Saline Woman Uses Love of the Horror Genre to Help Children in Need

Melissa Gordon has been an actively involved parent of Saline High School athletes as well as an officer for the Touchdown Club, comprised of a group of football parents. Now her focus is changing to “Scares That Care!,” a nonprofit organization that provides aid to children in need. 

The charity, which is a volunteer-only program, partners with local businesses to raise funds, with 100 percent of proceeds going to its sponsored families.

“This charity means the world to me, and I am fortunate to being able to live my dream being involved with the horror movie genre, but yet helping those in need,” Gordon said.

“Scares That Care!” is led by horror film director and retired police officer Joe Ripple. It embraces the horror genre and its fans to raise funds and awareness for women and children in need. It has recently partnered with horror icon Kane Hodder — best known for his role as Jason in Friday the 13th sequels Part VII through Part 10 — to create the “I Helped Kane” program to help children who are burn victims, along with helping children through the Make-A-Wish foundation and helping women who have breast cancer.

Gordon will team up with Michelle Redies of Saline and Ypsilanti’s Domino’s Pizza every Monday night in January, as well as on Jan. 13, which falls on a Friday. Part of Domino’s proceeds on those nights will go to “Scares That Care!” A flier will be attached to pizza boxes and distributed locally to further notify the Saline community soon.

“Because we are 'Scares That Care!' and we like spooky things, we will be partnering up (with Domino’s) on Friday the 13th along with the Mondays in January," Gordon said. "We will be distributing fliers from house to house, and they can be found on pizza boxes. Bring that flier in, and part of the proceeds will go to charity.”

In November, Gordon was appointed by Ripple as Michigan’s representative for “Scares That Care!” and as co-director of gifts and donations. She will travel to horror conventions, film festivals, celebrity events and other events to raise money for her charity. While the Halloween season will be her busiest season, Gordon stressed that “Scares That Care!” is an all-year charity for children.

“Although we are of the horror film genre, it is not all about scary movies just at Halloween time. We are an all-year-long charity raising money for women and children. My goal for 2012 is to work with area businesses, groups and organizations all year to raise money,” Gordon said.

For more information on "Scares That Care!" go to www.scaresthatcare.org.