The 2/21/23 7pm-10pm Mardi Gras Party at Hotel Vermont in Burlington is an annual fundraising event for the Tom Sustic Fund. Hope you can join us.
message from Julia Conner, MSW LICSW, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Social Worker at the UVM Medical Center.....
The Tom Sustic Fund has been providing much-needed grant funding to our pediatric oncology patients and their families for years.
The financial burden for families with a child going through treatment is staggering – there is almost always a significant loss of household income as parents spend extended periods of time in the hospital and clinic with their child.
When you add in the rising cost of gasoline, groceries and general utilities, and it's no surprise the financial struggle many families experience while their child is in treatment. The Tom Sustic Fund provides relief from some of the financial hardship by offering grants to families that they can spend on what they need when they need it. Their funding has been used for car payments, travel costs, adaptive equipment and to fill in the gaps where insurance, healthcare and community systems fall short.
We are endlessly grateful for the generosity and support of the Tom Sustic Fund and it is a privilege to honor Tom's memory by being able to offer some financial relief to families. On behalf of the pediatric oncology team at UVM Medical Center, we thank the Tom Sustic Fund!
event information:
Presented by Young Tradition Vermont at Vermont Folklife and Hotel Vermont with support from the Vermont Family Network, UVM Medical Center and others. The event will be live and in person for the first time since 2020. More info from mark.sustic@gmail.com
Mardi Gras in Burlington, Vermont ON Fat Tuesday, featuring live Cajun and Zydeco music and dancing. Mardi Gras, also called Shrove Tuesday, is French for 'Fat Tuesday', reflecting the practice of the last night of partying, dancing and eating food before the ritual fasting on Ash Wednesday. Also known as Carnival, it is celebrated in many countries around the world. Brazil, Venice and New Orleans play host to some of the holiday's most famous public festivities, drawing thousands of revelers every year. Refreshments and a cash bar will be available.
Yankee Chank and Point Noire Cajun Band will perform danceable sets throughout the evening. Most of the evening will feature waltzes (slow) tunes and a 2-steps (faster tunes). A dance floor will be available. Sound provided by Oliver Scanlon.
Mardi Gras masks and costumes are encouraged!
Masking for COVID is optional.
Mardi Gras masks WITH COVID masking is ideal!
This event benefits the Tom Sustic Fund, established to support a bone marrow transplant, generated through a series of benefit events featuring a wide variety of performers including Beausoleil and the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band from Louisiana.
Any donations will be entered in a raffle for 2 $65 tickets to the annual Ice Bar at Hotel Vermont on March 3 or March 5 https://hotelvt.com/ice-bar-2023/. The raffle drawing will be done at the end of the evening on 2/21/23.
After several bone marrow drives and monitoring and searching on registries in North America and Europe, an ideal donor was not located. After Tom's death, the funds were repurposed as on-going support for families with children with life-altering conditions at the Vermont Children's Hospital and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. The Fund is managed and distributed by the Vermont Family Network. Guests will speak during the event about the use of and importance of the Fund.
Advance tickets available at http://sevendaystickets.com. Mardi Gras-themed refreshments at the event. Reserve early for dining at Juniper Bar and Restaurant 802-651-5027.