February Monthly UpsideDown Moments Newsletter
- madhav jhunjhunwala
- Mar 10
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 13
Overall, February was not just a month marked by the challenges posed by the snowstorm; it was also a time of community engagement, reflection, and resilience, highlighting the ability of individuals to come together and make a positive impact, regardless of the circumstances faced.
Volunteers Welcomed In February
In February, we welcomed 11 new volunteers. Welcome to UpsideDown Moments Family:
Lisa Marie Horvatinovich
Julie Brenner
Patrick Limbert
Saina Esmaili
Callan Reynolds
Ananya Kalva
Sean McGrath
Nix Ochs Thomas
Heather Green
Tina Lewis
Audra Gollenberg
Kids Making a Difference
💙 A Heartfelt Thank You to St. Theresa’s Catholic School! 💙
A special shout out to the amazing students at St. Theresa Catholic School who recently completed a wonderful service project for UpsideDown Moments. The students worked incredibly hard and created two bags full of adorable, warm fleece blankets that will bring comfort and warmth to children in foster care.
These blankets are more than just cozy—they are a reminder to the children who receive them that their community cares deeply about them.
We are also very grateful to Brooke Lukanich for leading and organizing this effort and for inspiring the students to give back in such a meaningful way.
Thank you for showing what compassion and service look like in action! 🧡
Team Member of The Month Spotlight: Renee Boetticher
We are celebrating Renee on her 3-year anniversary with UpsideDown Moments! 🎉
Renee joined UDM as our Communications Specialist, where she faithfully created our Facebook posts, monthly newsletters, and impact reports, helping us tell the stories that matter most and keeping our community connected to our mission. Her voice and creativity helped shape how we share the heart of UpsideDown Moments.
For the past two years, she has also served as an Executive Board Member, providing leadership, guidance, and unwavering support. She is truly a vital part of UDM.
Last year, Renee stepped out of her communications role to devote more time to her growing business, Kinetic Women’s Wellness, (https://www.kineticwomenswellness.com/) but she continues to support our mission in meaningful ways.
Renee, thank you for your dedication, your talent, and your heart for the youth and families we serve. We are so grateful for you and the past three years of impact you’ve made. 💙
Happy 3-Year Anniversary!
3rd Annual KidzFest
Join us for KidzFest, a fun-filled day with games, prizes, snacks, vendors and so much more!
Event Details
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 1 PM
Location: 601 Catoctin Circle NE, Leesburg
Time: 1:00 - 5:00
Tickets: Purchase your tickets NOW
Sponsorship Information
Interested in sponsoring KidzFest? Sponsorships.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers needed! Use the link to sign up below.
Contact Us
For more information, contact us using the "Contact Us" button at the top of the website.
We look forward to seeing you at KidzFest!
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Give Choose
Support UpsideDown Moments Through Give Choose
Thanks to your generosity through Give Choose, a community-wide giving event hosted by the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, UpsideDown Moments launched the Vehicles Empowering Hope program. Over the past two years, we provided 15 young adults aging out of foster care with more than $11,000 in transportation support, helping cover car repairs, driving lessons, DMV fees, insurance, and more.
This year, we’re launching The Next Step, a one-month program that prepares youth for housing stability by teaching life skills like budgeting, understanding leases, and home maintenance.
Give Choose Day is March 24, with early giving starting March 10.
February Gratitude
We are incredibly grateful to all who dedicated their time, energy, and passion to support our mission in February. Your commitment not only strengthens our presence for the youth we serve but also bolsters our efforts to secure funding and expand our programs for families in need.
February's Impact
Check out our February assistance and volunteer stats, showing the difference we’re making together:
Assisted 10 youth (Car Payment, Laptop, FirstNight Bags, Hygiene Bags, Suitcases and more)
30 volunteers completed 187 hours of service
February Event Highlight: Hearts For Hope Bingo Bash
🎉 Thank You for Making Hearts for Hope Bingo Bash a Success! 🎉
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and volunteered at our Hearts for Hope Bingo Bash. Your support, energy, and enthusiasm made the day such a wonderful success for our community.
We are especially grateful to the incredible planning team at UpsideDown Moments who went above and beyond to create a day full of fun and connection. A special thank you to Rupal Choski, Rita Sims, Theresa Fassig Normil, Anney Mieski, and Ande Burke for all the time, creativity, and heart you poured into making this event happen.
Events like this are only possible because of the dedication of volunteers and supporters who believe in our mission to uplift children and young adults impacted by foster care. We are so thankful for each of you who helped make the day meaningful and memorable.
February Focus: Grant Applications and New Programs
February was a month of exciting opportunities for UpsideDown Moments. Our team worked hard, dedicated to submitting grant applications aimed at expanding our programs and serving more children and young adults. Each grant secured will enhance our capacity to create impactful initiatives, making a significant difference in the lives of those we serve. We appreciate our community's support as we embark on this transformative journey!
2025 Impact Report
Check out what we accomplished together in 2025
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