Ollie's Mission
Tax deductible
See Ollie's video here: http://www.ketv.com/article/boy-suffering-from-incurable-disease-used-christmas-spirit-to-help-others/7201145
It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm we are ready to launch Ollie's Mission for the 3rd consecutive year. For those of you that don't know who Oliver Egr is let me explain. Known to many as Ollie or Ollman, he is fearless and determined to live his life abundantly and let me tell you why!
Ollie started to lose his eye sight at age five and within 9 months he was legally blind. After being poked and prodded for more tests than we could count, the diagnosis came back positive for Juvenile Batten Disease. Batten Disease is a VERY RARE, inherited, neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects infants, toddlers and children. There is no known treatment, and it is ALWAYS FATAL. You see... Ollie doesn't know he has this very rare disease. He only knows his eyes don't work like other kids. He will even tell you “my eyes don’t work as good as yours but I can hear really good”! What Oliver lacks in sight, he easily hears what is going on in his world.
In December 2013, Oliver could hear the Salvation Army bell ringers outside of a store. Right away he inquired what the bell ringing was for. I told him it was to remind people to donate money to help provide a better Christmas for kids and families that were less fortunate. It was a simple explanation for an 8-year-old at that time. As we approached the red kettle and I gave Oliver some money to put inside. He gently felt the kettle and put his money in the insert. Then we walked into the store and Oliver started asking a lot of questions. The "who, what, and why's" began. He was so intrigued that the money went to help other kids. Not much was said after the discussion that morning, but I could tell the wheels in Ollie's head were a churning. He went on throughout the day playing and not mentioning the bell again. That was until the next morning...
Ollie got up early and grabbed his UNO Hockey bell and found a small basket in the laundry room. He asked to go to our local family owned grocery store. One of his biggest fans and helpers-his cousin Laycee Josoff -assisted him and together they started ringing the cowbell on that cold, blistery day. The sound of that clanking bell went on for over four hours. I will never forget their red faces and freezing hands but they wouldn't quit. Our small town found out about Ollie and Laycee collecting money and got in their cars on that cold day to support them as they always have. Our local Fire Department rallied around him and came together to host a very successful fundraiser.
In the last two years Ollie’s Mission has started to take on a life of its own through social media, local television interviews, word of mouth and a small amount of advertising and we couldn't be more thrilled. The donations doubled last year to $11,000 and we were able to buy gifts for over 180 children within a 150 mile radius. Each child gets two quality gifts that are wrapped and delivered.
Yes...Ollie wants all kids in need (big and small) to have presents to open on Christmas Day. He has told me multiple times that God wants him to do this and most recently has been promoted to a certified ELF on Santa's team. He believes in the magic of Christmas!
This mission is near and dear to all our hearts because it gives our son something to focus on besides the daily challenges he personally faces. It helps him feel like he is making a difference!
"And we know that in ALL things GOD works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to HIS purpose." - Romans 8:28
It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm we are ready to launch Ollie's Mission for the 3rd consecutive year. For those of you that don't know who Oliver Egr is let me explain. Known to many as Ollie or Ollman, he is fearless and determined to live his life abundantly and let me tell you why!
Ollie started to lose his eye sight at age five and within 9 months he was legally blind. After being poked and prodded for more tests than we could count, the diagnosis came back positive for Juvenile Batten Disease. Batten Disease is a VERY RARE, inherited, neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects infants, toddlers and children. There is no known treatment, and it is ALWAYS FATAL. You see... Ollie doesn't know he has this very rare disease. He only knows his eyes don't work like other kids. He will even tell you “my eyes don’t work as good as yours but I can hear really good”! What Oliver lacks in sight, he easily hears what is going on in his world.
In December 2013, Oliver could hear the Salvation Army bell ringers outside of a store. Right away he inquired what the bell ringing was for. I told him it was to remind people to donate money to help provide a better Christmas for kids and families that were less fortunate. It was a simple explanation for an 8-year-old at that time. As we approached the red kettle and I gave Oliver some money to put inside. He gently felt the kettle and put his money in the insert. Then we walked into the store and Oliver started asking a lot of questions. The "who, what, and why's" began. He was so intrigued that the money went to help other kids. Not much was said after the discussion that morning, but I could tell the wheels in Ollie's head were a churning. He went on throughout the day playing and not mentioning the bell again. That was until the next morning...
Ollie got up early and grabbed his UNO Hockey bell and found a small basket in the laundry room. He asked to go to our local family owned grocery store. One of his biggest fans and helpers-his cousin Laycee Josoff -assisted him and together they started ringing the cowbell on that cold, blistery day. The sound of that clanking bell went on for over four hours. I will never forget their red faces and freezing hands but they wouldn't quit. Our small town found out about Ollie and Laycee collecting money and got in their cars on that cold day to support them as they always have. Our local Fire Department rallied around him and came together to host a very successful fundraiser.
In the last two years Ollie’s Mission has started to take on a life of its own through social media, local television interviews, word of mouth and a small amount of advertising and we couldn't be more thrilled. The donations doubled last year to $11,000 and we were able to buy gifts for over 180 children within a 150 mile radius. Each child gets two quality gifts that are wrapped and delivered.
Yes...Ollie wants all kids in need (big and small) to have presents to open on Christmas Day. He has told me multiple times that God wants him to do this and most recently has been promoted to a certified ELF on Santa's team. He believes in the magic of Christmas!
This mission is near and dear to all our hearts because it gives our son something to focus on besides the daily challenges he personally faces. It helps him feel like he is making a difference!
"And we know that in ALL things GOD works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to HIS purpose." - Romans 8:28
Organizer
Brooke Bieber
Organizer
Omaha, NE
Father Flanagans Boys Home
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
