Discovery Arts for Kids fighting cancer!
Will you join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit "Discovery Arts" and any donation will help make a huge impact for very sick hospitalized children. Thank you in advance for your much needed contributions to this cause that means so much to me and to so many children and their families.
I am fundraising to help Discovery Arts bring some much needed hope, creativity and laughter to hurting children who are battling cancer or life threatening illness while in the hospital receiving treatment.
When we saw what these children and their families go though, it was frightening and heart-wrenching.... and we knew we could not walk away. We decided that if there was anything we could do to make this horrible nightmare a even little better, we would find a way to do it.
There were big questions.... Would the children get out of bed for us? Would they participate in the Arts? Would they enjoy what we were offering? Would it make a difference for them?
The thought of trying to take "Heaven into Hell" was a bit nerve-racking, But we forged ahead, our own adventure beginning. We were welcomed by the children, parents and medical staff and were surprised at how the children reacted to our "Arts Adventures" as if they were the most fun they had had in a long time!
Discovery Arts is completely free of charge for the hospitals, patients and their families.
They enjoyed selecting new costumes that they wear and keep as their very own (and choose a new one each and every time they are with us).
They jumped in to Art projects, dancing and singing and their talent and joy excelled all of our expectations. It was so fun to see them laugh and make new friends. These special children are talented, polite and kind...and after my very 1st experience, I knew that I really did not have ANY problems...... that any problems I thought I had, were trivial.
"Even though I went to the hospital to bless these children, that they had indeed blessed me."
Discovery Arts began in 1993 as a volunteer effort to bring the healing power of the arts to children hospitalized with cancer and other life threatening illness and to see if we could make a difference for them.
The response was so overwhelming and positive that in 1998 we became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the hope of reaching even more children.
We began at Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Center in Long Beach in a small 14 bed unit. We have both grown and now we serve more than 3500 children and their families each year, in 7 major hospitals in southern California.
Our first and only battle cry was to pray and ask the Good Lord for the blessings we would need to help these children.
Children with cancer or life-threatening illness are robbed of their childhood. They're torn from the comfort of home and family and thrown into the frightening world of hospitals and intensive treatments.
School, sports, the arts and friends are left behind as the demands of critical illness consume their lives. The residual effects of treatment leave many children disabled. They suffer the debilitating, painful effects of radiation and chemotherapy, reduced energy levels, weakened musculature and compromised immune systems.
These children are frightened, lonely and confused; they're often angry and withdrawn. The emotional trauma they experience is enormous and their need is great: they need a safe place to express their feelings; they need relief from the isolation and tedium of hospitalization; they need a sense of control in their lives; they desperately need fun and normalcy.
Over the years we have developed a unique "Arts Adventures" Program, that provides positive, creative, fun experiences that help meet the emotional needs of these critically ill children.
Within a framework of fun and laughter, “Arts Adventures” provide more than a diversion from the isolation and tedium of hospitalization.
They strengthen coping skills and increase children’s self-esteem by helping them discover new skills and talents, and by providing constant, positive encouragement. Discovery Arts gives the children something to look forward to and something upon which they can depend.
Most important, “Arts Adventures” help critically ill children create, for a few precious hours each week, a world in which they’re not sick; a world in which they sing and dance and paint, and rediscover the happiness of normal childhood.
Discovery Arts’ “Arts Adventures” are an on-going program serving an on-going need.
If the children are well enough they join us in a hospital playroom where they choose costumes to wear and keep as their very own. They have their faces painted, use make-up, participate in themed art projects, sing on the microphone, dance, play musical instruments and choose among the many art activities that are available to them.
All the children receive "Bedside Adventure Kits" that are specially designed for each child, age and gender appropriate and full of art and craft materials to explore and create when we are not on the property. Trophies, photo keepsakes and more are also available to them.
For those to ill to come to the playroom, we bring the magic bedside for their own adventure. They select a costume, receive a "Bedside Adventure Kit" and do a themed art project or have faces painted if desired.
In order to care for these children , Funding is needed for the myriad of supplies that must constantly be replenished.
Everything must be new and non-toxic. The children range in age from infants to 18 years old.
New Costumes and Accessories - For Boys and Girls from infants to
18 years
Art Supplies - The list is LONG.... Basically everything you can think of!
Musical Instruments
Music
Bedside Adventure Kits
Tap and Ballet Shoes
Make-up and Face Paint
Instant Camera's and Film
Trophies
Karaoke Machine and Microphones
Art Cart and Costume Racks
And More....
We cannot do this alone. We need friends, old and new, to help us bring some sense of hope, fun and normalcy to these precious kids. Discovery Arts is not possible without you. Will you help?
Every heart and hand that has stepped up to help these children is a treasure .
We can not do any of this without your help!
Please Visit Discovery Arts at:
www.discoveryarts.org
I am fundraising to help Discovery Arts bring some much needed hope, creativity and laughter to hurting children who are battling cancer or life threatening illness while in the hospital receiving treatment.
When we saw what these children and their families go though, it was frightening and heart-wrenching.... and we knew we could not walk away. We decided that if there was anything we could do to make this horrible nightmare a even little better, we would find a way to do it.
There were big questions.... Would the children get out of bed for us? Would they participate in the Arts? Would they enjoy what we were offering? Would it make a difference for them?
The thought of trying to take "Heaven into Hell" was a bit nerve-racking, But we forged ahead, our own adventure beginning. We were welcomed by the children, parents and medical staff and were surprised at how the children reacted to our "Arts Adventures" as if they were the most fun they had had in a long time!
Discovery Arts is completely free of charge for the hospitals, patients and their families.
They enjoyed selecting new costumes that they wear and keep as their very own (and choose a new one each and every time they are with us).
They jumped in to Art projects, dancing and singing and their talent and joy excelled all of our expectations. It was so fun to see them laugh and make new friends. These special children are talented, polite and kind...and after my very 1st experience, I knew that I really did not have ANY problems...... that any problems I thought I had, were trivial.
"Even though I went to the hospital to bless these children, that they had indeed blessed me."
Discovery Arts began in 1993 as a volunteer effort to bring the healing power of the arts to children hospitalized with cancer and other life threatening illness and to see if we could make a difference for them.
The response was so overwhelming and positive that in 1998 we became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the hope of reaching even more children.
We began at Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Center in Long Beach in a small 14 bed unit. We have both grown and now we serve more than 3500 children and their families each year, in 7 major hospitals in southern California.
Our first and only battle cry was to pray and ask the Good Lord for the blessings we would need to help these children.
Children with cancer or life-threatening illness are robbed of their childhood. They're torn from the comfort of home and family and thrown into the frightening world of hospitals and intensive treatments.
School, sports, the arts and friends are left behind as the demands of critical illness consume their lives. The residual effects of treatment leave many children disabled. They suffer the debilitating, painful effects of radiation and chemotherapy, reduced energy levels, weakened musculature and compromised immune systems.
These children are frightened, lonely and confused; they're often angry and withdrawn. The emotional trauma they experience is enormous and their need is great: they need a safe place to express their feelings; they need relief from the isolation and tedium of hospitalization; they need a sense of control in their lives; they desperately need fun and normalcy.
Over the years we have developed a unique "Arts Adventures" Program, that provides positive, creative, fun experiences that help meet the emotional needs of these critically ill children.
Within a framework of fun and laughter, “Arts Adventures” provide more than a diversion from the isolation and tedium of hospitalization.
They strengthen coping skills and increase children’s self-esteem by helping them discover new skills and talents, and by providing constant, positive encouragement. Discovery Arts gives the children something to look forward to and something upon which they can depend.
Most important, “Arts Adventures” help critically ill children create, for a few precious hours each week, a world in which they’re not sick; a world in which they sing and dance and paint, and rediscover the happiness of normal childhood.
Discovery Arts’ “Arts Adventures” are an on-going program serving an on-going need.
If the children are well enough they join us in a hospital playroom where they choose costumes to wear and keep as their very own. They have their faces painted, use make-up, participate in themed art projects, sing on the microphone, dance, play musical instruments and choose among the many art activities that are available to them.
All the children receive "Bedside Adventure Kits" that are specially designed for each child, age and gender appropriate and full of art and craft materials to explore and create when we are not on the property. Trophies, photo keepsakes and more are also available to them.
For those to ill to come to the playroom, we bring the magic bedside for their own adventure. They select a costume, receive a "Bedside Adventure Kit" and do a themed art project or have faces painted if desired.
In order to care for these children , Funding is needed for the myriad of supplies that must constantly be replenished.
Everything must be new and non-toxic. The children range in age from infants to 18 years old.
New Costumes and Accessories - For Boys and Girls from infants to
18 years
Art Supplies - The list is LONG.... Basically everything you can think of!
Musical Instruments
Music
Bedside Adventure Kits
Tap and Ballet Shoes
Make-up and Face Paint
Instant Camera's and Film
Trophies
Karaoke Machine and Microphones
Art Cart and Costume Racks
And More....
We cannot do this alone. We need friends, old and new, to help us bring some sense of hope, fun and normalcy to these precious kids. Discovery Arts is not possible without you. Will you help?
Every heart and hand that has stepped up to help these children is a treasure .
We can not do any of this without your help!
Please Visit Discovery Arts at:
www.discoveryarts.org
Co-organizers (6)
Marilyn Clements
Organizer
Mission Viejo, CA
Anonymous
Beneficiary
Cyrene Jagger
Co-organizer
Don Harper
Co-organizer
Gina Q
Co-organizer
Nancy Marshall
Co-organizer