We’re excited to announce today that we’ve partnered with Mason’s Voice to build awareness and raise funds in the fight against spina bifida.
On Saturday, November 10, 2018, all participating Peterbrooke Jacksonville locations will donate 10 percent of each transaction to Mason’s Voice, the Jacksonville-based foundation committed to bringing awareness to spina bifida, specifically surrounding the in-utero diagnosis of the disease, which is the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States.
According to Peterbrooke COO Jeff Smith, indulging in some chocolate, gelato or other special treats on November 10th is a great way to give back in the fight against this deadly disease while treating yourself to something incredibly delicious.
“This fundraising effort also hits especially close to home as our Downtown Jacksonville Manager Linda Crout of more than ten years is the grandmother of Mason and knows all too well the devastating effects a spina bifida diagnosis can have on expecting parents and grandparents,” said Smith.
All of our traditional favorites such as decadent truffles, hand-made caramels, gelato and cherry cordials and specialties such as hand-dipped chocolate covered cookies, pretzels, scratch-made marshmallows, strawberries and of course our signature chocolate covered popcorn, will all be available as part of the fundraising effort. We just want to do our part and shed some light on how serious and complex spinal cord birth defects can be. In fact, it’s estimated that spinal cord birth defects affect slightly over three cases per 10,000 births.
We’re working closely with Mason’s parents, and Jacksonville residents, Louis and Baylee Joseph to pull this off because it’s these types of partnerships that can help bridge the gap between the coordinated funding and research needed to enable better treatment options while empowering families and survivors.
“On this anniversary of our daughter Mason’s first fetal surgery, we’re gong to raise the funds needed to help send a struggling family to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where we had to go from Jacksonville, because it’s the preeminent center for spina bifida fetal diagnosis and treatment across the country,” said Louis Joseph.
The Josephs established Mason’s Voice in 2018 following the successful in utero spina bifida surgery on their daughter Mason, which was performed by the team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Our manager Linda Crout kept us informed throughout their family’s journey and we quickly realized there is a tremendous financial and emotional burden that families go through when they leave their lives and jobs behind to seek immediate treatment within just a week’s notice. Through this Mason’s Voice fundraiser on November 10th, we’re hoping to alleviate the stress and ease the economic strain on families that have to embark on such a life-changing journey.
And if buying treats all day from Peterbrooke were not enough to support this wonderful cause, we’re also partnering with Mason’s Voice for an all-you-can-eat BBQ fundraiser in Bartram Park on Saturday, November 10th as well. That runs from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m and tickets are on sale now for $40 each and include two drinks, lots of BBQ and a silent auction. For more information and to purchase tickets to the event, please visit 904Tix.com.
If you need to find your nearest Peterbrooke location, visit us at peterbrooke.com.