The Wonder Ball - a Daddy*Daughter Dance Benefiting Wonders & Worries

Pictures from Korey Howell are up!

2011-05-03T09:28:00.000-07:00

And they are gorgeous!!! Korey has posted the images to her site under Events.
http://koreyhowell.smugmug.com/
PASSWORD: Princess

A note from Korey: When you mouse over the highlighted photo, a drop down menu appears. The symbol of a a folder with an arrow will allow you to download the low res image.

Enjoy reliving just one part of the fabulous evening! As soon as Addison Hayes' images are up, we will let you know!

I present our King - Paul Carozza

2011-04-12T06:33:00.000-07:00

This year our Wonder Ball King is Paul Carrozza - Founder of RunTex, Marathon Kids & Council Member of The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He is also super active in the community, running and beyond. RunTex supports non-profits when they want to get in shape, and they also put on 5ks or 10ks to benfit these non profits.

I asked Paul some questions about his involvent in the Wonder Ball this year and why he felt it was important.

He has known Meredith Cooper, one of the founders of Wonders & Worries for a long time and so has been a fan of hers & the organization for quite a while.. A a father of 3 kids, and husband to Sheila, who had to have open heart surgery as a result of an infection, his motivation to be King and support Wonderball is based on understanding the need to support families at the time of need. He feels Wonders & Worries is a very important service!

He's a super nice guy, i happened to bump into him & Sheila at Wholefoods and introduced myself. And yes they were buying healthy foods. You may also find them at fave restaruant Santa Rita after a good long run on the roads of Austin!

xxoo
Nanette

Spirit 105.9 - A Wonder Ball Sponsor (and a chance for FREE tickets)

2011-04-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

Just found out that the radio station Spirit 105.9 has joined us as a Sponsor - we are so excited and grateful for their generosity.

If you hear the PSA holler!

Listen to the station the week before the event (it's on April 30th) for a chance to win tickets to the Wonder Ball.
http://www.spirit1059.com/

The Wonder Ball is in austinwoman magazine!!!

2011-04-01T06:04:00.001-07:00

Thank you to Christine Cox, MaryAnne Connolly and Melinda Garvey for the amazing story in austinwoman magazine this month. Go have a read! Warning: might need tissues. http://bit.ly/ezcjbT

Hey ATX Daddies!

2011-03-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

Hey ATX daddies: Is there a special little princess in your life? Here’s the chance to give her that special night she's always dreamed of- all dressed up, dancing with daddy, a King and a Fairy Godmother to go with it! Benefitting local non-profit, Wonders & Worries, The Wonder Ball is a highly anticipated community event that gives fathers and daughters a magical evening complete with dinner, dancing, a wish-granting Fairy Godmother, two balloon lagoons, face painting and much more. The Wonder Ball is held at Palmer Events Center on April 30th from 5:30 to 9:30. Tickets are $100 for one father (or father-figure) and up to three daughters. You may purchase tickets or get more information at http://wondersandworries.org/wonderball.html.

See pictures from last year’s Ball at http://www.wonderballdance.com/.

(Wonders & Worries helps children cope when a parent faces serious or life-threatening illness. Their professional services are always provided free of charge to any member of the community, and are available in English and Spanish.)

Texas Oncology - a Wonder Ball sponsor!

2011-03-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

We are so thankful to Texas Oncology for being such a supporter of Wonder Ball and Wonders & Worries

I personally am thankful to Texas Oncology for just being such an amazing place. I've had to spend some time there, appointments with my oncologist, blood work, and of course the chemo treatments...and i can honestly say i loved being there. I always felt special, and taken care of and comfortable. I feel like everyone that works there is special and loves what they do. It's an odd feeling that i miss going there regularly. I always always felt good and comforted.after leaving, despite my reasons for being there.

They also open their doors after hours so the child participants of Wonders & Worries can visit, and see where their parent will be getting treatments. This was a big deal to my kids, it helped to talk about the infusion room with them after sessions and they knew what it looked like and where i would sit ect...so comforting.

It's a special place

xoxo
Nanette

What's for dinner??

2011-02-11T15:55:00.000-08:00

There's fab addition to this years Wonder Ball - Full Dinner!! Our other wonderful Wonder Ball blogger Robert Hale is working on the arrangements so I can't say yet just who is providing attendees with delicious fare...but here's a clue: It's an Austin Italian Favorite! Yeah, that doesn't help much ;)

So stay tuned here for the announcement coming up!!

and just for kicks - take a guess and leave it in the comments - pretty please?

xo
Nanette

Our Wonder Ball Story....

2011-02-09T12:09:00.000-08:00

Back again..this is Robert Hale guest Wonder Ball blogger. This week I would like to briefly share my families story and how the Wonder Ball and Wonders and Worries have played such a big role in our lives.

My amazing wife Dawn was diagnosed with breast cancer on December 4th 2008 and on December 9th we found out Dawn was pregnant with our second child. So that was some kind of week to say the least. After talking to a few different doctors we found an amazing team of doctors who gave us so much confidence that she could carry the baby full term and that Dawn could start chemo treatments. Well almost nine months later baby Ezri Hale was born healthy and Dawn finished all of her chemo and radiation treatments!! Here is a link to a news story done on Dawn that explains it much better

http://weareaustin.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=32661

Dawn is doing great as all her scans are clear and baby Ezri is full of life and giving us a real run for our money!

I was able to attend our first Wonder Ball with our oldest daughter Ainsley for the first time in 2009. What a great night for my daughter and myself. Dawn was able to help Ainsley with her fancy dress and hair and that meant the world to her. Our daughter had the biggest smile on her face all night and for her to have a night out that with no worries of cancer and pregnancy was amazing.

Wonders and Worries also provided a safe place for our family to go and meet up with other families who are going through a life changing experience. We have attended many events and classes and those experiences will stay with us forever!

I encourage you to attend the 2011 Wonder Ball and I promise you and your daughters will have a memory that will last a lifetime!!!

My Wonder's & Worries Story - by Nanette

2011-02-04T08:04:00.000-08:00


My son's feelings in a pot from W&W

Hi All - my name is Nanette Labastida and I will be a regular contributor to the Wonder Ball blog! I'm very excited to do this and even more excited to attend the Wonder Ball in 2011!
This time last year I was vaguely aware of Wonder Ball, I caught a few tweets about it on Twitter in my feed, I read an article about it, it seemed neat, cool, a worthy event. But separate from my life.

This year is a different story - because since last May, my family has been a Wonders & Worries family - that's the month I was diagnosed with breast cancer and our world took a new path.

What do you think the first thing a parent thinks of when they get the diagnosis of cancer or any serious illness? Well, i’ll tell you, it’s “what will happen to my kids?” – this question encompasses all the rest…..how will they react, how do I tell them, won’t they be scared? , how will I take care of them, how will they understand what’s going on – endless questions, fears & stress.

Wonders and Worries is an incredible gift to families. It has been to mine. My children have benefited, they understand cancer and the processes and treatments. The met kids who as my son said are “just like me” – that is so comforting to me as a parent.

That all of this was available to me at no cost was such an added blessing - financial worry is just the last thing you want to think about, and I am always looking for a way to give back to the organizations and people that helped me during the hardest times. This is why I am so thrilled to be on the Wonder Ball team, spreading the word, helping out where I can and sharing my stories!

See you all at the Ball!
xo

Nanette

It's WonderBall Time!

2011-02-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

Its that time of year again...no not ground hogs day although lets hope he is right this year and spring is around the corner.

It's my 8yr old daughters most anticipated night of the year...the WonderBall! I will be bringing you all the highlights leading up to this year WonderBall. I will also be sharing my family's story along other families and how the WonderBall has made such a huge impact in all of our lives!

Off we go!

Wonder Ball Photos are up!

2010-04-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Addison Studios, Korey Howell photography and Mike Barnes for these amazing images. We have had fun reliving the evening and we hope you do too!!!

http://www.wonderballphotos.com - Addison Studios
http://www.headshotsbusinessportraits.com/photo-booth/view-your-event/ - Korey Howell

And from Wonder Ball Mayor Mike Barnes:
http://www.kvue.com/news/slideshows/More-pictures-from-the-Wonder-Ball-90548989.html
http://www.kvue.com/news/slideshows/The-Wonders-and-Worries-Daddy--Daughter-Dance-90548474.html

Thank you to our Wonder Ball sponsors!

2010-04-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

Without the generosity of our sponsors, the Wonder Ball would not be able to happen each year. From the bottom of our hearts - THANK YOU!!! We look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

Presenting Sponsor:

Magic Wand Sponsor
New York Life

Tiara Sponsor
ID Theft Solutions of America

Table Sponsors
Lott Brothers Construction, Morgan Keegan and Amelia Bullock Realtors

Wonder Ball Friends
Healthsure, Junior League of Austin, School in the Hills, Sonic and Under Budget Kitchens

Media Sponsor
AustinWoman Magazine

In-Kind Donations
Addison Studios, Ambius, Amy's Ice Cream, Korey Howell Photography, Luminaria Media and Public Relations, North Bank Productions, Priebe Security, Princess Parties & More, Svetlana Novikova (facepainting) and Transwestern, Inc.

More amazing coverage of the Wonder Ball!

2010-04-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

Much thanks to Holly Gollub for this great bit on the Wonder Ball for Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-42712-Austin-Family-Entertainment-Examiner~y2010m4d6-Take-your-princess-to-the-ball-and-support-a-great-cause

And Wonders & Worries family member Dawn Hale will be on KEYE this afternoon during the 4:00 hour!!! Click here to see the interview.

Double Wonder Ball coverage today!!!

2010-04-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

We are so blessed to have such a dedicated team of volunteers! Christine Cox has written one of the best pieces on the mission of Wonders & Worries and the Wonder Ball that I have ever read. Grab a piece of Kleenex and start reading! http://www.austinwomanmagazine.com/Articles/2010/04_APR/68_News.html

Thank you goes out to Christine, again, and to Pam Friday, Dawn Hale and austinwoman magazine for their involvement in this piece.

Wonder Ball on KTBC this AM!!!

2010-04-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

I hope you all woke up this AM to see co-chair Jason Lavender and executive director Meredith Cooper on the Fox station. Thanks to Phil West for getting some great coverage for the Wonder Ball this year!!! You can check out the interview at http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/good_day/040110-Wonders-and-Worries-Father-Daughter-Ball

If you haven't gotten your ticket yet, please do so today...the Ball is in 10 days!

Only 3 more weeks...

2010-03-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

...to the Wonder Ball!!! Have you purchased your ticket yet? If not, this would be a good time to do so. :) Remember, your ticket includes admission for a father (or father-figure) and up to 3 girls, plus parking, refreshments, souvenir photo courtesy of Korey Howell, Amy's ice cream, dancing, crafts, AND more!!!
http://www.wondersandworries.org/wonderball.html

Thank you Andrea Ball!

2010-03-10T11:50:00.000-08:00

The Austin American-Statesman's philanthropy editor, Andrea Ball, published a mention of the Wonder Ball to her Charity Chat blog site. It can be found by clicking here.

Check us out in the March austinwoman magazine!

2010-03-05T14:15:00.000-08:00

Big thank yous to our media partner, austinwoman magazine! They have generously donated ad space in the magazine and website for March and April. Online at http://www.austinwomanmagazine.com

And watch for the April issue where Wonder Ball volunteer Christine R. Cox's piece featuring Wonders & Worries client Dawn Hale and the Wonder Ball Fairy Godmother (and Hill Country Middle School drama teacher). Thank you Christine!!!

Wonder Ball event press release

2010-02-18T11:16:00.000-08:00

Thanks go out to the Wonder Ball's crack PR team of Jennifer Hill Robenalt, Hoopla Media and Communications, for writing the release and Phil West, Luminaria Media and Public Relations, for pitching it to media. If you would like to see a copy, please contact Phil West at phil.west@luminariamedia.com or 512.879.6460.

We are so grateful!

2010-02-18T11:03:00.000-08:00

Texas Oncology has once again stepped up as Presenting Sponsor of the Wonder Ball! Words cannot express our gratitude for their continued generosity and support of both the Wonder Ball and Wonders & Worries. Thank you!!

Help us spread the word!

2010-02-08T06:36:00.001-08:00

The Wonder Ball is 2 months away! Please help us spread the word by sending this "save the date" image to your friends. Simply right click, copy, and paste into your email. Then send away! We hope that you have put the date on your calendar. Ticket sales are open at http://www.wondersandworries.org/wonderball.html.

Thanks!!!

The 2010 Wonder Ball

2010-01-31T15:18:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new blogspot for The Wonder Ball! Please check back often as we hope to use this spot to keep you posted on progress this year, share stories, and just have some fun.

The 2010 Wonder Ball is in full planning mode. We are excited to be at the Palmer Events Center again on April 10th. Tickets are available to purchase now.

We look forward to seeing everybody soon!

Wonder Ball Co-Chairs
Andrea Schulle & Jason Lavender