Liz Logelin Foundation - A Celebration

On March 24, 2008, little Madeline Elizabeth Logelin came into this world.

The next day, her mother left it.

From this impossibly tragic event, a community was born. A community of individuals, united in their desire to help and support Madeline and her father, Matt. This community formed the basis for what would become a worldwide charitable foundation:

The Liz Logelin Foundation – For the Love of Liz.

After the catastrophic loss of his wife, Matt Logelin coped by turning not only to his wonderfully supportive family and friends, but to the internet. He had already begun a casual blog to keep friends and family abreast of Liz’s pregnancy; within 2 weeks of her passing, that blog became what it is today: a place where Matt can share his joys and frustrations, challenges and heartbreaks; where concerned friends, new and old, can meet, talk, laugh, and cry with Matt; and most importantly, where other widows and widowers can offer – and be offered – support and friendship.

So strong and large was the community that spontaneously formed around Matt and Madeline, it seemed not only natural, but necessary to harness the strength of that network and turn it into something – something that could help ease the pain and lighten the load felt by widows and widowers everywhere.

And it all sprang from the Love of Liz.

Last Friday, September 17th, would have been Liz Logelin's 33rd birthday.
To celebrate, we joined our friends of the Liz Logelin Foundation at what is now an annual fundraiser...this year, aptly titled - Celebration of Hope -
And what a Celebration it was.


While much like last year - it was also very different...


Another gorgeous painting by Mark Rose - Have you EVER seen a more talented artist?
The Robot ~ In full working order...made a guest appearance...

And there were some pretty awesome items up for bid this year again...
Including - an electric scooter...

Poor Trish...She did not want to go home without that scooter...She got a little too excited for her own good however, and broke the cardinal rule of silent auctioning. She needs to practice up on her poker face!

She had dozens of blog posts written in her head about that scooter already - I know she did!

Such a bummer...Next year Trish! Next year!

There were so many other fabulous items - in the ballpark of 200 items...
And they were so so popular with everyone there!


And it was so fun to have my worlds collide at one, awesomesauce event...
My 'Minnesota Blogger Group' was meeting my 'Creepy Friends' Group -
And it couldn't have been more spectacular!

Trish, Me, Missy & Gina
(photo courtesy of Missy!)

Me, Cindy & Missy....

Trish, Missy, Molly & Laura

Last year, Jackie came...and this year -

We met Mark and baby Matthew.


And so many friends & supporters of the Liz Logelin Foundation came out...

The brainchildren behind the entire organization -

Matt ~

and Rachel ~

Rachel & I 'met' via cribsheet way back in the day...When Matt first dropped us a note over there...

Rachel emailed me offline saying 'What can we do?' - and I wondered...Will this guy think we are a complete bunch of quacks? Contacting him like this? Sending him our unused formula checks and all the unsolicited advice we could muster up?

Well, Rachel didn't care. She met this total random dude & his baby for lunch...

And now look...with the help of so many fantastic volunteers (Kris & Laurie & Nancy & Katie J. and Chris T. & Jen G. & Gina & Brooke & Danielle & Kate & Kelly Mc & so so many others...many who's names you'll see here...the countless hours they put in, making an event like this happen...

The donations: silent auction, live auction, online auction, straight up cash.

This foundation is really really making a difference...over 40 grants given out since it's inception.

That means 40 families receiving a little bit of sunshine in an otherwise cloudy time...

This year, something a little different - was live music - by local fav Tim Mahoney -

He played...and people swooned...

Especially when he sang, lullabye style, to one of the newest of the creeplets...5 week old T...

"Don't stop believin', Hold on to that feeeeeelin"

and when people weren't swooning...they Rocked Out with the Robot!

And some of us...some of us just enjoyed an evening with people who make us so very very happy...while coming together for a great cause.

Matt & Tim Mahoney after the show -

It's gonna be hard to top this one...but I hope you'll join us next year to see us try! Huge kudos to the events team for an extremely fun, extremely well run and well put together event. You ladies did such an awesome job, and you should be very very proud.

I have been spread much too thin this year, and wasn't able to give of myself as I have in the past. But you know how I can continue to help, even if I am not cataloging dozens of auction items or stuffing 5k envelopes?

By skipping eating out one day a month...and offering up a few bucks to a very worthwhile charity...

Together - We CAN make a difference.

The Liz Logelin Foundation - Making a Difference

In just under two weeks, The Liz Logelin Foundation will be holding their biggest fundraisers of the year...

On September 17th, 2010 -


Beginning at 6:30 pm - Downtown Minneapolis at Solera Restaurant...

Come on out & join us for an evening of food & drinks, and live music by non other than TIM MAHONEY! And...the best part...you will have the opportunity to place bids on live & silent auction items with ALL PROCEEDS going directly to the Liz Logelin Foundation! There are some pretty great items available for bid too!

$500 Delta gift certificates, Photography packages by local photographers like Kalynn Kay Photograpy and Michelle Tanner Photography, awesome items by the one and only GUSSY SEWS!
Restaurant gift cards from favorites such as Buffalo Tap Restaurant ~ Joe Sensor's Bar & Grill ~ Lion's Tap ~ Axel's Bonfire and so many more!
There's a beautiful gift basket from One Hope Wine -

Of course I put together a nice little gift basket of must haves from Tastefully Simple -

Water Park Passes to a fun little get away in Baxter, Minnesota -

There are tickets to local sports games, an autographed photo from one of the Minnesota Wild players, golf outings, gift baskets, gift certificates and so many more awesome things to list...too many to list here...

You can just show up that evening and join us...but if you purchase your tickets ahead of time - you'll save a few bucks - a few bucks you can put towards bidding on one of those awesome things up for auction!


And the next day, a 5k ~



The 5k is slated to begin at 6 pm -
Look for Flings Bins to be out at the park during the 5k...I am so very excited to be able to offer our 5k patrons the opportunity to recycle their cans & water bottles!
There are so many others making this event possible - check out the list here!

This year's 5k will be a family friendly event - so if you don't feel like running (or jogging) a 5k - come out on out and take a leisurely walk with your family and support a good cause! Or maybe just walk as far as one of the fun tables that will be awaiting you - fun pages to color, bean bags to toss, ice cream to eat! Think *get together in one of the prettiest parks in the Metro!*

You'll join us won't you?

I hope so...together - we really can make a difference!

Save the Date

The Weekend Celebration of the Year dates have been set...
you've all marked your calendars right???



September 17th & 18th, 2010
The annual fundraisers for the Liz Logelin Foundation -

Currently, most fundraising comes from the 7th on the 7th campaign. While that is hugely successful, the fact of the matter is - without more help - we cannot help all of the families who seek assistance. Last year, in it's first year of inception, the Liz Logelin Foundation was able to give grants to 35 families in need.
Wouldn't it be nice to offer some sort of help to every family who applies?
Every. Dollar. Counts.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Friday night - September 17th, 2010



Celebration of Hope benefiting the Liz Logelin Foundation - Taking place downtown Minneapolis at Solera Restaurant - with the live music of Tim Mahoney!! this is shaping up to be a GREAT night!
(Tickets will be on sale soon and you do NOT want to miss out on this!)

then...on

Saturday, September 18th, 2010


The 5k you've ALL been training for...(you have right?) Well, I know a lot of you have!
6 pm evening run/walk at Minnehaha Park
Again - a can't miss event!
We had hundreds of walkers/runners last year...what a FUN event! This year will be bigger and better than ever!

So...other than mark your calendars...What can you do?

Well, what about making a donation for the silent auction? We are currently seeking new items that we can use to auction off either via live or silent auction or via internet auction. It's a great chance to donate to a worthy cause while showing off your business with a gift or gift certificate in the silent auction!
Maybe you don't have a business where you can give away a gift card or two - but have you received a gift card as a gift that you don't plan on using? Regift it here! We will use it for one of our auctions! Maybe you are an awesomely crafty person and you can knit the world's most adorable baby hats/booties/blankets...

What about sponsoring the 5k? Do you or someone you know have a business that would benefit from the exposure of hundreds of 5k participants? A vast majority of them bloggers? Behold - the power of the internet - getting in front of that many bloggers is simply priceless!

For more information - click here....
but what it boils down to is this...5 different sponsorship levels ranging from $125 up to $1500. Want to promote your business and help out the Liz Logelin Foundation in the process?
Just $125 gets your name on the official 5k t-shirts! $250 gets your logo on the shirt!

So...whaddya say?
Questions? Leave me a comment or drop me an email
darciegust (at) yahoo (dot) com

Now...GO MARK YOUR CALENDARS!