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Hello I'm Craig Sylvester, I'm a full time Firefighter/Medic and my wife and I own a small gym called Michigan Kettlebells in Troy, MI.
I started this GoFundMe page to raise money for local families in need on Christmas. Hopefully you can help make a difference in a child's life at Christmas this year.
Last year we had our 1st Annual Michigan Kettlebells Christmas Charity Challenge. We gathered together at the gym. Everyone made at least a $20 donation, we did a hard workout and then had a potluck dinner. It was a great time.
Most importantly we raised $1200 and helped 4 local families have a little better Christams. One of our member's family own's Nitsches Meats and Deli in Shelby Twp. Justin had 4 baskets beautifully put together, that included a honey glazed ham, plus all of the fixings for a great Christmas dinner. We then attached gift cards to the baskets between $150 and $300.
We chose the families through a variety of ways. One was recommended by a gym member, 2 were from local churches, and one was from Volunteers of America. All were very grateful!
Our goal this year to to help at least 10 families in need, have a beautiful Christmas! Again we are giving out the beautiful gift baskets from Nitsches plus we have decided to give a $300 gift card from Meijer. We chose Meijer cause you can get everything there and they are a Michigan company, I also worked there many years ago.
This cause is very special to me.
Please bear with me while I tell a short story.
When I was in 3rd grade my mom was in a car accident and had to have emergency brain surgery to remove a large amount of blood (subdural hematoma). The surgery was a success but she never received the proper rehab for a head injury. She was unable to go back to work and before long after living on our small savings and credit cards, we had to go on welfare. (my dad was never in the picture). I remember one night around Christmas there was a knock on the door and it was the pastor of the church we were members of, but we hadn't been there in over a year. He had a big basket with a beautiful ham and all the fixings for a great Christmas dinner, there was also a $50 gift card (I think it was for Kmart). he told us a church member donated this to help a family out that was experiencing hard times. I remember how excited and grateful my mom was, she started crying and so did I. That experience left a major impression on me, It was such a wonderful feeling to know that someone who didn't even know us, cared and wanted to help us. The same visit continued for the next couple of years. We started doing a little better, so my Mom wanted another family to have the wonderful experience that we did.
I told you this story because I want you to realize how a simple donation can give a family the experience of a great meal together at Christmas and lift the burdens of the world for even a brief moment. It also made a lifelong impression in a child to help others out.
This fundraising for this will end on December 14th, 2015. We need a week to pick the families and have the baskets prepared. Hopefully it will be even more than 10 families!
Thank you so very much for wanting to make a difference!
Craig Sylvester
I started this GoFundMe page to raise money for local families in need on Christmas. Hopefully you can help make a difference in a child's life at Christmas this year.
Last year we had our 1st Annual Michigan Kettlebells Christmas Charity Challenge. We gathered together at the gym. Everyone made at least a $20 donation, we did a hard workout and then had a potluck dinner. It was a great time.
Most importantly we raised $1200 and helped 4 local families have a little better Christams. One of our member's family own's Nitsches Meats and Deli in Shelby Twp. Justin had 4 baskets beautifully put together, that included a honey glazed ham, plus all of the fixings for a great Christmas dinner. We then attached gift cards to the baskets between $150 and $300.
We chose the families through a variety of ways. One was recommended by a gym member, 2 were from local churches, and one was from Volunteers of America. All were very grateful!
Our goal this year to to help at least 10 families in need, have a beautiful Christmas! Again we are giving out the beautiful gift baskets from Nitsches plus we have decided to give a $300 gift card from Meijer. We chose Meijer cause you can get everything there and they are a Michigan company, I also worked there many years ago.
This cause is very special to me.
Please bear with me while I tell a short story.
When I was in 3rd grade my mom was in a car accident and had to have emergency brain surgery to remove a large amount of blood (subdural hematoma). The surgery was a success but she never received the proper rehab for a head injury. She was unable to go back to work and before long after living on our small savings and credit cards, we had to go on welfare. (my dad was never in the picture). I remember one night around Christmas there was a knock on the door and it was the pastor of the church we were members of, but we hadn't been there in over a year. He had a big basket with a beautiful ham and all the fixings for a great Christmas dinner, there was also a $50 gift card (I think it was for Kmart). he told us a church member donated this to help a family out that was experiencing hard times. I remember how excited and grateful my mom was, she started crying and so did I. That experience left a major impression on me, It was such a wonderful feeling to know that someone who didn't even know us, cared and wanted to help us. The same visit continued for the next couple of years. We started doing a little better, so my Mom wanted another family to have the wonderful experience that we did.
I told you this story because I want you to realize how a simple donation can give a family the experience of a great meal together at Christmas and lift the burdens of the world for even a brief moment. It also made a lifelong impression in a child to help others out.
This fundraising for this will end on December 14th, 2015. We need a week to pick the families and have the baskets prepared. Hopefully it will be even more than 10 families!
Thank you so very much for wanting to make a difference!
Craig Sylvester