(Aug. 17, 2017) Organizers estimate more than 500 people attended the inaugural Believe in Tomorrow Block Party in Berlin last Saturday and at least $5,000 was raised for the organization.
“People came and went all night long,” said Wayne Littleton, coordinator for the Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Respite Housing Program. “If the weather wasn’t so bad all day, I think it would have been packed.”
It rained earlier in the day, but the sky cleared in time for the Block Party activities.
A guest bartending event at Sisters on Main Street evolved into a Believe in Tomorrow Block Party.
“Donna [Sompher, owner of Sisters] deserves a ton of credit and my gratitude,” Littleton said. “We were giving away free T-shirts and at one point all you could see was a sea of orange.”
The inaugural festival featured free activities including live music and street performers, carnival games and performances by Cascading Carlos, taking place on Main, Pitt and Commerce streets.
“I think it turned out awesome,” said Megan Cosman, owner of Patty Jeans Boutique on Main Street, one of the businesses that participated in the event. “[It was great] to see all the volunteers, kids and community supporting a great event and cause. There were a lot of kids and it was eye-opening for some youth in the area to learn about Believe in Tomorrow and how the organization helps critical ill children.”
Twenty-five students from Stephen Decatur High School as well as 15 from Stephen Decatur Middle School were among the more than 60 volunteers who helped out during the event, which took place from 6-9 p.m.
“The kids had fun and it was nice seeing families coming together for a good cause,” said Laurie Chetelat, a teacher and advisor for the Connections Club at Stephen Decatur High School. “It was nice to see kids from our community who were recently diagnosed [in attendance.] I am looking forward to the event next year and to see it grow in the community.”
Littleton said the 2018 Berlin Block Party is scheduled for the last weekend in August. He hopes to add activities for pets, games and include additional live animals.
“The kids were great and had a blast,” Littleton said. “It was everything I envisioned and I hope the town was happy. It was a fun night.”
The Believe in Tomorrow facility on 66th Street in Ocean City is open year-round to provide a free getaway to the beach for critically ill children and their families whenever they may need to escape the stresses of their child’s illness.
Each of the four condos feature kid-friendly décor and paintings with at least two bedrooms, a full bathroom, a fully-stocked kitchen, living and dining room areas.
Last year, Believe in Tomorrow acquired another house on 65th Street, which is just a few steps away from the back balcony of the 66th Street property and renovations are ongoing.
Families can also vacation at the Believe in Tomorrow House in Fenwick Island and House by the Bay on 28th Street.
Fundraisers such as the Berlin Block Party help raise money to provide essential week-long excursions for critically ill children and their families.
Learn more about Believe in Tomorrow at http://believeintomorrow.org.
“People came and went all night long,” said Wayne Littleton, coordinator for the Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Respite Housing Program. “If the weather wasn’t so bad all day, I think it would have been packed.”
It rained earlier in the day, but the sky cleared in time for the Block Party activities.
A guest bartending event at Sisters on Main Street evolved into a Believe in Tomorrow Block Party.
“Donna [Sompher, owner of Sisters] deserves a ton of credit and my gratitude,” Littleton said. “We were giving away free T-shirts and at one point all you could see was a sea of orange.”
The inaugural festival featured free activities including live music and street performers, carnival games and performances by Cascading Carlos, taking place on Main, Pitt and Commerce streets.
“I think it turned out awesome,” said Megan Cosman, owner of Patty Jeans Boutique on Main Street, one of the businesses that participated in the event. “[It was great] to see all the volunteers, kids and community supporting a great event and cause. There were a lot of kids and it was eye-opening for some youth in the area to learn about Believe in Tomorrow and how the organization helps critical ill children.”
Twenty-five students from Stephen Decatur High School as well as 15 from Stephen Decatur Middle School were among the more than 60 volunteers who helped out during the event, which took place from 6-9 p.m.
“The kids had fun and it was nice seeing families coming together for a good cause,” said Laurie Chetelat, a teacher and advisor for the Connections Club at Stephen Decatur High School. “It was nice to see kids from our community who were recently diagnosed [in attendance.] I am looking forward to the event next year and to see it grow in the community.”
Littleton said the 2018 Berlin Block Party is scheduled for the last weekend in August. He hopes to add activities for pets, games and include additional live animals.
“The kids were great and had a blast,” Littleton said. “It was everything I envisioned and I hope the town was happy. It was a fun night.”
The Believe in Tomorrow facility on 66th Street in Ocean City is open year-round to provide a free getaway to the beach for critically ill children and their families whenever they may need to escape the stresses of their child’s illness.
Each of the four condos feature kid-friendly décor and paintings with at least two bedrooms, a full bathroom, a fully-stocked kitchen, living and dining room areas.
Last year, Believe in Tomorrow acquired another house on 65th Street, which is just a few steps away from the back balcony of the 66th Street property and renovations are ongoing.
Families can also vacation at the Believe in Tomorrow House in Fenwick Island and House by the Bay on 28th Street.
Fundraisers such as the Berlin Block Party help raise money to provide essential week-long excursions for critically ill children and their families.
Learn more about Believe in Tomorrow at http://believeintomorrow.org.