The Olivia School Transition

Dear Family, Friends and Supporters,

Since Olivia’s funeral celebration, Mark and I have slowly started to emerge from the shock the past few years have brought to our family. While we are still at the beginning of our grieving process we are able to think a little bit more clearly and realistically about our desire to keep Olivia’s spirit very much alive.

After much thought, we have decided to change gears with “The Olivia School”. While the school would be the ultimate achievement, Mark and I were finding the commitment and funding extremely overwhelming. The account will remain open as a non-profit organization but the name will be changed to the “Olivia Medici Memorial Fund”. This will allow us to do fundraising events in memory of Olivia with the flexibility to donate those funds to families and children in need at both Duke University Medical Center and OHSU/Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

Mark and I are very clear on knowing that we have made it through the past couple of years due to the financial, emotional and spiritual support we have received from all of you and so many others. We know what it feels like to be on that receiving end and we have this enormous desire to give it right back to those in need.

In support of our new mission we are organizing our 1st annual 5k run/walk in memory of Olivia on April 22, 2007. The event is called the “Olivia Medici Memorial Run- A Reason To Race!” The run/walk will be held in Beaverton, Oregon through the bike trails of Greenway Park. For more information on the event, you can log onto to the online registration site or click on the 5k Run/Walk tab on Olivia’s website.

We thank you for your generous contributions to “The Olivia School” and truly appreciate your understanding in changing our focus. Please know that your generous giving will still very much be in memory of Olivia, especially as it goes directly into the hands of those families and children who are walking our very same walk.

Sincerely,

Annalee and Mark