Category Archives: Donations and Fundraising

Dani's Dreams Memorial Walk/Run, Donations and Fundraising, Special Events

Hope For The Future

Leave a comment

Lutheran High School senior awarded Dani’s Dreams Scholarship

A stellar record of academic pursuits and community service characterize Brock Turner, Greenfield, the 2013 winner of the Dani Griffin Innovation in Education Memorial Scholarship. Turner will attend either DePauw University, Wabash College or Hanover College to study biology and communications.

“Whether it is research, medicine or another field within the sciences, I am confident that I can make a difference,” Turner wrote in his scholarship essay. “There will always be diseases to cure, problems to solve and species to help. For example, God created each and every one of the animals, people and plants on this earth. It is our job to help them and save them from sickness, harm and premature death. Science allows us to do so.”

Turner, son of James and Tracy Turner, is a member of National Honor Society and received All Conference Academic Honors in the Indiana Crossroads conference. He is a varsity letterman for the Saints in swimming and cross country, served as a Statehouse Ambassador and is an American Red Cross certified lifeguard, CPR and first aid. He was Zion Lutheran School salutatorian in 2009.

“Science allows us to get an inside look at what God has created for us on this earth. I believe it will only strengthen our faith if we learn more about science,” Turner wrote. “We have learned of marvelous objects that point to God. It is scientific discoveries that merge science and faith; all things lead to the cross.”

 

 

 

Dani's Dreams Memorial Walk/Run, Donations and Fundraising, Special Events

DREAM IT – DO IT! Local Students Share Their Talents, Creativity, Ideas

Leave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Southern Hancock students’ creative talents will be on display this year in the sixth annual Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run Aug. 3 at New Palestine High School.

Ali Kinder, a student at Zion Lutheran School is the winner of the T-shirt design contest. Kinder’s design will be featured on T-shirts for the event. Second place goes to Katie Taylor, a fifth grader at Zion Lutheran School and third place winner is Rylee Morris, sixth grader at Zion Lutheran School. Their designs will be posted online and used in walk/run brochures and on posters for the event.

Essay contest winner is Emma Mann, third grader at New Palestine Elementary. Her essay, which will be in walk/run brochures follows:

Peace Bear

By Emma Mann

New Palestine Elementary School

3rd grade

Everybody has different dreams. One person wants to be an astronaut. One wants to be a famous singer or a mailman, but my dream is a bit different. I like how people are happy all over the world. Some people are happy about a new toy. I am happy because I am well. Most people think that might be silly, but really it’s not.

One day I dreamed I could even spread a smile over sick people’s faces. So wherever they go, they’ll always feel happy and feel like something special. So I dreamed up the idea of giving a bear to my Aunt Julie who got cancer and was really sick. It was just to make her smile and have something to hold.

When I got the bear back, my teacher got cancer, so I gave the bear to her. I wanted to cheer her up too.

The bear is blue with peace signs all over it, and I call it Peace Bear. I am still waiting to get it back from my teacher. See it is like a traveling bear. I give sick people the bear with peace signs on it so they can have peace in their surgery.

I know I can do nothing about curing cancer, but I love how there are lovely smiles covering their faces. I feel like a hero to do that.

I just found out there is another teacher that has cancer at our school and when Peace Bear returns, I will give it to her and I hope she grins too.

Someday when I grow up I hope to have a bunch of bears to send out to sick people and I hope to see lots of people full of smiles looking back at me.

That’s my dream.

Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center is a resource for Hancock County schools, teachers, Scouts and all community groups for hands-on, innovative environmental education opportunities and state standards-based activities and projects. We’ll design a one-of-a-kind tour, activity or project for YOUR CLASS, based on YOUR NEEDS at NO CHARGE. Email dgriffins@netzero.com or call 317-640-4430 – Dream It, Do It!

 

 

Donations and Fundraising, Earth Day Dedication Event, Go Green Discovery Center

“It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become.”

Leave a comment

Dani’s Dreams is all about growing, discovering, becoming – little seeds are planted, take root and reach toward the sky. The Go Green Discovery Center is in the seedling stage, changing and morphing to meet the needs of Hancock County schoolchildren. Be a part of the process – meaningful, environmental activities, crafts and demonstrations are planned this Friday 3:30-5 p.m. We’ll end with a showing of “The Lorax” and snacks.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Dream it – Do it!

Donations and Fundraising, Earth Day Dedication Event, Go Green Discovery Center, Special Events, Teacher Resources

Do you have big dreams?

Leave a comment

dreamitdoitflyer
The deadline is fast approaching for the T-shirt design contest at Dani’s Dreams — April 10. Come to the Earth Day Dedication Event April 12, 3:30-6 p.m. and vote for your favorite design! Fun, food and lots of activities are planned – be a part of it!

Donations and Fundraising, Earth Day Dedication Event, Go Green Discovery Center, Uncategorized

Every Little Drop Helps Dani’s Dreams Grow!

Leave a comment

everydropflyer
Dream It – Do It! at Dani’s Dreams
Hancock County students can take the lead and Dream It – Do It! during the fifth annual Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center Earth Day Dedication Event April 12, 3:30-5 p.m. at the center, located at Zion Lutheran School, 6513 W. 300 S, New Palestine.
Join the student-led interactive demonstrations on recycling, composting, and saving water; be a Dani’s Dreams Nature Detective and win prizes, create crafts, sign up for space in the Community Garden and tour the Go Green Discovery Center that features interactive exhibits on environmental and conservation education.
Stay for a free will donation pizza supper and a showing of “The Lorax” and don’t forget to vote on drawings for the T-Shirt design contest for the Dani’s Dreams Walk/Run Aug. 3.
Bring your nickels, dimes, pennies and quarters for our “Every little drop in the bucket helps Dani’s Dreams grow” to raise funds for a garden watering system.
Learn how you can be a member of Dani’s Dreams Club and make a difference in the world around you. Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center is open to all classes, Scout Troops and community groups for state standard-environmental education lessons, projects and activities – AT NO CHARGE.
Log onto to http://www.danisdreamsoutdooredcenter.wordpress.com or email dgriffins@netzero.com for more information.

Dani's Dreams Memorial Walk/Run, Donations and Fundraising, Go Green Discovery Center

Running for Dani’s Dreams. . .

Leave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.


PHOTOS BY ELYSE SOMBKE, ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL
New Palestine residents, friends and family of Dani Griffin and others showed up in force for the fifth annual Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run Aug. 4 at New Palestine High School, on what would have been Dani’s 30th birthday. The event raises funds for the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center at Zion Lutheran School, New Palestine.
Watch ‘Em Grow is the theme for this year’s event and the title of the new Go Green Discovery Center, open this fall, funded in part by the Hancock County Community Foundation. The Go Green Center is open to all Hancock County students and will be powered by solar and wind energy and contain interactive exhibits and activities to enhance science education in the area.
Hancock County students talents were on display at the walk/run and T-shirt design and essay contest winners were recognized: Katie Taylor, Zion Lutheran School is the winner and her design is on all the race shirts. Second place went to Lee Ann James, Sugar Creek Elementary and third place to Sarah Maynard, Sugar Creek Elementary. Drake Shadle, New Palestine Elementary and Ireland Crabtree, Zion Lutheran, are the essay contest winners.
Christina Harkleroad was also honored as the 2012 recipient of the Dani’s Dreams Memorial Scholarship.
Race winners are: Riley Wilson, men’s division and Sue Gaudreau, women’s division.
Thanks to all the race and event sponsors: Hancock County Community Foundation, Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District, who donated four rain barrels to the Go Green Discovery Center; Hillcrest Tree Farm, Noll Landscape Group, Team Image Screenprint and Embroidery, Hancock Regional Hospital Foundation, Dr. Brian Schoppel, McDonald’s of New Palestine, Mama Nita’s Pizza, K&K Fence Company, Auto Air and Heating, Greenfield Walmart, Greenfield Home Depot, Dr. Sharon Paluga, New Palestine Gentle Dentist, Sam’s Club, Greenfield Home Depot, 10th and Post, Johnson-Melloh Solutions and Michele Conti.
A special thanks goes to the Dani Griffin Innovation in Education Memorial Committee (you know who you are) who provide their time, talents, love and commitment to keeping Dani’s Dreams alive, including Claudia Griffin, Buttons and Bows, whose face painting made the day so special.
Love, you all!

Dani's Dreams Memorial Walk/Run, Donations and Fundraising, Go Green Discovery Center

Celebrate the Start of School and Help Dani’s Dreams

Leave a comment


Join us Aug. 1, 5-8 p.m. at the New Palestine McDonald’s to sign up for Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run Aug. 4, 8 a.m. at NPHS and have dinner to raise funds for the new Go Green Discovery Center. Get details of all the fun activities on the way!

Dani's Dreams Memorial Walk/Run, Donations and Fundraising, Go Green Discovery Center, Special Events

WATCH US GROW! – Sign up now for Dani’s Dreams Walk/Run

Leave a comment

This is your chance to make a difference in your community and grow environmental education in Hancock County! Sign up for the fifth annual Dani’s Dreams Walk/Run Aug. 4, 8 a.m. at New Palestine High School. The event benefits the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center at Zion and the construction of our Go Green Discovery Center that will focus on environmental education for grades preschool through 8 in Hancock County – with a community garden, greenhouse, interactive exhibits and experiments in solar and wind energy.
To sign up, download a form from the link below and mail it to Zion Lutheran Church and School, 6513 W. 300S, New Palestine, IN 46163. Forms are also on the Dani’s Dreams Facebook Page.
5K/1 Mile Family Walk
Register for the 5K walk/run or 1-mile family walk that begins 8 a.m. Aug. 4 at NPHS and receive a cool commemorative T-shirt with this year’s theme, “Watch Us Grow.” The winning shirt is designed by Zion Lutheran student Katie Taylor.
Registration for the 5K Run/Fitness Walk is only $20 Individual and $30 family. Pre-registration includes a specially-designed commemorative T-shirt; No T-shirts guaranteed for race day registration. Family registration includes 2 T-shirts. Pre-registration ends July 31.
Registration after 7/31 and on race day is $25 individual; $35 family.

danisdreams walkrunbrochure2012 side 1
danisdreams walkrunbrochure2012 side 2

NEW! Come to the Go Green Center’s Open House/Music Festival Aug. 4, 12-2 at Dani’s Dreams for a music festival from Zion youth, tours, crafts, snacks, demonstrations and a preview for teachers of the ways Dani’s Dreams can enhance hands-on science education.
If you would like to perform at the music festival or help in any way, contact Donna Griffin, 640-4430 or email dgriffins@netzero.com.

Dani's Dreams Memorial Walk/Run, Donations and Fundraising, Go Green Discovery Center, Teacher Resources

The Go Green Center is Growing – Check It Out!

Leave a comment


Watch our Go Green Center Grow and enjoy exhibits, music, demonstrations, snacks and crafts from 12-2 at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center following the Memorial Walk/Run at 8 a.m. that morning at New Palestine High School. Find out about solar and wind energy, how to protect our planet and what you can do to make a difference in your world!
If you have a band or are a musician and would like to perform for the Dani’s Dreams Open House and Music Festival Aug. 4, 12-2, email dgriffins@netzero.com.
Thanks to Dave Griffin, Austin Pope, Mike Dirr, Randy and Mark Caster, the Go Green Center is taking shape and will soon be under roof (see more pictures on the “Watch Us Grow!” page) – anyone who would like to help or donate materials, email dgriffins@netzero.com.
Teachers, Scout leaders, preschools and community groups come to the Go Green Open House Aug. 4 and see how Dani’s Dreams can help you with hands-on science education for this fall!

Dani's Dreams Memorial Walk/Run, Donations and Fundraising, Go Green Discovery Center, Special Events

Check it Out – What’s Growing in the Community Garden?

Leave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.


Despite drought and hot sun, the plants in Dani’s Dreams Community Garden are thriving thanks to TLC from volunteers, including Don and Pat Adam, Kara and Katie Morris, David Griffin and Courtney Sloan who weeded and watered recently. Broccoli was ready for the picking, cucumbers and a small pepper are gaining in size and zuchini and cauliflower plants are budding. Green bean plants, grown from seeds by Noah Finchum, are shooting up.
More seeds were planted for a bountiful fall harvest, including a sunflower garden and a Dani’s Dreams pumpkin patch for mid-October.
Check out the Community Garden page for the progress and come to Dani’s Dreams new Discovery Center opening August 4!