a force of natureLast week, I went on a long bike ride on a crisp, beauful Florida morning. I set out on the trail with a strong tailwind helping me move at a personal record pace. With the rst leg of the ride behind me, it was me to turn around and head back. Aer refueling and geng back in the saddle, I set out to complete the 30 mile trek. Almost instantly, I was struck by strong, punishing headwinds sweeping in from the Gulf of Mexico. Against this force of nature, the return leg was going to be brutal. Determined to complete the trek and resigned to what I was facing, I put my head down and started moving. Every pedal turn and every inch behind me felt like a win - proof that a simple perspecve shi during dicult mes can welcome opportunies to celebrate.Entering 2020, the tailwinds were with Landon Padge Memorial Fund. We had begun planning our inaugural Run for a Dream 5K and 1M Fun Run and other fundraising acvies for the year. By March, the headwinds were strong. Enre cies were in lockdown. Gatherings were cancelled. People were isolang against the pandemic. Yet we remained commied to our mission, even if it meant a pivot from in-person events to virtual. Once again, our Landon Padge Memorial Fund family came through for us. If you’re reading this, then it’s likely you contributed to our success in 2020 and gave us reason to celebrate. You walked, ran or jogged the rst week of December. You created or donated to a Facebook birthday fundraiser. Maybe you gave a direct gi to one of our programs or gave in memory of a love one you lost. How ever you gave, your gis made 2020 the best year of fundraising for Landon Padge Memorial Fund - over $15,000 raised! You should be proud of what you accomplished since the organizaon launched in 2018. Because of you, we’ve raised over $10,000 to provide nancial support to low-income families of kids at the Sibley Heart Center Cardiology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. And this Spring we will award numerous $2,000 scholarships bringing total scholarships awarded to Bleckley County graduang seniors to over $20,000.In every young person and family we help, we honor and remember Landon. He was condent and assured; certain of what he could accomplish and excited about life’s possibilies. He engaged the best of who he was while surrounded by friends and family who loved and supported him. That same spirit guided us in 2020 and connues to guide us into 2021.I don’t know what this new year has in store for us. I can’t know what new challenges will present themselves. But, I do know this. Our Landon Padge Memorial Fund family will be with us. Time and again, you’ve demonstrated your unwavering commitment to Landon’s remarkable legacy of service and goodwill. Our tailwinds are strong starng 2021, because you are a mighty force of nature.JANUARY 2021NEWSLETTERLANDONPADGETT.ORG5208 Bon Vivant Dr. #29Tampa, Florida33603TONY SHIVERFOUNDEREXECUTIVE DIRECTORDID YOU KNOW? Donors have contributed over $8,500 to Facebook Birthday Fundraisers since 2018!See “A Giving Checklist” on Page 4 to learn how you can create a Facebook fundraiser for LPMF. 1
In December, we held our inaugural Run for a Dream 5K and 1M Fun Run. Originally planned as an in-person event in March 2020, we changed to a virtual event to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved. In the rst week of December, parcipants from all over the country walked, jogged, ran and hiked to show their support.We want to thank our sponsors and more than 120 parcipants who made the virtual event such a success! Thanks to your nancial support, we raised $5,007. The money raised from this event will help fund scholarships for graduang seniors at Bleckley County High School and provide much-needed support for low-income families of kids at the Sibley Heart Center Cardiology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Thank you to everyone who parcipated. We can’t wait for the next (in-person) Run for a Dream!2
32020 Donors and SuPportersThank you to the following organizaons, families and individuals who made generous gis and provided much needed support in 2020Adam and Kim BraxtonAisling BonnerAlan CaerAmanda BrownAmy GallagherAmy Trudeau StutzmanAna and Jacob LudwigThe Aren and Derek Pace FamilyAsa MathisAshley StowAt Home Senior LivingAusn PerezBanner ZimmermanBarb BrandtBernadee BrewerBill and Cathy CoodyBill ReusingBleckley Memorial HospitalBob ClarkBob and Sherry ColbyBob MyersBrad and Heather DavisBrandon and Kelly LandryDr. James and Mrs. Brenda CraneBrian JohnsonBriggs DominyBrynlee DykesBubba and Jo Ann PadgeCal MathisCameron FountainCanyon CrawfordChad NoblesCherika Johnson-GraysonChloe ConleyThe Cizens Bank of CochranCory MullisCory and Donna BlackwellThe Christopher and Jessica Foskey FamilyChristy BollineCVS of CochranDairy Queen of CochranDanielle HynesDanny and Selena PaceDavid BannerDavis PropaneDawne BryanDennis RichardsonDerek and Margaret PadgeDixie Lawn and Landscaping, Inc.Drew BevisDylan StricklandEddie and Debbie Van BurenEdwin PeacockElla JohnsonEli BelowerElisabeth ConleyElisabeth EdgeEliza AdamsElizabeth CowlesEmma HillEmily FloydEmily YoungbloodEnrique VellonEric KackerEric SumnerErika LudwigFaye BarrsFinley GardnerFranklin JohnsonGage FloydGage RogersThe Gibbs FamilyGrace DanielGreat Oaks BankHarrison RogersHart ChurchHayden BakerHeather JohnsonHelga StowHolly JenkinsHunter CardenJackie MillerJackie WilsonJacob and Janine DavisJake JohnsonJanice PadgeJan YeartyJanelle FloydJared KerseyThe Ryan and Jennifer Davis FamilyJeremy CorbeJerry SappJessica CapmanJessica Medus Jessica MenkeJimmy and Linda PadgeJimmy and Margaret KilpatrickJohna BowenThe Jonathan and Terri Dawson FamilyJon GilbertJosh LileJoshua MorrisJoy TaylorJulia LucasJulie ConklinKaren Ludwig SavoyKate WhelchelKeena GaynorKendra SkellenKelly FrancisKevin RoseThe Kitchens FamilyKristen Hanson AlexanderKyle YoungbloodLaura MienbergerLaura MoodyLauren SkinnerLayal NajaLeanna NoahLee ClontzLen and Janice PukeLeo Phillips IIILindsey DykesLonnie and Carol ThomasLuke ChurchwellLynn DaneMai Lei LongMalinda SentersMarcie SimpsonMargaret KilpatrickMary Anne SturdevanMary MinickMathis Funeral HomeMaya FrankMcDaniel PharmacyMcKinley CranfordMegan Hernbroth KahnMegan KeeseeMeghan DonderoMichele CranfordMike-Bobbie GribbleMinka FultonMiriam PecharNadine HollandNamon HuddlestonNancy CoonNathanael GilbertNed and Hope DowNichole Brewer DurdenPeachtree Insurance GroupPiper SimpsonPatricia ColemanPatrick TaylorPatrick WilmorePaulee and Lee WatsonPeggy BaugherRandi and Leo PhillipsReesie DillardRobert and Nancy SappRobin PukeSal and Heather Diamond-NajaSandy JarretSara McHaleSco and Danielle Pandoli AndrewsShari DobbsSharon HumphreyShaunda ScoShayna and Dave CranfordSherry and Wake ConklinSnow’s Asian GrillStacie McCarthyStacey LappState Bank of CochranState Farm Insurance - Lindsey Dykes, AgentSteve WalkerTeresa PukeTerry RutherfordTiany MullisTodd PriceTom and Crisne SchulzTristen CrosbyValerie MolinariVicki SpeckWill ScoWilliard ColeyOur Landon Padge Memorial Fund Scholarships program grants mulple awards annually to Bleckley County High School graduang seniors. In just the rst two years of the program, eleven college-bound seniors have received awards totalling $17,000. This year, we expect to award numerous $2,000 scholarships. The scholarship applicaon will open in February with completed applicaons due in late March. More informaon will available soon on Facebook and on our website at landonpadge.org/scholarships.2021 Board oF TrusteesOur Board of Trustees looks a lile dierent than it did last year at this me. Heather Diamond-Naja, one of our founding Board mem-bers and former vice-chair, stepped down in 2020. Since we launched in 2018, Heather has so graciously shared her me and talent to serve our organizaon. Thank you, Heather, for your steadfast commitment to Landon’s legacy and to our mission. You’ll always have a seat at our table.Nichole Brewer Durden joins LPMF with experience work-ing in operaons management and lives in Warner Robins, Georgia with her husband and three children. Nichole brings great enthusiasm and passion to the Board. We know she’ll have a big impact. Welcome, Nichole!Want to join our Board? We’re looking for new members passionate about our mis-sion and eager to make a dierence in their communies. Email us at info@landonpadge.org for more informaon.3
AMAZON smile Do you shop on Amazon? If so, supporng LPMF is easy! Just go to smile.amazon.com instead of amazon.com and select Landon Padge Memorial Fund. Then, every me you shop at smile.amazon.com, 0.5% of eligible purchases will support our programs. It’s that simple.A GIVING CHECKLISTOur donors have accomplished so much in nearly three years of Landon Padge Memorial Fund. Your gis have already changed the lives of children and young people.How can you help Landon Padge Memorial Fund do even more great work? Here are ve simple things you can do:100% of your donaon supportschildren andyoung people and is 100% tax deducbleGIVING IS EASYOnline Go to hp://www.landonpadge.org/give Then, select which program you’d like to support.MAILLandon Padge Memorial Fund 5208 Bon Vivant Drive #29Tampa, Florida 33603VOLUNTEERWe are dedicated to delivering life-changing programs.That somemes requires specialized skills in areas like markeng, social media, accounng and event planning. If you’re interested in volunteering, email info@landonpadge.org. Help us make a dierence!FACEBOOKDonors have raised over $8,500 for our programs by creang Facebook Birthday Fundraisers. So, like us on Facebook. Then, create a birthday fundraiser for LPMF. To get started, visit: hps://www.facebook.com/fund/landonpadgememorialfund/Tony ShiverChairmanMaya FrankTrusteeErika LudwigCo-Chair and SecretaryJimmy PadgeTrusteeSherry ConklinTrusteeNichole Brewer DurdenTrusteeAren PaceTreasurerLPMF BOARD OF TRUSTEES4