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About CFWF "charlotte friends with flowers"
The first "friends with flowers" was founded in June, 2004 by Greensboro,
North Carolina floral and event designer Randy McManus. Randy
invites others to share in the joy of giving. The mission as stated by Randy McManus is
"to provide fresh flowers to
terminally ill patients with the hopes of lifting their spirits and brightening
their final days".
After hearing about this concept Do A Little Floral wanted to join and make a difference in the
lives of others. "CHARLOTTE friends with flowers" was founded in April, 2008 by
Brian Doolittle and Tony Maglietti, owners of Charlotte, North Carolina's Do A
Little Floral. With twenty plus years in design experience, Do A Little Floral
has seen the power and the joy that flowers bring to those who receive
them.
With the recent loss of Brian's Mother Carol at the Levine & Dickson Hospice and
Palliative Care Facility in Huntersville NC, Brian and his partner Tony knew
very quickly that they had to give back to this remarkable place that made Brian's Mom
comfortable in her last days on earth. Before Brian's Mom passed, he
told her about his idea of "friends with flowers"; she was thrilled.
"I feel like I am at home and all my family and friends are caring for me"
said Carol after arriving at Hospice. Brian commented, "Although my Mom was a
patient for only a short time at Levine & Dickson Hospice, the staff made that time relaxing and special for our entire family."
The original concept of "friends with flowers" believes that delivering
a small vase of beautiful fresh flowers to the bedside of a Hospice patient, many of whom have no family nearby or have never received flowers,
it shows them that they are loved and
thought of as they leave this world. Every floral arrangement is created
out of love and compassion, "friends with flowers" embodies the Hospice philosophy
and vision that "people should die with dignity".
The idea was a success from the start in Greensboro and "friends with
flowers" was officially on its way. "Charlotte friends with flowers" is creating a
formal 501-3 [c] non-profit complete with a Logo, Board of Directors, fundraising
initiatives, donation solicitations for supplies and professional services and
finally volunteer signups to make and deliver the flowers.
If you are interested in starting a similar program in your area, please
review the details found in the
How to Start section on
the founding "friends with flowers" web site.
You can't have too much of this
kind of love, so spread the word and donate like you had a loved one in Hospice.
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