Those of you who attended the MAM fundraiser we held for Thanks USA several months back may remember the extremely poised young girls who founded the group.  Kelsi and Rachel Okun recently appeared on the Today Show to discuss the group and all the people they have helped with college scholarship.  Click on the link Thanks USA – Today Show to watch them in action.  Also please visit the group’s website Thanks USA if you would like to consider making a donation.

Keller Williams Realty holds a RED Day event every year.  This is a nationwide effort to provide support to local charity orginizations.  Since its founding three years ago, the KW Mclean/Great Falls office has been supporting SHARE of Mclean/Great Falls.  We held two food drives at the Mclean Giant and Great Falls Safeway on May 12th and 14th respectively.  Following is a note the office received the SHARE:

First, let me express the deepest appreciation from Share for the huge outpouring of support from Keller-Williams for your 2 ‘RedDay’ events at the McLean Giant on Thursday, May 12, and the Great Falls Safeway on Saturday, May 14. This year marks the 3rd ‘RedDay’ event you have hosted for Share, and it was our best year of donation volume by far. I especially want to commend your organization and preparation for this year’s ‘RedDay’ which made it such a successful food drive for all of us. The enthusiasm shown by you and all the K-W realtors who volunteered was highly evident throughout the day and contagious for our donors. Thanks for bringing so much community spirit to McLean and Great Falls.

Now for the summary of results from each ‘RedDay’ food drive:

McLEAN GIANT THURSDAY, MAY 12

1-Cash and grocery gift card donations:

- Cash & check donations = $141

- Grocery gift card donations = $435

- Total cash & monetary equiv = $576

2-Food donations:

- 160 bins/crates/boxes (food and personal toiletries) x 35 pounds each = 5,600 pounds

- 8 barrels (paper products) x 25 pounds each = 200 pounds

- Total food donations = 5,800 pounds

GREAT FALLS SAFEWAY SATURDAY, MAY 14

1-Cash and grocery gift card donations have not been tallied yet. Derrick left me a large envelope Saturday after completing the food drive in Great Falls. I will furnish you this information by Wednesday, May 18

2-Food donations:

- 40 bins/boxes/bags (food and personal toiletries) x 30 pounds each = 1,200 pounds

- 4 barrels (paper products) x 25 pounds each = 100 pounds

- Total food donations = 1,300 pounds

Included in the food donation tally on Thursday, May 12, were the “Grab & Go” bags prepared by Rick Makely’s staff at the McLean Giant. I recall your accounting that Rick prepared 300 of these bags at the start of the food drive and sold 225 by the end of the day. You purchased an additional 13 “Grab & Go” bags with cash donations for a grand total of 238 bags sold and donated.

The total food donations Keller-Williams provided Share from your 2 ‘RedDay’ events was 7,100 pounds, a new record for your organization and almost double what K-W provided last year. You now hold the 2011 food drive record at Share!! A million thanks for the massive addition to our food pantry. We are confident your donations will provide the bulk of our client needs for the next 2-3 months.

Again, my sincere thanks to Keller-Williams for making your community service ‘RedDay’ event a grand slam home run for Share and for supporting our needy neighbors in the communities of McLean and Great Falls.

Best regards,

Hunter

–

Hunter Pollitt

Board Member

Share, Inc.

P. O. Box 210

McLean, VA 22101

703-284-2179

www.ShareofMcLean.org

Please join us on May 9th for next week’s Military Appreciation Mondays dinner where we will be recognizing Our Military Kids.  This is the event that was originally scheduled for April 25th.  While last weekend’s news about Osama bin Laden is extremely exciting, we must remain more vigilant than ever.  With that said, our troops and their kids deserve ever greater support and appreciation.  Nancy and I hope you can join us at the Old Brogue where we will be recognizing our nation’s true Superheroes.  Please be sure to call the Brogue and make a reservation for either the 5:30 or 7:30 seating.  Feel free to either call me or send an e-mail if you would like more info or would like to sign on as a $200 or $100  cosponsor.  We are also always looking for door prize support as well.

Sold

Beautifully Upgraded 4 Bedroom Townhouse withing walking distance of Metro.

Priced at $445,000

Link to photos should be available by 4/25.

Offered at $1,900,000

This fabulous Craftsman style home is located within minutes of DC. The elegant dining room is perfect for those formal occasions. The main level kitchen/family room and the lower level club room with bar and fabulous home theater provide a more casual venue. The kitchen features granite countertops and maple cabinetry with Subzero refrigerator, Viking range, Thermador wall oven and microwave, and Bosch dishwasher. The lower level bar area includes a refrigerator, ice-maker, oversized wine chiller and Bosch dishwasher.

Please join Nancy and me for the March 28th Military Appreciation Mondays dinner.  We are taking a little license by hosting this month’s event in support of the CIA Officer Memorial Foundation.  Having raised over $100,000 during the past two years, we determined that it was time to support an organization that is very close to home.  As I said at last month’s dinner, this one is personal.  Do come out and show your support for the families of those CIA officers who have given their lives in support of our nation.  Because of operational security reasons, many of these individuals will never get the recognition they deserve and their families can never say how they died.  They will forever be remembered as stars on the wall.  We are asking everyone to make a reservation sooner rather than later since we would like to fill the Old Brogue to capacity.

For those of you unfamiliar with how MAM works, you simply come out and enjoy a great dinner at the Old Brogue in Great Falls.  We and our co-sponsors will each make a 10% match of your dinner tab.  (We are always seeking new sponsors.) Last month we had a 110% match of the total restaurant receipts at the Old Brogue.  We will be doing two seatings at the Old Brogue, so make your reservation for either 5:30 or 7:30.  To make a reservation call the Brogue at (703) 759-3309.

I can assure you that it will mean a great deal to myself and my former colleagues to see a room full of faces who recognize the risks they take each and every day.  Do come join us in sending the message that we truly care.   All you need to do is pick up the phone, make a reservation and come enjoy a great dinner.  Please share the attached flyer with anyone who may be interested in attending.

This month’s Military Appreciation Monday’s dinner, on January 31st, will be supporting the Naval Special Warfare Foundation (NSW).  It is our first effort on behalf of this organization.  Naval Special Warfare is comprised of U.S. Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC), and support personnel.   The NSA serves a fundamental role within the SEAL and SWCC community.

• It provides tragedy assistance for families who have lost a loved one in training or combat.
• Supports family events to uphold morale and camaraderie.
• Awards scholarships and provide educational assistance to active duty personnel, their spouses, and children.
• Additionally, to ensure the contributions of these elite warriors are always remembered, recognized, and documented for future generations, NSW strives to preserve the rich history and heritage of the NSW community. Since its inception in 2000, the Naval Special Warfare Foundation has mourned the loss of many of our NSW warriors in the Global War on Terror, and in turn, we support their families and their teammates.

Please be sure to click on the above link to learn about what they are doing to support our nation’s bravest men and women.  They do us proud.  As always, the dinner will be at the Old Brogue in Great Falls with seatings at 5:30 and 7:30.  Be sure to call from reservations since we have had overflow capacity at several of the dinners.

As always, you simply come out and have dinner at the Old Brogue in Great Falls. Myself and my cosponsors will each be contributing a 10 percent match of your dinner tab to help our Nation’s True Heroes.

You can also show your support through:

A. The purchase of door prize entries. (ALL Proceeds will go directly to NSW)

B. Our buy a vet dinner initiative. We hope to have about ten enlisted personnel for whom you can buy dinner.

C. Or you can make out a fully tax deductible donation to The Naval Special Warfare Foundation.

Please come out strong to show your support. This is our first time back after the holidays and I’d love to have a huge turnout to show our active duty personnel and veterans just how much we appreciate their service.

Last month we had a 100 percent match.  Please let me know if you would like to sign on as a co-sponsor.  By doing so, you agree to provide a 10 percent match of the evening’s dinner tab.  This typically runs about $200.  I am  also regularly looking for door prize donations as well.  Current co-sponsors are:

Nelson Family

Norman Family

Tim Heil Family

Carillon Capital

The Old Brogue

Grossman Family

Gary Kaihara, DDS

Jill Grossman – LSA Title Services

Taylor Allgyer – First Savings Mortgage

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

I have been thrilled with the feedback I’m getting from everyone who has sponsored one of the military families.  I just received the following from the family Nancy and I adoted.

Good Morning!
I just wanted to thank you again for your generosity!  I received the box this morning.  Our boys will be so thrilled and it definitely takes a lot of pressure off of us financially as we wait for Allen’s VA claim to come through.  Families like yours have made our journey of adjusting to disabilities much easier.
May you and yours have a very blessed Christmas.
Gina Hill and Family

Please let me know if you receive similar messages and I’ll be happy to post them.  I had received the following from Gina last week.  Please be sure to check out her blog as a way of helping you understand the debt of thanks we owe families like Gina’s.

We are so thankful for the amazing organizations out there to help military and wounded families like ours.  We are even more thankful for the individuals like yourself and your family that support these organizations and our families!
You can find my blog at http://theinvisiblewounded.blogspot.com .  Please feel free to share with anyone and to post on your website.  It is really just something I do as therapy for myself but also to help others know that they are not alone.  At times, being the family of a wounded warrior can be a very lonely place to be.  Where we live, we do not know any other families close that deal with the things we do on a daily basis.

Hello and happy holidays to all, I wanted to take a minute to thank you for your support this year to make the holidays a little brighter for the families of injured and killed in action veterans.  The “Our Military Kids” organization provided me with a Christmas Gift Wish List of 26 veterans’ families including 65 children this year.  Thanks to your help, packages are on the way for 16 of these families.  We are down to just 10 families left on the list, but now we are headed into ‘crunch time’.  With limited time left to buy, wrap and send gifts we must find people or organizations to support these last 10 families within the next week. If you have been thinking about committing to help…. if you can find room in your heart and your wallet this year…. please let us know before time runs out for these families.  One of the wounded veterans I spoke to last week was so thankful when we told him his family would be receiving support with Christmas gifts.  He mentioned that he was especially grateful because last year his kids did not get any Christmas gifts.  Let’s not let this happen again for any of these families who have sacrificed so much for all of us. If you would like to help make this holiday season a little bit brighter for the children of our injured and killed in action servicemen and women, all you have to do is respond to this email.  You can adopt one child, a family or simply make a cash donation.  Nancy and I will gladly purchase the gifts still on the list if you do not have the time.  Simply give me a call or drop an e-mail to Santa@BobNelsonTeam.com. These are the children still available for ‘adoption’ :

1. Vaughns Family

Jordan (6): Vtech MobiGo Touch Learning System MobiGoCarrying  Case MobiGoSoftware Games:  Toy Story 3, Disney Cars, NASCAR, Shrek, Mr. Men/Little Miss

John (10): Nintendo DSI (black)

Dejah Miles (15): Women’s UGG Australia Classic Short Boots, Size 10, Color:  Black

2. Ellis Family

Juliann (13): New clothes/Gift card to Target, Pac Sun or Forever 21

Joshua (12): Nano Touch I-Pod – Gray or Silver (Purchased through Cash Donations)

Jesse (16): Nano Touch I-Pod – Gold (Adopted by Louis and Chris Wise)

3. Kuinileti Sele Family

(Adopted by Elizabeth Gaffney)

Peter (9): Sony PSP G Handheld Game; black or blue

Serafina (7): Sony Limited Hannah Montana PSP Entertainment Pack (used on Ebay $130.98); pink or purple Kleopatra

(4): KidKraft 65156 Designer Dollhouse Doll Toy; multicolor is fine

4. Broesch Family

Bella (7): Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters Wild Bunch (set of 4) Barbie Horse Adventure:  Riding Camp for Nintendo Wii Uno Attack Game Easy-Bake Oven and Snack Center with Classic Light Bulb Oven (mint green) (Purchased by Jenni Blessman – Keller Williams) Magic Tree House Books

Taylor(15): Gift card to a clothing store such as Macy’s (Purchased by Alison Sherman – Keller Williams), Vanity or Maurices, Gift card for gas, Solia 1″ Flat Iron

5. Summers Family

Amber (11): Beginner snowboard, length 140-145 cm

Devan (10): Beginner snowboard, length 132-137 cm

Tristen (8): Beginner snowboard, length 135-140 cm

6. Byrd Family

Nailah (14): Ipad or Iphone (or a gift certificate to the Apple Store or to the AT&T Store to go toward either of these items)

Nia (13): Dell Laptop (pink) (or a gift certificate to the Dell Store to go toward it)

7. Mitchell Family

Zac (18): a Craftsman tool box, the one that stands up with a bottom box and top box (To be purchased with donated funds.)

Jerret (8): Nintendo DSiXL (blue or black)

Serenity (6): (Adopted by Susan Wisely – Keller Williams)   A nice, portable DVD player, one that the screen flips and folds down; (Sony has one)

Finally, we would like to thank the following who have already come forward to show their support. The Copito Family, The Borland Family, The Hoernig Family, Rick and Amy Buchanan, Jane and Doug Hanscom, Gene and Laura Smith, The Brugel Family, Mary Burnette, Mark and Carolyn Stys, John and Sally Burns, P.C. Martin, Dave and Pava Cohen, Joan Fiander, The Weaver Family, Louis and Chris Wise, Kofer and Suzanne Black, Richard Moxley, Sue Long, Beatriz Duque Long, Elizabeth Gaffney, Paul Norman Family, Dave Lesser Family, Chip Bay Family, Shiner Roofing and Siding, Sonya Dervenis – Lavender Hill Interiors, Jack Legler – Legenter LLC, Tami Harsanyi – State Farm Insurance, Diane Hoyer – Women Helping Women with Finance, Jill Grossman – LSA Title, Tim Heil – Keller Williams Realty, Michael Vandergrift – Washington First Bank, Laura DeSimone – DeSimone Health and Fitness LLC, Collingswood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Susan Wisely – Keller Williams, Alison Sherman – Keller Williams, Jenni Blessman – Keller Williams,

Best wishes to you and your family this holiday season,

Nancy and Bob Nelson (703) 999-5812

Once again Santa and I are teaming up with Our Military Kids in an attempt to bring some extra holiday cheer to children of our injured service members and their families.  We’ve compiled a Christmas Gift Wish List for these SUPERHEROES.  I’m hoping everyone will check out this list and consider purchasing one item, serving as Santa for an individual child or even sponsoring an entire family.  The latter is a great option for a company or office to consider.

The list below will be posted until Christmas and will be updated over the next few weeks.  Please give me a call or drop  an e-mail to: Santa@bobnelsonteam.com and let us know how you would like to brighten a family’s Christmas day.  Once you have done so, we will give you the contact info for the family to allow you to send your gift(s) directly to them.  I would also encourage you to click on the link above and visit the Our Military Kids website to learn more about this wonderful grassroots organization.

Hite Family:

(Adopted by the Wesbrook Family)

Davonate Hite (10):

Zipfy Mini Luge SKU ID #268227

Techno Gears Marble Mania Extreme 2.0 SKU ID #265211

Discovery Deluxe Touch Screen ATM Machine SKU ID #862

Jensen Family

(Adopted by Mary Burnette)

Halle (14)

A necklace

Tiani Family:

(Adopted by Shiner Roofing and Siding)

Olivia (13):

gift cards to various mall stores

Zeppie (11):

Wii games, Rip Stick G

Phoenix (9):

Zhu Zhu Pets and anything NASCAR

Rocco (6):

Cars Wii Game, remote control car

Joiebelle (5):

Strawberry Shortcake Doll, Pink scooter

Dax (newborn):

any clothes size 3 months and up

Vaughns Family

(Adopted through donations to the Bob Nelson Team)

Jordan (6):

Vtech MobiGo Touch Learning System

MobiGoCarrying  Case

MobiGoSoftware Games:  Toy Story 3, Disney Cars,

NASCAR,

Shrek, Mr. Men/Little Miss

John (10):

Nintendo DSI (black)

Dejah Miles (15):

Women’s UGG Australia Classic Short Boots,

Size 10, Color:  Black

Ellis Family

Jesse (16):

Nano Touch I-Pod – Gold

(Purchased through donations to the Bob Nelson Team)

Juliann (13):

New clothes/Gift card to Target, Pac Sun or Forever 21

Joshua (12):

(Adopted by Louis and Chris Wise)

Nano Touch I-Pod – Gray or Silver

Brown Family

(Adopted by Debbie and Robert Copito)

Dylan (8):

New Bright 1:14 Scale Mud Slinger – Hummer Sand

Stormer #075445  (*These are Toys R Us #’s)

Exclusive San Diego Comic Con 2010 Halo:  Reach 5 inch

Action Figure – Noble 7 #509096

True Heroes Helicopter Playset :786686

Mega Bloks Halo Wars Magnetic Warriors:  Silver UNSC Flame Marine (29679) #675418

Halo:  Reach Series 1 6 inch Action Figure – Jorge #819021

Halo Wars Collection 4.5 inch Action Figure – Sgt. Forge #592841

Madylan (2):

Disney Princess Super Play House Tent #073126

Disney Princess-edition Disney’s The Little Mermaid Sing Along Boom Box #517523

Yo Gabba Gabba Toodee Cuddle Pillow #434678

Disney Princess Shopping Cart #650555

Yo Gabba Gabba Toddler Blanket #434686

Yo Gabba Gabba Boom Box Theater #035020

Hill Family

(Adopted by the Nelson Family)

Makale (14):

Itunes card

Call of Duty Black Ops for Xbox 360

Xbox 360 controller

Dreyson (7):

Lego Kingdom King’s castle (7946)

Lego Kingdom’s Prison tower rescue (7947)

Moriarty Family

(Adopted by Shiner Roofing and Siding)

all items from Toys R Us Big Christmas Book

Kaleigh (11):

Bop it Bounce Game – 6 slammin ball bouncing games

Teacup Piggies Fashion Runway

Lalaloopsy Blue Hair Doll

Digital camera

Madison (5):

Leapfrog Leapster 2 (pink)

Leapster Toystory 3 Game

Lalaloopsy Purple Hair doll

Barbie Pampered Pups Salon

First Act Discovery 30″ Acoustic Guitar (pink/purple)

Emerson (3):

Leapfrog Leapster 2 (green)

Fisher Price Grow with Me Cook & Care Kitchen (pink)

Cozy Coupe Shopping Cart (pink)

You and Me, My Kitty and Me Doll

Little Mommy Sweet As Me Doll

Rivera Family

(Adopted by Sonya Dervenis – Lavender Hill Interiors, Jack Legler- Legenter LLC; and Tami Harsanyi – State Farm Insurance, and Diane Hoyer – Women Helping Women with Finance)

Justin (16), Oseas (9), John (7):

Disney Movies, Tickets to the AMC Movie Theatres, Clothes from Old Navy; or whatever the donor would like to give to these boys

Schwartz Family

(Adopted by Jill Grossman – LSA Title)

Morgan (18); Allissa (17); Kaylie (12); Jeffrey (9); Isaiah (7); Lindsey (5):

Gift cards for clothing/gift for each child to Target, Walmart or Meijer.

Kuinileti Sele Family

(Adopted by Elizabeth Gaffney)

Peter (9):

Sony PSP G Handheld Game; black or blue

Serafina (7):

Sony Limited Hannah Montana PSP Entertainment Pack (used on Ebay $130.98); pink or purple

Kleopatra (4):

KidKraft 65156 Designer Dollhouse Doll Toy; multicolor is fine

Chism Family

(Adopted by Rick and Amy Buchanan)

Gavin (9):

Lightsaber Room Light

Death Star Planetarium

Lego Star Wars AT-AT Walker

Perez Family

(Adopted by Tim Heil – Keller Williams)

Yaniliz (6)

Barbie A Fashion Fairytale Horse and Carriage

Leapfrog:  Leapster Explorer with Tinker Bell and Sponge Bob Learning games (these gifts are in the Toys R Us Christmas Book)

Cummings Family

(Adopted by The Collingswood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center)

Gabrielle (10):

Ipod Nano with Multi Touch (pink or purple)

Maximus (9):

Ipod nano with Multi Touch (blue or boyish color)

Broesch Family

Bella (7):

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters Wild Bunch (set of 4)

Barbie Horse Adventure:  Riding Camp for Nintendo

Wii Uno Attack Game

Easy-Bake Oven and Snack Center with Classic Light Bulb Oven (mint green)

(Purchased by Jenni Blessman – Keller Williams)

Magic Tree House Books

Taylor (15):

Gift card to a clothing store such as Macy’s, Vanity or Maurices

(Purchased by Alison Sherman – Keller Williams)

Gift card for gas

Solia 1″ Flat Iron

(Purchased by the Bob Nelson Team)

Garcia Family

(Adopted by the Borland Family)

Rebecca (10):

Bed Bath & Beyond – Vanity Set (black)

Rachel (7):

Nintendo DSI (pink)

Jordyn (6):

Toys R Us – KidKraft Deluxe Wooden Easel Espresso (Item #819509)

Jenna (2 1/2):

Toys R Us – Just Like Home Parkview Modern Wood Kitchen (Item #230906)

May Family

(Adopted by Michael Vandergrift – Washington First Bank)

Chelsea (10)

Digital camera, Sony Cibershot Pink, Model #W310 (pink); available at Best Buy

Fasnacht Family

(Adopted by the Brugel Family)

Blake (3):

Toy Story 3 Blu Ray Combo Pack

Mater’s Tall Tales Blu Ray Combo Pack

Cars Piston Cup 500 Track

Cars Toon Monster Truck Wrastlin’ Playset

Summers Family

Amber (11):

Beginner snowboard, length 140-145 cm

Devan (10):

Beginner snowboard, length 132-137 cm

Tristen (8):

Beginner snowboard, length 135-140 cm

Plybon Family

(Adopted by Gene and Laura Smith)

Liam (13)

Fishing stuff from Cabelas

Three forks Fly Rod and Reel Combo with Fly Line, length: 7’6″, reel model 456, 3 pieces, line weight 3, rod model 763-3, handle 3

Halo video game Noble Map

Byrd Family

(Adopted through Donations to the Bob Nelson Team)

Nailah (14):

ITouch

Nia (13):

Kindle

Treacher Family

(Adopted by Laura DeSimone
DeSimone Health and Fitness LLC)

Nina (10):

Littlest Pet Shop Rescue Tails Center

Guesstures Charades Game

Zhu Zhu Pets:  Wild Bunch with Nutters hamster for Nintendo DS

Lego Harry Potter Hagrid’s Hut

Grant (6):

Paper Jamz Guitar

Paper Jamz Drumz

Creepy Crawlers Bug Maker & Refill

King Zhu with Tull Hamster for Nintendo DS

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Crocodile

Loopz Game

Mitchell Family

(Adopted through donations to the Bob Nelson Team)

Zac (18):

a Craftsman tool box, the one that stands up with a bottom box and top box

Jerret (8):

Nintendo DSiXL (blue or black)

Serenity (6):

A nice, portable DVD player, one that the screen flips and folds down; (Sony has one)

Miranda Family

(Adopted by the Hoernig Family)

Anthony 17:

Armani aqua di Gio

Gift Card to Express $75

I Touch 8 gigs

Angelina 15:

Ipod Touch

Baby Alive Bouncin Bubbles

Baby Alive Changing time baby

Baby Alive Baby all Gone

Cool pix camera with touch screen if possible

Footlocker gift Card $100

Joseph 13

Game Stop Gift Card $25

Safe to lock my stuff up in (cause my brothers steal my pepsi)

Remote for my xbox 360 wireless if possible

Headset for my xbox 360

Ricci 12

I pod Touch

Drum set

Lego City passenger plane

Lego City Police Headquarters

Mostly I want the I pod Touch

Cheri 10

Animal Planet Radio Control Black Spider

Baby Alive changing time baby

Phineas and Ferb alarm clock

Star Wars radio control Millenium Falcon

(All in the Toys R us catolog)

Thank you, Santa Tell Ms. Claus Howdy from Cheri!!

Gasca Family

(Adopted by Mark and Carolyn Stys)

Matthew (4)

Blue Vtech V Reader Reading System with the V Reader Toy Story

Leap Frog Reading System Tag with the tag book Sponge Bob

Lowery Family

(Adopted by the Hanscom Family)

Cameron (5):

Fisher Price Smart Cycle/Extreme Physical Learning Arcade System with game

Clothes:  Shirts Size 7; pants size 6 or 7 with adjustable waist

Damian (16):

Games for X-Box 360 or Gift Card for X-Box Live

Clothes:  Shirt Size medium (men); pants – skinny jeans; skating clothes