Author: Andrew Nash

Loggers Helping Children

by Andrew Nash

Loggers frequently give back, especially to the Log – a – Load for Kids Foundation, designed around a challenge for loggers to donate the value of one load of logs to the Children’s Miracle Hospitals Network, and have raised millions of dollars to help youth with medical needs which families cannot afford. Six local loggers that are now the “magnificent six” include Joshua Amos, Scotty Bottoms, Hunter Clary, Palmer Dugger, Paul Scott, and Adam Wilbourne because they planned and executed a Sporting Clay Tournament and Banquet at Arrowhead Gun Club in Lunenburg County to raise money for the King’s Daughters, UVA, & VCU Children’s Miracle Hospitals.

Fifty-two teams registered for the fun shooting event and over 250 people, along with over 75 sponsors attended/supported the shooting events, the banquet, and the auction to raise money for children. The LAL State Coordinator Nikki Robertson, Virginia Loggers Association members, and many volunteers helped too. The event was the most successful in Virginia history with the loggers raising a gross of $130,000 with about $110,000 going to the hospitals. Palmer Dugger, speaking on behalf of the “magnificent six” said, “we just wanted to have an event in Southern Virginia that we would be able to attend and to try to do more for Log-a-Load for Kids! We never dreamed we would make more than $100,000 to be donated to Children’s Miracle Hospitals! Working with this group of loggers was a real honor! Watching all the people coming together and supporting this was an amazing thing! Hopefully people will start to realize that loggers are good people and care about more than just making a dollar.”

Kate Ryan joined the great event as the official Philanthropy Officer of the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia, one of two recipients for the proceeds. Kate was very impressed with the success of the event and said, “Thank you to the Virginia Loggers Association for their generous support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through the first annual Sporting Clay Tournament at Arrowhead Gun Club! Funds raised will help Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia, purchase a Butterfly iQ3 for our transport – a handheld ultrasound probe that connects to any iPhone or iPad, allowing practitioners to perform real-time imaging in the field. We are so grateful to all the volunteers, sponsors and attendees that helped to make this event such a success.”

During the dinner, Delegate Tommy Wright (R-Victoria) who represents House District 50 presented commendations from the Virginia House of Delegates to the six sponsors of the Sporting Clay Tournament and Banquet at Arrowhead Gun Club in Lunenburg County. Delegate Wright thanked everyone associated with the fundraising event for their hard work and was pleased with the success of the fundraiser.

Delegate Wright said “I’m proud to commend these six dedicated loggers for their incredible work in hosting the Log a Load for Kids event in Lunenburg County. Their generosity and commitment to helping children battling illnesses is truly inspiring. It’s a great honor to have such a meaningful and compassionate event take place right here in Southside Virginia and I thank them for making a real difference in the lives of families across our Commonwealth.”

We are so proud of the group and sponsors who gave back to make a difference for children!

Call for Nominees: 2025 Volunteer of the Year

by Andrew Nash

It’s that time of year again – nominations for the Log A Load For Kids Volunteer of the Year award are now open! Your nomination can make all the difference. Nominate today!

This is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes who have shown exceptional leadership and dedication in supporting the Log A Load For Kids program. The winner will be recognized during the American Loggers Council annual meeting September 17-19th in Lafayette, LA.

Roy Holder of Richton, MS was recognized as the 2024 Volunteer of the Year. Roy works professionally in the timber industry but also volunteers his skills as an auctioneer to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Log A Load auctions across the country! We’re so thankful for Roy’s gifts of his time and talents, and we look forward to recognizing another outstanding volunteer in 2025.

Who Can Be Nominated? The ideal nominee is someone who has gone above and beyond in their efforts to raise funds and advance the mission of Log A Load For Kids. They are generous participants and/or leaders who have not only contributed their time and resources but have also inspired others to do the same.

How to Nominate? Nominations can be submitted by email to sherrihansen181@gmail.com and logaloadforkids@cmnhospitals.org. Please include a 2025 Volunteer Nomination Form  as well as a brief narrative that describes the efforts, projects, or activities undertaken by the nominee that have demonstrated exemplary leadership in raising funds and/or advancing the Log A Load For Kids program. You can choose to give examples of accomplishments or describe the impacts of the nominees work on the community, CMN hospitals, the forest products industry, and/or Log A Load For Kids.

Deadline for Nominations Please send in your nominations by August 15, 2025.

Let’s come together to celebrate the individuals who tirelessly work to ensure the success of Log A Load For Kids. Nominate your Volunteer of the Year today and let’s give them the recognition they deserve!

Thank you, Log A Load!

by Andrew Nash

We would like to thank all of our state Log A Load For Kids sponsors and vendors and all of our dedicated volunteers for a Fantastic 2023 fundraising year. The total raised in 2023 from 28 states supporting over 72 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) was over $5.0 million dollars. We are extremely excited with the donation totals and are looking forward to another successful fundraising year in 2024.

Your donations are needed and appreciated to help sick and injured children! Each of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, are all nonprofit hospitals, relies on partners like Log A Load For Kids Foundation to keep the doors open to be able to create miracles for sick and injured kids in our communities. By donating or helping with fundraisers you are helping your own neighbors, family members, and friends of your communities.

American Loggers Council is our national sponsor for Log A Load For Kids. We are so thrilled to be part of the American Loggers Council family.  Thank you to Scott Dane, Executive Director and the Board of Director’s of American Loggers Council for all of your support for all the Log A Load For Kids programs in over 28 states, we look forward to growing the Log A Load For Kids in each state to fund our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for sick and injured children.

We would like to have all of the states email to us your State chapters and contact information for each chapter/group in your state. Email to: nationallogaloadforkids@gmail.com OR anash@cmnhospitals.org

We would love to have everyone send their events that will be coming up, so we can add to the LAL calendar and would also like pictures of your events.

The upcoming Children’s Miracle Network Hospital’s week is coming up April 8-11, 2024, at Walt Disney’s Dolphin Resort in Orlando Florida. This is a momentous week to come and experience what CMNH has done and continues to do to help Hospitals and Corporate Partners to raise funds. You will also get to hear and meet some of the families that have been helped by a CMNH. This experience is heartwarming and worthy of your time. A few of our Board members will be in attendance and look forward to seeing you there. For more information, click here.

The American Loggers Council will be holding their annual meeting in October in Sonora, California in 2024. American Loggers Council will be hosting an evening with dinner and fundraising auction for Log A Load For Kids which will benefit a local California CMNH Hospital.

Our National Log A Load For Kids would like to thank all of you for all you do for sick and injured Children. We look forward to hearing from all of you and wish all of you a remarkably successful fundraising 2024!

President/Director: Sherri Hansen – Washington State

Vice President: Niki Stenner – South Carolina

Secretary: Lisa Medici – California

Treasurer: Melinda Fraley – Washington State

Board Member: Rich Palermo – Virginia

Board Member: David Livingston – Mississippi

Board Member: Cindy Lussier – South Carolina

Board Member: Joan Nichols – Connecticut

CMNH Representative: Andrew Nash

A WORD FROM THE LOG A LOAD FOR KIDS FOUNDATION, INC BOARD

by Andrew Nash

Happy 35th Anniversary, Log A Load For Kids!

We would like to thank all of our state Log A Load For Kids sponsors and vendors and all of our dedicated volunteers for a GREAT 2022 fundraising year. Total raised in 2022 from 30 states supporting over 70 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) was over $3.6 million dollars. We are very thrilled with the donation totals and are looking forward to another successful fundraising year.

Your donations are greatly needed and appreciated! Each of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, are all nonprofit hospitals, relies on partners like Log A Load For Kids Foundation to keep the doors open to be able to create miracles for sick and injured kids in our communities. By donating or helping with fundraisers you are helping your own neighbors, family members, and friends of your communities.

This past year the American Loggers Council voted to be the national sponsor for Log A Load For Kids. We are so thrilled to be part of the American Loggers Council family. Thank you to Scott Dane, Executive Director and the Board of Director’s of American Loggers Council for all of your support for all the Log A Load For Kids programs in over 30 states, we look forward to growing the Log A Load For Kids in each state to fund our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for sick and injured children.

We would like to have all of the states email to us your State chapters and contact information for each chapter/group in your state. We would love to have everyone send their events that will be coming up, so we can add to the LAL calendar and would also like pictures of your events.
Email to: nationallogaloadforkids@gmail.com OR anash@cmnhospitals.org

The upcoming Children’s Hospitals Week is coming up April 4-7, 2023, at Marriott World Center in Orlando Florida. This is a great week to come and experience what CMNH has done and continues to do to help Hospitals and Corporate Partners to raise funds. You will also get to hear and meet some of the families that have been helped by a CMNH. This experience is heartwarming and worthy of your time. A few of our Board members will be in attendance and look forward to seeing you there.

The American Loggers Council will be holding their annual meeting October 3-7, 2023, in Newry, Maine at the Sunday River Ski Resort. American Loggers Council will be hosting an evening with dinner and fundraising auction for Log A Load For Kids which will benefit a local Maine CMNH Hospital.

We look forward to hearing from all of you and wish all of you a very successful fundraising 2023.
President/Director: Sherri Hansen — Washington State
Vice President: Niki Stenner —South Carolina
Secretary: Lisa Medici — California
Treasurer: Melinda Fraley— Washington State
Board Member: Rich Palermo — Virginia
CMNH Partner Representative: Andrew Nash — anash@cmnhospitals.org