Bringing Music, Art, Dance and Drama to Children
with cancer and life threatening illness while they are in the hospital receiving treatment
The Children of Discovery Arts
Discovery Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that brings the healing power of the arts to children with cancer, serious blood disorders and life threatening illness while they are in the hospital receiving treatment. Our “Arts Adventures” bring a tremendous amount of joy to the children and their families.
Each year, over 15,000 parents will hear that their child has been diagnosed with cancer.
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Children with cancer and life threatening illness are robbed of their childhood. School and extracurricular activities such as dance, music and art are severely curtailed or suspended: interaction with other children decreases significantly; physical activity is limited, at best; and the demands of critical illness consume their lives. The emotional trauma they experience is horrific and the need for relief is enormous.
Discovery Arts helps these children step outside the confines of their illness and into a world of creativity and imagination. Our Arts Adventures bring smiles, laughter, comfort and hope to these often forgotten children. Children with cancer have enormous emotional needs, they need a safe place to express their feelings, they need relief from the pain and chaos of critical treatments and they desperately need creativity, large doses of fun, and as much normalcy as possible. |
Currently, we deliver programs to the children at these hospitals in California; Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center at Millers, CHOC Children’s Hospital
Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center, CHOC Children's at Mission and Mercy Children’s Hospital in Springfield, Missouri!
Join us in making the journey an easier road to travel!
Discovery Arts' spokesperson Cathy Rigby shares a peek inside a day in the hospital!
All of our programs are offered free of charge to the hospitals, patients and their families. With support from corporations and private foundations, a committed circle of private donors, art supply manufacturers and an enthusiastic corps of volunteers, Discovery Arts now provides Arts Adventures programs to more than 3,500 critically ill children each year. These very sick children all share one wish.... "to be normal". Anything we can do to make their journey a little easier or a little brighter is our greatest wish. We are honored to serve these wonderful children and their families each and every week and all year long.
All of our programs and services are offered free of charge to the hospitals, patients and their families.
We rely completely on the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations to fund our programs
and allow us to reach more children.
Cathy Rigby
Discovery Arts' Beloved Spokesperson
Cathy Rigby has achieved her dreams and is still soaring to new heights everyday. America first took notice of Cathy at the Olympics in 1968. Her spunkiness and drive to succeed charmed any audience that watched her. She quickly became known as "America’s Sweetheart of Gymnastics." Throughout her gymnastics career, she was able to win numerous international gymnastic medals (including eight gold medals) and she went to the Olympics a second time in 1972. Cathy won a silver medal on the balance beam at the 1970 World Championships, being the first American woman to medal in World Gymnastics. She inspired many young girls and made the sport of gymnastics popular in America. After a brilliant gymnastics career, Cathy joined ABC as a sports commentator and for 18 years provided expertise commentary in the sport of gymnastics.
After years of gymnastics, Cathy sought out to conquer the world of acting. Her determination and competitive spirit inspired her to go through years of training to perfect herself before she went on stage. She took seven years of voice and acting training and twelve years of ballet to prepare for stage and TV roles. Her musical debut was Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz." Audiences adored her and she continued to move on to other theatrical plays and musicals including "Annie Get Your Gun," "Meet Me in St. Louis," "South Pacific," "Paint Your Wagon," "They’re Playing Our Song," "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," "Seussical the Musical," and "Peter Pan." She also performed on Broadway with "Seussical the Musical" and "Peter Pan." Cathy obtained acting roles in various TV movies including "The Perfect Body," "Hard to Read," "The Great Wallendas," and "Triathlon."
Her acting career has also helped her to pursue another career with her husband, actor-singer-producer, Tom McCoy. They formed their own production company called McCoy Rigby Entertainment. Through their company, they have successfully produced many seasons of musicals, plays, concerts, and special events at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada, California. They have also launched many national touring productions including "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "Peter Pan."
The role that Cathy is best known for is that of Peter in the musical, "Peter Pan." She earned a Tony nomination for her performance of Peter Pan on Broadway and "Peter Pan" earned more Tony nominations after the production toured nationally. Arts and Entertainment (A&E) filmed "Peter Pan" and it is now available on DVD along with the soundtrack in stores nationwide.
Cathy spends her spare time as a motivational speaker on the topics of nutrition and wellness. She also devotes her time to her family and various charitable causes, we are honored to have Cathy Rigby as Discovery Arts' Spokesperson.
After years of gymnastics, Cathy sought out to conquer the world of acting. Her determination and competitive spirit inspired her to go through years of training to perfect herself before she went on stage. She took seven years of voice and acting training and twelve years of ballet to prepare for stage and TV roles. Her musical debut was Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz." Audiences adored her and she continued to move on to other theatrical plays and musicals including "Annie Get Your Gun," "Meet Me in St. Louis," "South Pacific," "Paint Your Wagon," "They’re Playing Our Song," "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," "Seussical the Musical," and "Peter Pan." She also performed on Broadway with "Seussical the Musical" and "Peter Pan." Cathy obtained acting roles in various TV movies including "The Perfect Body," "Hard to Read," "The Great Wallendas," and "Triathlon."
Her acting career has also helped her to pursue another career with her husband, actor-singer-producer, Tom McCoy. They formed their own production company called McCoy Rigby Entertainment. Through their company, they have successfully produced many seasons of musicals, plays, concerts, and special events at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada, California. They have also launched many national touring productions including "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "Peter Pan."
The role that Cathy is best known for is that of Peter in the musical, "Peter Pan." She earned a Tony nomination for her performance of Peter Pan on Broadway and "Peter Pan" earned more Tony nominations after the production toured nationally. Arts and Entertainment (A&E) filmed "Peter Pan" and it is now available on DVD along with the soundtrack in stores nationwide.
Cathy spends her spare time as a motivational speaker on the topics of nutrition and wellness. She also devotes her time to her family and various charitable causes, we are honored to have Cathy Rigby as Discovery Arts' Spokesperson.
Connect with Discovery Arts
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