Newsletter Archives

IN THIS ISSUE and more

• 2010: The Year in Pictures
• Letter from the President: Jennifer Brown
• The Longest Day of Golf
• The Heritage League
• The Light the Way Circle
• Wish List
• And more…

 

FRONT PAGE: KAREN'S STORY

The future is bright for center alumna

Karen Arcos is a 17 year old senior at Marshall High School and one of our most dedicated volunteers at the Center. We are very fortunate that she is in the Track Program with LA Unified and so has extended break time to come work with the children and parents and to help create many of our Braille documents.

Karen's mother, Marleny, came to the United States from Columbia to visit her sister when she was expecting Karen. While her mother was in America, Karen arrived earlier than expected. Due to this early arrival, she was born with Retinopathy of Prematurity, a condition in which the oxygen needed to sustain life causes the retina to detach. Karen was born totally blind.

Karen attended Blind Childrens Center from the age of six months through preschool. At that time, that was as far as the Blind Childrens Center program extended and how wonderful it is that we have since been able to add up to second grade. Karen's graduation from the Center was only the beginning of her scholastic success.

As a volunteer, Karen has been a great help with the children and, even more so, with the parents. As she has grown up, she has often attended our parent support meetings to answer questions and offer hope to parents of visually impaired children. Abilities parents never thought their children would have, they do have, partly because Karen gave those parents her reassurance of the capability of someone who has been in their children's shoes.

“…do what you can to meet your child’s potential, and don’t underestimate what that potential is,” Karen advises parents.

"Don't give up on your child, do what you can to meet your child's potential and don't underestimate what that potential is," are just some of the words Karen offers to parents trying to learn how to adjust to their child's challenges.

Karen has always been an inspiration to everyone at the Blind Childrens Center, but recently, her success has reached heights of which many people, even those who are sighted, can only dream.

Countless hours were spent by Karen putting together essays and gathering recommendation letters to apply for various scholarships. She hopes to one day be a clinical psychologist.

Discover Card chose Karen – as one of only 10 people in the country – to receive a $40,000 college scholarship. This award was not limited to the blind or disabled meaning Karen was chosen over thousands of other applicants.

She also received a $10,000 scholarship from the Jewish Guild for the Blind in November and even bigger news came in December when the University of Southern California offered Karen a full four-year scholarship. She is one of only eight nationally to receive this scholarship. Again, there was no special consideration for her disability.

When asked if the Center has played any part in helping her achieve these amazing feats, Karen said, "Oh yes, I couldn't have done it without Blind Childrens Center. This place is such a big part of who I am. Not to mention," Karen laughed, "Fernanda [Director of Education & Family Services] wrote me a killer recommendation letter!"

It hasn't been easy for Karen. She has had to face many challenges getting to this point. A lot of people don't even like the idea of having to do calculus. Karen did it without being able to use graphs, having learned it only by listening as her school did not offer any math book in Braille. The SAT enforced rules against having a talking calculator so Karen had to rely on her memory to use the keys on her calculator and trust in a complete stranger, the prompter, who read her the screen.

Karen is no stranger to this kind of struggle and says that it is something you have to get used to when you cannot see.

"Get used to doing more work. Listen to instructions and follow the guidelines set forth by your teachers and mentors," Karen tells the children. Karen has lived by those words and has never given up. We are proud of her and are excited to see all that her future will bring.

 

 

Building Campaign Receptions

A Very Special Thank You to the Following People

Rob Sweeney, Barbara Mathews, and their daughter, Kyra Sweeney, as well as, Bill and Shoshana Sheinberg, and their daughter, Storey, for hosting our Building Campaign Receptions.

Mr. & Mrs. J. Benjamin Noll for our beautiful new Meet & Greet Lobby.

Delphine & Lynette Smith for The Charles Walter Smith Wing in loving memory of their husband and father, respectively. The wing has provided two new bright and spacious classrooms for the children.

 

 

Rotary Cares

On Saturday, January 15 at the Blind Childrens Center volunteers from six local Rotary Clubs joined together and spent their day giving a much-needed face-lift to four classrooms, a hallway and the playground stage.

The energetic volunteers cleaned, sanded and painted from 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. with hardly a break. We are grateful for our Rotarian makeover. Thanks to all of the volunteers who came out and Gus Opperman who secured a donation of 30 gallons of new paint to make it a successful day!

Rotary Clubs involved included: LA5, Colombo Americano, Historic Filipinotown, Hollywood, Korea Town and Manhattan Beach.

 

 

In Loving Memory

Dr. Darrel Estes

Dr. Darrel Estes was a member of the North Hollywood Lions Club and a generous donor to the Blind Childrens Center since 1950.

We feel immense gratitude for all his efforts for the benefit of the children. Dr. Estes passed away November 30, 2010.

 

 

 

 

SAVE THE DATE

Celebrity Golf on Monday, June 27, 2011

The 19th Annual Tom Sullivan Blind Childrens Center Celebrity Golf Classic presented by John Hancock Life Insurance will be held Monday, June 27, 2011 at the Riviera Country Club.

Celebrities such as Alan Thicke, Joe Mantegna, Peter Falk, Marv Fleming, Robert Hays and many more have joined us for this tournament throughout the years.

This is an event you will not want to miss!

Corporate sponsorships are also available.

To reserve your golf spot or to make dinner reservations, call event director Laurie Headley (323) 664-2153 ext. 342.

 

 

 

 

Les Marraines

Halloween Luncheon
& Boutique

The lovely ladies of Les Marraines auxiliary group once again held an enchanting Halloween luncheon and boutique to benefit the children.

Everyone looked vibrant in their Halloween attire and special guest actor Gavin MacLeod, Captain of The Love Boat, enthralled the audience as he spoke about his career.

Les Marraines efforts raised $16,864 for the very special children at Blind Childrens Center for 2010.

 

 

18th Annual

Roddy Hiatt
Golf Tournament

Each year, Blind Childrens Center Board of Directors Member Roddy Hiatt and his committee host a golf tournament to raise funds for the children. It is always a fun time complete with golf, door prizes and a delicious luncheon.

We are grateful that despite the challenging economic times, the tournament was a great success.

The tournament was held Friday, August 6, 2010 at The California Country Club. A big thank you to all the generous people involved.

 

 

Fundraiser

From San Francisco
to San Diego

For the second year in a row, Dylan Cannon and Justin Miller rode their bikes over 500 miles to raise funds for the children.

This year they set their sights high with a plan to double last year's goal. They succeeded by raising OVER $5,000.

They stopped by the Center on their way through Los Angeles and the children were delighted to see them.

Thank you SO much for your big-hearted effort, Dylan and Justin!

 

 

 ECON ONE presents

Team Blind Children
Blind Childrens Center OFFICIAL CHARITY Team Blind Children

There’s still time to join Team Blind Children and run or walk to raise funds for the children.

 

 

 

 

Not an athlete? Then join us for race day festivities to cheer on our runners.

Join TEAM BLIND CHILDREN today! Contact Laurie Headley for details.
(323) 664-2153 Ext 342

 

 

Keep in Touch

Please send us your new email address to stay in touch or if it has changed in the past year. We would love to keep you up to day with all our special events announcements and happenings at the Center. Simply send your email address to cindy@blindchildrenscenter.org.

 

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