The winner is Jamison!

This giveaway is a little different than our usual giveaways. This is a fundraiser for Alex Kallas, a 5 year old from Spring Hill, Tennessee who has added cancer to the obstacles he's determined to overcome. PLEASE NOTE: YOU CAN DONATE TO ALEX'S FUNDRAISER WITHOUT ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY YOU MUST POST A COMMENT AT THE END OF THIS BLOG AFTER YOU DONATE. THAT COMMENT IS YOUR ENTRY!

When I added product reviews and giveaways to able2able a couple of months ago, I started to check out how other blogs handled giveaways. I was amazed when I saw that some blogs were giving away items worth hundreds of dollars (or more) and that giveaways for popular products could have thousands of entries.

I decided that if I ever had the opportunity to give away a big ticket item then I would try to use the popularity of blog giveaways to create a fundraiser. I thought my first fundraiser would be for Reece's Rainbow, an organization that helps families adopt abandoned and orphaned Special Needs children from other countries.

I guess God had other plans for my first fundraiser! This past Fall, United Way, the ARC of Williamson County, and the Pay it Forward Festival joined together to add a deck to the back of our house so Clara-Bear would have a safe place to play and have therapy while we're housebound. We met Alex's father, Erik, when he volunteered here for several days.



Reece's Rainbow was not involved in Alex's adoption, but Erik and Andrea Kallas did adopt him from a Russian orphanage. The Tennessee couple knew Alex had Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Alex was 13 months old, weighed 13 pounds, was withdrawn, and could not sit up. Within two weeks of coming back to the states with his loving Forever Family, Alex was sitting up and loving attention.

Erik and Andrea were prepared to help Alex work through Developmental Delays, but were not prepared for Alex's Autism diagnosis at age 3. With loving dedication they researched diet, nutritional supplements, and behavioral approaches and soon Alex was making progress.


Last November, Cancer was added to Alex's list of challenges. Alex has Neuroblastoma, a rare form of Cancer that involves very intense treatment. Alex has already been through chemotherapy and abdominal surgery. Over the next 11 months, he faces more chemo, radiation, and a stem cell transplant.

With his immune system weakened by the chemo, Alex has been homebound and unable to go to Kindergarten. Lincoln, and Annika, his younger brother and sister, have been living with their grandparents in Alabama because Alex has been so sick. The current plans are for Lincoln and Annika to remain in Alabama for another 11 months, until Alex's treatment is completed.



As if these challenges are not enough, Alex is losing his hearing because of the chemotherapy. He needs a hearing aid, but his insurance company won't pay $2,500 for one because they do not cover hearing aids for babies and children. Click here to watch a local news story about the Kallas family's fight with their insurance company.

1,000 Friends for Alex gets it's name because our goal is for at least 1,000 people to each donate a minimum of $3 so we can raise $3,000. The money will be used to help the Kallas family with expenses related to Alex's medical care.


Terminix #2592 of Columbia, Tennessee, has donated a Mosquito Sentry for this fundraising giveaway! Retail value is $379.


The Terminix Mosquito Sentry uses an all natural, kid and pet friendly mist to repel mosquitoes so your family can enjoy being outside this summer.

Advantages:
* More effective than DEET and Citronella
* Safe, non-toxic and green-friendly
* 1 year manufacturer’s guarantee
* 900 square feet of coverage

Features:
* Manual or remote control, 3-speed fan
* Countdown timer, auto-shut off
* Low reservoir warning light
* Operates 20 hours before refill
* New and improved dual vapor outlets
* Compact size: 13” x 11” x 18”


If you are not familiar with blog giveaways, you might find some of the ways of entering a little weird. Please feel free to email me with questions.

This is not a raffle, where you buy so many tickets at $3 apiece. This is a blog giveaway/fundraiser where you place your entries by posting comments at the end of this post. You will be able to enter more than once if you want, but the first entry is mandatory - you must make a donation of at least $3. You can donate more than $3, and you can donate without entering the giveaway.

You donate by using the Chip In box at the top of the page. Chip In will link to your PayPal account. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can sign up. You will decide if you want to link PayPal to a checking account, debit card, or credit card. PayPal and Chip In are secure ways to pay online since your account numbers and personal information are never seen by anyone else. The email address linked to your PayPal account will be the only thing that Alex's family or I can see.

If you do not want to donate online, there are two other ways for you to donate:
1. Go in person to your closest Regions Bank and make a donation to "Andrea Kallas for Benefit of Alex Kallas." Unfortunately, Regions Bank will not accept mailed donations.

2. Checks can be made payable to Alex Kallas' Medical Fund and mailed to:
Alex Kallas' Medical Fund
C/O Dolka Pots
PO Box 1621
Spring Hill, TN 37174
Please include a note with an email address if you want to be entered in the giveaway or this will be counted as a donation without an entry.

To enter this giveaway, post a comment following the rules below. You have the opportunity to enter this giveaway up to 31 times, but only have to donate once!!:

Mandatory 1st entry: Donate a minimum of $3 with the Chip In box at the top of the page, in person at Regions Bank, or by mailing your donation.

YOU MUST POST A COMMENT TELLING ME THAT YOU DONATED AND WANT TO BE ENTERED IN THE GIVEAWAY! We already have people who are donating without entering the giveaway, so I cannot assume a donation is an entry.

Comments are at the end of this post, scroll to the end of the comments and click on "post a comment." If you already have a Google, AOL, or Yahoo account you can select that option. If you want to enter as anonymous, Email me so I can tell you how to do it without having to post your email address in your comment.

You do not have to be the parent of a Special Needs child, a teacher, or therapist to participate in able2able giveaways. New to blog giveaways, and a little nervous? Check out able2able's Blog Giveaway FAQs.

The mandatory first entry must be completed before you can complete any of the following additional entries!

For an additional 1 entry: Sign up as a Caring Bridge follower of Alex and his family. Alex's mother uses Caring Bridge to journal about Alex. Come back and post a comment saying that you've signed up for CB. Current Caring Bridge followers can also use this as an extra entry.

BONUS ENTRY (added 4/12): If you have volunteered or served within the past year, post a comment telling us where and how for an extra entry! This honor system entry includes bring a meal to a sick friend, serving at church, or volunteering for an agency.

For an additional 1 entry: Visit the Terminix Learning Center and post a comment about something you learned there!

For an additional 1 entry: Enter another able2able giveaway. Post a comment telling me what giveaway you entered (while you're there, post an extra comment for entering this giveaway as well!).

For an additional 1 entry: Become a Facebook Fan of able2able... Your Special Needs Resource Directory and post a shout out comment on the fanpage wall. Current Fans may post an entry.

For an additional 3 entries: Become a public follower of able2able. Post 3 separate comments for your entries as a new follower. Current able2able followers may enter 3 times.

For an additional 2 entries: Post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook status. Post 2 separate comments for your entries for your Facebook update. Click "Share" at the end of this post to easily link this post to Facebook.

For an additional 2 entries: Tweet the link to this giveaway. Post 2 separate comments for your entries for your Twitter entries. Click on "Share" at the end of this post to easily Tweet this post.

For an additional 4 entries: Blog about this giveaway! Your blog post must include links to this giveaway and to Terminix. Include a link to your blog post in your comment. You must post a comment for each entry.

For an additional 5 entries: Schedule a FREE no obligation termite inspection or pest evaluation from Terminix. You can call Terminix at 1-800-233-5917 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-233-5917 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-233-5917 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-233-5917 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-233-5917 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or complete this handy online form. Post a comment with the location of the Terminix branch that will do your inspection. Don't forget to post 5 comments so all your entries will be counted!

For an additional 10 entries: Purchase a Mosquito Sentry through the Columbia, Tennessee Terminix office at 931-388-3989 (this entry is not available in AL, LA, IL, CO, and AZ). Post 10 comments for your entries.

It is very important that you post a comment for each entry. Why? Because Random.org will be used to select the winner. Each comment will be counted as 1 entry. If you combine entries into one post all your entries will not be counted. There will be no do-overs! If you're in a hurry, you can always come back and finish posting entries later.

I will verify that the winning entry has met the requirements above. If I cannot verify your entry, then all your entries will be removed from the list and a new winner will be selected.

This giveaway ends at 11:59 pm (CT) on Friday, April 30th and is open to the continental U.S. The winner will not be chosen until Friday, May 7th so mailed donations and entries can be counted.

The winner's name will be posted on able2able on Friday, May 7th and I will also email you. The lucky winner will have until 11:59 pm (CT) Monday, May 10th to contact me.

Disclosure: My husband is an employee of Terminix #2592 in Columbia, Tennessee, and might receive commission for products or services sold through that branch as a result of this fundraiser. This is not a review of the Terminix Mosquito Sentry. Product information was obtained from the Terminix website. The Terminix Mosquito Sentry prize was donated by Terminix for specific use as a fundraiser for Alex Kallas.

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