eredith’s Miracles held our 9th annual Cookies with Characters on Feb. 28. We had record-breaking numbers this year! We had a blast! We raised almost $49,000 for our event.

We are so blessed to have our community support Meredith’s Miracles. Our goal is to help families who have to leave this area to receive sub-specialty care that is not available locally with their non-medical related expenses. All of the money raised from Cookies with Characters goes directly back to our community. We cover a 100-mile radius of Andalusia right now.

We are so excited that next year will be our 10th Anniversary for Cookies with Characters. Thank you for supporting our cause all these years. We have helped 984 children from 20005 through 2014, giving out $367,070.

We would like to thank our character sponsors: CCB Community Bank, Malette Drugs, Andalusia Animal Clinic, CDG Engineers, SunSouth, Southeast Alabama Gas District, Zaxby’s Three Notch Orthodontics, Southern Independent Bank, Beef O’Brady’s, Andalusia Dance, Tumbling, and Cheer, Covington Pediatrics, 2 Guys Pies, Palmer and Sons, Gitty Up-N-Go, Woodard Law Firm, Coldwell Banker 1st Choice Realty, Raymond James, Huddle House, Andalusia Dental Group, Walker Electric, Covington Obstetrics Gynecology, Covington Casket Company, Town & Country, Uncle Ray’s Potato Chips, Dr. James Barton, Weaver Directional, David’ Catfish, Barnes Foundation, Cancer Freeze, PowerSouth, the Keahey family, Covington Electric, Darby’s Village Pharmacy, Savannah Terrace, Andalusia Manor, Jones Veterinary Hospital, Little Caesars, Covington Metal Company, Massey Automotive, JGRH Contracting, Inc., Performance Kwik Change, Oasis Spa and Lena Ellen Boutique, Harold’s Furniture, Patel and ledge, the Company Performance Dance Center, Mr. Mattress, Spicer’s Cleaners, Andalusia Regional Hospital, Foreman’s, Rex and Billie Jo Butler, Crenshaw Drugs, Dixie Painting, and Hilltop. Some of our character sponsors have been with us all nine years.

Junior sponsors: American Anesthesia, Crhis Blatz, and Kyzar Insurance.

A special thanks to PowerSouth, Wanda Woods, WAAO, WKNI, WFXX, Crossover, Gary Buck, Leigh Brown, Andalusia Star-News, Marvin’s, Skip and Joann Kirk, Pirate Graphics, Andalusia Space Walk, Vicki Powell Photography, Judy and Bill Godwin, the City of Andalusia, and Andy Wiggins.

This year, Zaxby’s donated around 2,300 cookies for our event. We are so thankful for their support. We wouldn’t have “cookies” without them.

Thank you to all the young adults who were characters for us that day. They work in our costumes for hours. They are so good to volunteer their time. We had more than 150 young adults this year for the characters. We love when the same ones come back year after year! We are like a big family!

Thank you to all our committees:

• Character and show: Sonia and Dwight Criggers, Janna Marsh, Tammy Harper, Stephanie Boyd, Gary Buck (sound), Beth Johnson, Saun Parker, John Reid McGlamory (script).

• Toys: Emily Yehling, Ellen Foreman.

• PR: Brooke Clark.

• Refreshment Committee: Kim Brook, Carolyn Brook, Cathy Dugger, Inflatable.

• Entertainment: Justin Dugger, Bobby Dugger and Corey Bryant.

• Balloon artist: Curtis Simpson.

• Stage designer: Myra Maddox and Jackie Youngs.

• Ticket sales: Judy Godwin, Wanda Woods, Margert Sanders.

• Photographs: Vicki Popwell Photography.

• Junior directors: Sarah Atkinson and Carson Posey; junior directors in training: Rosemary Bass and Audrey Danford.

Cookies with Characters is our biggest fundraiser of the year. It takes a lot of people to help put our event together. Hours and hours of time is donated by everyone to make this day special. Nine years ago, we started this fun-filled day, hoping it would go over and it has gone beyond our dreams.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We will see you next year for Cookies with Characters on Feb. 27, 2016.

Sincerely,

Kiley Spears

Cookies with Characters

Coordinator