February 2015 Charity of the Month – The Marfan Foundation

Each month, The Modified Dolls and our Chapters support a different 501(c)(3) organization through fundraising, voluntarism, and building awareness.

Since 1981, The Marfan Foundation has led the fight to victory for those affected by Marfan Syndrome and its related disorders.  Until the formation of The Marfan Foundation, Marfan Syndrome was widely unknown and misunderstood.  The Marfan Foundation works to inform the public and the medical community with the most accurate and up to date information and advance lifesaving treatments to improve the quality of like for those with Marfan Syndrome.

Marfan Syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue. Connective tissue holds all the body’s cells, organs and tissue together. It also plays an important role in helping the body grow and develop properly.  Marfan Syndrome may affect different parts of the body for different people and its signs are different for each person.  Evidence of Marfan Syndrome is most often found in the heart, blood vessels, bones, joints, and eyes, while the lungs, skin and nervous system may also be affected.  Some signs are easy to see, such as long arms, legs and fingers, tall and thin body type, curved spine, chest sinks in or sticks out, flexible joints, flat feet, crowded teeth, or stretch marks on the skin that are not due to weight gain or loss.  Other signs may not be as obvious and may make early diagnosis more difficult.  These signs may include heart problems, especially those related to the aorta, sudden lung collapse and eye problems, including severe nearsightedness, dislocated lens, detached retina, early glaucoma, and early cataracts.

February is Marfan Awareness Month and The Modified Dolls are using the opportunity to help The Marfan Foundation bring awareness to Marfan Syndrome and its related disorders and ask for your assistance.  To help, you can simply share posts from The Marfan Foundation’s Facebook page with #MarfanAwareness.  Other ways to help:

• Learn other ways to create social media #MarfanAwareness using these ideas from The Marfan Foundation
• Make a donation to The Marfan Foundation
• Check The Modified Dolls Facebook page for events supporting The Marfan Foundation near you

The Modified Dolls Upcoming Chapter Events

Our Chapters have some great events coming soon!  Read below to find an event in your area:

Texas Chapter:

2/21/15 Meet n greet/Charity Bake Sale benefiting The Marfan Foundation @ The Haunted Heel 503 Bradford Avenue, Kemah, TX 77565 from 12 pm to 5 pm

2/22/15 Rock and Roll Rummage Sale benefiting The Marfan Foundation @ Lola’s Saloon 2736 West 6th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107 from 12 pm to 5 pm

2/25/15 Kamakazi Karaoke benefiting The Marfan Foundation @ Sarah’s Place 5223 Camp Bowie Fort Worth, TX from 9 pm to 2 am

UK Chapter:

Online Auction in aid of The Marfan Trust
If you want to get an awesome Valentine’s Day gift search no more, check out The Modified Dolls UK Chapter’s auction!  All items are handmade and donated by the UK Dolls.  All proceeds benefit our supported charity of the month, the Marfan Trust!

The Modified Dolls UK Chapter’s project has been accepted as one of the Cornwall Community Cashback finalists in the Corish Garden this year!
Please vote for our project and help us to support Livewire Youth Music charity, Saltash.
To vote by text, simply text DC CCC followed by 3005 (our group`s code) with your name and your postcode and send the message to 84555. Lines close at 23:59 on February 25th, and messages will cost 25p+your standard network rate.

Louisiana Chapter:

3/7- Swamp Stomp Car Show

We’re ready for a rockabilly good time and want you to join us!  The Louisiana Modified Dolls will be making their first appearance at the 6th annual Swamp Stomp Car Show in Laplace.  Find our booth where we’ll have information about the Modified Dolls and selling Rockabilly inspired crafts in support of the Make a Wish foundation.  Swamp Stomp is hosted at the Larose Civic Center, 307 East 5^th Street, doors open at 8am!
3/21- MS Walk for MS Society

Team Louisiana Modified Dolls is making a walk for it!  We’re walking to show our support for those affected by MS.  Join us in beautiful Audubon Park as we walk towards a goal of a world without MS.  We’ll be walking and volunteering around the event area.  Site opens at 8am, walk starts at 9.  Team Louisiana Modified Dolls has a goal of $500 and you can contribute to our team here:  http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Walk/LAMWalkEvents?team_id=420255&pg=team&fr_id=24722

4/11- Louisiana Beard and Facial Hair Association’s 3rd Annual Beard and Facial Hair Competition in Lafayette

Get ready to show some love for the face follicles!  The Louisiana Modified Dolls are headed to Cajun Country to participate in Louisiana Beard’s 3^rd Annual Beard and Facial Hair Competition!  Come find our booth where we’ll be peddlin’ beard accessories for charity!  Apply today to compete in one or more of the 11 facial hair competition categories including Full Beard, Sideburns, Goatee…and our favorite…Whiskerina-Ladies Faux Hair!  Proceeds from this event go to Healing House, Hope for Grieving Children.

5/9- Bear’s on Fairfield event for Marfan Foundation

The Louisiana Modified Dolls are hitting the road and heading to Shreveport to party it up for a great cause!  Join us at Bear’s on Fairfield as we fundraise and support awareness for Marfan Syndrome.  Entertainment will include the Seratones and comedian David Allen Kueker.  We have MANY more surprises being cooked up for this one, so keep an eye out for more details coming soon!

Illinois Chapter:

All of February, the Illinois Dolls and Boho Hair Studio are donating $1 from each haircut to The Marfan Foundation.  Call to schedule your appointment today!

On March 1st, the Illinois Dolls will be plunging into Lake Michigan at the Chicago Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics Chicago.  Make a donation online to help them reach their goal!

March 14th, the Illinois Dolls will have a booth at the Balmoral Park St. Baldrick’s event.  Their Head Doll will be shaving heads to aid childhood cancer research.  Stop by their booth for info on joining the Illinois Chapter and their Charity of the Month, National MS Society.

All of March, the Illinois Dolls and Boho hair Studio will be selling MS pin ups for $1 each.  Stop in Boho Hair Studio and purchase one…or ten…and we’ll display a pin up with your name in the salon!  Proceeds will be donated to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Oregon Chapter:

The Oregon Dolls are participating in the Portland Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics Oregon on February 28th!  Visit their fundraising page to make a donation.

Join the Oregon Dolls on February 12th at 8:30PM for a bake sale outside Cozmic in Eugene before the Sir Mix-a-Lot concert. Proceeds will go to sponsoring our Dolls for the Portland Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Oregon.

February 2015 Letter From the President

Dear friends, fans, and supporters,

Welcome to February!  A new month means a new Charity for The Modified Dolls, and this new month we support and celebrate The Marfan Foundation.

Yes, February is #MarfanAwareness Month and we encourage all of you to learn about Marfan Syndrome and share information with your loved ones. You could save a life. Later this month we’ll be sharing facts about Marfan Syndrome and highlighting The Marfan Foundation’s race to raise awareness and help those afflicted, so be sure to check back soon. Until then, check out marfan.org and #KnowTheSigns.

Also coming this month is news and events from our Official Chapters, a new Doll of the Month, and a look back at our January events from around the United States and United Kingdom.

We’re very excited here in Doll-land right now because our website will soon have a new look. In addition to new pages and features, our site will house an electronic form for applying to be a Doll and more info about our Charities of the Month and our Official Chapters. You’ll get to see photos of our events and find this blog right on our website. As always, make sure to browse our Facebook page and other social media listed in our sidebar for events near you.

From here in Chicago, I wish you a safe and warm February. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,
Kara ‘Hysteria‘ Scott
President/Board Chair of The Modified Dolls

Kara ‘Hysteria’ Scott