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SHARE HOME >  GET INVOLVED >  SHARE YOUR STORY - 'SHINING STARS'

Our Shining Star - Donna S.

DNASMOM - 05:55pm May 7, 2008 EST
Mom to a feeder and grower born June 2004 almost 33 wks 2lb 13 oz.

Please join me in appreciation of our newest Shining Star Donna, author of her blog TALES FROM THE SCHWEITZER SIDE .

Donna’s son Ryley was born premature in September, 2000 at only 26wks gestation. Since his early birth, Donna has felt the need to give back to this organization that helped save Ryley’s life, and to also help other parents through their journey with prematurity.

Over the past several years, Donna has dedicated much of her free time volunteering on various March of Dimes committees. She currently sits on the National Mission Volunteer Advisory Council and she is the Chair of the Family Teams Leadership Council for the Imperial Division in California. This 2006 San Diego Ambassador mom also devotes much of her time volunteering here in the Share Community. It’s no wonder she was one of the 2007 recipients of our year end Galaxy Awards!

In addition to all of the aforementioned volunteerism, Donna has also proven to be quite the fund raiser! Since 2006, she has been holding an annual Poker Tournament to benefit the March of Dimes. The idea came about as a way to attract more of her friends to the Mission of the MoD and also help raise funds for her MFB’s Family Team. It was important for her to find a common interest amongst her friends and a Poker Tournament proved the ideal way to go. She was also quite fortunate to find a friend who provided all of the supplies, as well as the computer program, to run such a Tournament.

Her rookie year she had 27 players and raised $923. Although it was quite a success, Donna was motivated to make it even better the next time. Last year she added a raffle, door prizes, a silent auction and even a live auction for a 5 night stay at a five-star resort in Fiji. She must have done something right because they had 47 players and raised over $5,400!!! This year was a little tougher because her community is still recovering from the devastating fires in San Diego. She still had quite an impressive turnout of almost 50 people, 36 of whom played in the tournament. The tournament raised $4,039 in one night, and they reached a lot of people with the mission, helping to spread awareness even further.

This Annual Poker Tournament has proved to be a very successful event for her MFB's Family Team (Team Roo) and she has a lot of fun doing it. Players from the past three tournaments are already asking about next year, so she hopes it will grow to at least 100 players.

Thank you Donna for all you do. You are such a Shining Star!
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DNASMOM - May 7, 2008 6:00 pm (#1 Total: 14)  

Mom to a feeder and grower born June 2004 almost 33 wks 2lb 13 oz.  

Congratulations Donna! Thank you for going above and beyond in your volunteerism. The March of Dimes is very fortunate to have such dedicated mission volunteers such as yourself.

Karen

McTriplet Mommy - May 7, 2008 6:47 pm (#2 Total: 14)  

Lorne (23 wk), Isaac (26 wk) and Sullivan (26 wk) - my four-year miracles!!  

Way to go, Donna!

Kara

2 here 2 in Heaven - May 7, 2008 7:41 pm (#3 Total: 14)  

Surviving 26 week triplet...2 angels, & a 36 week singleton.  

What a cute picture of your March for Babies team! Way to go Donna!

Shonda

GradyGabbyAbby - May 7, 2008 8:09 pm (#4 Total: 14)  

*One miracle with us,Gradon is now 10 years old. His sisters Gabrielle Lynn & Abigail Marie, watch over us in heaven.*  

Donna your AWESOME!! Thank you SO much for all your support and dedication to SHARE and to the March of Dimes.

You truly are amazing my friend!!!
HUGS,
Colleen

LilyGrace'sMom - May 7, 2008 8:30 pm (#5 Total: 14)  

Thinking of Kyle and sending lots of hugs and prayers  

Congratulations, Donna! Thank you for that you do for the MOD and Share. It's not just about the money, but about the awareness that you provide to others...awesome!

Shine, shine, shine some more.

~Jac~

katestclair - May 8, 2008 4:25 am (#6 Total: 14)  

Proud Mommy to Alexis, Kyle and Jackson  

Congrats Donna!!

That poker tournament sounds like a blast!!

Kate

Darcy Milder - May 8, 2008 1:19 pm (#7 Total: 14)  

 

The way the Poker Tournament has formed a life of its own is SO cool. What a fantastic idea...
All your hard work is inspirational!

Darcy

weerock - May 8, 2008 1:37 pm (#8 Total: 14)  

Mom to Leighton (30 weeks), Emerson (33 weeks), and an angel, Phillip (25 weeks)  

Congratulations, Donna. You are truly a shining star!

Denise

Karri - May 8, 2008 3:06 pm (#9 Total: 14)  

IL Family Team Specialist - Family Teams are the Best!  

YOU are a SHINING STAR!!!

You are lead by your generous heart of gold. I feel blessed to be able to walk this journey with you in volunteering for the MOD, and even more so to call you my friend.

I'm so very proud of you!!! You deserve this!

Much love, and Many Hugs!!!
Karri

Michele Reeves - May 8, 2008 6:47 pm (#10 Total: 14)  

2004 National Ambassador Mom  

You go, girl!

My Diva "D"! Way to go! When this thing started many moons ago, I never imagined the friendships that I would develop. Thank you for being there to support many, many, many families. Thank you for always giving 110% in everything that you do. You are an amazing volunteer and an even better friend!

Many hugs!
Michele

lesleylynn - May 9, 2008 9:22 am (#11 Total: 14)  

Mommy to Lesley... my 34 week beauty queen!  

Way to go Donna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are such an amazing mommy, volunteer, everything!!!!!! Thank you for all you do!

Tracy

quadmom25 - May 28, 2008 12:25 pm (#12 Total: 14)  

 

Donna, I am constantly amazed by you...thank you for ALL that you do for the MOD.

Stacey

makcalla - Jun 10, 2008 5:40 am (#13 Total: 14)  

Mom to an angel (22 weeker) and a miracle (27 weeker now 4-years-old).  

So I'm a little late....

Congratulations! You truly are a shining star...and a wonderful inspiration to the rest of us.

Hugs,
Mary

Angel Love - Jun 13, 2008 6:09 pm (#14 Total: 14)  

Looking forward to seeing you at Shareunion October 1-3 in Atlanta, GA!!  

Oh GOOD GRIEF!! I'm so bad...... I totally forgot about this handy little folder over here (you know some of my preferences got changed with the glitches a month or so ago...)and I forgot to check for our newest SHINING STAR!!!

You SO deserve this!! You are such an encouragement to me and many others who visit the sight. I think you might've been the first "voice" to reach out and say that it was okay to share a success story here along with my loss. Thank you in so many ways and for so many things!! You're the BEST!!

Tracy



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