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These iPads Transform Lives

“My daughter is nonverbal and she finally has a device where we can download the app that helps her communicate with us at home. It’s the biggest blessing and an amazing gift! People take their spoken language for granted and do not realize just how hard it is for a nonverbal child. This iPad can break those verbal barriers for our family!”

These were the words from a family member of one of 57 kids who went on the Kidd’s Kids 2018 trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Founded by late radio host and television personality, Kidd Kraddick, Kidd’s Kids provides hope and happiness by creating beautiful memories for families of children with life-altering and life-threatening conditions.

Every November, the organization sponsors a group of children and their families on an all-expense paid trip to “The Happiest Place on Earth,” where they can forget about doctor appointments and their illnesses, and enjoy a magical day with their families.
At the start of this once-in-a-lifetime trip, the kids were gifted with a personalized Apple iPad that is preloaded with all relevant and contact information for their trip.

Here are the words from another family:

“We were so grateful to have the iPad for my son’s 11-day hospital stay. He loves being able to keep in touch with family and friends using the FB Kids Messenger app. He also likes it for drawing, watching shows and playing games.”

This is the eighth year that FUSION OF IDEAS has gratefully donated our app development and customization services to this amazing cause. Together with Best Buy, we were onsite to help hand out the iPads to the kids, and see the delight on their faces when they were presented with the customized devices.
“The donation of the iPads from Best Buy and completely personalized by FUSION OF IDEAS provides entertainment, educational tools and memory-making apps the Kidd’s Kids otherwise would not have,” said Kelly Kemp, executive director of Kidd’s Kids. “We know how grateful all the kids are especially when they are back in the hospitals for days or weeks at a time. It’s a blessing and a partnership we are so very grateful to have for our Kidd’s Kids.”
For more photos from this year’s Kidd’s Kids trip, check out their album on Facebook.

Best Buy and FUSION OF IDEAS help hand out iPads at the Kidd’s Kids trip in Walt Disney World. Photo source: Kidd’s Kids
Fifty-seven Kidd’s Kids got their own customized iPads on this year’s trip. Photo source: Kidd’s Kids
The iPads are used by families after the trip for learning, therapy and communications. Photo source: Kidd’s Kids
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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

For the third consecutive year, we are honored to contribute to the THINK PINK Wall of Honor, presented by Valiant Women of Mission Hospital. Located at The Shops at Mission Viejo, the month-long event during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month encourages community members to honor breast cancer patients and survivors through a beautiful collection of tributes which are displayed on the wall.

In 2016, Valiant Women was looking to update its board of handwritten messages to appeal to the more tech-focused millennial generation. The solution? A four-sided 10 ft. electronic kiosk with LCD screens to display the tribute messages. The kiosk was made a reality by the organization’s generous donors, but the software needed to bring the digital tribute wall to life was missing. That’s where FUSION OF IDEAS came into the picture.

Our app development team went to work to create a custom portal that allows the Valiant Women team to manage, arrange, delete and add content to the four screens of the kiosk. These screens – one for event merchandise, one showing sponsor spotlights, and two screens dedicated to survivor tributes – can be accessed by the client through the portal from any computer, tablet, laptop or cellular device. The digital kiosk, updated annually by FUSION, has been in use by Valiant Women for the past three years, and it has been a huge success!

“This is our 16th annual Wall of Honor, and every year we strive to engage and educate more community members,” shared Mary Miyamoto, Chair of the Valiant Women THINK PINK Breast Health Wall of Honor. “Our message to the community is about the importance of early detection. Our digital wall encourages engagement and inspires people to donate, honor loved ones by posting messages, and purchase merchandise. It’s eye-catching and super easy to use.”  

FUSION OF IDEAS is proud to be a partner and supporter of this amazing cause. The THINK PINK Wall of Honor will be at The Shops at Mission Viejo throughout the month of October.

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Think Pink with Mission Hospital’s Valiant Women Support Group

It has been another successful year working with Mission Hospital’s Valiant Women Support Group, which hosted its fifteenth annual Think Pink Breast Health Wall of Honor last October.  The proceeds of this annual fundraiser go to support Mission Hospital Breast Health Services, which funds mammogram screenings and diagnostic care for under or uninsured women in the community.  

Every two minutes, a patient is diagnosed with breast cancer. Women have a one in eight chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their life. Breast cancer is not a death sentence; it can be treated. Mammography is the most effective breast cancer screening procedure. Early detection saves lives.

The Mission Hospital Valiant Women Support Group saves lives and makes a huge impact on families and the local community. The Wall of Honor was a place for individuals supporting and donating to write notes, thoughts, and tributes to those who have been affected by breast cancer.  Two years ago, Fusion of Ideas started working with the group. As an alternative to the traditional handwritten cards placed on walls, Fusion of Ideas helped create an app that displays special honoree messages on TV screens at the mall during the fundraising event.  Through the interactive application, users can also contribute to the cause by purchasing special merchandise, donating funds, and learning about various activities and events taking place during the month of fundraising. The app also displayed the Think Pink Wall of Honor Instagram account, specific sponsor videos and feeds, and featured product shots of merchandise being sold for the fundraiser.  Fusion of Ideas also helped create the application that houses the donations.

The whole fundraiser is made possible through sponsors such as The Shops at Mission Viejo, Volvo, Infinity and countless others who have dedicated funds, services, and time.  The Fusion of Ideas team has been honored to work with Mission Hospital’s Valiant Women Support Group and looks forward to participating in future years.  For more information and to participate or donate to this wonderful fundraiser, please visit https://www.mission4health.com/mission-hospital-foundation/fundraising-support-groups/valiant-women/

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Another Fantastic Year With Kidd’s Kidds

This November marked FUSION’s seventh year of sponsoring and working with Kidd’s Kids.  Since 2011, FUSION has donated app development and customization services to the charity, who works with families of children with life-altering or life-threatening conditions.

Kidd Kraddick founded Kidd’s Kids in 1991 with the goal of making a difference in the lives of children and families who are dealing with life altering conditions.  Initially, the program began with a bus ride to Sea World in San Antonio, Texas. Thanks to the volunteer efforts from partners, donors, and medical professionals, along with the Kidd Kraddick Morning Show listeners’ willingness to embrace their mission, Kidd’s Kids has grown at an exponential rate. Now in its 26th year, the foundation has sent over 1000 kids and their families on a trip of a lifetime to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Here’s a video showcasing a little more about this foundation and our involvement with them.  For more information, please visit http://www.kiddskids.com