NWA Kids Guide

The Jackson L. Graves Foundation will host its annual Red, White & Baby Blue fundraising event on Friday, June 26 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Garden Room in Fayetteville next to the former Ozark Mountain Smokehouse on Dickson Street.

This year’s event is presented by Everett-Maxey Buick Pontiac GMC and will feature live music from award-winning local band, Leah & and the Mojo Doctors, heavy hors d’oeuvres, assorted beverages, and a silent auction including trips to Sonoma or Napa Valley ,CA and Key West, FL, a Razorback kids’ party at Bud Walton Arena, Princess for a Day party, and many special interest packages. JLG Foundation merchandise will also be available for sale. Attire is Casual Chic and tickets are $25 each. Tickets may be purchased on our website ( www.jacksongraves.org ), at the Northwest Arkansas Mall Guest Services booth and at Everett-Maxey in Bentonville.

The JLG Foundation is a charitable organization whose mission is to provide funding to improve care for the very sickest of infants in need of complex, long term medical attention as well as for support services for the families of these infants – including quieter areas, smaller doctor/patient ratios, dedicated medical staff, and equipment geared toward their growing bodies. Babies with such medical conditions and surgical needs make up a small percentage of the overall NICU population.

The Foundation is currently raising funds toward a recent $125,000 pledge to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital NICU to provide the Jackson Lee Graves Sibling Playroom and Jackson Lee Graves Room, which will be a private family transitional care room for use by long term infant patients and their families.

Jackson Graves was born in 2004 at University Hospital in Little Rock. He was eight weeks premature, with a birth defect, breathing difficulties, and a life-threatening condition of the blood vessels to his lungs. Jackson endured heart stoppages, several surgeries, severe infections, blood and liver ailments and numerous other difficulties. Jackson finally lost his battle in 2005. Jackson’s life, all of which was spent in a neonatal intensive care unit, inspired his parents, James and Angie Graves of Fayetteville, to establish the Jackson L. Graves Foundation in his memory.

For more information, contact Mitzi Traxson at 479-466-6103. The foundation’s website is www.jacksongraves.org . You may also go to www.caringbridge.org/ar/jacksong… to read about Jackson’s life.

PLEASE JOIN US Saturday May 30, 2009 10:00 AM-6:00 PM FUND RAISING BENEFIT FOR ALLY COURTNEY
BELLA MIA SALON AND DAY SPA
108 N. 34TH STREET ROGERS, AR

Ally Courtney is 5 years old and a Kindergarten Student at Centerton Gamble Elementary. On March 6th she went to the ER in Rogers because her tummy hurt. They ran a CT scan and noticed she had a Wilms Tumor (Kidney Cancer.) They sent us straight to Children’s Hospital in Little Rock that night. They arrived at Children’s around 10pm and on Monday March 9th they removed her left Kidney and part of the colon. She stayed in the hospital 8 days and got her first round of Chemo. They were home for 6 days when they had to return to Little Rock due to very high fever. She will have Chemo every week for 10 weeks then every 3 weeks for 6 months. We will have a CT on April 28 to see if she still has cancer on her lungs also. If she does she will have 2 weeks of radiation at Children’s Hospital as well as the Chemo. Visit her web site for more updates on her condition: www.caringbridge.org/visit

/allycourtney
FUND RAISING EVENTS INCLUDE:
HAIR CUT AND CHAIR MASSAGE DONATIONS ONLY
$2.00 TANS
LUNCH AND BAKED GOODS SALE
RAFFLE ITEMS
ALL PROCEEDS TO GO TO THE COURTNEY FAMILY TO PAY EXPENSES
Thank-you for your support and prayers