Midwest Family Lending Blog

The Huntington’s Disease Society of America. (HDSA) is “the premier nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Huntington’s disease. From community services and education to advocacy and research, HDSA is the world’s leader in providing help for today and hope for tomorrow for people with Huntington’s disease and their families. It’s mission is:

• To help individuals affected by Huntington’s Disease and their families through support and services

• To educate both the public and health care professionals about Huntington’s Disease

• To promote and support research directed at discovering a treatment and ultimately a cure for Huntington’s disease.

While there is still no cure for HD, today there is more hope than ever that we can beat this disease. Until then, our chapter will strive to provide support and sustenance to our HD families, knowing that while research provides hope for the future, We must provide care for our HD community today. We have become an active community, educating ourselves, sharing information, and advocating for ourselves and our loved ones.”

For more information, visit http://iowa.hdsa.org.

The 2019 HDSA Celebration of Hope Gala is one way to support this important cause and to opportunity to honor those individuals and families whose contributions during the past year have advanced the cause of the HD community. The event will be held Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Jordan Creek Holiday Inn in West Des Moines. Enjoy an evening featuring fine cuisine, cocktails, live music as well as live and silent auctions while supporting an important mission.

MFLCares is a program of Midwest Family Lending, a local mortgage company committed to creating customers for life and community impact. Through MFLCares, Midwest Family Lending employees nominate and select one cause a month that is dear to their hearts to receive a donation. Check out our calendar to learn more about these great causes in our area.

Bryce Draisey was a happy and presumably healthy 11-year-old boy when he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. Over the next 2+ years, he endured several surgeries, including a heart transplant, rejection of his new heart, many hospital stays and many other health complications that arose during that time. He endured all of this believing that each day is a new one and the trials, sadness, or anger that may have happened yesterday no longer matter today. He took his health problems seriously and complied with all of his doctors’ instructions, but he also took all of it in stride most of the time. He just wanted to be a normal teenager who went to school and had fun with friends.

Bryce was proud to spread his story to as many people as he could to create awareness for organ donation. In doing this, he also spread a story of love, courage, and forgiveness that all who knew him will remember.

MFLCares is honored to support Bryce’s Warriors and its four missions:

1. To tell Bryce Draisey’s story in hopes of raising awareness for organ donation and encouraging people to sign up to be organ donors.
2. To provide scholarships to graduating seniors at Southeast Polk High School in memory of Bryce Draisey who died of complications after a heart transplant while awaiting his second heart transplant.
3. To provide financial and emotional support to families of pediatric patients who are waiting for or have received a heart transplant.
4. To give back to other organizations who made a large impact in the life of Bryce Draisey and his family during his battle with his health and who continue to help children in need.

Help keep Bryce’s memory alive and other families in need by participating in the 7^th Annual Bryce Draisey Memorial Golf Tournament. The 4-Person Best Ball event will be held Saturday, September 28 at Terrace Hills Golf Course in Altoona, IA. Please register by September 14. Registration includes 18 holes of golf, a cart and dinner provided by Smokey D’s. Hole sponsorships are also available. Questions? Please contact Derek Draisey at 515-564-9524 or at bryceswarriors@gmail.com

MFLCares is a program of Midwest Family Lending, a local mortgage company committed to creating customers for life and community impact. Through MFLCares, Midwest Family Lending employees nominate and select one cause a month that is dear to their hearts to receive a donation. Check out our calendar to learn more about these great causes in our area.

MFLCares is proud to support March of Dimes’ mission to improve the health of all moms and babies. For 80 years, March of Dimes has helped millions of babies survive and thrive. The national nonprofit with a local Iowa chapter is committed to leveling the playing field for all moms and babies, no matter their age, socio-economic background or demographics. March of Dimes fights for the health of all moms and babies.

From MarchofDimes.com, “We’re advocating for policies to protect them. We’re working to radically improve the health care they receive. We’re pioneering research to find solutions. We’re empowering families with the knowledge and tools to have healthier pregnancies. By uniting communities, we’re building a brighter future for us all.”

Support Iowa’s March of Dimes chapter by purchasing tickets to its upcoming Signature Chefs Auction – the annual gathering of the area’s finest culinary talent in support of the March of Dimes. The event will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at The Ron Pearson Center, located at 5820 Westown Pkwy in West Des Moines, IA. Taste the chef’s creations before taking your seats for the Live Auction and Fund the Mission. Enjoy dessert while you bid on one of our unique packages, and raise your paddle to give generously to save babies.

In the month of August MFLCares charity is Iowa COPS. Iowa Concerns of Police Survivors, C.O.P.S. provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families and affected co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty as determined by Federal criteria. Iowa C.O.P.S. provides training to law enforcement agencies on survivor victimization issues and educates the public of the need to provide ongoing support the law enforcement profession and its survivors.

All donations made to Iowa C.O.P.S. stays in Iowa to support Iowa survivors. Monies are used to support such activities as sending families to National Police Week in Washington, DC, the funeral response team, cost of training, and other related activities

HDSA is the premier nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Huntington’s disease. From community services and education to advocacy and research, HDSA is the world’s leader in providing help for today and hope for tomorrow for people with Huntington’s disease and their families.

The HDSA mission:
• To help individuals affected by Huntington’s Disease and their families through support and services
• To educate both the public and health care professionals about Huntington’s Disease
• To promote and support research directed at discovering a treatment and ultimately a cure for Huntington’s disease.

While there is still no cure for HD, today there is more hope than ever that we can beat this disease. Until then, they will strive to provide support and sustenance to our HD families, knowing that while research provides hope for the future. They have become an active community, educating ourselves, sharing information, and advocating for others and there loved ones.

A future event to attend is the Ankeny Team Hope Walk, Saturday August 24th. Please watch our page for further registration information.

Puppy Jake Foundation is dedicated to helping military veterans through the assistance of well bred, socialized and professionally trained service dogs. They are proud to select, train and place only the best-performing dogs with these deserving men and women.

They assist children and families experiencing some of life’s biggest challenges:

• Aggression or ongoing family conflict
• Problems at school or in peer relationships
• Mental health challenges (depression, anxiety, sensory disorders, adjustment concerns, and more)
• Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse 
• Child neglect
• Substance abuse 
• Poverty, homelessness, and family instability

If you or someone you know needs support to navigate life’s challenges, call 515-282-YESS (9377) any time to speak with a caring member of our team. Our 24-hour access line can provide resources, guidance, and connection to YESS’ entire network of services.

“March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. They believe that every baby deserves the best possible start. Unfortunately, not all babies get one. They are changing that.

For 80 years, March of Dimes has helped millions of babies survive and thrive. Now they are building on that legacy to level the playing field for all moms and babies, no matter their age, socio-economic background or demographics. They support moms throughout their pregnancy, even when everything doesn’t go according to plan. They advocate for policies that prioritize their health. They support radical improvements to the care they receive. And they pioneer research to find solutions to the biggest health threats to moms and babies. 

What began with President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s personal struggle with polio led to the creation of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, better known as March of Dimes. They pioneered the vaccine research leading to the eradication of polio in the U.S., and then they shifted focus to address some of the biggest health threats to moms and babies with innovations like folic acid, newborn screening and surfactant therapy. 

Today they educate medical professionals and the public about best practices; they support lifesaving research; they provided comfort and support to families in NICUs; and they advocate for those who need them most, moms and babies. They are stronger and more committed than ever to guiding moms through every stage of the pregnancy journey. They are fighting for the smallest among us and advocating for their health each and every day. And they do so with the tools, technology and knowledge needed to build a brighter future for us all.”

MFLCares May 2019 Charity is Puppy Jake Foundation. A little about Puppy Jake.. Four pillars of character about the Puppy Jake Foundation:

• Friendly -Everybody loves dogs! There is a special warmth and joy that comes from having a four-pawed best friend by your side, and this should be embodied in all communications.
• Fun- Dogs are energetic & spirited. Messaging should reflect the light-hearted nature and playfulness of our canine friends.
• Compassionate- Our heroes need our help. While each experience of an American veteran is different, we are doing our best to ease the transition to their life back home and need to demonstrate unity and understanding.
• Respectful- We owe our freedom to the brave men & women of the U.S. Armed Forces. It’s important to express our appreciation of the brave men & women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Puppy Jake Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on making our American heroes’ lives easier and more fulfilling. The Puppy Jake Foundation provides well bred, socialized and professionally trained service dogs for wounded military veterans. These high-functioning dogs help veterans who may be living with PTSD, amputations, physical disabilities or other related challenges. Puppy Jake Foundation provides service dogs at no cost to qualifying veterans. Puppy Jake Foundation’s mission starts with the support of people like you. There are three ways you can contribute: volunteer to be a trainer or sitter, attend a fundraiser and donate directly. Donations go to pay for the training, health care and food supply of service dogs. You can make donations online at Puppy Jake Foundation.