Last week my family watched American Idol Gives Back and I really enjoyed seeing my sons’ reactions to all the wonderful causes benefiting from viewer donations and their excitement at being a part of such a massive relief effort–even if on a really small scale. Collectively small contributions can have massive effects. The entertainment industry has had success with raising awareness and funding with collective projects such as Band Aid and We Are the World. In the same spirit, Romance Writers’ of America hosts their annual “Readers For Life” charity Book Signing. This July Publishers and authors will donate thousands of books to be sold at the signing, 450 authors in one room, the proceeds going toward the promotion of literacy.
May 1st will kick off another very special event – Brenda Novak’s 4th Annual Online Auction to benefit Juvenile Diabetes. Unlike the other events mentioned, which are put on by large corporations, this is an amazing event started and powerhoused by one amazing woman. Brenda Novak is a 
bestselling author and a mom directly effected by juvenile diabetes–and determined to help find a cure. In 2002 I attended my first RWA National Conference and had the pleasure to sit beside Brenda on my flight home. I was a new member to Sacramento Valley Rose RWA where I had met Brenda and knew her to be one of the nicest and most encouraging published authors you could hope to meet. On the flight home we talked about our families and missing our kids and Brenda shared her worries over her youngest of five children and his life-threatening struggles with juvenile diabetes. Nothing can be more frightening for a parent than to have their child be under constant siege of a life-threatening disease. A few years later I was thrilled to hear about the benefit she was putting together to aid diabetes research. The support she managed to rally inside and outside of RWA was awe-inspiring. In the past three years her auction has continued to grow.
Last year Brenda’s auction raised $300,000 for diabetes research. She is hoping to double that this year with a stellar collection of donations. Items are up for preview on the auction site, so be sure to take some time to check out the hundreds of spectacular items donated: books, gift baskets, quilts, computers, televisions and some incredible getaways like a week at Eaton’s dude and cattle Ranch in Wyoming (my western bias is showing J) donated by author Jami Alden and her brother.
This year Petticoats & Pistols has donated a Western Loot Bag—P&P tote bursting with autographed western reads, western movies, a silver feather pendant and some other fun goodies.
My personal contribution is this leather saddle purse
filled with my BRIDE series, a gift card and extras. I’ve also joined in on another gift basket with pals from my other blogging home .
There are so many fantastic items and this is a wonderful cause…so spread the word and cast your bid—the fun begins on May 1st
I have to say, Brenda is an inspiration to me as an author, a mother, a friend, and a genuinely generous person. Care to share someone who’s been an inspiration to you?
nfl shop:www.knighttopline.com/cheapjerseys.html
This auction is AMAZING! Such a worthy cause. I’ve bid on several things the past 2 years and will be bidding again this year. There are some awesome prizes from some wonderful authors!
Thank you for posting on this, Stacey! The more people who know about it, the better.
That purse is awesome, btw!
I totally agree, Andrea. And bidding is a blast 😉 Thanks for posting!!
Hi Cheryl! Thanks 🙂 When I saw that purse I had to have it for the auction 😉
That purse is righteous, that’s for sure. A very worthy cause to be sure.
Hi Tanya! Thanks for stopping in to post 😀
I’m really looking forward to this aution it’s for a wonderful cause and there’s so many wonderful things to bid on!!
Hi Lori! The whole set up is pretty amazing. I bid on a bunch of stuff last year–but didn’t stay on top of it and was beat out on every one *lol* Every bid counts 😉 And I’m determined to win something this year 🙂
Hi Stacey, I think it’s wonderful that Brenda holds this auction and it’s amazing the number of awesome prizes/vacations donated by such generous writers.
I work with kids that have Type I diabetes mellitus and it is a difficult disease especially when they’re teenagers and just want to eat what their friends are eating.Giving themselves the insulin or wearing the pump can be a big deal at that age because they don’t want to be different and it’s not easy to be responsible for your medical care when it affects so much of your daily activities.
I applaud Brenda for all of her efforts and thanks to you and the other writers for your generosity. I also plan on bidding on several items and I have shared the info about the auction with our hospital staff.
Have a wonderful weekend. Thanks again.
I went and looked around Brenda’s site. The outpouring of donations is just amazing. I love that purse, Stacey. I had heard of this before but I’d never really gotten involved. I’m so glad Petticoats and Pistols is making a donation. Maybe by next year I can some up with something really neat on my own, besides whatever we do here.
Thanks for telling me more.
Stacey, I love your blog. This is such a worthy cause. So many people suffer with diabetes. I personally have two sisters with this disease. Our father died of diabetes complications. I think everyone who is afflicted with diabetes is my inspiration. They are so brave and determined to live as normal a life as they can for as long as they can. Bravo to you, and Brenda, and every author who donated items for helping find a cure!
I think our tote bag full of goodies would make a wonderful prize. And I love your purse filled with your books and gift card. Very nice. Hope Brenda raises a ton of money.
Hi Za! Thanks so much for sharing and for spreading the word 😀
Aren’t all those donations incredible, Mary?! Huge thanks to all our fillies for pitching in their western loot 😀 I know the auction will be a huge success!
Hi everyone–
I had to pop in to thank Stacey and all the other Pistols & Petticoats for pitching in. I’m awed and humbled by the generosity of others. What a beautiful thing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Here’s hoping we have another fantastic year!
(And Stacey, I was really touched by the whole American Idol Gives back show. It was really great for my boys to see that there are others out there who need us. I think it made them realize how good they’ve got it!)
Brenda Novak
TRUST ME, On Sale May 27th!
Thank you, Linda! Big ((HUGS)) to you and your family. Until I talked with Brenda, I didn’t realize how deeply families are affected by diabetes–as you know first hand. Thank you for sharing, Linda 🙂
This is the third year I have donated a home-made flannel baby quilt. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to join Brenda in finding a cure for this disease. I encourage everyone to participate – it makes you feel good and puts a great big smile on Brenda’s face. And, that’s a good thing.
Marlene
Hi Brenda! Thanks so much for stopping by 😀
Idol Gives Back was a great show–it reminded ME what a big difference small contributions from so man can do.
Huge thanks to you for all the time and energy you put into creating your auction ~ truly a blessing for everyone involved and effected by your generosity and determination 🙂
What a wonderful way to collect money for juvenile diabetes reaserch!
Hi Marlene! I want that quilt!!! 😀
Thank you for sharing!!
Isn’t it though? Thank you for stopping in, Estella 🙂
This is a great event! I’m participating as well.
As far as the Idol Gives Back show, I watched a bit too and it prompted me to start a new initiative…I outlined it on my blog.
And I agree Stacey – that’s a cool purse!
Thank you, Donna! So great you are taking part in the auction as well 😀 I’ll have to stop by your blog and check out your new initiative!
Thanks for stopping in to share!
I am so looking forward to the Auction, this will be my third year of participating as a bidder. I was
able to get some really great books at all three
auctions! Brenda, and all the donors, are to be
commended for their great work on this project!
Brenda would be a great addition to my list of those
who have inspired me, along with my husband, our
children and grandchildren,especially my autistic
grandson, Paul.
Pat Cochran
Hi Pat! Glad you’ve had a good experience with the auction. Thank you for stopping in to share 😀
I found out about Brenda’s Auction last year and this year I’ve donated a handmade western themed tote filled with my books, chocolates, and western themed goodies.
We’ve been fortunate in my family that though some elder relatives had diabetes so far my generation and my children are diabetes free.
But I’ve witnessed a young girl who is now a young woman struggle with this desease. And I’ve chatted with her mother over the years and know the kind of toll it takes on the families. And it is for that reason I’ve donated and will see what I might be able snag at the auction.
Thank you spotlighting this great event!
Oohhhh…another fantastic item to bid on!
Thank you for stopping in to share with us, Paty 🙂
What Stacey said! Brenda’s auction is awesome and I have so much fun bidding every year. I think it’s become habit-forming, LOL, but I never mind because I know it’s going to such a worthy cause.
Brenda is truly one of the most hard-working and generous people I’ve ever known and I’ve known her a long time — way back in the day!
Hi Jo!! So glad you stopped in to share with us 😀