Charitable Weekend

The Trulie Awesome Show had a weekend jam-packed with charitable events July 10-12th. Friday we saw Stars and Strips, an original burlesque musical produced by Mon Cherie Entertainment and performed at the Garden Theatre in the Short North. It was a benefit for Honor Flight Columbus. This organization helps veterans visit the memorials and sites honoring their service.

The musical was based around two sailors going off to fight in World War II.

On Saturday Team Cheetah ran the Dash for Donation. Lifeline of Ohio puts this event on to raise awareness about organ donation. We run in Team Cheetah to honor my step-son Ian who passed away in 2010. He loved to run, despite his asthma, and gained the nickname Cheetah because he had become so fast. His classmates graduated in 2015 and they never forgot him. They carried him with them throughout. Cheetah Strong. It's always an emotional day. We try to stay light. The donor family experience is much different from a recipient family. Lifeline of Virginia helped us through Ian's passing. The support we received from them will never be forgotten.

While we were running around downtown Columbus, Totalie was streaming the game Hex Shards of Fate for a charity called Extra-Life. They raised $27,515 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Big gamers with big hearts.

That's Awesome at the top!

Later that day, Totalie Awesome, Maulie Squee, and yours Trulie (Scrumptious) took over the Ready Room at The Columbus Museum of Art for their Connector Series! Totalie built a whiteboard app and we turned it into a game. Participants kept us laughing with their zany drawings!

 Be sure to check out their new wing opening in October 2015!

Finally, we hit the road to Pittsburgh to support Beverly's Birthdays an organization that provides birthday parties to homeless children and children in need in the Pittsburgh area. They provide childhood magic for little ones who live difficult lives. This fundraiser was a charity ball, and the theme was Disney Princesses so I went as Princess Vanellope Von Schweetz from Wreck it Ralph. My "dates" Queen Elsa and Prince Charming, were pint sized, and experiencing their wonder and excitement was beautiful. Knowing that this organization brings that wonder to people in need is so heartwarming. Yes, these families need the basics, but providing them with something they wouldn't get to experience otherwise is a treasure they can keep with them always. In the winter, my family collects donations for Christmas stocking sized toys for the children of Franklin County's foster care program. It is a way to give back and helps them have experiences similar to their peers. It also helps to distract us from our own loss by doing something good.

There are so many ways to participate in making this world a better place. Thank you to the volunteers for these organizations. "You can change the world, there's nothing to it"