Thursday, October 6, 2016

Grateful Hearts

Darlin' Forrest,

We count our blessings every day and this week we have so many blessings to be thankful for!  Your health and growing strength, your voice that is becoming clearer it seems every day, and of course your many friends and supporters throughout your journey.   As you told me recently, "the best part Mum, is that now I can use what happened to me to help others".

At that is just what you did last week end!  Great accomplishments take team work and what a Team you had!  With incredible support from The Red Fox Inn, Salamander Resort, Backstreet Catering, The Hill School, the talented and compassionate staff of A Place To BE, and many other volunteers, we hosted a fundraiser for the Forrest Stone Allen Financial Aid Fund at APTB.  It was in conjunction with the premiere of this year's Same Sky Project, which included performances of Behind the Label and Will to Survive.  Both AMAZING casts touched the hearts of everyone in the audience with their courage, talent, original music, and messages of hope, empathy and kindness.  If you missed this performance there are still opportunities to see A Will to Survive.  Please checkout the schedule at aplacetobeva.org website under "Upcoming Events"!

Forrest and his courageous friend Scott take the stage in Behind the Label.

Forrest singing his heart out for his best friend, Toliver, as the cast mimes Toliver's puppy love!

Forrest and Toliver take a bow


The audience responded to the performers and to Forrest and Tom's improv during intermission with an outpouring of generosity and we beat our stretch goal of raising $80,000 for financial aid at APTB!  Here is a link to their humorous exchange from Sunday:  https://www.youtube.com/watch

We NEVER could have accomplished this Forrest, without the love, faith and support of your friends and extended community.  Thank you Thank you to everyone who gave their time, energy, and talents to make this weekend such a success and to all the generous souls who donated to APTB so that others in need will have the opportunity to receive the transformative power of music therapy and support from APTB.

God Bless,

Mum

Forrest also wants to thank Missy & her cool friends for an awesome time at the PEC ball!!!  It was "EPIC" !!!