Every spring, thousands of runners, joggers and walkers participate in The Honor Connor 5k and Smile Mile, with proceeds benefiting The LV Project's lake and life buoyancy projects. Known as the happiest 5k in Dallas / Fort Worth, the run is held in North Richland Hills, Texas, and winds its way around the same scenic trails where Connor ran and trained for cross-country. 

be buoyant for Connor.

HONORCONNORRUN.COM

> June 1, 2013

> May 31, 2014

> May 30, 2015

> May 21, 2016

> May 20, 2017

> May 26, 2018

> May 25, 2019

Touch A Life serves children in Ghana, West Africa. Before their rescue, the kids at the Touch A Life Care Center had been sold into slavery for as little as $20, and forced to work 14-hour days on Lake Volta, fishing for their masters and bailing out leaky boats. Many personally witnessed horrific drownings as fellow child slaves were forced to dive into the tree-infested lake to untangle fishing nets, never to resurface. Not only are these kids now free, they are clothed, educated, fed, housed, and given hope for the future. Given our mission for buoyancy, we couldn't think of a better place to honor Connor. In November 2013, we broke ground on Gage Field, a new regulation-sized soccer field. While in Ghana, we spent time with the kids and were profoundly blessed by their buoyant spirits. The kids love "football", and play every day. The beautiful field they now play on is quite an improvement from the former dirt patch. We're grateful to be a small part of their lives.

be buoyant for kids in Ghana.

Images courtesy Touch A Life / Nancy Borowick / Braden Deal

"HE COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT OTHERS. WHEN THEY ARE TROUBLED, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THE SAME COMFORT GOD HAS GIVEN US." 2 COR 1:4

___________________________

A MESSAGE FROM DANA GAGE > Connor's mom and Founder of The LV Project

One month after losing our son, a dear friend gave me this bracelet. On her note, she brought my attention to the 21 interlocked bands of silver that create the bracelet's form. She asked me to remember that in this life, there are at least 21 people interlocked with me -- on earth and in heaven. It was a powerful message, one that I desperately needed in those early torturous days of grief. I clung to those words, and the bracelet served as a tangible reminder of their truth. When I wore it, I remembered that I wasn't alone. I could literally feel the thoughts and prayers of so many whose hearts were broken with ours. I have worn it every day since. When dark days continue still, it gently reminds me that I never walk alone. I will forever be grateful for this gift and the warm grip of comfort it brings. Since 2012, thanks to the generosity of some wonderful donors, the same bracelet has been given to dozens of new grieving moms in the hope that they, too, will find comfort in its message. Stronger together than apart.

Buoyantly,

Dana Gage

be buoyant through grief comfort.

__________________________

GIVE TO THE COMFORT FUND > If you'd like to bless a grieving mom by donating to The Comfort Project fund, please do so here. And thank you. 

GIVE TO A MOM > If you know a grieving mom who would take comfort through the powerful symbolism of this bracelet, please contact us. If a bracelet is available, we'll prepare it as a gift which can be sent by you, or by us. 

DOWNLOAD "THE GRIEF JOURNEY" PDF > If you know someone who's lost a child, here's a resource that may help. Compiled by grieving moms, for grieving moms. Download.
 

This was one of our first life buoyancy projects, and one that's near and dear to our hearts. Connor loved shoes, so it just made sense that to honor his life, we would give some away. Feet That Move is an organization that delivers souls through soles. The Feet That Move team has given thousands of shoes to people in need, while sharing a message of hope. The LV Project is honored to help people LiVe (and walk) more buoyantly.

> El Salvador 2013: 1500 pairs of shoes

> Uganda 2014: 500 pairs of shoes

> Mexico 2015: 300 pairs of shoes

be buoyant with shoes for souls.

Images courtesy Feet That Move.

In 2013, our friends at Connor's Song - an organization founded by Ron and Nan Deal to honor their son Connor - built an awe-inspiring art center especially for the kids at the Touch A Life Care Center in Ghana. Artfully designed to resemble three giant Lego blocks, Connor's Creative Art Center is a place where the kids gather to express their creativity, from painting to drawing to reading to building. The Art Center brings healing and hope to these children who have all been rescued from slavery. We're proud to have played a small part in the launch of this art healing program. Through creative healing, art work becomes heart work.

be buoyant through art.

Images courtesy Connor's Song.

When a friend honored Connor by buying a goat for a needy family in Honduras, we thought it was such a good idea that we decided to buy more. In September 2013, The LV Project purchased goats for ten families through Christian Relief Fund. Dairy goat milk provides great protein for growing children. The family can sell surplus milk, cheese, and yogurt at the market to earn money for medicines and other necessities. Basically, goats help people LiVe better. Connor would have loved that. 

be buoyant with goats.

Through our friends at Mamas En Catacamas, The LV Project has been investing in a sewing program that helps poverty-stricken women in Honduras. To help these women earn a living, since 2013 we've provided 40 sewing machines to empower them to create a vocation, and an income. Dozens of women have been trained and are now providing for their families via sewing.

be buoyant through sewing in Honduras.

Images courtesy Mamas en Catacamas.

No one thinks it can happen to them. Yet it does. Connor went to the lake for a birthday party one day. And he died that day. The reason is simple. Life vests weren't required. A series of videos has been produced by Texas Parks & Wildlife that tells heartbreaking stories like Connor's. Because of this lifesaving work from TPWD, every kid who takes a drivers ed course in Texas - some 225,000+ a year - will see and hear a drowning prevention message that could very well save their life. We were honored to be a part of TPWD's project, and grateful to those who participated with us. It's beyond difficult to relive Connor's story, but we believe it will save lives. Drowning is preventable. #LiVeLoVeLifeVest

be buoyant with life vests on lakes.

When our friends began their mission work in Honduras, we suddenly became very aware of how extreme poverty can spur extreme violence. Honduras has been known to be one of the world's most violent countries. So, when the Guitars Not Guns program launched, we knew we wanted to be a part of it. We were proud to provide kickstart funding and the first 16 guitars in the program. Today, hundreds of men and young boys in Honduras are picking up guitars, not guns. On Connor's Twitter profile, he wrote this simple statement: music=life. He was right. 

be buoyant through music.

Images courtesy Mamas en Catacamas.

Family Legacy makes a big difference in the lives of orphaned children in Zambia. Since 2013, The LV Project has been proud to sponsor our friend, Bernard Kapeya, who lives there. We learned of Bernard through our friends, the Logans, whose lives have also been affected through a water tragedy. The Logans have turned their pain into purpose through the construction of Jacob's House. It was there the Logans introduced us to Bernard. We're grateful for the chance to be a part of his life.

be buoyant for Bernard in Zambia.

Images courtesy Family Legacy.

For rescuers trying to find a drowning victim in area lakes, the search is in total darkness. You can't see through lake water. Sonar provides rescuers a clearer view. It's important equipment, to rescuers and to families. That's why our friends at The BMF Project make it their mission to speed rescue and recovery by donating high-end sonar equipment and training to fire and rescue departments throughout Texas and nearby states. In 2013, The LV Project was honored to fund the donation of sonar equipment which is currently in use at Possum Kingdom Lake, the lake where Connor was lost. 

be buoyant with first responders.

In 2015, The LV Project partnered with Boat Ed, the nation's leading provider of boater safety courses and education materials, to produce a :30 television spot solely focused on raising awareness for the importance of life vests on lakes. Thanks to our media partners at Fox4 and WFAA, this spot aired in the DFW market during the entire 2015 lake season from Memorial Day to Labor Day. In addition, Boat Ed supplemented the spot with an email campaign, social media and blog posts which multiplied the audience. Thousands of people got the message, and we hope lives were saved as a result. #LiVeLoVeLifeVest

be buoyant with life vests on lakes.

See the press release here. Images courtesy Boat Ed.

The Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition (FWDPC) has an amazing program that not only helps kids learn to swim, it saves lives. With the help of Children's Medical Center Dallas and Tadpole Pool Services, The LV Project was able to partner with the FWDPC to provide life vests to more than 70 families in the summer of 2015. Each child who completed the learn-to-swim program took home a brand new life vest, tagged with Connor's story, and fitted just for them. #LiVeLoVeLifeVest

be buoyant for kids in Fort Worth.

Images courtesy FWDPC.

In 2015, The LV Project had an opportunity to fund an annual education sponsorship for Jacob. Jacob joined the Touch A Life Care Center in Ghana in 2009, shortly after being rescued from child trafficking on Lake Volta. Jacob is one of the older boys at the center, and is considered a leader among the group. Recently, Jacob began boarding school to continue his education. He's an excellent soccer player, does very well in school and enjoys math, science and social studies. Sadly, Jacob is not a stranger to tragic loss. In 2015, he lost his twin brother, Joseph, to a sudden illness. Jacob is resilient and strong. It's an honor to have sponsored his first year in school. (Below, he's pictured in the hat on Gage Field.) 

be buoyant for Jacob in Ghana.

Images courtesy Touch A Life.

Through our fellow water safety advocates and friends at The BMF Project, we funded the purchase of two (2) Mustang Survival Water Rescue Kits for use by emergency responders. One kit went to the city of Dallas, the other to Grand Prairie. These kits are equipped with commercial-grade tools designed to save critical seconds in a water rescue situation. These kits could very well mean the difference between life and death. 

be buoyant with water rescue.

Teen Lifeline is an organization with a heart for teenagers. This group mobilizes resources to serve middle and high school students who are in crisis or beginning to make choices that will lead to crisis. From teen parenting to depression to social media anxiety and more, Teen Lifeline tackles the tough issues that affect today's kids. They reach teens when they're hurting, when they're lost, and when they feel they have nowhere else to turn. In 2015, The LV Project was proud to play a small part in funding Teen Lifeline's support group curriculum which will ultimately help thousands of kids, when they need it most.

be buoyant for teenagers.

As the Mamas en Catacamas became more skilled in sewing (see The Sewing Project), they began expanding their skills to include more specialized products including leather. The LV Project funded the purchase of a specialized machine which basically smoothes out the rough edges for the beautiful leather products the Mamas now make. Rough edges... now smooth. That's a good thing.

be buoyant with leather-making in Honduras.

This is one of our favorite projects ever. In August 2015, the Texas board of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) gathered to assemble "Buoyant Bags", which will be given to women transitioning from crisis situations into a new life at The Gatehouse. From bath salts to coasters to journals to clay pots to bumblebees, each bag was purposefully filled with little things designed to give each woman receiving it a big lift. We hope these "buoyant bags" will play a small part in empowering these women as they break free and start LiVing buoyantly. 

be buoyant for women who need a new start.

Is your group interested in a life buoyancy project like this? The LV Project can facilitate. Let us know.

Sometimes grievers just need to get away, especially at "meltdown milestones" such as birthdays, graduations, or heaven anniversaries. Every year, The LV Project sends couples who have experienced the loss of a child on a relaxing 3-day getaway in Texas' beautiful hill country. Upon arrival, our friends at the Fredericksburg Herb Farm will greet them with a special care package from The LV Project. In the morning, they'll wake up to the smell of rosemary, thyme and other fresh garden scents from their cozy "Sunday House" cottage. Surrounded by the beauty of God's creation, they can roam the grounds, shop at The Poet's Gift Haus, get pampered at the elegant onsite Nature's Spa, and enjoy an incredible dinner made from freshly harvested herbs and produce at The Farm Haus Bistro. It's a time to reflect, restore and most of all, relax. Just what a grieving heart needs.

be buoyant for grieving families. 

If you know someone who could use a grief getaway, you can make a donation to contribute to their trip. Or you can contact us here.

Project Elf Dallas does amazing work. Their mission is to give a Christmas season surprise to families or individuals transitioning from a homeless shelter to a home. Project Elf collects furniture, provides necessities, adds Christmas and completes a full home makeover that makes this tough transition a lot easier. In 2015, The LV Project joined Project Elf to help one special family. What made this experience incredible was the family itself... a hard-working single father, doing all he can to create a new life for himself and his precious 4-year old daughter (whose name just happens to be "Faith"). What an experience to create a new home for this family so they can LiVe more buoyantly. We are grateful to Project Elf for the opportunity to join their mission.

be buoyant for the homeless in Dallas.

Images courtesy Project Elf Dallas.

In February of 2016, a group of Time Warner Cable executives flew in from all over the country for their annual business meeting. This amazing group of people took valuable time from their meeting schedule to give back to the community. Time Warner Cable partnered with The LV Project to create a beautiful garden space for the elderly residents of a local nursing home. In just one afternoon these go-getters 1) assembled a beautiful new pergola, 2) built new wooden planter boxes complete with fruits, veggies and flowers, 3) replenished birdhouses, 4) cleaned flower beds, 5) assembled "Garden Project Bags" for each resident and 6) built a wooden potting bench. Gardening is good therapy. It reduces stress, calms nerves and creates an environment where anyone can feel valued and useful. As the saying goes, "Gardening is cheaper than therapy. And you get tomatoes." We're grateful to Time Warner Cable for helping these elderly folks LiVe more buoyantly. 

be buoyant for the elderly.

A MESSAGE FROM DANA GAGE > Connor's mom and Founder of The LV Project:  

Shortly after losing Connor, my husband and I discovered a terrible, but beautiful, community. This community was filled with people just like us... parents who had suffered the unspeakable anguish of child drowning. Thanks to the tenacious dedication of these family-based organizations, Families United to Prevent Drowning had begun to take shape and band together. We quickly connected and collectively began to strategize ways to prevent our pain from happening to other families. As we got more involved with Families United, my professional background as a marketer came full circle. Because suddenly, there was no more important marketing job than combining our voices to help stop this global epidemic. Drowning is a leading killer in this country. Drowning can happen at any age, in lots of ways... in backyard pools, in lakes, in bathtubs, in spas, in community pools, in oceans. But at the end of the day, drowning is drowning. Most of all, it's preventable. So, with the brave dedication of our fellow Families United members, one by one by one, we're combining our voices to present our painful, but powerful, stories in this collection. We don't want even one more story to be added. And our hope is that by reading ours, you'll prevent yours. It's time for drowning to stop. United, we say, "Not One More". 

Buoyantly,

Dana Gage

be buoyant through brave stories.

_______________________________

SEE THE FULL STORY COLLECTION HERE.

Our friends at Our Father's Children do amazing things. One of them is an incredible camp experience they create each summer for kids. Each year, nearly 3 million cases of child abuse and neglect are reported in the United States. In Texas in 2013, over 229,000 cases were reported with Dallas and Tarrant County reporting 37,881 cases to be investigated. Of those, there were 11,949 confirmed victims. There are 6,276 children in foster care in Dallas and Tarrant County. Five children die every day in the United States and over five children die every week in Texas as a result of abuse and neglect. Our Father’s Children provides free week-long camps to children of abuse and neglect between the ages of 6-18. The campsite itself is a beautiful East Texas acreage filled with cozy dorms, tidy eating areas, a chapel, and a host of outdoor activities, including an incredible lake with all the fun-water toys. Camp Akiva is diligent about water safety and requires kids to wear life vests in open water. (Bravo!) In 2016, The LV Project was honored to contribute to their mission with a donation of life vests to keep their camp kids safe and buoyant.  

be buoyant for children of abuse and neglect.

With lake levels up, the summer of 2016 went on record as one of the worst for open water drownings. To raise awareness, DFW's Fox4 and George Dunham of SportsRadio 1310/96.7 The Ticket teamed up to produce this PSA that aired aggressively on television all summer. Ironically, in Texas, the chance of drowning triples at age 15 -- just shortly past the age life vests are no longer legally required to be worn (age 13). Even more disturbing is that 8 of 10 open water deaths in Texas are swimming- not boating-related, yet there are no life vest requirements at all, at any age, for swimming. Lake water is deep and murky. Rescue is improbable. If something goes wrong -- which it often does -- a life vest is the only thing standing between a day of fun and a day of forever tragedy. 

be buoyant with life vests on lakes.

Video courtesy of Fox4 Dallas.

We know all too well when a family loses a child, surviving siblings can sometimes feel like the "forgotten grievers." So when we met TeamMercy and learned about their mission to support siblings through tragic loss, we knew we wanted to help. TeamMercy is a non-profit foundation that helps siblings maintain as much normalcy as possible by providing funding for day-to-day activities after the loss, whether it's extracurricular sports, academic support or mental-health wellness. Their "Mercy Gifts" make enduring one of life's most difficult tragedies just a little bit easier for those left behind. What mercy. What a gift. 

be buoyant for surviving siblings.

So, Emily Lites is a pretty incredible gal. Emily's Smile Boxes was founded in 2008 after her little brother, Jude, suffered a massive stroke. In the days and years to come, Jude spent many days in the hospital. At just 10 years old, Emily found hospitals to be boring and sad places. She wanted to do something to change that. She asked her mom if she could start filling boxes full of goodies to help brighten the long days for children who were patients there. And that's how Emily's Smile Boxes was born. Since then, she's given more than 15,000 Smile Boxes away. When we learned of her incredible mission, we knew we wanted to help. There's nothing better than giving a smile. We think Connor would like that. 

be buoyant for Jude.

Images courtesy Emily's Smile Boxes.

On July 7th, 2013, lives were changed forever in just five short seconds. That's the day Wyatt Dale lost his life in the waters of Possum Kingdom Lake. Since that terrible day, Wyatt Dale's family and his ever-buoyant "Nana", Tracey Teresas, has turned pain into purpose by preventing their tragedy from becoming someone else's. Remembering Wyatt Dale Water Safety was founded with the mission of educating young ones about water safety and saving lives "one jacket at a time." The LV Project was honored to help add an official "Josh The Otter" mascot to the Remembering Wyatt Dale mission. Through Josh The Otter, kids are taught life-saving water safety skills including how to float on their backs and that life vests are a must. In the process, they get a big hug from Josh the Otter, too. 

be buoyant with water safety education for kids.

Josh The Otter honors the life of Joshua Collingsworth. Read Josh The Otter's book.

Here in the U.S., we tend to take little things for granted like, say, floors that aren't dirt. Our friends at Mamas en Catacamas have poured their lives into helping the poverty-stricken people of Honduras. As part of their skillset program, they operate a beautiful woodshop right in the heart of the city. At Connor's Casa, people gather, build, sing and learn the true meaning of buoyancy. These artisans do incredible work, creating livelihoods for themselves while blessing others in the process. The wise man built his house upon a rock. So, in 2016, The LV Project was honored to furnish a brand new concrete floor for the woodworkers at Connor's Casa. 

be buoyant with concrete. 

Images courtesy Mamas en Catacamas.

Shortly after founding The LV Project, our very first project in 2013 was funding a soccer field for the rescued kids at the Touch A Life Care Center in Kumasi, West Africa, Ghana. Touch A Life makes a difference, one child at a time. These kids are now free to learn, to grow, to create and to play on Gage Field, which they do every day! In 2016, The LV Project was honored to donate to TAL to help maintain the soccer field and the amazing programs offered at their facility. In addition, the kids in The LV Club at Smithfield Middle School prepared goodie bags which were delivered to each Touch A Life kid in November 2016. The bags were filled with a pair of new soccer socks and lots of other things to give them a lift. From Texas to Ghana, with LoVe.

be buoyant for our friends in Ghana.

Images courtesy Nancy Borowick / Touch A Life.

When powerhouse company, Cognizant, contacted us in 2016 about doing a project, we knew just what to do. Their group is called "WE", which stands for "Women Empowered." So, it just made sense for us to complete a project for The Gatehouse, a DFW-based non-profit which helps transition women out of crisis situations into independent living. In the course of just a few hours, more than 100 "Buoyant Bags" were assembled. These bags will greet women of The Gatehouse with an uplifting message and a few things that will help them LiVe more buoyantly as they complete their Gatehouse journey. 

be buoyant for women who need a new start.

Is your group interested in a life buoyancy project like this? The LV Project can facilitate. Let us know.

We love the quote by Margaret Mead that says, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." The students in The LV Club at Smithfield Middle School in North Richland Hills, Texas, are changing the world around them, one act of kindness at a time. True to The LV Project's buoyancy mission, these amazing kids create a lot of LoVe through projects that give people a big lift. Here's a look at their LV projects so far:

> LiVeLoVe bags for kids at the Touch A Life care center in Ghana
> LiVeLoVe bags for residents of The Good Place senior home
> LiVeLoVe holiday bags for patients in North Hills Hospital at Christmas
> LiVeLoVe Valentines bags for residents of Atria Senior Home

be buoyant through awesome students.

Connor Gage loved to run. So it just makes sense that the sport of running plays a big part in our buoyancy mission at The LV Project. The LoVe Runs project provides an unforgettable shared athlete experience. An LV Rider pairs with an LV Runner to complete an endurance event such as a 5k, 10k or marathon. The LV Rider is fitted in the LoVe Runs chair, specifically designed for endurance races by a leading outdoor mobility company. The LV Runner has the honor of pushing the LV Rider in the race. The goal is to "run buoyantly" by providing an outdoor adventure that otherwise might not be possible. Together, these athletes work as one team to finish the race.

Thanks to the generous support of some wonderful donors, we have two chairs. Our very first team ran The Honor Connor 5K in May 2017. We believe that LoVe rises above any life circumstance, physical condition or diagnosis. That's why LoVe runs! #persevere

be buoyant through the sport of running.

If you're interested in becoming an LV Runner or know someone who would enjoy being an LV Rider, please let us know. It's an unforgettable experience! 

Most people don't realize that, unlike pools, chances for drowning in natural water settings significantly increase in teenage and adult years. That's why we are so thrilled to work with the leader in high school outdoor education, the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation. Beginning with the 2017-18 school year, a powerfully-crafted curriculum and comprehensive life vest education program will be delivered to 320 schools in 30 states, reaching 30,000+ students. Connor's "Five Hours One Friday" story will be shared with students, who will learn first-hand that drowning can happen to anyone, even good swimmers. A $30 life vest would have saved Connor had he been required to wear one. We're honored to be part of this unprecedented education initiative and hope it will make a difference. Lives are saved and minds are changed... one at a time.

be buoyant through education.

Learn more about Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation at www.gootf.com. 

In October 2017, The LV Project teamed up with Achieve DFW. Two LoVe Runs teams were in motion at the 24th Annual Achieve's Dash for Dignity 5k. LV Runners, Brent and Dana, paired up with LV Riders, Ray and JoAnn, who are members of the AchieveDFW organization. Together, these four athletes persevered and finished the race. AchieveDFW helps a LOT of people (700 to be exact) LiVe more buoyantly through inclusion and opportunity. They empower adults with disabilities to achieve their highest level of independence and employment. It's truly one of the most incredible non-profits we've ever seen. Best of all, The LV Project was able to donate $2,500 toward much-needed air conditioning in the van that keeps the Achievers employed and productive. It was awesome to play a small part in the Achieve mission. Ray and JoAnn are an inspiration and two of the most buoyant people we've ever known. What an honor.

be buoyant through inclusion and opportunity.