Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

I am so sad we didn't make it to the parade today, they say it was the biggest one ever! I started going down hill very quickly last night, and went to the dr. today. Sure enough it's strep. I can't believe it, I've never had such an awful sore throat!

Here is our article from the newspaper today! We didn't make the front page, but we got a pretty good spread!




Anthony S. Bush / The Capital-Journal
Sparky the clown gives Logan Branam, 3, a green heart balloon for his sister Chelsea Branam, 1, and mother, Carey Branam, Friday during the Blarney Breakfast at the Timberline Steakhouse. The money generated from the breakfast goes to the Capper Foundation Easter Seals. Chelsea attends the Capper Foundation.


Annual St. Patrick's Day celebration benefits children of Capper Foundation Easter Seals
By Phil Anderson
The Capital-Journal
Published Saturday, March 17, 2007
Motivated by a sense of gratitude for the Capper Foundation Easter Seals, Carey Branam brought her two young children to the 13th annual Blarney Breakfast on Friday morning at Timberline Steakhouse, 1425 S.W. Wanamaker.

More than $12,000 was raised Friday morning, said Julie Smrha, marketing director for Capper Foundation Easter Seals. More than 600 people turned out for the event, which ran from 6 to 10 a.m.

For Branam, the breakfast offered a chance to support an organization that has benefited her 1-year-old daughter, Chelsea, who has Down syndrome.

Chelsea goes to the Capper Foundation, 3500 S.W. 10th, for 2 1/2 hours a week for occupational, physical and speech therapy.

"It's made a huge difference," said Branam, whose son, Logan, 3, also attended the breakfast. "Once we started physical therapy, she really blossomed. She started to crawl right away and now she's starting to walk."

Though the breakfast was held the day before St. Patrick's Day, the spirit of the green was alive and well in the restaurant.

Volunteer wait staff donned white and green shirts and divided into teams to compete with each other for the most tips. Martha Lutz was the white team captain, and Jeff Montague was the green team captain.

Timberline Steakhouse donated the food and labor by the cooks. All proceeds from the breakfast went to the Capper Foundation.

Julie Fischer, special events and gifts manager for the Capper Foundation, was chief organizer for the event. She said the Blarney Breakfast has become a tradition for many families who attend together.

It is one of the Capper Foundation's two major fundraisers for the year. The other, "An Evening as a Child," will take place in April.

In addition to money raised by the breakfast, funds also were generated through a raffle, which included two round-trip tickets to Las Vegas, an autographed University of Kansas basketball, Easter baskets and concert tickets.

Jim Leiker, president and chief executive officer of the Capper Foundation Easter Seals, said the Blarney Breakfast was a "great way to involve the community," noting people from a broad spectrum of occupations assisted with the event.

Parents of children benefiting from Capper Foundation services also came to the breakfast to support the cause.

The family atmosphere extended beyond those who gathered to eat breakfast and also included multiple generations of families who got up early to volunteer.

Josh Logsdon, 24, who has been volunteering at the breakfast since 2000, said his parents have been helping for the past five years.

"I love it," Logsdon said. "Everyone here is in a great mood, and it's for a great cause."

Ruth Monhollon, 60, had several grandchildren and other relatives on hand to help with the festivities.

Monhollon said she has volunteered at all 13 of the Blarney Breakfasts. Her granddaughter, Danielle Monhollon, 19, was volunteering Friday for her seventh year. She brought her 1-year-old son, Cooper Garretson, whose birthday was on Tuesday, to the breakfast. Cooper wore a shirt that proclaimed him an "honorary volunteer."

"I think it's great," Danielle Monhollon said. "It's a good charity, and it's good volunteer work."

Phil Anderson can be reached at (785) 295-1195 or phil. anderson@cjonline.com.