SHANNON MOSHER MEMORIAL.COM

S.A.L.T. and L.I.G.H.T.

 

Become a bone marrow donor.

Save A Life Tomorrow....

so that others may

Live In Great Hope Today


VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE –As of May 20, 2023, The Shannon Mosher Memorial Foundation, Inc. (“Foundation”), established September 26, 2000, will no longer exist. Shannon died May 20, 2000 after her courageous battle, as chronicled in this website. This Website has been updated to reflect the change from an incorporated “Foundation” to a “Memorial” to Shannon and is designed to keep remembrance of her alive.


The website, shannonmoshermemorial.com, contains the uplifting story of how she faced a 15-month battle with leukemia, that included a bone marrow transplant, with great faith, courage, grace, humility, as well as her own special sense of humor, while dealing with the myriad of medical tests, procedures, setbacks and occasional bright moments.


Much of her story remains intact from the original website text on this website. It includes just a few of the many testimonials received from people who followed and were inspired by her story. It is hoped that Shannon’s story in this Memorial website will continue to be a blessing to many for years to come, especially for those who are facing a similar ordeal and their families who are looking for encouragement and inspiration.


Since the Foundation will no longer exist as of May 20, 2023, to the extent reasonably possible an effort has been made to delete many references to “Foundation” from all of the original website text.


NOTE: With that said, the figures shown on this updated Memorial website are carried over from the original website when the Foundation was in existence. Visitors to this website should just realize that any text, figures, and other information shown BEFORE May 20, 2023 are related to when the Foundation was in existence, and anything posted AFTER May 20, 2023 represents new material on this updated Memorial website. 


Patient Assistance


2/3/23


IMPORTANT NOTICE: Effective immediately, we will no longer process Applications for Patient Assistance. After over 21 years of providing various types of assistance to leukemia patients, such as financial grants and assistance with bone marrow donor drives, we find it necessary to proceed to “close up shop” which we plan will soon include filing Articles of Dissolution to cease all activities as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit Foundation. Age and health-related issues have helped us to reach this difficult decision.



2/3/23

As with the decision noted to our Board in February, 2021 to stop hosting Bone Marrow Drives due to a lack of any response to the totally digital drive held in 2020, we have also decided that we have run the course with actively seeking to provide financial assistance to leukemia patients. Age and some related health issues have also helped us to reach this decision. With that said, while we still operate briefly as an incorporated Foundation, we'll try to process any reimbursement requests we receive, but we'll gradually begin to "close up shop" which we understand will finally involve filing Articles of Dissolution with the appropriate Florida and Georgia agencies.


Our plan would be to put IMPORTANT NOTICES on all Tab home pages that explain our reasons for this action, and  to clarify that all previous website pages and information referring to the Foundation activities that make up the great majority of the Website activity simply remain on the website purely from an "human interest" perspective as information to anyone interested in Shannon's journey of 15 months battling leukemia and the effects of a bone marrow transplant and to remain for a time simply as an on-going memorial to Shannon.. Except for satisfying any Foundation-related normal remaining financial obligations, we would then plan to distribute the remaining balance to some worthwhile like-minded organizations just prior to filing the aforementioned Articles of Dissolution


Football Auction - Florida

 

 

December 27, 2011

Duds…and we’re not talking Milk Duds. Another expression that comes to mind is “reality versus expectations”, which seems relevant, as well. Having established this 501(c)(3) non-profit Foundation in Shannon’s memory several months after her death in May, 2000, I would humbly say the following two events over the years would apply to the above descriptions:


1. Most recently, the Football Charity Auction we promoted through 12/12/11, as described below, to raise funds to be used to reimburse some expenses of leukemia patients not covered by their insurance that received ZERO bids; and,

                       
2. The initial annual combination blood and bone marrow/stem cell donor registration drive held in May, 2001 in Shannon’s memory, that registered far fewer donors to the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) registry than the initial goal I had set for the drive.


Football Charity Auction
There, of course, were some highlights from the events. For instance, because of my plan over the past several months to try and get the autographs of the current and previous 3 head coaches from both Georgia and Florida on their respective footballs, it provided the incentive necessary for me to obtain our current new website package that provides more flexibility and features than the original website design we had from as far back as when Shannon was battling the leukemia that eventually took her from us.

 

I also met some very nice people during the process over the past several months and became familiar with other outlets in cyberspace that can be valuable tools in promoting different events in the future. In terms of expectations and based somewhat on input received from the sports memorabilia specialists who provided me with the ‘good faith estimate’ of value for each ball, $300, but also suggested that much higher bids could be anticipated from the respective alumni and fan base from each school, I actually thought there would be some avid Bulldog and Gator fans who would have perhaps offered up to $1,000 for each ball…a nice round number that would have enabled our Foundation to provide full financial assistance to 2 leukemia patients for a whole year.

 

However, to honestly and humbly evaluate the overall project based on the number of man hours devoted to it compared to the results, it was definitely a dud! Perhaps the economy was a key factor; if not, the way I chose to market the footballs must have been a bit too optimistic. In any event, we still have the footballs and may well try another path to market them to raise some much needed funds to help other leukemia patients with their expenses.

 

Initial Annual Combination Blood and Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Donor Registration Drive
Well, when Shannon was battling leukemia and in desperate need of a matching bone marrow donor in early 2000, to even have a chance at an extended life, we held a drive at our church in Decatur, GA and had 420 new donors added to the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) registry. So, it seemed reasonable that 1,000 donors at Shannon’s mega-church in Duluth, GA (Perimeter Church) would be a good target goal to achieve at the initial annual bone marrow drive in her memory in May, 2001, a year after her death from leukemia and the effects of a less than perfect bone marrow match. 

 

In preparation for this initial drive, we received tremendous support from the co-hosts of the drive with our Foundation: the American Red Cross, the NMDP and Perimeter Church. We promoted the drive extensively in the community and Teresa and I even spoke at several Sunday morning classes at Perimeter the 2 or 3 weeks prior to the drive being held. A great amount of time, effort and emotional energy was expended into making this drive a huge success and, yet, we registered 42 new donors. While every new donor on the registry is important and appreciated, just from a numbers perspective based on the established goal, this too was a DUD!

 

However, as related to both of the above events, I often recall what my dear mother used to say to me from time to time: “nothing ventured…nothing gained”. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

 

Blessings,

 

Stuart Mosher

*******************************************************************

 

 

Current High Bid:                TBD    

Minimum Opening Bid:   $300.00

 

 

 

11/22/11

 

The Auction: The above unique Florida Gator football is being  offered by The Shannon Mosher Memorial Foundation, Inc. (“Foundation”). The person with the highest bid over the Foundation’s good faith estimate of value of $300.00 (“Reserve Price”) for the football will become the proud owner of this football that has been autographed by past coaches Steve Spurrier, Ron Zook, and Urban Meyer and current coach, Will Muschamp.  

 

100% of the proceeds received by the Foundation for the sale of this football will go toward providing financial assistance to leukemia patients in the form of reimbursements for expenses not covered by their insurance.

 

Our sincere hope is that the opinions of the independent sports memorabilia specialists who helped to establish the Reserve Price are accurate; i.e. that the auction of this unique football will result in a significantly higher amount being offered over the Reserve Price by an enthusiastic Florida supporter, while giving the successful bidder a valuable keepsake that will be treasured for many years. See Auction Bidding Instructions Below.

 

Charity Auction/Tax Information: According to accounting information received by the Foundation, Donors who purchase items at a charity auction may claim a charitable contribution deduction for the excess of the purchase price paid for an item over its fair market value. For purposes of this auction and based on input from independent sports  memorabilia specialists, the Foundation has set a good faith estimate of $300.00 for this Florida football autographed by the four coaches. Assuming the donor has no reason to doubt the accuracy of the published estimate, if he or she pays more than the published value, the difference between the amount paid and the published value may constitute a charitable contribution deduction. Consult your tax advisor for further clarification.
 
History of the Football: In early 2002 after having recently moved to Ocala, FL, our bank called to say that I had won a raffle, and the prize happened to be an official University of Florida Gators football provided by the Athletic Department in all its colorful orange, green and blue colors, autographed by new coach at the time, Ron Zook. Coach Spurrier had just left for a coaching stint in the NFL.

 

While winning the football was a little ironic in that I played for Coach Vince Dooley from 1964 – 67 during his first four seasons at the University of Georgia (the newspaper picture below from the 43rd annual Georgia - Florida game on 11/6/65, shows yours truly (#35), along with teammate Ken Pillsbury and Florida's Steve Spurrier and Charlie Casey), I kept the ball through our return to the Atlanta area in late 2006. Over the past several months, with some assistance from Greg McGarity and others in the Athletic Departments at Florida and South Carolina, the other three coaches graciously agreed to sign the football.

 

The objective has always been to use this ball in a fundraising effort to help provide additional financial assistance to patients who are dealing with the horrendous effects of leukemia. Since the Foundation’s initial reimbursement check to the first leukemia patient we assisted over 10 years ago on 6/11/01, it has been our privilege to have been able to provide 43 leukemia patients a total of 179 financial grants totaling $37,316.75 through November 21, 2011.

 

Whether or not you bid on the football, if you would like to provide financial support to the Foundation on a one-time or on-going basis, please either click on a PayPal button and proceed accordingly or, if you would prefer to donate via mail, make your check or money order payable to The Shannon Mosher Memorial Foundation, Inc. and send it to the Foundation at: 3589 Rock Elm Court, Auburn, GA  30011. A receipt will be provided by the Foundation for each donation received.

 

 

 

Stuart Mosher

Executive Director

The Shannon Mosher Memorial Foundation, Inc.

stuartmosher@aol.com

UGA Football 1964-67

 

 

Auction Bidding Instructions:


1. Initial bids over the minimum Reserve Price of $300.00 will be accepted from late November, 2011 through midnight (E.S.T.), Monday, December 12, 2011.


2. Bidder must be at least 21 years old, and each bid should be sent to the following email address:
stuartmosher@aol.com.


3. Bidder’s email should show on the Subject line:  Florida Football, and also include the bidder’s current dollar bid, and the bidder's name, address, phone number(s), and best contact email address.


4. Assuming we experience no unforeseen website or other cyberspace issues, the Foundation will, at its sole discretion as to specific bids received, regularly update the highest bids received at the top of this link.


5. Soon after December 12th, the Foundation will notify up to the top 3 different bidders (and ties) via email, and they will have until midnight (E.S.T.), Friday, December 16, 2011 to submit one final bid using the same procedure as above. NOTE: These bids will not be posted when received; i.e. only the highest winning bid will be posted and that will be done soon after the December 16th deadline.


6. In the unlikely event there is a tie at the December 16th deadline, a drawing will be held as soon as possible as follows: One of the leukemia patients (Angela - 12 years old) who lives near Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL, for whom the Foundation has been providing financial support since 2004 (or a substitute should she not be available), will be asked to draw up to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners from numbers assigned anonymously to any bidders involved in a final bid tie.


Payment and Football Delivery:


1. Once identified, the high bidder will be notified via email by the Foundation, and arrangements for the payment will be made, which payment must be received by the Foundation within seven (7) days from the date of notification. Payment alternatives may include one of the following: 

A. In cash, should a personal “handoff’ of the football be mutually arranged; or

B. By mail, via a Cashiers or Certified Bank check received at the Foundation’s address; or

C. Online, by using a PayPal button on the Foundation’s website (please add 2.2 % to the winning bid amount to cover the related PayPal charges to the Foundation).


2. After confirmation of payment received, the Foundation will make arrangements to ship the football to the high bidder to the property address provided, anywhere in the continental United States, via a tracking feature with either USPS Priority Mail or FedEx, unless a mutually agreed upon personal “hand-off” of the football is arranged between the winning bidder and the Foundation.

 

3. If the identified winner does not complete the transaction, for any reason including, but not limited to, the Foundation not receiving the payment in a timely manner as outlined in #1 above, the Foundation at its sole discretion will contact the other high bidders in priority order until the transaction is complete.