Fall 2005

FMCA embraces ACCC, children

Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), an international organization for families who own and enjoy the recreational use of motorhomes, often selects a local charity to support at its conventions. The organization chose Anne Carlsen Center for Children as its charity for its 74 th International Convention, held in Minot, N.D. in August.

As the charity, ACCC was given the opportunity to raise awareness about its programs and services as well as raise money to support them. According to FMCA, over 4,000 motorhomes registered for the convention and an estimated 12,000 people attended. For most convention-goers, it was the first time they had been introduced to the Center.

The organization boasts a membership of over 127,000 active member families and more than 480 chapters.

“So many individuals and groups within FMCA embraced our mission and the children we serve with financial contributions and words of support,” said CEO Dan Howell. ACCC received over $8,300 in donations during the week-long convention, including donations from FMCA’s Elks International chapter and Red Hat tea participants.

Popular cooking show host Graham Kerr and his wife, Treena, donated 40 percent of the proceeds from the sale of his new cookbook to ACCC.

And FMCA’s quilt club, On-Road Quilters, donated 60 quilts to the children at the Center.

“As I watched and listened to how each quilt was made, I found that quilters and Anne Carlsen Center for Children have a common thread,” said Annual Giving Officer Shelley Nannenga, who received the quilts from the club.

Quilters, she said, spend time selecting the perfect combination of colors, textures and patterns for their quilts while ACCC carefully combines a team of people to help each child develop.

The love and pride quilters have in their finished pieces is no different than the love and pride staff and families have in their children, who are, Nannenga told the quilt club members, gifts that we treasure.