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.

NCAM Youth Ambassadors Unite in Washington, D.C.

Festival of Children Foundation founder Sandy Segerstrom Daniels
poses for a picture with 50 NCAM Youth Ambassadors at this year's National Child Awareness Month
Youth Ambassador training in Washington, D.C., held September 16-18, 2014.

In honor of September's National Child Awareness Month (NCAM), YSA (Youth Service America) and Festival of Children Foundation engaged 50 outstanding teens and young adults from across the nation to serve as NCAM Youth Ambassadors, leading service projects which will create positive change in the lives of other young people.

The NCAM Youth Ambassadors receive a national-level platform for their cause or issue-area, with support from YSA and Festival of Children Foundation.  In addition to funding this program, Festival of Children Foundation also provides each NCAM Youth Ambassador a $1,000 grant to support the development of a youth-focused service initiative; ongoing training, project and technical assistance support; and networking opportunities with other NCAM Youth Ambassadors across the country.

"These teens and young adults are the future of philanthropy.  They understand the importance making a difference and giving back.  Festival of Children Foundation's collaboration with YSA allows us to give these kids the tools to create a powerful youth network that will create lasting change across the country,"  said Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, founder and executive director of Festival of Children Foundation.  

September is once again designated as National Child Awareness Month by U.S. Senate!

Festival of Children Foundation is pleased to announce that the United States Senate has designated September 2014 as National Child Awareness Month (NCAM).  Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) co-sponsored Senate Resolution 503, which passed by unanimous consent on July 16, 2014 designating September 2014 as National Child Awareness Month.  September 2014 marks the 7th consecutive year for the designation.

"Nonprofits and charities in our local communities play a critical role in helping our children succeed.  They help children learn, improve access to health care and aid in the development of skills needed to live happy, healthy lives.  I'm pleased the Senate unanimously designated September as National Child Awareness Month to remind us that children are our future and we all play a role in helping them thrive," said Senator Dianne Feinstein.

The history behind the recognition of NCAM can be attributed to Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, Founder & Executive Director of Festival of Children Foundation.  Sandy has been diligent in raising awareness of issues facing youth across the country through the local, state and federal political processes.

NCAM is meant to raise awareness for all children's charities nationwide.  The four guiding principles of NCAM are:

Nurture one child, that's all it takes to make a difference.
Children are the future of philanthropy.  It's our responsibility to teach them the importance of sharing and giving back.
Actions speak louder than words.  Find a children's charity that's important to you and get involved.
Many hands make light work.  So join forces with those who share your goals and dreams.

Share That You Care Day is August 16th!

12,391 Letters = 12,391 Smiles

Festival of Children Foundation would like to thank Team Kids and the students at Vista Verde, a K-8 Blue Ribbon school in the Irvine Unified school district, for collaborating with us on our World Record attempt for "most letters to military personnel in one month."  

Between April 12th and May 12th, 2014, we collected a total of 12,391 letters for our Guinness World Record attempt.  The current record was 10,000, and our count is well over that. To make it official, we're submitting evidence to Guinness World Records in London, England, along with witness statements and details of our claim.

We hear it takes the folks at Guinness approximately 12 weeks to review and confirm a World Record.   We'll announce that good news (fingers crossed!) here on our blog as soon as we hear back.  In the meantime, it good to know that we  put 12,391 smiles on our troops' faces!

Just days left to help us break a Guinness World Record!

Luke's "Letter from Home"

Luke Reeve takes pen to paper for "Letters from Home," a Festival of Children Foundation program designed to teach kids about philanthropy and put a smile on the faces of over 10,000 of our troops!

On April 12th Festival of Children Foundation and Team Kids kicked off "Letters from Home," a month-long letter writing campaign for our troops, with the hope of breaking a Guinness World Record for "most letters to military personnel in one month."

4,397 letters have been received so far.  5,604 more letters are needed by May 12, 2014 in order to break the Guinness World Record!  

Letters can be mailed to:

Festival of Children Foundation

3315 Fairview Road

Costa Mesa, CA  92626

Or written letters can be scanned and emailed to letters@festivalofchildren.org.   To download a template, visit www.festivalofchildren.org/letters.

All letters received by May 12, 2014 will count toward the Guinness World Record!

Festival of Children Foundation's Guinness World Record attempt with Team Kids has officially begun!

Kids of all ages participated in opening day of "Letters from Home," a letter writing campaign designed to break a Guinness World Record for the "most letters to military personnel in one month."   On Saturday, April 12th Festival of Children Foundation and Team Kids got together for an afternoon of letter writing at South Coast Plaza's Carousel Court.  At the end of the day we collected 314 letters.   We only have 9,687 to go!

If you'd like to participate in "Letters from Home" and be a part of our World Record endeavor,
write a letter to the troops, and mail it to:

 Festival of Children Foundation
3315 Fairview Road
Costa Mesa, CA  92626

All letters received by May 12, 2014 will count!    

Caroline, age 7, and sister Vivienne, age 2, from Whittier, CA, celebrated Global Youth Service Day
by writing letters to the troops.