Help Children
with Life Threatening Diseases!
Academy of Kempo’s “Help a Child Initiative”
Pictured above is Erica Schwartz, a
Child Life Specialist-Pediatric Specialty
at
Yale New Haven Children’s Cancer Center,
accepting donations from Gabriel and Hailey Ciarleglio.
TThe
“Help a Child Initiative”
is a program started in October of 2009 by Frank Ciarleglio, the Instructor at
the Academy of Kempo Martial Arts in Hamden, to help children with life
threatening diseases.
“Our
program is designed to collect items such as
arts and crafts material for
children as young as infant to 21 years of age. These items will include but not
be limited to, Tempera Paints, sand art kits, bead kits, window painting kits,
wood projects and jewelry kits. We are also collecting items that can be
decorated, such as white tee shirts, white pillowcases, I-pod cases and cloth
bags
and general items needed to assist
The
Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer
and the
Child
Life Specialist-Pediatric Specialty Clinic
at the
Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital.
This is still
one of our major goals with the program,” said Ciarleglio. “But because of the
great response that we have had the program has grown into much more. We are
also collecting toys, books, games and pretty much anything that a child can
play with while they are undergoing treatments. The program also collects
revenues so that the Tommy Fund will continue to have a budget built in to
purchase what they need so the Child Life Specialist can work with the children
who are undergoing cancer treatments. Prior to 2010, there really was not a
budget for arts and crafts, and all of the arts and crafts were donated, but
because of the “Help a Child Initiative”, the Tommy Fund was able to have a
small budget for these items which have such an important impact with the
children. The revenues also assist the Tommy Fund in continuing their research
to find a cure for cancer and assist families that have children who are in a
treatment program,” Ciarleglio continued.
Recently the Ciarleglio family dropped off donations that were collected by the
Academy of Kempo’s “Help
a Child Initiative”.
This fundraiser has been an ongoing project for the Academy, “We have been very
fortunate to have the support of our students, family members and friends at the
Academy with this ongoing project” said Ciarleglio.
“Now
we need your help. We are now entering our third annual push for this fundraiser
for the
Tommy
Fund for Childhood Cancer,”
said Ciarleglio.
The
Tommy
Fund for Childhood Cancer
is an organization that acts as a helping hand to the pediatric oncology section
of the department of pediatrics at the
Yale
School of Medicine,
the
Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital
and the
Yale
Cancer Center,
working alongside the dedicated professionals in the field. Through their
collaborative efforts, they are able to diagnose and provide treatment to
children with blood disorders and malignancies, conduct research and teaching in
the field of childhood cancer, and support entire families throughout a child’s
treatment.
This fundraiser is to help provide the children who are going through treatments
a little bit of serenity. The children who are undergoing treatment either are
admitted into the hospital, or are going to the
Children’s Cancer Clinic.
Their treatment time at the clinic can range anywhere from an hour to eight
hours. “Being a parent of a child who has undergone such treatment, I have seen
firsthand the joy and relief from reality the children experience sitting at the
craft table. The children play and laugh as they create something special,” said
Ciarleglio.
Kind people and
organizations throughout the state and beyond who donate are the sole providers
of the crafts that the children make. The Academy is reaching out to every
parent and organization to get involved with this
“Help
a Child Initiative”.
“If you are a parent or relative of a child that has or has had any ailments, I
am sure this will reach you in some way that cannot fully be put into words. The
Tommy
Fund
helps these children and their families in many ways, and with your help they
can further their support,” said Ciarleglio.
The Academy has a list of items they are collecting as well as a wish list from
the
Child Life Specialist-Pediatric Specialty Clinic
on its web site, www.academyofkempo.com. “I know that in these economically
challenging times that it is hard for people to find anything extra in their
budget, but even one item will help to make a difference,” Ciarleglio said.
All products can be dropped
off at the Academy of Kempo Martial Arts, located at 1890 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden
Connecticut 06514. For more information on how to get involved, you can contact
the Academy at (203) 288-9990, or visit them on the web at
www.academyofkempo.com.
Monetary contributions are
welcome in check form made out to the
Tommy
Fund
or by visiting the Tommy Fund web site at
www.tommyfund.org.
Please note your check or on-line donation
“Help
a Child Initiative”
so the Tommy Fund will know how to allocate your contribution.
Click Here To View Our Donation Centers
Click Here For A Detailed List of Arts and Crafts
Click Here For the Child Life Wish List
Click Here To Go To "The Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer"
Click Here To Go To Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital
Click Here To Go To The Smilow Cancer Hospital At Yale-New Haven
Click Here To Go Back To Home Page
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