2009 Medical Mission a Success—Now It’s Fundraising Time

The Back Mountain’s all-volunteer organization Community Cares for Kids (CCK) is calling its 2009 Medical Mission to Ecuador the most challenging yet—and a huge success.  After a grueling twenty-hour journey into remote Ecuador, a MASH-like operating room, primitive equipment, and sixty difficult operations, the committee has just learned from Ecuadorian sources that all patients—including some very tiny babies—are doing well, with no infections and no fatalities! That means sixty lives, blighted by facial defects and horrible physical disfigurements, have been transformed from utterly hopeless into ones bright with new hope.

Now CCK is plunging into its new season of fundraising to support next year’s mission.  Their efforts will climax with the fourth annual Carnivale Masquerade Ball, to be held at The Highlands at Newberry Estate in Dallas, PA. on Saturday, January 23, 2010. The high-spirited ball features fabulous food, open bar, and live music.  Dance tickets cost $135 per person or $250 per couple all inclusive. Everyone is welcome.  Tickets are available at www.CommunityCaresforKids.com, on Facebook at Community Cares for Kids, by emailing cck@Collini.com, or by calling 570-674-6525.

A major part of the season’s fundraising is CCK’s charity raffle. This year, prizes total $10,000: the grand prize is a gorgeous diamond necklace from the Henderson collection donated by Valentine’s; second prize is a 46” flat-screen TV sponsored by Voitek Appliances; third prize is a set of quality golf clubs.

Only a limited number of tickets are printed; they cost $10 each or 3 for $25.

Tickets can be purchased at area locations, such as Age of Innocence in Shavertown, Finn’s Haircutting in Dallas, Valentine’s Jewelry in Dallas, Lake Bistro at Harveys Lake, or online (see above).  Winners need not be present to win. Additional exciting prizes can be won during the Carnivale Ball itself at a Chinese auction. 

The group hopes that old friends will return to the Fourth Annual Carnivale and that new supporters will come for the fun—and to help a great cause.  So mark your calendar, make your reservations, don your finery and join us to eat, drink, and be merry! All proceeds go directly to the medical mission.

Shown from left to right: Yvonne Mould, Roger Samuels, Charlee Ganny, Florence Finn, Baroness Juliane von Schmeling, Susan Collini, Elva Valentine, Cathy McHugh, David Green;

Absent: Beth Ann Delaney, Jane Nakkache, Nancy Kline, and Cindy Mitchell.