Citizens For A Better Norwood

Monday, April 19, 2010

Caleb Tate Fuller Foundation’s “Forget-Me-Knot” Walk, Festival & Corn Hole Tournament

On Saturday, May 8, the Caleb Tate Fuller Foundation will hold its Fourth Annual “Forget-Me-Knot” Walk in Norwood, beginning on Lafayette Avenue behind Surrey Square proceeding on to Floral Avenue. This important community event is the Foundation’s major fundraiser for the year. The Caleb Tate Fuller Foundation is established to fulfill a small boy's (Caleb) request made during a heart-wrenching battle with bone cancer that he "not be forgotten". It is his family's desire to honor this request to “not be forgotten” and preserve Caleb's memory. Through commemoration of his steadfast love for God and family and relentless passion for life and learning, the family strives to preserve Caleb’s memory by serving the spiritual, social and educational needs of other children in the community.

The Caleb Tate Fuller Foundation works to create new educational enrichment programs and support existing programs for children in Norwood and surrounding communities. The Foundation helps provide funds as needed for children to participate in programs that promote Christian values and education, academic excellence, health education, literacy, music and fine arts, as well as multicultural, social and special needs awareness.

Proceeds from the 2010 five mile “Forget-Me-Knot” Walk, Festival, and Corn Hole Tournament will provide funding for local programs available to all kids in our community. Dr. Joyce McDowell, the Foundation’s Community Liaison, says that the Foundation plans to continue to provide scholarships for kids to attend Cornerstone Christian Academy here in Norwood in addition to providing a limited number of book scholarships to college bound seniors at other schools including Norwood High School. We plan to again host a Mad Cap Puppet show this summer and Mad Science event this fall both free to all kids in the community. We would also like to host Money Matters, a ten week financial literacy program for kids and provide support for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital through their StarShine Hospice Program and the Darkness To Light child abuse prevention program.

Dr. McDowell says the Foundation hopes that Norwood will embrace this event and she encourages everyone to participate or volunteer to help with the “Forget-Me-Knot” Walk, “Forget-Me-Knot” Festival and Corn Hole Tournament. She says individuals are asked to pre-register online or down load a registration form for the walk or Corn Hole Tournament and mail it in. Donation Sponsor sheets can also be downloaded to help raise money for your walk.

Registration will also be available on the day of the event at 8:00 a.m. prior to the opening ceremony at 9:00 a.m. . This will be at the corner of Ashland Avenue and Lafayette Avenue. According to Dr. McDowell, there will be a Memorial Balloon Launch facilitated by StarShine Hospice of Cincinnati Children’s hospital. Then a cook-out lunch free to all those registered for the walk. One block of Lafayette Avenue will be blocked off for the “Forget-Me-Knot” Festival with a Bid & Buy, Corn Hole Tournament, Guitar Hero, Fire Safety Hazard House and oodles of Carnival Games and fun. Landlords, please take note that Charles Russ, Norwood Building Department inspector has issued a special challenge to all Norwood landlords to give him their best shot at the dunk tank. But don’t worry, landlords. He will be blind folded so you can remain anonymous.

As an added incentive, for every $10 donation made, contributors will receive an opportunity to win a free netbook. There will be a special drawing on the day of the event from these names.

Dr. McDowell says that many people did not know Caleb and so the Foundation is encouraging them to participate in the Walk as individuals or to form teams walking in memory of someone who has been special in their life. She believes this is a wonderful way to bring the memory of a loved one to life through service to children in our community. She adds to be sure to put this person’s name on your registration form so they can be recognized in the memorial Balloon Launch at noon on May 8th. You can also post their picture on line through our website and even share their story with others.

This is a great event for our community and a very worthwhile cause. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate as a walker or as volunteer or at the afternoon festival. To find out more about the Caleb Tate Fuller Foundation or to register for the walk or the Corn Hole Tournament, go to the website at www.forgetmeknotwalk.com. If you are a business wishing to help sponsor the event, please contact Dr. Joyce McDowell at 631-4377 or visit the website to find out how your business will be promoted at the event. It is not mandatory to register ahead of time, but we encourage everyone to do so through our website or by contacting Dr. Joyce McDowell at the phone number above.