Stickers Are In!
Also new for 2011 are the very first Star Duck bumper stickers. Many thanks to J.J. Haws at Meme-tech for keeping the price down and William Greene for providing the design. Just ask any board member for your sticker. Also, look for them hanging in Louisville businesses who have supported us over our first three and half years. While you're at it, support the businesses that have supported us.
MP3 Player Purchase
With the new year comes new projects. And with the help of donors we were successful in purchasing 33 MP3 Players for those residents at St. Joe's who don't have what has become a staple to today's youth. One of our missions is to help these kids live a healthy and happy life, both at St. Joe's and school. Todays kids have all kinds of technological gadgets and these kids should be no different. many thanks to those who helped out. This was obviously a big investment but the expense is well worth it.
First Annual Christmas Party at St. Joe's
Star Duck hosted the first annual St. Joe's Christmas Party. Thanks to your donations we were able host a Christmas party for all the kids at the home. We began with a round of board games while drinking hot chocolate that the kids were able to customize with their favorite toppings. Ike manned the cookie table where he cooked up a number of smores sandwiches. Bags of treats were given out by Star Duck volunteer Rob Woodford to whom we are deeply indebted for being one of Santa's Helpers. Finally, a horse-drawn sleigh took everyone for a tour around the Frankfort Ave. area. The crew at Star Duck are already looking forward to next year's party!
The Whigs to Headline Annual Benefit Concert
LEO Weekly and 91.9 WFPK has once again stepped up in a big way for Star Duck Charities and the kids of St. Joe's. Star Duck will receive $2 from every ticket purchased at this year's concert to be held Wednesday Nov. 24, 2010 (that's Thanksgiving Eve for those counting) at Headliner's Music Hall located at 1386 Lexington Road. There is great lineup this year in The Whigs, Midnite Sons, and Bad Blood. It should be a fantastic show, and you know how we feel about the cause! Tickets are $12 and may be purchased in person at Ear X-tacy or Wild and Wooly Video as well as online at TicketWeb. Please come by our table and say howdy!
Mission for 2010
In December of 2009, board members for Star Duck met with St. Joe's administration to discuss our goals for the forthcoming year and beyond. Star Duck board members were taken on a tour of the facility and participated in talks of what St. Joe's hopes to be in the next ten years. The consensus was that the greatest need and therefore the emphasis of our charity should be with activities that involve the residents. In January of this year, the board voted unanimously to not only continue its birthday program that has been a cornerstone since the charity's inception but to develop additional off campus activities that involve all of the St. Joe's residents. This means more fundraising and more donated time from volunteers. We hope that as Spring moves on and we plan more activities that you'll join us by pledging your support. Cookouts, sporting events, movies are all being planned as part of an initiative to become even more involved with these great kids. Check back with the website from time to time to see what is being planned. As always, feel free to email us and ask how you can help.
LEO Annual Fundraiser Concert to Benefit St. Joe's
As was so instrumental to last year's bedding drive, this year's benefit concert presented by LEO, 91.9 WFPK, Mom's Music and MERF will once again donate a portion of proceeds to Star Duck Charities to provide improved residential necessities for the kids at St. Joseph Children's Home. Performing will be Louisville legends Bodeco, the ever-talented Tyrone Cotton, and "whatever-you-want-to-call them-but-wow-are-they-incredible" Liberation Prophecy. The show at Headliners Music Hall in Louisville gets going around 8 PM.
2009 Swimsuit Drive A Huge Success
For the second consecutive year, Star Duck was able to give each of the 40 kids at St. Joe's a new swimsuit, a pair of goggles, his/her own towel, and a bag to carry it all to the pool. This was only possible through the your contributions and as much as we are grateful, imagine how much it means to the kids! Since we receive such an overwhelmingly positive response, were even able to spring for some pool toys to be shared among the group. This was well over and above what we initally hoped to do. Just another example of how the response of the community has allowed us to continually do more and more for the kids. Thanks again!
December and January Birthday Parties Biggest Yet
As many of you know, we have been throwing birthday parties for the kids at St. Joseph Children's Home for well over a year now. Recently, we've had to change our long-standing format for these parties due to a change in policy at our former corporate sponsor. This has placed the responsibilty directly on our shoulders to raise the funds for the $100 shopping sprees we supply for each and every child during his/her birthmonth. Not only have we had an incredible response from donors like you to help us continue this great program, but our new format which kicks off the party at Gattiland for pizza, cake, and games prior to the shopping extravaganza has been a big hit.
Remember, this is on-going program that takes place every month and continually requires funding. Every donation helps make this a reality. If you want to make a donation or sponsor one of the parties, please email us or click on the PayPal link at the bottom of this page.
Christmas Bedding Drive Meets Goal In Time For New Year
Christmas time is the one time of year needy kids often receive games and toys, while other areas of need remain. That is why Star Duck has made it a tradition to address these other needs around the holiday season. Last year, we purchased a new pair of jeans for every child at St. Joseph Children's Home and this year we supplied every child at St. Joseph with new sheets and pillows. These items were bought with funds raised from the November 29th charity concert (see below).
Forty new cozy blankets were also purchased by Robert Half International, who instead of having their annual office gift exchange, opted to pool their money together and purchase blankets for each of the children at St. Joe's. Many thanks to Jennifer Hannah for coordinating.
LEO Fundraiser Concert Raises $867
Star Duck Charities was the beneficiary of the 1st annual charity concert sponsored by Production Simple, LEO Weekly, Sam Swope, and Headliners Music Hall. Louisville natives turned internationally-acclaimed performers VHS or Beta, along with Broken Spurs and Frontier(s), played to a packed house on November 29, 2008. Many thanks are in order to all the aforementioned sponsors as well as the bands and all who volunteered to make this a huge success. The money raised at the concert was used to buy new bedding for every child at St. Joseph Children's Home.
Fundraiser Concert with VHS or BETA - Nov 29
Star Duck recently teamed with LEO Weekly who has generously agreed to make us and the children of St. Joe's the beneficiaries of a fundraising concert November 29, at Headliners Music Hall. The headlining act will be Louisville's own and internationally renowned VHS or Beta. If you plan on attending, buy a ticket early. This band puts on a great show and has been known to sell out Headliners. We will be there with a booth promoting the charity, so if you are interested in helping please see us at the concert.
Star Duck is also looking for additional sponsorship for our birthday parties. Unfortunately, KB Toy Store has decided to withdraw sponsorship and quit hosting the monthly birthday parties for the kids at St. Joe's and we are looking for orgainizations interested in helping out. For more information on sponsoring birthday parties, please send us an email.
Meanwhile, the charity continues to grow. During November and December, we will be expanding our monthly activities to allow more options for our charity to continue helping kids in need. Be sure to check back for our upcoming events.
March Shoe & April Swimsuit
Drives Complete; Music Program Donation
March and April proved to be busy months indeed! In addition to the largest birthday party yet, Star Duck was able to purchase a pair of new shoes, a new swimsuit, and a pair of swimming goggles for each of the 40 kids at St. Joseph Children's Home. Funds for the shoes and jeans were raised during our December benefit concert. Special thanks to Sara and Kevin Glogower who helped contribute to the purchase of swimsuits and goggles. An additional thank you to Sara Collins who has graciously comitted to future fundraising endeavors.
Also, thanks to Steilberg String Instruments, Star Duck was able to donate $640 to the St. Joseph Children's Home music program. Steilberg hosted the California Guitar Trio for a special concert and donated all proceeds.