YEAR IN REVIEW

The year 2009 was amazing for Dawn’s Angel Wish Network! Thank you Angels!! You have blessed so many people, through this outreach effort that it would be impossible to measure the impact. I am truly thankful and excited about all the wonderful things God has in store for the network this year.

This month is dedicated to a “review” of what you accomplished in 2009 and to thank you all so much for your participation in this ongoing effort. My prayer is that the network continues to grow in 2010 and that more people can get “connected” and blessed on an even greater level. We are adding some new things to the network this year; working on a new look, blogtalk radio show, Facebook presence (Twitter too!), and focusing on helping connect businesses to “community needs” through offering sponsorship packages.

But what I am most excited about is the clarity God has given. More than ever He wants people to feel that they have HOPE. That is the point of identifying people in need and connecting them with resources…the resources serve as a vehicle for HOPE. And YOU bring those resources…in fact, you ARE those resources. When you examine the word “resource” you can see that it implies re-connecting with “source”. That “source” is the God-spirit in each and every one of us. Unfortunately, we all experience events in our lives, which cause us to feel as if we have completely lost our connection with our source. Technically, it is impossible to lose our connection, we really only lose our awareness of the connection. But life certainly has a way of sometimes making us feel as if it has been severed. And it is for this purpose that Dawn’s Angel Wish Network exists. It is a way…one way that can be used to help people find their HOPE again.

When you respond to one of our network requests, you help someone regain HOPE and feel reconnected to the divine source. That is why you are called angels or “God’s messengers”. You deliver this message of restoration beautifully. I thank you.


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Here is what you have done to help people find HOPE in 2009 through the network:

January Wish: Let’s Bless our Elders

Cards, letters, gifts, etc. rolled into the network to lift an elderly woman out of depression. She had just received word that she would have to stay in a nursing home indefinitely. Your gifts, cards, and letters brightened many of her days. One “angel” even came out to read to the woman every week to lift her spirits. The woman started inviting other residents to enjoy the weekly readings. Pretty soon, the “angel” was reading to more than twenty nursing home residents on a weekly basis. In addition, two local churches began to have services at the facility twice a month. Now, the woman who suffered from depression is one of the strongest residents in the place and works hard to encourage others!




February Wish: The Angel Sings
A young lady with an incredible gift was featured on our network. We placed a sample of her talent on the blog and asked you to respond. Notes of encouragement came in all month and she was encouraged to take her musical talents to another level. She is working on her CD as we speak. Look for music from the great Nikki Sumlin coming soon! And remember you heard her first right here! ☺

March Wish: Connecting People and Job Resources
With the economy in shambles, the network offered resources to many to help them find jobs. We received numerous messages and calls saying how much these resources helped. Also, the economic crisis inspired the creation of a new blog called Become Light! where I posted my personal story of leaving corporate america and shared the lessons learned. As a result, I was invited to speak in various venues this year. This afforded me the opportunity to meet even more “angels” and grow the network. Become Light! is being revamped this year to include stories from a variety of aspiring and established authors who wish to spread their own messages of hope, encouragement and inspiration.

April Wish: College Students Ministry
In April, the network featured College Students Ministries (CSM), a 501c3 organization that partners with state colleges/universities throughout Ohio to deliver spiritual encouragement and toiletry care packages to students in need. Thank you to all angels who helped raise money and awareness for this cause. Dawn’s Angel Wish Network will feature CSM again in 2010.

May Wish: A Kidney for Tiffany
Tiffany Douglas is in need of a kidney transplant. Her story was featured on the network. Many people responded with cards, letters and encouragement. But there was one “angel” who wanted to be her kidney donor. This “angel” is currently in the last stage of testing to determine if she will be a definitive match. Please continue to keep Tiffany and her family in your prayers.





June Wish: In Search of Community Angels
We made the request to find “unsung” people in the community that deserve recognition. Thank you for taking the time to send us information on some of these extraordinary people. We will be highlighting them this year.

July Wish: The Angels Coalition
The Angels Coalition is a unique artistic outreach effort designed to restore hope to distressed communities throughout the United States and beyond. The angel artwork acts as an “army” of positive angelic messengers sent to deliver love to those in need through the power of visual imagery. The wish for July was to help us raise awareness for this cause. Thank you angels for all of your support!

August Wish: Mother’s Assisting Mother’s: Back to School
Mother’s Assisting Mothers (M.A.M.), Inc. is a non-profit Christian outreach organization, serving mothers with Multiple Sclerosis. Supported by the National MS Society (Ohio Buckeye Chapter), the organization’s mission is to provide support, resources, mentoring, training, and empowerment to families increasingly stressed by this disease. Thank you to all the angels who helped raise money, school supplies, and awareness for this cause.

September Wish: A Need in Kenya
The Living Rock Church in Kenya requested to be featured on our network in September. The network angels sent in SO MUCH stuff!!! OMG! ☺ In fact, we just collected the last of it. We are now in the process of finding resources to help us ship the bibles, clothing, books, etc. to Kenya. This outreach effort has been so successful, we are considering making it bigger in 2010! More on this in the coming months.



October Wish: Project RISE
Project R.I.S.E. (Realizing Individual Strength Through Education) is a collaborative effort by Akron Public Schools, local shelters, and the community to provide supplemental educational services to children and youth who are experiencing homelessness. Thank you to all the angels who helped raise money, school supplies, and awareness for this cause.

Special thanks to our FIRST BUSINESS ANGEL SPONSOR www.TheWaterForYou.com. YAY! ☺ This company is “walking the talk” of making community a priority! Not only have they displayed support of Dawn’s Angel Wish Network and Project RISE, but also through providing education to help people get healthy and stay healthy. A thriving community of people cannot exist if its people are sick. Get new water, get new life! Visit their website, or call (877)891-1350 to try this product for free. You will be amazed at the results!

November Wish: Angels Coalition
The Angels Coalition movement was featured twice this year to continue to raise awareness. Have you ever put up a picture in your living room to change the atmosphere? This is what the Angels Coalition is doing by putting up life-sized images of angels in distressed communities. It’s a symbol of hope! For more information on the Angels Coalition movement, go to www.angelscoalition.com. Thanks angels for all your support!!!!!

Special thanks to our business angel sponsor www.reallygoodgraphics.com for helping to raise awareness for this cause. This company is dedicated to doing great things in the community!

(Pictured: Tobin Buckner, Pres./CEO Really Good Graphics and Allison Russell, Angelus Gallery)

December Wish: Hope for Families in Need
The network partnered with AMHA/Edgewood Village to adopt two families in need for Christmas this year. The angels responded with ALL the items (needs AND wants) on each family’s list and then some! WOW! The families were so surprised and grateful for all you have given. Thank you for sharing your love. That’s what its all about!

Special thanks to our business angel sponsor www.tracywashington.com. This company is dedicated to helping those dealing with grief/loss and is doing great things in the community!

(Pictured L to R back row: Milistine Tatum, Program Mgr. (Edgewood Village), Tracy Lewis, Case Manager (Edgewood Village), Dawn Mitchell, Tracy Washington, (front row) Monya Blackburn, Quen Dix, Monique Grissom)

THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING DAWN'S ANGEL WISH NETWORK!!! Looking forward to connecting MORE people and resources in 2010!!