March was an incredible month here at VHF—full of activities to spread awareness, raise funds for our mission, and provide tons of education and social activities for our constituents. Here are just a few highlights:
Bowling for Bleeding Disorders
Our Bowling for Bleeding Disorders event on March 3rd in Richmond at AMF Sunset Lanes was a big success! Funds raised from this event go to support Camp Youngblood at Camp Holiday Trails, where up to 60 children each year go to learn more about managing bleeding disorders, grow independence, social skills, and have fun with their community!
Altogether, we raised $33,399 before expenses for this incredible event! We are especially proud we exceeded our peer-to-peer fundraising goal for this event—raising over $8,000 in donations online and in person! Day-of event donations were over $3,000! A special shout-out to our top fundraiser, Mari Droney, and our top team, Markel. Way to go! Check out our event photos here.
Red Tie Campaign
Even though Bleeding Disorders Awareness month is over, the 2018 National Hemophilia Foundation Red Tie Campaign is not! Thanks to our wonderful donors at Bowling for Bleeding Disorders, the Marvel Universe Community event, and our Adult Retreat, VHF will receive $500 in matching donations from NHF and we are in the running to receive two additional cash bonuses for the most unique donations (we are in 1st place with 19!) and most dollars raised (we are in 2nd with $1,267.26!).
We have until World Hemophilia Day on April 17th to take the top prize in both categories and receive an additional bonus from NHF! If you could make a donation (no matter how big or how small) and SHARE on your social media—it would be amazing to win Thanks to those who have donated so far—your support is so appreciated!
Washington Days
The Commonwealth of Virginia had the largest turn out for Washington Days on March 7-9th again this year, among the nearly 500 participants total! Advocates traveled from all corners of the state and worked as a team to advocate for bleeding disorders! We met with many representatives and shared why access to healthcare is so important to the bleeding disorders community. Our top discussion topics with legislators were asking them to:
- Support federal standards for public and private insurance so that patient protections and access to insurance is maintained.
- Support federal hemophilia programs at CDC and HRSA that ensure access to care for people with bleeding disorders.
We are fortunate to have a great partnership with Hemophilia Association of the Capital Area (HACA) and we are so proud of all the advocates from Virginia that participated in Washington Days! Go here to see more photos.
Skinny Dip Round-Up Campaign
In our first-ever local retail partnership, Virginia Hemophilia Foundation teamed up with The Skinny Dip Frozen Yogurt Bar! Participating stores here in Virginia asked customers to “round-up” their purchase during the month of March with 100% of the proceeds going back to VHF and supporting the programs and resources that are so important to the bleeding disorders community! We are thrilled to announce this campaign raised nearly $1600! A very special thanks goes to the Bartko family for making this partnership possible.
Our total fundraising amount in honor of Bleeding Disorders Awareness month totaled an amazing $5,955.13 so far! If we receive the bonus prizes from NHF we will raise even more, all thanks to you, our amazing community! Thanks for your advocacy efforts, your awareness efforts, your fundraising efforts, and your time and energy this month!
Megan Schowengerdt | VHF Development Director
