Discovery Arts receives the prestigious Top-rated Nonprofit Award for 2014 from GREAT Nonprofits11/6/2014 Discovery Arts announced today that it has been honored with the prestigious Top-Rated Nonprofit Award for 2014 by Great Nonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations. 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. “We are so honored to receive the 2014 Top-Rated Nonprofit Award from Great Nonprofits,” said Marilyn Clements, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Discovery Arts, “This year, we have served more than 3,500 very sick children and their families in 7 major hospitals. It's important to note that all of our programs and services are completely free of charge to the hospitals, patients and their families. It would be impossible to do this without the generosity and support of so many warmhearted people, businesses and Foundations who partner with us. It takes a village to help these precious children, we are extremely grateful to our Spokesperson, Cathy Rigby, who regularly promotes Discovery Arts by giving her whole heart to our kids and our mission.” The Top-Rated Nonprofit award was based on the large number of positive reviews that Discovery Arts received – reviews written by volunteers, donors and clients. People posted their personal experience with the nonprofit. For example, one person wrote, “I've been donating and also including the company's I've worked for in Donating to this GREAT charity. The best experience I valued was actually seeing the kids in person, monetary donations are definitely warranted; however being able to see the kids directly affected really captured my heart! The volunteers and staff of Discovery Arts are so nice and wonderful! Forever supporting Discovery Arts, they truly are Angels on Earth!” While the Top-Rated Awards run through the end of October, Discovery Arts was part of the inaugural group to qualify for the year. In addition, they’ve been added to GreatNonprofits #GivingTuesday Guide — an interactive guide to top nonprofits throughout the years. Look for this near the holidays. “Savvy donors want to see the impact of their donations more than ever,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits, “People with direct experience with Discovery Arts have voted that the organization is making a real difference.” Being on the Top-Rated list gives donors and volunteers more confidence that this is a credible organization. The reviews by volunteers, clients and other donors show the on-the-ground results of this nonprofit. This award is a form of recognition by the community. About GreatNonprofits: GreatNonprofits is the leading site for donors and volunteers to find reviews and ratings of nonprofits. Reviews on the site influence 30 million donation decisions a year. Visit www.greatnonprofits.org for more information. About Discovery Arts: Discovery Arts was created in 1993 by a dedicated group of entertainment industry professionals who began volunteering their time and talents to bring music, dance, art and drama to children with cancer, serious blood disorders and life threatening illness while they are in the hospital receiving treatment. All of Discovery Arts programs and services are free of charge to the hospitals, patients and their families. We rely on the generosity of individuals, corporations, fundraisers and foundations to survive and grow. Subscribe to Discovery Arts' YouTube Channel to see first hand their experiences in the hospitals they serve. https://www.youtube.com/user/DiscoveryArts Discovery Arts serves over 3,500 children and their families each year. With programs at these California Hospitals; Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, Jonathan Jaques Children’s CancerCenter at Millers, CHOC Children’s Hospital, Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center, CHOC at Mission and Mercy Children’s Hospital in Springfield, Missouri! In recognition of the powerful impact of the arts on these children, Discovery Arts was formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency in 1998 with a mission to expand the delivery of “Arts Adventures” to many more children in many more hospitals. All of Discovery Arts programs and services are offered free of charge to the hospitals, patients and their families.
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We are honored to have received this wonderful review on Great Non Profits from Wendy Grant. Her daughter, Sarah is a survivor of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. With heartfelt appreciation we wanted to share her words with you ... Sarah was diagnosed at 14 months old with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. She spent 26 months in treatment only to relapse 11 days later with a rare leukemic infiltrate in the iris of her eye. Sarah would go through another rigorous 28 months of chemo and radiation therapy. With painful treatments and days on end spent in the hospital, Sarah looked forward to Wednesdays knowing that Discovery Arts would be there welcoming her with a costume an fun things to do. When Sarah was at her lowest Discovery Arts would nurture her spirit and encourage the artist within her. She would sing and dance enjoying each moment with the incredible loving members of Discovery Arts. Sarah had less than a 40% chance of survival and we believe that the positive energy and healing properties of the arts helped Sarah to win her battle with cancer. The joy they brought her and us is priceless. They were integral in Sarah's recovery and because of their love and encouragement 9 years later Sarah is cancer free and continues to perform as both a ballerina with Southland Ballet Academy / Festival Ballet Theater and as a singer. Thank you Marilyn and friends for loving us and caring enough to help children like Sarah, your legacy lives on through these incredible children. Wendy, Howard, & Sarah Grant To share your story with us please visit Great Non Profits you'd love to hear from you! Here is a beautiful story that Alyssa's mom wrote for us. What a special girl she is. Alyssa, is now 8 years old. Alyssa was just three when she was diagnosed with leukemia. A year into her treatment she developed a virus in her brain. She became very sick and was in a drug induced coma for 5 days. When she finally woke up nobody knew what to expect. Alyssa could not speak, she could not walk and days later it was confirmed that she had permanently lost her sight. Alyssa had to relearn how to talk and walk but her right side remained weak and she has very limited use of her right hand. About three month's after Alyssa was released from the hospital she started to have seizures. On a good day she would have three or four seizure, on a bad day she could have up to thirty in an hour. About a year and a half after Alyssa lost her sight she finished her chemo treatment and was declared in remission. Normally this would be a big celebration but due to her uncontrollable seizures we wondered how long her little body could take it. This is when we sought out a surgical cure to Alyssa's seizures. Doctors at UCLA recommended removing Alyssa's left hemisphere of her brain. While we never had heard of such a thing we knew we had to take a chance to find a cure for her. In November of 2010 Alyssa underwent massive brain surgery, her doctors ended up removing two thirds of her left hemisphere in hopes of keeping her communication skills intact. Alyssa had another long recovery ahead of her. She had to learn to talk and walk again but this red head was determined to survive. Her last seizure was in May of 2011. The surgery has worked. We are now reducing her seizure meds and everyday I see pieces of the little girl that was taken away from me return. Alyssa can walk and talk, she can do simple math and is learning Braille. Alyssa also knows has a service dog named Flint, he helps her with mobility and various other things that he was trained for. Alyssa has an amazingly funny personality and even though her sight is gone forever she see's more clearly than anyone I know. During Alyssa's many stays at the hospital her only entertainment was the playroom. She especially looked forward to Thursday's as that was Discovery Arts day. She couldn't wait to go down to pick out a costume or to do a special craft. The days when she was too sick leave her room she would always ask "do I still get my costume?" but the women would already know that she was sick and they would have picked one out for her. We have dozen's of pictures of Alyssa dressed up in different costumes and her smile was never bigger than on the days she was a princess or a fairy. Hospital life is hard on everyone, especially the patient, but Discovery Arts offer a little escape from reality! ~ Alyssa's Mom Honor every healthy child you know to help a sick child who is in the hospital. November is a great time to count your blessings for all the things you are thankful for. What better way to put your gratitude in to action. For all of the healthy children in your life honor them by donating a "Grateful Dollar" for children who are struggling with a parents worse nightmare ... a child who is very very ill. Join us in our pledge to give a GRATEFUL DOLLAR FOR EVERY HEALTHY CHILD IN YOUR LIFE, your kids, grand children, nieces and nephews, your children's friends. Click the donate button below to send in your Grateful Dollar! Your donation is Tax Deductible!
We are Discovery Arts, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that brings music, art, dance and drama to children with cancer and life threatening illnesses while they are in the hospital receiving treatment. We currently have ongoing programs at Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), Miller Children’s Hospital, Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center at Millers, CHOC at Mission, Fountain Valley Regional Medical Center, CA and Mercy Children's Hospital, Springfield, MO. We are seeking donations of boys and girls costumes and dress up accessories. At every “Arts Adventure” children select a costume to keep, so we are in constant need of replenishment. Princesses, Super-hero's, and Character costumes are always popular, yet anything we can use to create a “Dress-Up” moment is appreciated! Our children range from infants to eighteen years of age, all sizes and styles are needed. For our children “Dressing-Up” gives them the opportunity to transcend the horrible circumstance of critical illness and for the moment just be a child. For these children, normalcy is their greatest wish. During our time together they have the freedom to be a ballerina, a muscle man, or super star! They are no longer sick, and no longer feel like they are in the hospital. To donate new costumes; buy one and send it to us, send us a gift card or make a donation and we will make sure they have them!! Thank you for helping our sick kids be kids. With Heartfelt Thanks, Marilyn Clements Executive Director 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. "Spending time with these precious children will change your life. You find that you really don't have any problems... they will fade into the background as you witness what real problems are... and to your surprise, you will be blessed by these children when you thought you were there to try to bless them... We are grateful to you and thank you dear friends, for making Discovery Arts possible!" Marilyn Clements, Executive Director Discovery Arts 1 Day to go! We are wrapping up our 30-30 Challenge but there is still time to contribute to these precious children. Find details here: http://www.discoveryarts.org/currently-playing.html Families, caregivers, charities and research groups across the United States observe September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. In the U.S., almost 13,000 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer every year; approximately 1/4 of them will not survive the disease. A diagnosis turns the lives of the entire family upside down. The objective of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is to put a spotlight on the types of cancer that largely affect children, survivorship issues, and - importantly - to help raise funds for research and family support. At Discovery Arts we bring 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. 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. 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. If you have a calling to get involved please join us this month for our 30-30 Challenge, see the details here: http://www.discoveryarts.org/currently-playing.html We are honored to serve these wonderful children and their families each and every week and all year long. September is "National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month". In an effort to spread the word about Childhood Cancer and to support children who are suffering ... Step up and take the 30-30 Challenge!! For as little as $1.00 a day, you can make a difference!! Donate $30.00 to Discovery Arts during the 30 days of September . Become a * Team Leader!! Collect donations from your family, friends, clients, associates, or place of business and you will be eligible to win 4 Days and 3 Nights at Lagonita Lodge in Big Bear, California! Visit our Event Page on Facebook and invite friends to join you in your effort to help children with cancer. You can donate online right here in a secure environment.
... as a child dances into hearts at the Jane Pitt Pediatric Cancer Center Discovery Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, serving 6 hospitals in California for 20 years. Mercy Children’s Hospital, in Springfield, MO, is the first hospital in the Midwest to be given the opportunity to experience Discovery Arts. The program has been at Mercy for nearly three years and just recently, I became the coordinator. “Our mission is to bring art, music, dance and drama to children with cancer, serious blood disorders and life threatening illness while they are receiving treatment.” For many, their greatest wish is normalcy. Today was a day to remember. I would reach beyond the comfort I had found bringing Discovery Arts to the children hospitalized on the Pediatrics floor, by introducing myself and the program to the Jane Pitt Pediatric Cancer Center, a St. Jude Affiliate Clinic, at Mercy Children’s Hospital - Springfield. The walk down the hall was long in anticipation of all the new children. Emotions were evoked as images came to mind. I took a deep breath and opened the door to the new facility, pleasantly allured by colorful paintings and photographs, displayed with museum style and lighting. I met a child, who instantly captured my heart. Today was her fifth birthday. She had a purple and white cake to celebrate. She wanted to see what gifts I brought for her and was ready to participate. I put on a CD of song birds to lead into the nature theme. She curiously looked around the room for birds. My artistic task was face painting. At first, it seemed to be too tickly, but she pointed to her foot. I painted a butterfly. She pointed to her other foot. I painted a heart. As I brought out costumes, she pointed to and put on the green fairy skirt and the matching headband with pink flowers. I handed her a silver, sparkly wand. First she touched mommy with the wand. It was heartwarming. She quickly learned that the wand was magical and we were all under her spell, as she touched Child Life Specialists, Suzanne Cook, followed by Kristi Donovan and made them twirl. Of course I had a turn, as did the medical staff, whose watchful eyes peeked in because there was a party going on! She had to be disconnected from her IV, as she got up from her pillows and climbed down to twirl on the floor. She had just seen the movie Happy Feet, which explained her barefoot dance to the music she seemed to hear in her mind, though the room was silent. I stood in the middle of a cancer center, with chills of an awakening perspective. I was in the presence of a precious, whimsical child, dressed up like a fairy princess with a smile that lit up the room, dancing freely across the floor in complete and total bliss. For a moment, she was able to forget about the lengthy treatments she was receiving. It was her birthday! She had a cake, a costume and was surrounded by love. For a moment, that was all that mattered. Yes, today was a day to remember. Be a part of the promise that hospitalized children will be provided with all the creative and normalization opportunities as their “well” peers. Give generously to increase the quality of life for these children. How you can help! ~ Janel Alicia We are celebrating with Jilly and her family and friends for a very special day on Sunday June 2, 2013. It's as good as another birthday ... We are so happy to share this special day with her as she has been Cancer Free for 5 Years! Jilly was a patient who we got to know very well during her stays in the hospital and we couldn't be any prouder to hear the good news! "She LOVES Peter Pan and was one of our patients who we sponsored to go see Cathy Rigby at our Peter Pan Event! As part of her 5 year cancer free party they are doing Bedside Adventure Kits to help the other kids in the hospital... Love does wonderful things doesn't it? Precious precious girl!", says Discovery Arts' Executive Director Marilyn Clements. Congratulations Jilly ... from the entire Cast and Crew at Discovery Arts. We all Love You!!! |
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