Sundance Square Movie Nights returns this summer with five fun movies on the schedule. Returning for the 10^th year, Sundance Square will kick off this series beginning June 15^th and will run through July 13^th on Thursday evenings.

Movies scheduled to be shown include:

June 15: Princess Bride

June 22: Back to the Future 

June 29: Ghostbusters (1984)

July 6: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

July 13: Grease

Showtime is at dusk (approximately 8:45 p.m.) on the Sundance Square Plaza stage in downtown Fort Worth. Moviegoers are invited to bring blankets or chairs for seating in the plaza. Parking is always free weekdays after 5 p.m. in Sundance Square’s parking garages. For locations, visit sundancesquare.com/parking.

“Sundance Square has been hosting free movie nights for the last 10 years,” said Tracy Gilmour, marketing director for Sundance Square.  “This has always been a great event for families to come and enjoy a free night at the movies while making lifelong memories.” 

Beverages will be available for purchase in the plaza during the movies and restaurants will be open throughout the evening. By visiting Sundance Square establishments, these events will continue to be offered to guests for free.   Coolers are not permitted and Sundance Square Plaza is smoke free.

Visitors are asked to leave all pets in the comfort and safety of their home due to the large crowds, heat, as well as abrupt and loud movie noises.

Sundance Square is hosting a live music series, Bands on the Bricks, every Thursday night in May.  This free event will run through May 25 in Sundance Square Plaza. The concerts begin at 6:00 pm in Sundance Square.

Plaza Palooza, a free two-day festival produced by Sundance Square, will take center stage June 2 and June 3 with a line-up of music, visual artists and other interesting entertainment adults of all ages will enjoy.  For more information about Bands on the Bricks, Plaza Palooza and movie nights, please visit sundancesquare.com.

Sundance Square

Sundance Square is a vibrant, award-winning entertainment district spanning 35 blocks in downtown Fort Worth. The multi-use development attracts more than 10 million visitors each year.  The one-acre outdoor plaza features restaurants, shops, fountains, a stage, four 32-foot umbrellas, and covered seating. For more information about Sundance Square, visit sundancesquare.com or follow the business and entertainment development on Facebook.com/sundancesquare or Twitter@sundancesquare. Commercial and residential leasing information can be found at www.ssqmgmt.com.

TECHROVA Enrichment Club empower elementary and middle school students to raise money for non-profit organizations through math, science, geography and language arts contests.

Joy Cruse, founder of the Dallas-based TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation, recently spoke to TECHROVA members about the work that TeamConnor does to support childhood cancer research. 

“Connor loved math and science,” said Joy Cruse. “Connor was especially interested in the space program. He once said, ‘Mom, if we can put a man on the moon, then surely we can find a cure for cancer, right?’ We promised Connor we would fight for a cure so other children wouldn’t have to endure what he did.”

Joy was pregnant with her fourth child in 2005 when she took four-year-old Connor to a Dallas emergency room with what she thought was appendicitis. When the doctors diagnosed stage four neuroblastoma, she was stunned.

After finding the cancer had spread to his bones and tumors were wrapped around his spine and growing in his abdomen and around his heart, the prognosis was very grim. Connor fought hard and actually beat neuroblastoma, but a secondary cancer caused by the radiation used to treat his tumors proved fatal. In July 2009, Connor died at the age of eight.

TeamConnor is dedicated to raising awareness and funding research projects to find a cure for all childhood cancers. The organization has raised more than $2 million for childhood cancer research. 

TECHROVA chose TeamConnor as one of their non-profit recipients and recently donated $2,000 to the organization.

TECHROVA organizes clubs in math, science, geography and language arts that are run by middle and high school student volunteers. Sai Abhijit Pabbisetty, Saket Muktapuram, Sahiti Pydimarri, Samhita Kamala Jalasutram, Rohit Anantha and Aneesh Madgula are volunteer teachers.  Each is an eighth grade student who was selected based on their academic performance in the specific subject areas they teach. The student teachers are all in their school’s Gifted and Talented program and are National Junior Honorary Society members. 

The current year program includes the Math Club for 3^rd to 5^th grades, Science Club for 3^rd to 5^th grades and Language Arts Club for 3^rd to 5^th grades. TECHROVA participates in the CML Math, CML Science, CML National Language Arts League and Math League national contests each year.  

Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of children; yet the National Cancer Institute allocates less than four percent of its budget to pediatric cancer research.

TeamConnor hosts events throughout the year to raise funds for childhood cancer research, including the III Forks Golf Classic and Auction Dinner, April 30 – May 1, 2017; Splash Out Childhood Cancer, July 10; National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Concert, September 16; Color Me Green 5K/10K, October 7; and the Northwestern Mutual Clay Shoot, November 2.  In addition, TeamConnor’s national Coins for Kids with Cancer program raises funds in schools, churches, offices and organizations across the country to help fund childhood cancer research.

The Dallas Cowboys are partnering with TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation, Be The Match and Children’s Health^SMfor the Be A Star, Save A Life marrow donor drive Saturday, February 18^th from 10 A.M. – 2 P.M. 

Thousands of people diagnosed every year with blood cancer and blood diseases need a marrow transplant to survive.  By joining the Be The Match Registry^® anyone can help save a life. 

The Be A Star, Save A Life registry drive will take place at The Star Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters, 1 Cowboys Way, Frisco, TX, 75034.  Joining the registry requires a sample of cells, collected by swabbing the inside of the cheek. Be The Match Registry keeps this sample to compare specific protein markers, called HLA markers, with markers of patients who need a bone marrow transplant. Doctors search Be The Match Registry to find donors with HLA markers that match those of their patients. By joining the registry, you are taking the first step to being the cure for patients with blood cancers like leukemia and other marrow diseases.

To be eligible for the Be A Star, Save A Life marrow drive, you must be between 18 - 44 years old and commit to donating to any patient in need. If you match a patient in need, there are two ways to donate. One way is called PBSC (peripheral blood stem cell) donation. It involves a non-surgical, outpatient procedure called apheresis. The donor receives a drug for 5 days prior to donation that increases the number of cells in the bloodstream. The cells are then collected during donation. Donors are typically back to their daily routine in 1 - 2 days.  A second way is via marrow donation. It is a surgical, outpatient procedure that takes place under anesthesia in a hospital operating room. While the donor is under, doctors collect marrow from the back of the pelvic bone. Donors are typically back to their daily routine within 2 - 7 days. The patient’s doctor will choose the donation method best for the patient.

For more information visit www.DallasCowboys.com/MarrowDrive.

About TeamConnor

TeamConnor hosts events throughout the year to raise funds for childhood cancer research, including the III Forks Golf Classic April 30 – May 1; Splash Out Childhood Cancer July 13; National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Concert and Prayer Vigil in September; Color Me Green 5K/10K and Caterpillar Dash at Frisco Square in October; and the Northwestern Mutual Clay Shoot in November.  In addition, TeamConnor’s national Coins for Kids with Cancer program raises funds in schools, churches, offices and organizations across the country. 

About Children’s Health?

Children’s Health? is the eighth-largest pediatric health care provider in the nation and the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, providing a full spectrum of health care services — from daily wellness and primary care to specialty visits and critical care. Holding eight disease-specific care certifications from The Joint Commission, Children’s Health has been consistently named one of the nation’s top pediatric providers by U.S. News & World Report. The Children’s Health system includes Children’s Medical Center Dallas, as well as Children’s Medical Center Plano, Our Children’s House inpatient rehabilitation hospital, multiple specialty centers, Children’s Health Pediatric Group primary care practices, rehabilitation facilities, home health, physician services and the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern.

Every year, more than 12,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of children, yet the budget of the National Cancer Institute allocates less than four percent of its funds to pediatric cancer research. TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness and funding research and treatment programs to find a cure for all childhood cancers.  

For more information on how to impact the lives of those affected by childhood cancer, please visit teamconnor.org or find us at Facebook.com/TeamConnor.

The Plano East Baseball program is offering a Winter Baseball Clinic for boys currently in grades K – 6 on Saturday, February 4 at Plano East Senior High School Baseball Field, at 3000 Los Rios Boulevard in Plano.

The clinic for kindergarten thru third grade students will be 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Fourth thru sixth graders will be 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. The cost is $25 per student, which includes all clinic as well as a t-shirt. Non-Plano residents add $4.

The clinic will focus on fundamental baseball skills such as fielding, hitting, and base running. All activities will be led by Plano East Baseball players. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet the coaches and hear about the opportunities available in high school baseball.
 
Registration through the City of Plano is available on-line through Friday, February 3. You will need a Family Account PIN and an Individual ID Number, both of which can be obtained by calling a Plano recreation center (Liberty 972-769-4234, Muehlenbeck 972-769-4404, or Carpenter 972-208-8087). Once you have obtained these account numbers, go to www.planoparks.org and click on register here. Use the appropriate course code (Grades K – 3 #191010 – Grades 3 – 6 #191013) On the day of the clinic, the student can be registered via a phone call to a recreation center.

Athletic wear and shoes with baseball pants or sweatpants are preferred. Dress appropriately for the weather. Clinic will be held rain or shine and will meet in the indoor facility during inclement weather. No refunds will be given due to weather. Bring a bat and glove with all personal items marked with a name.

A parent or guardian of a student already registered must sign a waiver before the student can participate in the clinic. Waivers will be available at check-in on the day of the clinic. A parent must accompany the student to check-in at the concession stand west of the baseball field. Check-in begins 30 minutes prior to the clinic start.
 
The Plano East Baseball program is under the direction of Head Coach Jordan Byrd, Assistant Varsity Coach Scott Cattleman, Junior Varsity Head Coach Michael Martinez, Assistant Junior Varsity Coach John Lubow, McMillen Head Coach Cole McLean, McMillen Assistant Coach DeMarcus Mathes, Williams Head Coach Shane Kevlar and Williams Assistant Coach Efe Osawemwenze.  For more information, go to planoeastbaseball.com

TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation announced a $25,000 DFW Community Choice Grant that one hospital in North Texas will receive based on the community’s vote throughout the month of December. 

Voting for the TeamConnor DFW Community Choice Grant is open to the public from December 1 – 29, 2016.  All votes will be tallied and the winner will be announced by 5:00 pm on December 30^th.  To vote, the community should visit TeamConnor.org/DFWCommunityChoiceGrant.

“We are committed to funding more research for childhood cancers and supporting patient programs at the best hospitals in the DFW area,” said Kathryn Copple, executive director of Dallas-based TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation. “As one of the leading causes of deaths among children, childhood cancer receives very little government funding for research. TeamConnor has awarded more than $2 million in funding over the last eight years and wants to continue to fight childhood cancer and help our area hospitals with funding.” 

Every year, more than 12,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of children; yet, the budget of the National Cancer Institute allocates less than four percent of its funds to pediatric cancer research. TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness and funding research projects to find a cure for all childhood cancers.   

TeamConnor hosts several events throughout the year to raise funds for childhood cancer research, including the Northwestern Mutual Clay Shoot on December 8; the III Forks Golf Classic and Auction Dinner; Splash Out Childhood Cancer; Watters Creek National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Concert and Prayer Vigil; and the Color Me Green 5K, 10K and Caterpillar Dash. 

In addition, TeamConnor’s national program, Coins for Kids with Cancer raises funds in schools, churches, offices and organizations across the country to help fund childhood cancer research. More information about the program can be found at coinsforkidswithcancer.org.

For more information on how to impact the lives of those affected by childhood cancer, please visit teamconnor.org or find us at Facebook.com/TeamConnor.