posted 04-11-2005 10:42 AM
I would like to thank all people who participated, contributed and helped in The Ignite Foundations auction in January. With the winning bid, we were able to raise the fund necessary to bring a current astronaut to Boston to interact, speak and hang out with some kids who were in Massachusetts General, The Shriners Hospital and Spaulding Rehab.We were lucky enough to have STS 91, 99 and 104 and current Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office Janet Kavandi came up to Boston last week. She spent a day meeting the kids and seeing some of sights of Boston like the State House, Quincy Market, Harvard University, MIT and others.
She made a big impression on many of the kids, their parents, doctors and nurses. One child was having a bad day and just meeting a real astronaut made her day. The smiles, and questions were abundant. Her videos and talk hopefully inspired some of the kids. The kids loved all the pins, patches, decals, photos and other items that were generously donated to us by some of teh Collect Space members. She then went on to visit the Middle School and High School students in Epping,New Hampshire the next day.
It was a great visit and we appreciate the time she took to come up to Boston. A good time was had by all. My family had the opportunity to spend the day with a very sweet, hard working, dedicated person. She is a credit to the astronaut corp.
See www.ignitefoundation.org for more on this foundation plus how to order a special books signed by the crew of STS 29.
It has been a busy year since last February of 2003. I have helped arranged astronaut visits to nearby schools and at a Bruins, went to the Hall of Fame Inductions plus some other space related things. It will be tough to beat the last 14 months but I will try.
Thnaks again to all!!!!
Bryan McKay
Ignite Foundation
posted 04-11-2005 10:42 AM
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