Zombie Pumpkins!

2008 - Each year Zombie Pumpkins! chooses a new charity for which to raise funds. This season a portion of the money collected will be going to Free Arts for Abused Children.

Underneath all the spider-webs and eerie lights, the real heart of Halloween starts with children. Traditions like costumes and pumpkin carving encourage imagination and creativity, while creating memories and bonds between kids, family and friends.

Free Arts sparks the creative spirit of abused, homeless and at-risk children and their families to inspire and transform their lives through the power of artistic expression. Free Arts plants the seeds of hope and healing to help children build self-esteem, improve social skills, develop trust with caring adults and express emotions in a positive way. For over 30 years the philosophy behind all Free Arts programs has simply been... "ART HEALS!"

2007 - To coincide with 2007's youthful "Seed of the Zombie Pumpkins!" theme, the chosen charity was the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work. Since its humble beginnings, the organization has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, reaching more than 144,000 children around the world. The Foundation's mission reflects the life-changing impact that the wish-granting experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities.

The following is the letter Zombie Pumpkins! received after submitting our donation:

Last year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation brought hope, strength and joy to 13,000 children with life-threatening medical conditions by granting their fondest wishes. We're able to accomplish this thanks to generous donors like you. Please accept my sincere gratitude for your recent gift to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.

Your gift will help grant the wishes of children like 11-year-old Sam, a little league slugger who had to put his baseball career on hold when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer affecting the nervous system. Sam missed playing the sport he loved, but more than that, he missed his friends. He wished to have a baseball field in his back yard so he and his teammates could reunite on his field anytime he wanted.

An army of volunteers pitched in, building Sam's field of dreams and turning his backyard into a major league atmosphere. By opening day, his tiny town of 1,100 people was buzzing. A police-escorted limo delivered Sam to the to centerfield gate, where his 18 teammates and 400 fans greeted him with wild applause. Fans snacked on donated hotdogs, soda and popcorn and a local radio personality called the play-by-play, as Sam led his team to an 11-6 victory against a high school team that had eagerly volunteered to be Sam's friendly opponents.

At day's end, Sam's family shared their gratitude in a local media interview. "We have told everybody in the community that this is their field too, and we hope to see a lot of people out here using it. Sam is just so excited about all of this, and nothing would make him feel better."

On opening day of Sam's wish field, he got to forget about his illness, treatments and hospital visits. On this day, he got to just be a kid again. Thank you for giving kids like Sam this incredible gift and for helping us to share the power of a wish.

2006 - The 2006 season introduced the "Bride of the Zombie Pumpkins!" Appropriately, the charity of choice was one that benefits women - Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer foundation. This organization is dedicated to curing breast cancer at every stage - from the causes to the cures, to the pain and anxiety of every moment in between.

The following is the letter Zombie Pumpkins! received after submitting our donation:

Thank you so much for your contribution to 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' representing donations received during your Halloween fundraiser at Zombie Pumpkins! Your support is hard at work bringing us closer to our goal of ending breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cure.

I want to express my sincere appreciation for your generous donation and your commitment to our promise. The success of 'Komen for the Cure' is made possible through the considerate support received from corporations, organizations, survivors, activists, and individuals like you. Because of your help, we are one step closer to creating a world without breast cancer.

2005 - The first charity drive on Zombie Pumpkins! was held in 2005. A portion of proceeds went to the American Red Cross, to assist in relief efforts after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people's immediate emergency disaster-caused needs, providing shelter, food, health and mental health services to address basic human needs.

The following is the letter Zombie Pumpkins! received after submitting our donation:

Thank you for your generous gift to the American Red Cross in response to Hurricane Katrina. Your donation makes it possible for the Red Cross to help Hurricane Katrina victims with critical needs such as shelter, food, clothing, counseling and other assistance. It's because of your gift in response to Hurricane Katrina that our response can be immediate.

Your generous support means the most to the families who rely on Red Cross to help them through some of the most difficult times of their lives.

Please continue to visit us at RedCross.org to see how we're using your Hurricane Katrina donation to make a difference, and for the most current disaster updates and stories about the people being helped.