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Introduction: In the winter of 2008, Professor Ferreira gave his speech class a group project. Three team leaders were picked to choose their teams until the class was divided into three equal sized teams. The instructions for the project were that each team was to participate in some sort community service orientated group project. At the end of the semester and the project is over we are to speak about our experiences.
Our First Attempt: Working out of the transportation department at Memorial Hermann Hospital Southwest. This plan would have been fun and exciting transporting patients back and forth throughout the hospital but just didn't work out for us. Their were two major problems, first the cost would have been high since the project was so short we would have had to foot the bill on such items as: criminal background check, tuberculosis testing, uniform shirt, parking, and meals. Another problem would have been the wait for the criminal background checks. We could see the writing on the wall with this project so we moved on...
Our Second Attempt: Collecting children's toys from local businesses for pediatrics. This plan was recommended by the volunteer department at the same hospital but this plan didn't work out either for several reasons. The only group that had done it before us were a group of Eagle Scouts and they had much more time to work with. Another problem was with the current toy recalls because we could not collect Chinese made toys which accounts for most of the toys on the shelves. But the biggest problem was that businesses wanted a letter from the hospital that they could sent to their corporate headquarters and then they would get back to us several weeks later. This plan had failure written all over it...
Our Third Attempt: Working with the Children's Art Project at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. This plan seemed more doable than the others. This idea was more like the first plan with set hours except we would not be working with the public so there were no costs involved or any wait to get started. It also has some of the same rewards as the second idea we had in that it is children that benefit from out work, not just any children but children with cancer!
Well, you know what they say "The third time is a charm" so we embarked on a mission,
to do what we can to help children who have cancer by volunteering our time and services
with The Children's Art Project through M.D. Anderson Cancer Center University of Texas.
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Friday February 22nd, 2008 six of the eight group members gathered to discuss final preparations before our maiden voyage into the realm of the unknown. From left to right: Jon Juntila, Catherine Lee, Paul Tung, Kimberly Ong, and Paul Domenichini. Photos taken by Max Mitchell. [Click on any picture to enlarge]. |
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Tuesday March 11th, 2008 five of the eight group members volunteered at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. [Top Row] From left to right: Kimberly Ong, Jon Juntila, Jonathan Sims, and Paul Tung. Photos above were taken by Max Mitchell. [Bottom Row] Two Group Photo's and Two Photo's of Max Mitchell. Photos below were taken by M.D. Anderson Staff. [Click on any picture to enlarge]. |
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Friday March 14th, 2008 five of the eight group members volunteered at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. [Top Row] From left to right: Max Mitchell, Paul Tung, Paul Domenichini, and Arif Allana. [Bottom Row] Catherine Lee, Paul Domenichini, and Arif Allana. [Click on any picture to enlarge]. |
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Friday March 21st, 2008 five of the eight group members volunteered at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. [Top Row] From left to right: Group Photo, Max Mitchell, and Paul Tung. [Bottom Row] Catherine Lee, Catherine & Paul, Paul Domenichini, and Arif Allana. [Click on any picture to enlarge]. |
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Friday April 11th, 2008 six of the eight group members volunteered at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. [Top Row] This was our last day so we had some fun... [Click on any picture to enlarge]. |
Record Of Group Events
Project Completed - There Are No Further Scheduled Events |
Volunteer Hours Recorded At M.D. Anderson
| Max Mitchell | Paul Tung | Paul Domenichini | Jonathan Juntila | Catherine Lee | Arif Allana | Kimberly Ong | Jonathan Sims |
| 44 | 40 | 27 | 26 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 6 |
More About Children's Art Project
For 34 years, the Children's Art Project at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center has made life better for children with cancer. Through worldwide sales of young cancer patients' original artwork featured on seasonal note cards and gift items, the project has funded more than $20 million to programs that benefit cancer patients and their families. Each year, the project offers Holiday, Everyday and Valentine collections of note cards and gift items.
Last year, proceeds from card and gift sales funded $1.5 million in programs benefiting M.D. Anderson patients. While the Children's Art Project's highest priority is giving children with cancer opportunities to live a more normal childhood and prepare successfully for adulthood, the project also provides programs accessible to the more than 70,000 patients of all ages served every year at M.D. Anderson.
Through the years, this network of support and friendship is very much a part of the culture at the Children's Art Project. Friendship sustains our children through difficult treatments, little triumphs — and sometimes through heartbreak. When you purchase cards and gifts you are helping us fund many patient-focused programs at M.D. Anderson.
Children's Art Project Promotional Video
Children's Art Project Ski Trip Video
Children's Art Project Web Site
Our Personal Outlooks On The Project
Max Mitchell: It was a bit of a rough start for our group but once we got started everything seemed to smooth out. I had already made arrangements to do some volunteer work with various hospitals in the area to get some volunteer hours for scholarships. Although I was not doing exactly what I had planned on doing I still ended up racking up a bunch of volunteer hours so the class project worked out great for me. I am very satisfied with the project our group ultimately ended up with and I feel a sense of pride knowing that our group ended up contributing to such a noble cause. |
Catherine Lee: When we first started the project we all had some great ideas on what to do for it, but most of them were just dead ends. It was pretty awesome when this oppurtunity came up though, even if it did mean sacrificing my fridays and my God given right to sleep as late as I wanted to on non-school day. :] However, it gave me a chance to help out such a great cause that it was worth it in the end. I think that our group did a pretty good job and I'm glad that I got to work with my classmates and get to know them better...well most of them. Just kidding, Max! |
Jon Juntila: When I first found out that we needed to volunteer to get a grade, I really didn't like the thought of it, but then again, it did have its benefits. One of the big benefits, in my opinion, was the experience. Working with the group I was stuck with was...interesting. There were some good times, some awkward times (for some), but mostly fun times. I loved the fact that when we were volunteering, we were also messing around as well. The pictures (ALL of them) explain it all. Even though volunteering took away from my busy Friday's of procrastinating and being lazy, I'm glad that I had this opportunity to work with and get to know my classmates. All in all, it was worth it, and I would trade in my "Bum-Out Friday's" any day for the experiences I've gained. |
Paul Tung: In this volunteer project, I am rewarding. From this project, I know more about the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Also, I learned a lot thing from the volunteering. On Tuesday program, I learned how to identify the different box for different items. For example, the note cards and the photo frames should be put in the different boxes, because the note cards are smaller. And then on the Thursday program, I learn how to categorize the boxes in the warehouse. The most interesting thing was to learn how to use a folk lifter. Well, I never thought I may have a chance to drive it. I think that was the most interesting experience I had in the program. However, I appreciated Max’s hard work because he has planed the entire volunteer program and built up the web sites for our group. |
Web-site created and maintained by Max Mitchell