jefferson Cup Soccer Tournament in Richmond.

  • The Diamond State Classic girls H.S. basketball tournament worked with the B+ Foundation and allowed Joe to match 8 local "heroes" with 8 basketball teams for an inspirational 4 days. The inaugural Andrew McDonough B+ Award was also presented. Photos here.
  • VP Joe Biden helped serve the hungry Christmas Eve along with several of Andrew's friends, who proudly wore their B+ shirts in pictures with the new VP.
  • B+ Golf Outing 2009!  Our event last fall was so successful, we're looking forward to this year's outing scheduled for Monday, October 12th, 2009.  This new date falls on Columbus Day, so if you have the day off, join us!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                

                                   LESSONS FROM THE INSIDE:

One Family's Observations of Life in the Hospital

A must-read excerpt from Joe's Journal that has changed the way many hospital personnel now treat families and patients.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B+ Gear

WEAR YOUR B+ GEAR & START A CONVERSATION

 

NEW B+ HATS and LANYARDS. 

We've got B+ hoodies, T-shirts and black Performance T-shirts, along with wristbands and window stickers.  And we've recently added custom-made sterling silver jewelry.  Check out photos and sizes of all the B+ Gear and order online.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do Good: "Pay it Forward" with B+ Cards

We're asking you to perform acts of kindness in honor of Andrew, and when you do, hand out B+ cards and tell us about it .  Bet it makes you feel good to d good...
Share your B+ stories in our Guestbook. Contact us and we'll send you some B+ cards.  We also send B+ cards with every order of B+ Gear.

                 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bench Plaque to Honor Andrew on Boardwalk in OCNJ!

Ocean City, New Jersey, is a fun, relaxing, family beach town that we enjoy visiting as a family.  So we were pleased to be able to put a plaque in Andrew's honor on the Boardwalk at 12th Street.  It sits right in front of Congo Falls Mini-Golf, a favorite destination of Andrew's.  Next time you're in OCNJ, visit the bench and send us a photo in your B+ Gear.  2 seconds after this photo was taken, 3 women stopped to read the plaque and we had the opportunity to spread the B+ message!

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KIDS HELPING KIDS FIGHT CANCER 

The B+ Foundation gets help in many creative ways.  Not only do these events raise money to help us further our mission, but they dramatically increase awareness of the B+ Movement.  Check out a few of the more recent ways that kids (and adults) are helping kids fight cancer.  Be inspired!

KIDS

  • Tommy Higley asked his friends to give donations to the B+ Foundation instead of gifts for his 12th birthday to honor his friend Andrew.
  • Darley Road Elementary students wrote and illustrated books, which they sold to raise funds for the B+ Foundation!
  • Antonio DiCello, and his mom Nicole, delivered 126 postcards to AIDuPont Hospital.  The postcards were designed by kids during Chase's Bring Your Children to Work day, and delivered in honor of Andrew.
  • Antonio and his 2nd Grade class delivered over 3,000 soda can tabs to Ronald McDonald House "for Andrew!"
  • Maggie Anderson, our B+ Hero Molly's sister, raised money for the B+ Foundation and presented us with heavy jar full.
  • Students in the St. Mary Magdalen (Andrew's school) National Junior Honor Society organized a 3v3 Basketball Tournament for K-12.  We were honored to attend the ceremony that presented a check to the Ronald McDonald House establishing a room in honor of Andrew and fellow students Alex Kerr and Emmi O'Toole.  Pictures here.
  • Maura, Allie and Angie were "Andrew's Angels" at the SMM 3v3 Bball tournament and wore their decorated B+ Gear! Picture here.
  • Many kids are telling us that they wear their wristbands and B+ T-shirts when they need a little extra strength -- during an audition, for a test, when they're feeling sad.  Andrew gives them strength.
  • Ryan Murphy and the 5th Graders at North Star Elementary in Hockessin, DE, have taken the B+ spirit to heart by doing good deeds and raising funds for the B+ Foundation.  They invited Joe to kick off their efforts and sent him a thank you card signed by each of them.
  • Madison, a 5th Grader from North Star Elementary, and her family held a garage sale with the proceeds benefiting the B+ Foundation.
  • Brendan Warrington celebrated his 12th birthday recently and asked his friends to bring donations to the B+ Foundation instead of gifts.  Thanks for being so unselfish, Brendan.
  • Shayna Tiller and her friends baked treats and held a bake sale to raise money to help B+ families in need.
  • Ryan Murphy and Mary and Emily Aleixo set up separate lemonade stands this summer and raised money and awareness for the B+ Foundation.

TEENS

  • Mt. Pleasant HS Student Council held a "Hats for Andrew" day, which allowed students to wear hats in school and raise money for B+.
  • Sydney Lysinger, one of our B+ Heroes, organized her school, St. Marks HS, to sell special wristbands and raise money for the B+ Foundation.
  • Thanks to George Protopoppas and The Hammonton Brass, an ensemble of classical musicians that performs around New Jersey.  They held a benefit concert for the B+ Foundation, Pictures here.  You can listen to them here.
  • Rachel Blythe organized a Penny War at Elkton (MD) High School to benefit the B+ Foundation.  Thanks for spreading the B+ Spirit to Maryland, Rachel.
  • One of our own B+ Heroes, Savannah Pauley, recently celebrated her 10th birthday and in lieu of gifts, asked her guests to make donations to the B+ Foundation!  She knows only too well the toll that cancer takes.
  • Summer O'Donnell, whose family we've been friends with for years, held her Sweet 16 in honor of Andrew and the B+ Foundation! Pictures here.
  • Paul Blest, a old classmate of Ali's, helped organize and play in a concert that helped benefit the B+ Foundation.
  • Maddy Buckley's Surprise Sweet 16 benefited the B+ Foundation in a big way:  guests were encouraged to bring "gifts" of $16 for B+, wear their B+ Gear, and dance under B+ balloons! Pictures here.
  • Julianne Dominelli, Miss Mid-Atlantic Outstanding Teen, has chosen "Be Positive" as her platform.  She recently organized a Teen Variety Show and Silent Auction that we were privileged to attend and speak at.  Proceeds benefited the B+ Foundation and far exceeded Julianne's goal. Pictures here.
  • Christina and Meghan des Groseilliers hosted a Teen Dance Feb. 6th in Hockessin, DE, to benefit B+. Thanks to all the area high schoolers who joined them for dancing and dinner.  The News Journal and NBC News interviewed the girls and Joe! Pictures here.
  • Sydney Lysinger, one of our B+ heroes, and her school, St. Mark's (DE) are holding a 'Hat Day' in Sydney's honor with proceeds benefiting the B+ Foundation.
  • Natalie Stewart, of the Coeur d'Alene (Idaho) HS's basketball team, organized selling B+ Gear at the District Basketball Tournament.  Thanks for spreading the B+ message to Idaho!
  • Thanks to Maggie Connolly and Meghan Carter for donating their holiday charitable donation to the B+ Foundation.
  • As part of his Mitzvah project, Sam Soeth sent us 6 gigantic boxes full of books, CDs and DVDs for the A.I.DuPont Hospital as well as a generous donation to the B+ Foundation from his Mitzvah money.
  • The Kelly's Sweet 16 Party - Three young ladies (one set of twins and their cousin) celebrated their joint Sweet 16 Party recently and the girls asked for donations to the B+ Foundation in lieu of gifts. Approximately $3,000 was raised!

FAMILIES

  • North Star Elementary held a family movie night with proceeds from snacks benefitting the B+ Foundation.  Pictures here.
  • Shelli Lynch and her family collected donations for B+ in support of their marathon, half-marathon and 5K runs at DisneyWorld! See a picture here.
  • Catherine McBride and her fiance have created B+ notecards to place on each table at their wedding reception, and have made a donation to the B+ Foundation on behalf of their wedding guests.
  • Jimmy Diana and his family represented the B+ Foundation at the St. John the Beloved Basketball Tournament.  Thanks to the Diana Family and all the fans who supported the foundation.

TEAMS

  • The Greek community at University of Delaware held their 3rd Annual UDance marathon and shared their proceeds with the B+ Foundation.  B+ Heroes became fraternity brothers and sorority sisters, and UD students registered to be bone marrow donors.  It was a long, loud, fun day.   Pictures here.  Articles from the school paper, The Review: Article 1, Article 2.
  • The U13 Dynamo Concord (DE) Soccer Team "live like Andrew" and "play like Andrew" wearing their B+ shirts as warm-ups on the field, chanting "Live Like Andrew", and exchanging B+ wristbands and B+ cards with their opposing teams.  Is it any wonder they're a winning team! Delaware Youth Soccer Assoc. and Hockessin Soccer held the Kohl's Cup soccer tournament and donated some of the proceeds to the B+ Found.
  • Central DE Soccer Association asked players to collect donations for the Foundation and also sold B+ gear.
  • Andrew's high school soccer team, Salesianum, joined with their opponents, Caravel Academy, to sell B+ gear and collect donations for the Foundation.
  • The Wilmington Tigers Basketball Club wear the B+ logo on the sleeve of their warm-up shirts and have raised money and awareness by wearing them up and down the east coast.
  • NBSL Swim Teams from north Wilmington, DE, held their championships at Ashbourne Hills Pool and bought B+ Gear to raise $2,000 for families in need. 

ADULTS AND COMPANIES

  • Check out Hot Rod Photos 4U -- with every photo purchase, buyers are encouraged to buy B+ wristbands!
  • The Touch A Truck held by the MOMS Club of Hockessin, DE, was a huge success, and they chose the B+ Foundation to benefit from the proceeds this year.
  • Boscov's Department Stores of Concord and Christiana in Delaware allowed us to raise awareness, sell B+ Gear, hot dogs, and discount shopping passes, with proceeds benefiting the B+ Foundation. 
  • Alumni of Salesianum and Concord High Schools in Wilmington, DE, have an annual golf tournament and this year they decided to make it a charitable event with the proceeds benefiting the B+ Foundation.  Fittingly, Salesianum won!
  • The employees of TV Guide Magazine collect money for their workday snacks, and gave the proceeds from one month to the B+ Foundation.
  • When Catherine McBride got married, instead of wedding "souvenirs," she and her husband gave a donation to the B+ Foundation on behalf of their wedding guests.  Their guests were delighted.