Great post-event article about the PHF Benefit Concert this past Saturday in Detroit, Michigan starring Teen Nation Tour, which raised $3,330+ for Hydrocephalus Research!

DETROIT, MI- Employees of one of General Motors Co.’s largest Michigan production facilities are rallying together to help raise awareness of an incurable disorder that is impacting one of their fellow employees and his family.

Hawke Adams, 5-year-old son of quality engineer Jason Adams at GM Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, has hydrocephalus – a disorder that causes excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain that creates harmful pressure that can be fatal.

“It’s real personal to me,” said Jason Adams, who also serves as co-director of the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation. “So, the plant leadership, UAW and GM as a whole got behind the idea of, ‘let’s do something.’ ”

As part of a monthly “diversity initiative” program, workers and plant leadership decided to help sponsor a benefit concert with the “Teen Nation Tour” in an effort to help raise awareness of the disorder, which has already caused Hawke to have 10 brain surgeries.

Doneen McDowell, Detroit-Hamtramck plant manager, said once hearing about Hawke, the Diversity Initiative team felt the concert was a great opportunity to help.

We wanted to figure out a way we could support Jason because he does a lot for the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation,” she said. “Not only because his son has it, but he’s developed a connection with other families that have it.

“We felt a connection the minute he started talking about it.”

The concert, which features a number of young singers, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources, 200 Walker St. in Detroit. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., followed by a special red carpet entrance by the performers at 6 p.m. and a VIP meet-and-greet at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are still available starting at $5 for children 6-12 years old and $10 for adults and VIP tickets to meet the performers. Children under 6 years old are free. For tickets, call 810-441-9170 or email Jason.Adams@gm.com.

Proceeds from the “Teen Nation Tour” concert will go toward the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, which Jason Adams and others also annually lobby for on Capitol Hill.

Performers include former “X Factor” contestant J Ryan, 14, of San Antonio, Texas; Tristan Blaine, 14, of Frisco, Texas; Nic Neufeld, 11, of Dodsland, Saskatchewan; Faith Marie Shirley, 15 of San Antonio, Texas; Collin Kozola, 17, of Naperville, Illinois, Katie Akin, 14, of Atlanta, GA; and Kaity Floyd, 20, of Dallas.

The number of people who develop hydrocephalus or who are currently living with it is difficult to establish since the condition occurs in children and adults, and can develop later in life. Some estimates report one to two of every 1,000 babies are born with hydrocephalus.

For more information on the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, or to donate, visit hydrocephaluskids.org.

Source:

Jennifer & Jaime Mingst with their son Thomas.

The Tuesday, April 19th fundraising event at Jumpin’ Jeepers play center in Mahopac, New York, to benefit the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation was a smashing success, raising over $850.00!

Jennifer Mingst, the PHF’s New York State Chapter’s Event Coordinator, was thrilled with the results; “The management team at Jumpin’ Jeepers did a great job in organizing this event for the PHF, and thanks to their generosity and support, the results were incredible. We are excited that this will now be a yearly event!”

With 15 State Chapters and dozens of events planned in 2011, the PHF has something for everyone to participate in!

About JUMPIN’ JEEPERS: Is a 3,000 square feet indoor play center for children ages 1 – 9 and includes an open play space, an imaginative play section, a dedicated toddler area, party rooms, and the Jeepers Café. Our learning playground is created to promote physical, social, and cognitive development in children. The playspace is cleaned throughout the day with eco-friendly cleaning products. Our open layout is designed to make it easy to view your child at play. It’s fun for kids and relaxing for parents!

Special Needs Children – At Jumpin’ Jeepers we are sensitive to the needs of children with learning and developmental disabilities, behavior issues, and medical concerns. We have taken several steps to encourage fun, healthy play for all children.

PHF Missouri State Chapter Director Shannon Sommers and her daughter Carly were honored with a Proclamation by the Mayor of Kansas City, Mark Funkhouser. Story was covered on TV by NBC Action News in 2 separate broadcasts:

PHF’s Featured Story

PHF California State Director Kim Ruiz, and her son Joey, were featured in the Stockton Record.

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