Author and Artist Marianne Richmond

Do you think he's worried about the economy?

Doing Good Together

Hi all — for those of you who receive our monthly newsletter, I talked about this one....  For those of you who WANT to be on our e-list -- sign up at www.mariannerichmond.com.

My girlfriend and I gathered up four families to participate in family service projects together through a wonderful organization called Doing Good Together.  They are a resource that links willing participants with volunteer opportunities!  We launched our efforts with blanket making for a group called Project Linus. 

Each family pre-bought their fleece according to the directions on the Project Linus site.  I didn't realize how truly simple making these kind of blankets is!  You basically cut the strips around the perimeter of the fleece and then tie knots.  That's it.  Kids as young as 7 and 8 were handling this with ease.  The 4-year-olds just ran around with fabric scraps on their heads.

So -- if you need an idea for a scout troupe, family or school project -- this one might be worth trying. 

A gift to her friend is a gift to me...

There are days when I wonder about the lives with whom my books intersect ... and then I receive a note like this.  How I wish I could tuck a hug inside a book sometimes...

Dear Marianne,
Today was a very difficult day. I needed to find a very special gift for my
dear friend who is turning forty and also losing her battle with cancer. She
survived a few years after battling breast cancer only to find out her lungs
were full of liquid that were swimming with cancer cells. From there she was
told she had terminal brain cancer. I needed this gift to be very special.
It had to be happy, yet inspire and share my thoughts for possibly her last
birthday. As I was walking through the store teary eyed, something caught my
eye. It was your book, Happy birthday to You. As I opened it and read it I
began to weep, like I am now. It was so happy, so playful, and said
everything I wanted a gift to say. I wish I were able to attend her birthday
party to read it to her, but unfortunately, I had previous plans taking me
out of the state before hearing of her party. Thank you for the perfect book
to make people laugh, smile, be silly, and bring hope.

Trace H., California

Cheerfully Giving

Hi all.  Have been away a bit -- first to Milwaukee, WI for Thanksgiving and then to Chicago for a day on business.  Of course, I have lots of stories from those adventures but first things first.  Since we are officially in the season of giving and receiving, I wanted to tell you about one of my favorite charities called Cheerful Givers. We parents often lament the gift-laden holidays and birthdays because we know, deep down, our kids don't need much, given their abundant lives. 

The mission of Cheerful Givers is to brighten and celebrate the lives of families in need by providing toy-filled birthday gift bags for children who are homeless or living in poverty.  The best part?  Kids can do it.  A Girl Scout Troop can do it.  A corporation can do it.  A family can do it.  You get the idea.

These pictures are actually from the 2007 National Make A Difference Day.  Three Minneapolis nonprofits got together on this day to support the mission of Cheerful Givers by assembling 546 toy-filled birthday gift bags for less fortunate children.  Mentors and mentees from the Kids ‘n Kinship program, in addition to filling the gift bags, also had an opportunity to learn more about the Cheerful Givers and Smoke Free Dakota nonprofit organizations. 


Cheerful Givers relies on donations to provide the contents of the birthday bags which are distributed to shelters and food shelves so that less fortunate parents have a way to celebrate their child’s birthday.  Marianne Richmond Studios, Inc. supports Cheerful Givers by supplying "gently used" copies of our book, Hooray for You, for some bag-filling events. 

To date, more than 230,000 children have received gift bags.  If you're interested in hosting a Birthday Bag Blitz, contact karen@cheerfulgivers.org.  Tell her "Marianne sent ya ..."  And Ho, ho, ho... MR

A new face at Hendrick Home

Remember a couple posts back when I introduced you to the kids at Hendrick Home?  Just wanted to share this quick update.  This is Justice – She is a new child at Hendrick Home.



According to Rebecca Sharp, the woman with whom I communicate, "Justice has come along way since the spring.  Her mom is in prison and has no contact with a dad.  She came in very angry and confused.

NOW — She is doing well in school, feeling more secure and safe, making some friends and starting to enjoy being a kid again….and just last week – raised her hand to say the “prayer” for Lunch in the dinning Hall."

Rebecca continued, "The lady next to her is my daughter who is also the evening News Anchor for the ABC TV Station.  She was asked to come and read to Justice’s class ( 2nd graders ). She called to see if I had a good book for her to take… and I had this one!  The kids loved it*   especially the colorful pictures – and they all pointed out the rhymes!  ( the teacher liked that part! )  It was a great book to read in a group.  One of the kids wanted my daughter to “ read it again ”… when she was done.

I gave Justice one of your– “Hooray for you! “ books - With a not of encouragement inside… I think it meant a lot to her!"

Thanks again for your generosity!  Gods Best,
Rebecca Sharp / Hendrick Home

Thank YOU, Rebecca.  Isn't it nice to hear about the little success stories out there?!

The Gift of a Memory for a Hurting Husband

Hi Readers.  As promised ... the first of the Spreading Joy stories...

Dear Marianne,
I just read your blog and I’m here to tell about one person whose heart is still grieving:  My Husband, Dwight.  Dwight lost his father unexpectedly November 9, 2006. He was diagnosed in early spring with cancer of the spine and kidneys .  He had retired from teaching and had just started working part-time at the casino being a dealer.  He loved it!  Their family is big into playing cards so this was right up his alley! 

Dad and Dwight

He was scheduled for surgery to remove the cancer on November 8th, two hours into the surgery he started to bleed severely. They closed him up and decided to get him stabilized and scheduled surgery for the next week.  That night he had a massive heart attack.  The next morning he went to have three stints but in his heart, he died during surgery.

Dwight saw his father the weekend prior.  He took our daughter and met them in Clear Lake (which is halfway for us) to have lunch and visit before the operation.  His dad gave our daughter his coin set just in case something was too happen … it’s almost like he knew.

Dad and his Granddaughter

It’s been extremely hard.  It’s the little things that are the hardest and of course Father’s Day.  And now the one year anniversary is quickly approaching.  I will never understand what he is going through because I have never lost a parent but I feel for him. It’s hard to see him hurt.  I’ve written you before but yet again I want to thank you for all that you do … all the people you can touch by just words is simply amazing.

Thanks!  Jen