On Thursday, August 2, 2014, The Dragonfly Foundation received a major donation from Mark Matson during the Matson Money Investor Symposium held at Horseshoe Casino. Mark and Melissa Matson, both Board members, are long-time supporters. Words cannot begin to describe how grateful we are for their donation.
On Friday, August 3rd, The Dragonfly Foundation was part of a successful attempt to break a Guinness Book of World Record for the number of heads shaven simultaneously! With the help of Kings Island Amusement Park and Great Clips stylists from Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, we were able to shave 213 heads as part of the Kicks Cancer campaign, a new park initiative focused on raising awareness and funds for research, treatment and care in the fight against cancers affecting men, women and children. The previous record was 182, set in Australia.
We would also like to give a special thank you to local Fox19 meteorologist Frank Marzullo for shaving his head for our Dragonfly patients and families!
Of course, this charitable event would not have been possible without the help of our volunteers and our supporters! We are also grateful for the kind words we have received on social media after the event.
The reaction and overwhelming support of the community has been outstanding. Below you will find some of our favorite comments and thoughts about the event.
Comments from our Facebook Page!
We shaved for my son, and her brother, recovering from neuroblastoma! What an honor it was!
4 of my coworkers participated as well! My president, my Sales Manager, our Repair Manager, and our Delivery Driver! Way to go….great cause!
My awesome son Devan Selanders has his head shaved for the cause today too by his girlfriend Jamie Lowry-Stettler. It means a lot because she lost her mom to cancer at the early age of 14.
Loving thanks to Ria, Christine and Matson Money! Our dragonfly family brought light at the darkest time of our lives and for that we are eternally grateful!
I can’t get through these comments without tears of joy streaming down my face. That’s a whole lot of Comfort & Joy!!!!!! Thank you so much Matson Money! The Dragonfly Foundation Cincinnati is just amazing! Love, Love, Love this!!!!!
I’ll just add that I don’t think of you guys as an organization, but as a family. Unlike other organizations that are out there, you definitely try to take the time out of your day to know your members. You didn’t just give us a bag at the hospital when my daughter was first dx and go ” good luck”. But you reached out to us to make sure we were okay. You randomly send out little packages that have made my little girl smile, especially on days where I didn’t think she would. All that you do for the families, whether it be opening the Landing so they have a safe place to play, to offering a vast amount of fun activities for everyone, it’s just amazing. And especially for those who are miles away from family, you become their Cincinnati family… And that’s awesome.
This is utterly amazing, and a testament to the drive, determination, and heart from Ria, Christine, and the entire Dragonfly family. All of us who have had the opportunity to volunteer for TDF are beyond fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve this cause.
Everyday is not good especially for a Dragonfly BUT there is something good in everyday. What a generous donation to an amazing organization. You deserve it. You shower the Children’s Hospital community with happiness!
My daughter is a dragonfly. The dragonfly foundation brings joy and happiness to children fighting. Sometimes the only joy and happiness they get. Watching my daughter smile at a gift received while receiving treatment.. That smile was worth millions to me, we had not seen it in days/ weeks. Dragonfly does that.
A Sampling of Comments Received on Twitter!
This is going to be amazing! FOX19 Frank Marzullo WXIX goes bald today in support of The Dragonfly Foundation.
Proud to be a part of a Guinness World Record attempt at Kings Island today by getting my head shaved for The Dragonfly Foundation
213 shaved heads for a world record! As seen I took place in the event lol #DidItForDragonfly#KingsIsland
Glad I had the opportunity to cut my hair to raise awareness for childhood cancer! #diditfordragonfly
Congratulations @DragonflyCinci: WE BROKE A WORLD RECORD!!!! #DidItForDragonfly
Again, The Dragonfly Foundation thanks everyone for their time, effort and support in helping bring smiles and joy to so many cancer and bone marrow transplant patients. It is truly you who makes this all possible, and we are so thankful for your continued investment in The Dragonfly Foundation!!!!! #BeADragonfly