Fundraiser This Friday, April 22, at Newbury Place in Southbury for "Dosi Do" Fund, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

This Friday, April 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 15% of all purchases made at Newbury Place in Southbury referencing the “Dosi-Do” Fund will be donated directly to the Fund created by Southbury resident Kathie Nitz in the name of her 89 year old mother Doreen Phillips, nicknamed “Do”.

Administered by the Connecticut Community Foundation in Waterbury, Nitz’s created the “Dosi-Do” Fund is to encourage local area non-profits to, “Provide opportunities to bridge generations through meaningful inter-generational programs, interactions and conversations with an emphasis on programs for family caregivers to help promote better understanding and create memorable moments everyone involved can treasure forever.”

Kathie Nitz is a professionally-trained life and relationship coach, certified senior advisor, creator of Caring Cards®, and caregiver to her mother who lives with dementia. She explains, “I created a charitable fund in my mother’s honor as my way of preserving her legacy of resiliency and generosity. She had a very difficult childhood, and as an adult she encountered life-changing challenges, including being a caregiver to her own mother with dementia, and then widowed in midlife. Through it all, she maintained a generous and resilient spirit which I have always respected and admired. She never gave up and always helped those less fortunate even when she had very little herself.

When I told my mom about the Fund, before her dementia had progressed to its current state, with her hand to her heart she exclaimed with a huge smile, "I never thought I'd be in a position to do something like that!" My vision of establishing a charitable fund in her honor while she is still alive aligned beautifully with my loving creation of Caring Cards that was inspired by my journey as her caregiver.”

Caring Cards is a deck of cards containing 54 questions that help evoke memorable conversations between seniors, adults and young people. “Caring Cards,” states Nitz, “help bridge generations through conversations. The cards present memory-stimulating gentle questions that can be asked of a senior by an adult, teen or child to help create bonding conversations and meaningful memories. They can also add fun to mealtimes, travel time, holiday gatherings, reunions, and as ice breakers at conferences and corporate team building events.

The “Dosi-Do” Fund name stems from Niz’s father, Ed, who affectionately called her mom Doreen "Do". Nitz’s husband, Steve, has lovingly called his mother-in-law "Dosi-Do" or "Dosi". To this day, even through the fog of her dementia, Doreen's face lights up when Steve calls her “Dosi”. For Nitz, it simply seemed natural and appropriate for the charitable fund to be named in a way that brings joy to Doreen while also lovingly helps Nitz recall her dad.

During the April 22 fundraiser at Newbury Place (www.newburyplace.com), at 41 Oak Tree Road in Southbury, patrons who want to donate to the “Dosi-Do” Fund should reference the charity when they make their purchases between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and Newbury Place will generously donate 15% of the purchase total to the Fund. Caring Cards will also be available for purchase that day.

Those unable to attend the fundraiser, and would like to make a donation to the “Dosi-Do” Fund, can do so at any time via the Connecticut Community Foundation website using the Fund’s link https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/dosi-do. Donations can also be U.S. Mailed via a check payable to Connecticut Community Foundation with “Dosi-Do” Fund in the memo line. The mailing address is 43 Field St., Waterbury, CT 06702. Donors can also call the Foundation at 203-753-1315 x112 to speak with donor services officer Cynthia Merrick.

For every donation made to the “Dosi-Do” Fund on the CCF’s website between April 22 and Mother’s Day, May 8, Nitz will donate one set of Caring Cards to the CT Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association for use in their local support groups and other events.

Nitz’s Caring Cards sell for $9.95/deck plus shipping from www.caringcards.com. For more information, visit www.kathienitz.com or call Kathie Nitz directly at 203-578-5244.