2013 has already been a fantastic year for TSWGO, and it’s only March! To date, we have given over $125,000 to help families in need and we are excited to help more families and children in the near future. Bracelet and T-shirt sales continue to be hugely successful, and donations have come in steadily from individuals and amazing fundraisers around the world. So many things are happening in the next couple of months and I, along with everyone else at TSWGO, are very excited for the rest of the year and beyond.

After a long wait, Esther’s book has FINALLY been announced!

The book about/from Esther was publicly announced Thursday morning and the book will be out in early 2014. The book features journal entries, drawings, and letters written by Esther, and will include writings by both Wayne and Lori. There will also be an introduction written by award winning author, John Green. Everyone involved with TSWGO is incredibly ecstatic for this book and the publicity it will bring to our little charity. The book is already up for preorder at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

As the summer quickly approaches, we are all very busy with lots of new exciting projects. Our lastest project is in collaboration with BowTie Cause, a company that makes bowties showcasing nonprofits. Be on the lookout for our bowtie this summer and check out the other amazing charities and bowties in the meantime! We are also currently prepping for VidCon 2013 and Lori, Emily, Bethany, and I are all counting down the days till August. We are excited to have an Esther Day t-shirt and posters while we are in California. If you are planning on coming to VidCon, come check out our booth and the exclusive merchandise we will be selling there.

Again, we are very excited for the near future and we hope you are too!

Celine, TSWGO Intern

For those of you who do not know what that is, VidCon is an annual video conference that takes place in Anaheim, California. The conference was started by Hank and John Green in 2010 and brings content creators and viewers together.

We’ll be there selling T-shirts, bracelets, and other merch in the Expo Hall. We are so excited to be one of the first non-profits at VidCon and to be there for Esther Day 2013. Stay tuned for more updates on VidCon and other projects we are planning for this year. We hope to see most of you there!

Celine, TSWGO Intern

Sending off gifts to help two families today pushed TSWGO’s giving over the $100,000 mark–but far more significantly, it will bring relief to families struggling through the terror of a child fighting cancer.

Each individual who has contributed by purchasing bracelets, t-shirts, sending donations or holding fundraisers since we began in December 2010 has been a part of this amazing journey!

Thank you! And happy holidays!

Lori Earl
Director

“Last year, all year around my little boy kept mentioning how much he wanted to go to Water Country.  Many times I was able to say to him, Water Country is closed for the season.  One morning…I had the radio on and the Water Country commercial came on…’See mom, Water Country is open daily, and we have to go.’ Very sadly I said I’ll do my best.  I came to work and that same day I got a call…telling me about your donation.  I’m in tears right now, just from remembering that day.  I was not able to believe it.  It was like a dream, something that I didn’t deserve.  I want to thank you so much for that.  I’m keeping your card, because one day, when I get back on my feet I want to return your donation to help others…”

How we celebrate ALL OF OUR AWESOME DONORS who make a letter like this possible!  Lifting financial burdens, putting smiles on the face of kids facing the trauma of cancer and chemo and radiation, giving families an opportunity to celebrate life together joyfully–these are the blessings and rewards!

To date, TSWGO has given away more than $90,000 to help over 50 families with a child diagnosed with cancer.  I know that by our two year anniversary in December 2012, we’ll have reached our goal of giving away more than $100,000!

Thankfully,

Lori Earl, Executive Director

We are sooo excited that you are thinking about joining our contest, and contributing to the work and mission of This Star Won’t Go Out!  The basic details of the T-shirt Design Contest are included in the poster (designed by the talented Katharina Kovacs, a Nerdfighter from Pinkafeld, Austria).  For more information, read the following.

Additional Rules:

• Only designs submitted to  TSWGOShirt@gmail.com will be accepted. Once your design is submitted as an attachment, you will receive a confirmation email.
• Submit an original design in the medium of your choice.
• Designs must use only 1 to 3 colors.
• Your design must include the TSWGO logo.  The logo can be found here on our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/TSWGO.  Just right click to save the image.
• Keep in mind that the shirt will be green (color of TSWGO bracelet).
• All designs must relate to TSWGO and or the TSWGO mission in some way and must be original non-copyrighted work.
• By submitting your design to This Star Won’t Go Out you are giving TSWGO permission to use your design in anyway the organization deems appropriate; also, you are donating your design to this nonprofit charity, and therefore will not receive any royalties. You will be recognized as the creator, and can include your signature in the design.