Monday, October 27, 2014

We're returning to Disneyland!

The Carousel of Possible Dreams returns to Disneyland park's King Arthur Carrousel on Wednesday, November 5th
to raise money for 10 youth serving organizations in Orange County.


King Arthur Carrousel at Disneyland park will serve as a spectacular backdrop for Festival of Children Foundation's signature fundraiser we call 'The Carousel of Possible Dreams.'  

The early morning event will take place before Disneyland park opens to the general public and benefit 10 Orange County nonprofits that serve children:

Boys & Girls Club of Anaheim
Child Guidance Center
Down Syndrome Association of Orange County
Festival of Children Foundation
Girl Scouts of Orange County
Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County
Orange Children & Parents Together
Orange County School of the Arts
Project Hope Alliance
TACA - Talk About Curing Autism

Each organization has assembled a team of riders, ready to take the reins and raise money for their organization.  

Riders are currently soliciting donations online at www.festivalofchildren.org/disneyland2014.  On November 5th, they'll continue to make calls for donations between revolutions on the carousel, with the hopes of meeting or exceeding their goal.  100% of the money the riders raise will go directly to the nonprofit organizations.

The rider who raises the most money by 5:00 p.m. the night before the event will win a weekend stay at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and four Disneyland Resort Park Hopper tickets compliments of the Disneyland Resort!

  


Friday, October 10, 2014

Carousel of Possible Dreams raises $605,100 for neuroblastoma cancer research

11-year old Cathryn Giusto is a neuroblastoma survivor.  Her mother, Susan Giusto, founded Friends of Cathryn Fund
 to support NANT:  New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy.



Festival of Children Foundation is pleased to announce that The Carousel of Possible Dreams fundraiser benefiting Friends of Cathryn Fund (FRoC) has raised $605,100 for neuroblastoma cancer research. Friends of Cathryn Fund is a Laguna Beach-based organization that raises money for NANT, a network of 14 universities and children’s hospitals nationwide, that test promising new therapies for high-risk relapsed/refractory neuroblastoma, the third most common pediatric cancer. 

Friends of Cathryn Fund is named for 11-year old Cathryn Giusto, a neuroblastoma survivor who had just turned 5 when she was diagnosed with the disease. In 2010, she was cleared, and that’s when her mother Susan Giusto started the foundation. Susan’s goal was to raise $500,000 in support of NANT (New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy). The Carousel of Possible Dreams fundraiser far exceeded her goal, thanks in part to a $250,000 grant generously provided by The V Foundation for Cancer Research. 

On Tuesday, September 30th nearly 150 people gathered in South Coast Plaza’s Carousel Court to celebrate. Guests included members of Cathryn Giusto’s Girl Scout troop. The Girl Scouts climbed aboard South Coast Plaza’s carousel and went round and round and up and down in celebration of the successful collaboration between Friends of Cathryn Fund and Festival of Children Foundation. 

“We’re honored to be donating over $600,000 for neuroblastoma research. This donation will help fund essential clinical trials to improve outcome. Festival of Children Foundation’s support was invaluable in making this happen for the hundreds of children diagnosed with neuroblastoma each year,” said Susan Giusto, founder of Friends of Cathryn Fund.