“Kites bring both smiles and peace.”
This is a translated quote from the Japanese Kite Makers from Dallas’ sister city, Sendai, Japan.
I couldn’t agree more because today I had both. Along with the privilege of doing good. And having fun. With a special friend and great people.
Those are all hallmarks of a day worthy of a page in my project life book.
You see, my friends at Reliant Energy invited me to participate in their 3rd annual Reliant Kite Relay Contest. This crazy competition is an event to celebrate the kick off of Dallas’ Trinity River Wind Festival which starts this weekend.
7 teams of media peeps and bloggers paired up with their chosen representative from a local charity to compete in the kite relay consisting of: a scavenger hunt and quiz, kite assembly and flying, kite art, and human parachute race. In thanks for our enthusiasm, Reliant offered us each a donation to our charity partner (I chose the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition) and for the winner of the kite relay, the big check for $5,000!
This totebag holds a helpful resource book and video, a blanket to keep them warm during chemo, some Mary Kay products, a teal ribbon pin and bracelet.
The winner take all was Dallas Thrive magazine, a publication dedicated to families living and thriving with special needs. Their charity of choice was Children’s Medical Center. And even though team MommyUpgrade didn’t win, it’s difficult to be jealous that any of the worthy charities represented today might be the benefactor of the grand prize.
Besides, my efforts today helped with the outreach of the NOCC who provides these amazing gift bags to women that are diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, among a gazillion other remarkable activities. (Read more about the NOCC here.) And that makes my heart swell.
Here are some photos from our friendly competition overlooking Dallas’ Margaret Hunt Bridge, including the spirited guest judges from Sendai, Japan:
There were 31 little kites on this string!
One of the kitemaker’s kites
Christina Lizaso from the NOCC, me, and “Real Posh Mom” blogger Jennifer Buxton
Japanese Kite Makers from our sister city, Sindai
Me and my NOCC teammate Christina Lizaso
Christina has some mad kite flying skills…
Congrats to Dallas Thrive magazine and Children’s Hospital
Our kite art
Bring the family out to the Trinity River Wind Festival in Dallas this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s FREE and they have a ton of great entertainment scheduled:
146 W Commerce Street Viaduct, Dallas, 75207
Parking is available at Riverfront Blvd and Commerce Street for a small fee (I think $4)
This fun downtown Dallas Festival is sponsored by NRG, parent company of Reliant and Green Mountain Energy. For additional details, visit the Trinity River Corridor website
“To fly a kite, you need a place of peace.” Yesterday was a great moment of peace & goodwill. Thanks so much for including me and the ovarian cancer cause.
So happy we could participate together. 🙂