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Wings of Hope
March 1, 2008
A south Florida group of girl scouts has been working very hard to establish a butterfly garden--as a community project-- for the residents of a nursing home called "The Palace." The girl scouts are requesting about 10 butterflies and these will be released at the formal dedication of the butterfly garden on March 1.
Wings of Hope has expanded its purpose to encourage recipients of Wings of Hope butterflies to develop habitat for butterflies. In this particular project they are already doing this so we thought it so appropriate to reward this community effort with a donation of butterflies.
The establishment of the garden with many host and nectar plants to support Florida species, coincides with our organization's efforts to be "green" and support "green" efforts. They have worked many months on their plan and have grown many plants already. They are also "rebuilding" a greenhouse on the grounds with donations from Home Depot.
In response to our request for butterflies for our first Wings of Hope, Inc. request for March 1, we have received responses from two donors. Greathouse Butterflies and another, anonymous donor will send butterflies to this event. Butterfly Boutique (Linda Rogers, Nigel Venters, Paul Chesterfield) are offering to help finance the shipping charges of the second donation. So, shipping charges for both shipments will be covered.
This is a unique and commendable act in which we see youth helping to bring joy to the elderly in their community. We are especially grateful for the efforts of these young girls to establish butterfly habitat and to the seniors who will maintain the garden.
Thank you to the above donors for their generosity.
Melanie McCarthy, Board Member, Wings of Hope, Inc.
www.wingsofhopebutterflies.org
Release Report:
Dear Wings of Hope, Inc.:
 What an amazing morning we had. The Ceremony was so beautiful that several of the parents were brought to tears. Many of the nursing home residents, even those in wheelchairs, were present to witness the event. Two of my girls held speeches, one in English and one in Spanish for the residents, then we cut the large red ribbon we tied across the entrance. Upon entering the garden we then released the butterflies and they were beautiful! Two little old ladies in wheelchairs were just so excited by the butterflies, one of them excitedly pointing and exclaming that she wanted to hold one. The butterflies were still a little sleepy so they cooperated beautifully for all the photo poses and this little old lady got to hold a monarch on her outstretched finger for several minutes and she was beside herself with joy.
 What we had noticed when we first got to the nursing home before the ceremony was that two of our milkweed plants had been completely eaten and we found two monarch caterpillars crawling on plumbago plants. So it seems that our garden is already home to some local butterflies. The girls were excited to see that.
The Miami Herald did show up and their photographer took many pictures. We are going to be appearing in the Thursday newpaper in the local neighbors sections of this week. I printed out the Wings of Home webpages and gave him those copies so he could read about your organization. I asked him specifically to mention the Wings of Hope and if possible to include your website address. Hopefully he will do just that.
 Thank you again for all your help. Please forward this email to the two breeders who donated our butterflies. Their contribution was spectacular.
Sincerely,
Magita Rojas
Click to read a letter of thanks
received from Troop 696.
April 26, 2008
I have a request for an event on April 26 in South Carolina. The summary of the event is as follows:
"The South Carolina Chapter Pee Dee Division of the March of Dimes will be holding its annual signature event, March for Babies. We are expecting over 2,000 attendees and volunteers at this event.
The dollars raised from our March for Babies campaign will support the mission of the March of Dimes, which is to prevent birth defects, prematurity and infant mortality and to ensure the health of all babies.
We would like to do a butterfly release during our opening ceremony and request 25 butterflies. 24 to represent the 24 babies born premature everyday in South Carolina and an extra one for a family that is very involved with our local organization that just lost a baby at 38 weeks."
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Please contact me if you are able to donate to this event.
Remember, donations by U.S. citizens are tax deductible.
Thank you.
Alicia Baylor.
Butterflies have been donated by Jodi Hopper of Wish Upon A Butterfly.
May 22, 2008
We have a request for Wings of Hope for May 22, in Flat Rock, Michigan.
There is a program designed for preschool kids who need a helping hand. To qualify, they must be low income, and have had a recent loss, a learning disability and a couple other factors. It’s a really important program, but the Governor has cancelled all financial support for the program. We would like to have each child release a butterfly for their graduation ceremony. There are 50 children.
Thank you for any considerations you may have for this request.
Please contact me at: lbaylor@linkunet.com.
Many Blessings to all,
Alicia.
Mary Bird of Bird's Butterflies is donating butterflies to this event.
June 6, 2008
New port Ridge, Florida. Amanda, who would have graduated from High School this year, died of Cancer. The School has started a butterfly garden in her memory. Her mother works at the school, and is not aware they are planning a butterfly release in Amanda’s memory before the graduation ceremony.
Our grateful thanks go to Jodi Hooper for generously donating butterflies for this event.
June 15, 2008
June 15, Fathers Day. The support Group Empty Arms supports parents who have lost babies or infants due to miscarriage, stillbirth and other pre-natal losses. They’re planning a Fathers Day Gathering for those families. They believe the release of butterflies would be a beautiful, powerful and healing way to remember their babies. This event is in Holyoke, MA.
Thanks to Melanie McCarthy for her generous donation to this event, and to Linda Rogers for paying the shipping.
Many Blessings
Alicia
Photos from the event.
Our thanks to Erin for permitting us to use these photos.
Fathers Day Butterfly Release at Child's Park in Northampton, Ma.
Remembering our beloved babies...
  
 
  
More photos of this event are on the FlickrTM photo website HERE.
September 20, 2008
Wings of Hope Release
A Wings of Hope, Inc. butterfly release was held on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at the Agawam Center Cemetery in Agawam, Massachusetts for Lexi J. who passed away on September 12.
Lexi, 12 had attended middle school with honors at the Agawam Middle School. Lexi was a very polite, bright and social young lady who enjoyed playing with her friends and they would often spend their time dancing to their favorite songs. She loved school and missed it while in the hospital. She loved horses, cats, chasing butterflies and searching beaches for sea-glass. She also enjoyed tidal pool marine life, writing, drawing, clay modeling and arts. She had a smile that would light up a room. She loved her sessions at the “Hole in the Wall Gang Camp”.
Lexi was diagnosed with lymphoma at the age of 7 and bravely fought a 2-year chemo regimen. She did well after that. But then at the age of 11, in April of this year, she had a lymphoma relapse and also a new diagnosis of leukemia. Treatment during her relapse was fraught with complications and she only spent 5 weeks at home since April of 08. Lexi fought bravely and strongly right up to the end. She had a very deep religious conviction and was comfortable with knowing she was going to be with Jesus soon. Her parents believed that God needed another angel and Lexi’s resume was the perfect match.
The donation of two dozen monarchs was jointly made by Fred Gagnon of Magic Wings Conservatory in Massachusetts and by Melanie McCarthy of The Monarchy in Massachusetts.
October 4, 2008
We received a request for butterflies for a funeral for 3 year old Camden who just passed away from cancer. His funeral was October 4, in Illinois. Butterflies were the theme toward the end of Camdens life, and the family wished to honor his life with a butterfly release.
Butterflies were donated by Alicia Baylor and drop-shipped by Swallowtail Farms.
October 12, 2008
This was "A Walk to Remember” held in Florida in memory of babies lost. All of the Jacksonville area hospitals host bereavement support groups and these groups come together to sponsor A Walk to Remember.
Thank you Shera and Greathouse Butterfly Farm for your donation of 50 butterflies.
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