Grant Money for Dr. Sholler - vote!

Take a second to open this link and vote for Project A - Dr. Sholler. Then share the info on your facebook page, personal blog, via email, etc...

LilliesFriends

You decide means just that, YOU DECIDE. You, Lillie’s Friends, will decide which research project Lillie’s Friends Foundation will fund.

Thank you!

Shop For A Cause

Somehow, the holidays have turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists.

And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want?

We like gifts. Our kids and spouses really like gifts. But consider this: America spends an average of $450 billion a year every holiday season. What if some of that money that we spend on gifts we don't really want and don't really need, what if that money also went straight to cutting-edge research and clinical trials for kids battling cancer (like neuroblastoma) for which they have no current hope for a cure?

You can find great gifts and support pediatric cancer research and clinical trials that take place right here in San Diego but also around the country, when you visit and place a bid for an item at MaxsGarageSale.com. It's an eBay Giving Works program that we are a part of, and the concept is simple. Bid on an item, and 100% of the winning bid goes to Max's Ring of Fire, Inc., and 100% of the income we receive from donations goes to fund research and clinical trials. Not a single penny that Max's Ring of Fire collects is spent on marketing, web hosting, salaries, travel, meetings, cost of fundraisers, etc. eBay allows for anywhere from 10-100% of the final winning bid to go to the charity but all the items at Max's Garage Sale were donated to Max's Ring of Fire, and so we can control the percentage, and that percentage is 100%.

Here's just an example of what's up for auction right now.

• Lunch for 4 at Pamplemousse Grille in Del Mar
• Famous Cedros Gardens Gift Certificate in Solana Beach
• San Diego Air and Space Museum - Family 4 Pack
• New Childrens Museum 4 Pack tickets
• Dinner Wild Note Cafe or Pacific Coast Grill and Concert at world famous BellyUp Tavern
• Barona Resort and Casino hotel/golf package

Of course, we'll be adding more items too. The auction is going to run through the end of year, give or take a few days. Then, if this proves to be a successful way to raise money, we'll maybe do a special Valentine's Day auction.

One more thing.. if you have something you'd like to sell on eBay, you can simply list it yourself and designate Max's Ring of Fire as the beneficiary.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Wrap-Up from Volunteer Meeting

Max’s Ring of Fire had a great Sunday afternoon meeting with some of the volunteers who are going to help us achieve our goals in 2010. Our mission is to help find a cure for neuroblastoma through awareness and funding for cutting-edge research, and by empowering patients, families and doctors in their fight against this common yet overlooked cancer. Just as there is no donation too small, the same goes for volunteering. We need help on all levels to reach our goals. Anything you bring to the table is more than we have without you!

If you would like to get involved, please send an email to info @maxsringoffire.org and we’ll reply with an invite to our Max’s Ring of Fire Group on Google (check your spam folders!). There, you will find all the volunteer sign-up sheets and documents that were distributed during yesterday’s meeting, and can communicate securely and easily to the group in one place.

Please contact us with any questions or comments and please feel comfortable being open and candid with us. We appreciate and respect your input.

Again, thank you for your time today and we look forward to a great 2010.

Max's Ring of Fire volunteer party Nov. 15

Please join us at our home on Sunday, Nov 15 from 1:00-3:00pm and get involved with Max’s Ring of Fire. We’ll have background information o you know what we’re doing, including an update on neuroblastoma research and an exciting new clinical trials consortium that includes our own Rady Children’s Hospital. We'll also be including "how can I help?" pack with tips, ideas and specific needs and roles that need volunteers to fill them. Kids will be taken care of so don’t hesitate to bring them along too. Let us know if you’re coming so we can arrange for the right amount of food, drink and childcare.

We do hope that all the friends who have been MROF volunteers in the past, and those of you who might want to become a MROF volunteer will be able to come. We look forward to seeing and meeting you, and hoping to widen the ring-of-fire that Max ignited!

RSVP here, on Facebook, or send Melissa an email.