Make a wish: 4-year-old cancer patient gets dream treehouse

by KELLI FONTENOT

Published December 1 in The Heights Observer

A custom-built treehouse, completed this fall by Make-A-Wish Foundation volunteers, is a dream come true for 4-year-old Austin Gallagher, who has cancer of the kidneys.
Even before entering kindergarten, Austin has already lived through more hospital visits, CT scans and surgeries than many people do in a lifetime. In 2007, when a visit to the doctor showed something unusual in his X-ray, one pediatrician recommended a trip to see a pediatric cardiologist. After thorough investigation, parents Mark and Krissy Gallagher received Austin’s diagnosis: bilateral Wilms tumor, which affects both kidneys and usually requires partial or complete kidney removal.
Three years, six abdominal surgeries, and 130 days in the hospital later, Austin became one of about 200,000 children Make-A-Wish has reached out to during the past 30 years.

Documentary sheds light on successful minority-owned businesses

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published September 1 in The Heights Observer
If a documentary’s story is not worth telling, flashy cinematography and dramatic music won’t overcome an audience’s lack of interest, according to Tim Gaydos, a videographer for a new documentary by local filmmaking group Educo Films.
In this case, Gaydos said, the subject matter speaks for itself.
The 30-minute documentary, a concept developed by the company’s producer, Stephon J. Davis, aims to educate viewers about how to support and create successful African American-owned businesses in the Cleveland Heights area.
“I found a lot of times I was standing there with the camera, listening in, and I forgot I was there filming it,” Gaydos said. “I got sucked into what they’re saying because it’s so interesting. The point they’re making and discussing is so valuable. It comes across very well in terms of engaging the audience.”
The film company takes its name from a Latin word meaning “to draw forth or bring out.” Davis said that definition echoes the goal of the new documentary, “Creating Successful Black Owned Businesses.”

Candy In Combat Zones

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published in the May/June 2010 issue of Candy & Snack TODAY

In areas of conflict, candy serves as a welcome boost of energy for hard-charging soldiers, a valuable reminder of home and a bridge-builder to the local population.

In a massive show of support, suppliers, retailers, individuals and volunteer organizations send out millions of care packages and cases of candy to U.S. troops each year. John Hanson, senior vice-president of marketing and communications at the United Service Organizations (USO), reveals it sent almost two million care packages in 2009.

“Chocolate and candy have been a part of the military experience for a long, long time,” he says, noting candy ties in with the overall purpose of care packages, which he says is to let troops know U.S. citizens are thinking about them and hoping for their safe return. He says the USO looks for items that stand up to the conditions in combat zones and provide a lift to soldiers both physically and mentally.

Grant aids Fairmount Group expansion

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published May 3 in The Heights Observer

Entrepreneur Dawn Hanson’s company, The Fairmount Group, will be going global with much greater ease because of a grant from British Airways.

Fairmount Group received one of the 100 Business Opportunity grants given out by British Airways. It will enable Hanson to travel to Europe, meet with clients and expand her business from her small office in Cleveland Heights to cities in Finland and Denmark. The company conducts market research, manages brands and plans special events.

The grant includes airfare for 10 round-trip business class flights, five global shipments with British Airways World Cargo and $1,000 in hotel accommodations at Courtyard by Marriott.

Walk aims to conquer childhood cancer

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published April 6 in The Heights Observer
The first CureSearch walk in Cleveland, planned for May 8 at Wade Oval from 9 to 11:30 a.m., will raise awareness and funding for childhood cancer research.
Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children, according to CureSearch. The organization, which works with the Children’s Oncology Group and National Childhood Cancer Foundation to fund research, will play a major role in the Northeast Ohio CureSearch Walk to Conquer Childhood Cancer, according to cochair Stephen Crowley.
Crowley and his wife, Cynthia Van Lenten, are organizing the walk. Posters advertising the event feature photographs of their daughter, Olivia, who was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in 2002. She was 7 years old. For the next three years, she underwent treatment, including chemotherapy in hospitals from Memphis to New York. Described by her father as a vibrant child who loved soccer and wanted to be a comedian, she died in 2005.
"She was full of life, and it made it really hard to see that something like this could happen to somebody like that," Crowley said. "My wife and I did everything we could to try to save her. We spent a lot of energy and resources trying to find a cure for her, so we decided to put the same energy and work into trying to help other children and other families."

TavCo’s new owner launches upscale menu

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published March 2 in The Heights Observer
The Tavern Company has a new owner and a new menu.
Chris Armington, who worked for 12 years at Brennan’s Colony as a bartender, server and manager, now owns The Tavern Company, also known as TavCo. “It’s always been a dream of mine to own my own business,” he says.
After signing the papers last November, his dream came true, and in January, Armington introduced a new menu for 2010. “If you’re a bar on Lee Road, you have to have wings and burgers, so we do that. But we also wanted to offer things that are a little more high end, and not be like every other bar on Lee Road.”
Additions to the menu—such as the seared tuna sandwich with orange pickled fennel and tarragon aioli on a crispy portabella mushroom bun, which replaces the old menu’s tuna melt—provide a more sophisticated take on the restaurant’s previous offerings.

Social Media: Reaching Out To Consumers

by KELLI FONTENOT

Published in the November/December issue of Candy and Snack Today magazine

The Internet connects suppliers and retailers with millions of consumers every day. Discover how networking sites can gauge shoppers’ attitudes, raise brand awareness and reinforce positive associations with the category.

As candy retailers and suppliers explore sites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, they are realizing their impact on brand awareness and company credibility.

Social media is definitely sparking consumers, with more than 105 million in the U.S. using these sites. What’s more, two out of three participants in a recent social media marketing industry report noted an increase in web site traffic, subscribers or opt-in lists after investing just six hours per week.