We are all star stuff. Carl Sagan

What if we all focused our attention inward and upward, back to star-gazing in its purest form? First, to the heavens and the shimmering pulsating stars that silently bless us 24/7 whether we acknowledge them or not. Their beauty is universal, their distinctions are subtle... bright glittering white or soft iridescent golden tones. So comforting, and awe-inspiring. When Carl Sagan said, “We are all star stuff” he was acknowledging that part of us that is expansive and boundless energy.

Speaking of energy, join us at a special event at Montefiore Hospital (Monday, Feb. 11), join us in New Orleans bring your friends, family and co-workers (May 9-11), create a team of friends, co-workers, and family at the Soaringwords 5K (June 8). It’s all possible, it’s a new year.

Learn about how you and your company can be part of Soaringwords 2008 Hospital programs at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center. We’ve got special programs for Take Our Children to Work Day (April 24), Summer Associates, and team-building employee volunteers experiences.

Photo caption: JPMorgan Chase volunteers in the lobby at Montefiore before starting a Soaringwords program.

Know a talented college student or high school student? We have Soaringwords Spring and Summer internships.

Look up to the real stars
Speaking of the heavens, this New Year's Eve I was flying into 2008 and spent a few hours in the clouds before descending into New York City at 11:45. The silence was breath-taking. I felt so inspired to be suspended in flight as the sparkling New Year approached.

We are grateful because Soaringwords won a grant from Newman’s Own Foundation. This grant will support our Soaringwords Educational Outreach program with children at P.S. 152.

Photo: Me with the JetBlue crew, I love this airline. They are the best and they are the "official airline of Soaringwords."

I was delighted to spend a morning at Miami Children’s Hospital with new Soaringwords volunteers and supporters as we donated hundreds of SoaringQuilts® and SoaringPillows® to hospitalized kids. Thanks to Grace Copeland and her staff, Dr. Margo Brilliant and her patients, and to Kim Shechtman and Mike Spiegelman and his dad Ken for being team leaders of the hospital outing.

Over the vacation week, I had the great good fortune to spend seven days in Miami with perfect weather, lots of rummy-cup games with my mother in law, and spending some serious downtime poolside. The first couple of days I was in the pool at 7:30 for my morning swim. Then it became ten or eleven. That’s why it’s called vacation!

I brought my laptop in case we had seven days of rain. Instead we had seven days of perfection so the laptop was never opened. (It’s like bringing your umbrella and not needing it.) The fact that I did not open my laptop means I did not check email for an entire week. I invite you to try this sometime. I did not write any proposals. I did not work on my book. No conference calls. I did read seven books. Saw five movies. Ate several ice-cream cones with my son Josh. (the big waffle cones, double scoop, of course). And, walked on the beach and swam in the ocean.

Looking to make a difference and change lives, including your own? With your star-power, we can bring Soaringwords to a new level of success. 2008 is the year that we need your financial support to expand and grow. Your donation will help us share our important programs to reach more children and families. Each one of you has a way to do something simple, easy and important that would enable Soaringwords to become financially stronger. Send Soaringwords a check to support our healing work. Next month marks the first time we start paying rent in six years. We need to raise $3,000 a month. In the old days, people held “rent parties” when they needed to raise money to make rent. Today, you can just donate generously online. All donations are appreciated.

Already this year, we’ve shared programs with Cisco Systems in St. Louis, UnitedHealthcare in Trumbull, CT., and at several hospitals and schools.

Check out the calendar for upcoming events.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day early
Why not send a SoaringQuilt & SoaringPillow to someone you love for Valentine’s Day? Send them a beautiful gift card and we’ll share a special quilt and pillow with a hospitalized child.

Wishing you strength, courage, radiance, and of course Soaringwords.

Much love,

Lisa Honig Buksbaum, CEO & Founder, Soaringwords

Best of the Best

Thanks to all of these special people who connected with Soaringwords to help more ill kids and families to heal. You are all shining stars!

Special shout-out to team captain Brian Barowsky for orchestrating a Soaringwords team-building project at the St. Louis conference. Big thanks to Susan Darby, Tamika Hamlette, Akela Neumaier, Whitney Rhone, Miguel de Zubeldia, Tim Hicks, Chacedi Allen, Roger Moore, Nick Miller, Tanner Hobbs, Balmin Bingham, Ron Lafica, Chante Coleman, John Killion, Vladi Blumen, Bryan Campione, Kate Zipf Shanayev, Jamina Randall, Jenn Wissman, Kelly Walker.

Maria Pomponio, Lisa Cappello and Mike Turpin of UnitedHealthcare; Mark Barton and Christy Parker of Marriott Hotels; Ash Robinson, Heather Erickson, Maggie Clark of JW Tumbles; Meghan Kelly, Lindsay Davis and Leslie Clogston of Children’s Hospital at Montefiore; David Grisevich and Julia Pietri of P.S.152; Kara Siegel, Zophia Edwards, Kim Hartman of The Trinity School; Neusa Alshuk of Metropolitan Hospital; Ardin and Sally Sakin; Dalia Gefener of The Jewish Center; John Bermudez and Luis Cruz and of The I Have a Dream Foundation; Lisa Cartwright and Dena McCoy for helping with the Town School event; Joy Rosenthal of UJA Federation for the Do a Mitzvah, Give a Mitzvah program; Avi Bloom of SAR; Stephanie Pitsirilos-Boquin of the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center Healthy Schools, Healthy Families initiative at PS 152; Laura Wynne of Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Grace Copeland at Miami Children’s Hospital, Dr. Margo Brilliant, Kim Shechtman, Michael and Ken Spiegelman; Barbara Feinstein; Hailey and Barbara Rosenthal and Brett for another fabulous hospital visit.

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