Holidays of Hope at Chateau Elan Thanksgiving Week

Tis the seaon to be THANKFUL and grateful, counting all of your blessings.  I make it a practice to be grateful for all of my life - the good and the not-so-good at times.  I am reminded that even in my 'struggles', all things work together for the good.


I appreciate and applaud organizations such as Orange Duffel Bag Foundation and our client, One Hundred Days for the work they do locally and abroad to remind those who have faced tremendous hardship, oftentimes, at the onset of birth, that they too are still very blessed and have access to a wonderful life - inspite of.  That's the beauty of living - there's always sunshine after the tempest storm and the rain produces such a plentiful and bountiful harvest! 

Inspired by the story of Sam Bracken, co-founder of Orange Duffel Bag Foundation, Holidays of Hope is an initiative dedicated to providing college students and select others (who have aged out of Foster care) the opportunity to spend the Thanksgiving holidays free-of-charge at local hotels and resorts. Local volunteers and Foundation mentors tend to these young adults during the holiday break. Georgia’s first Holidays of Hope will take place Nov. 23-28, 2011 at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort in Braselton, with accommodations, food and other amenities provided by Chateau Elan. 

Co-Founder, Sam Bracken went from abused child to All-ACC Academic Football Team performer at Georgia Tech then on to becoming a missionary, dynamic public speaker and business person. "Sam Bracken has such an incredible story. It mirrors our goal to help communities create sustainable solutions by meeting the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of young people," shares Linda Cox author and board member of One Hundred Days, an organization similar to ODBF in that they assist Rwandans, former refugees of the Rwandan genocides build restoration in Rwanda with a focus on building the first pediatric hospital for children. In Rwanda, Over 1,200,000 children have lost one or both parents as result of conflict, poverty or HIV/AIDS. Of these, over 100,000 of these children serve as the head of their household. There is no facility dedicated to serving children in the entire country.

Cox continues, "By partnering with individuals and organizations like Orange Duffel Bag, we are able to use our resources and talents to help bring about lasting change." To learn more, please click on the links above or to participate, please click here.


We hope this story inspires you and puts a smile on your face. Special thanks to Carl Danbury at Points North Magazine! HAPPY THANKSGIVING from our family to yours!