The 2019 Carrie Scott Dollie Grant

Often when describing what Dollies Making A Difference (DMAD) is all about, we mention we are like a Three Legged Stool: Community, Connection and Comfort.

We value the community of women who meet once a week around a big table where we work together making Dollies and Teddy Bears.  We have a lot of fun and enjoy each other’s company as we chat, stitch, stuff, and sew.  Our weekly gatherings provides support, care and compassion for one another.

Last year, we lost a founding member of Dollies, Carrie Scott.  Carrie was a friend, neighbor and enthusiastic champion of Dollies Making A Difference.  She lit up the room when she bounded in, usually just after an early morning game of paddle tennis, her hair still wet and a coffee in her hand.  She was a “stitcher” – one who carefully sews up the sides of the Dollies and Teddy Bears after they have been stuffed.  This she would do as she jumped into whatever conversation was going on, adding an opinion or two (or more!) and then doing what she did best, listening and learning.

We were all heartbroken when this vibrant person passed away.  We discussed how we could possibly honor the memory of our dear friend, and we decided to name the very first DMAD grant of each year to Carrie.

In January, Carrie’s birthday month, we awarded our first grant to Save a Child’s Heart, an organization which provides pediatric cardiac care for children in need.  Specifically, the grant will “cover the costs of room and board for the three-month stay of a mother and child at Save a Child’s Heart’s Children’s home in Holon, Israel”. 

When we notified Save a Child’s Heart that their grant was approved, we enclosed this note:

“Because your organization works to repair broken hearts,

it seemed only natural that we would award The 2019 Carrie Scott Dollie Grant to Save a Child’s Heart.

Hopefully the good work you do will heal not only children’s hearts, but our hearts as well.”