What could be better than eating pizza while watching a
movie? How about helping kids with
chronic illnesses at the same time? On
April 5, a “Dinner & Movie” fundraiser with a Silent Auction will be held
at New Hope Church
in Harrisburg
at 5 pm to raise money for Caitlin’s Smiles. The dinner will also include a salad bar, drinks
and an ice cream bar at intermission.
Local businesses have donated food and gift cards for the
dinner: Papa John’s (Linglestown Road), Verdelli Farms, Weis
Markets, and Giant Foods. Gift cards and
baskets for the silent auction have been donated by the Olive Garden, Stauffers
of Kissel Hill, Royer’s Flowers, Enhance Your Body Salon and Spa, SuperPetz,
Giotti’s Italian Restaurant, Domino’s Pizza, Wegman’s, and other merchants.
Caitlin’s Smiles is a nonprofit organization operated
100 percent by volunteers, founded in 2004.
The mission of Caitlin’s Smiles
is “to put smiles on the faces of children facing chronic or life-threatening
conditions by encouraging them to focus upon creative arts activities to boost
their confidence and self-worth.”
The organization is named after
Caitlin Hornung, who died in 2000 at the age of 7 after a nearly 4-year battle
with cancer. Caitlin was the daughter of
founder and director, Cheryl Hornung.
In 2007, Caitlin’s Smiles
distributed more than 4,000 “Bags of Smiles” to children staying overnight in
hospitals in Pennsylvania, Ohio
and the District of Columbia. These “Bags of Smiles” contain a drawing,
writing and modeling clay activity as well as two individual art kits plus a
small toy. In addition, craft kits, parent care kits, and treats were
distributed to thousands of children and their families.
