Blind Childrens Center

4120 Marathon Street, Los Angeles, California 90029 (323)664-2153

A family-centered agency serving children with visual impairments

IN THIS ISSUE

• The Tom Sullivan Blind Childrens Center Celebrity Golf Classic
• Team Blind Childrens Center
• Longest Day of Golf
• Graduation
• Capital Campaign
• Wish List

LIZBETH FLORES

Natural Leader

Dedicated, passionate, determined, loving –
these are words that describe Lizbeth Flores. She would call herself just a mom who wants the best for her daughter. Liz has been making the trip from San Pedro, located near the Los Angeles Harbor, to the Blind Childrens Center (about 28 miles) since her daughter, Jennifer, was 7 months old. Jennifer, now 6, is one of the students whose journey at Blind Childrens Center will not end this year at
Kindergarten graduation, but will continue into first grade and beyond thanks to the leadership of Liz and support of the parents at the Center.

Liz is a natural leader and talented fundraiser. She started raising money for the Center after attending the infant program with her daughter. She has organized so many fundraisers that she can’t remember them all.

What she does remember is the point when Jennifer was about to turn 3 and the school district offered her placement in one of their programs. “I cried after they showed me the classroom that they described as a best fit for my daughter,” Liz recalls sadly. “The kids were more lower functioning than Jennifer and it made me sad to realize that their goals and my goals for my daughter were so different.”

After deciding to reject the school district’s recommendation, Liz’s appreciation for the Center grew even deeper. “When I thought about the origins of this school and how it was started, it made me think, ‘why not ask for more grades?’” And that is just what she did. After surveying her peers, she asked the Director of Education, Dr. Fernanda Armenta-Schmitt, and ultimately the Board of Directors, for a first grade. When presenting to the board, she spoke from her heart, sharing her early experiences about traveling to the Center by bus and the stares and comments others would make about her daughter. Ultimately, she wants what all parents want for their children, a school where they can belong. She describes Blind Childrens Center as “a place where children will be educated, but also loved for who they are.”

Once the Board gave their nod of approval for investigating upper grades, it was off to the fundraising for Liz. She has organized the parents to sell lunches to the staff on a regular basis, a candy sale, creating and selling Blind Childrens Center wristbands, car washes, yard sales, bunnies at Easter, and teddy bears wearing BCC t-shirts. Jennifer even held her own fundraiser by selling her old toys to raise money for the Center. Liz has spoken to radio stations about the efforts of the Center’s parents and has received on-air mentions promoting some of the fundraisers. Recently, Liz and Jennifer were featured in a segment on Channel 54 TV Azteca, a program about children with disabilities receiving early intervention services and the difference these services can make in their development. Liz turned this appearance into a fundraising opportunity promoting Blind Childrens Center wristbands to increase awareness of the Center.

When asked about the day she learned that the Center will be adding a first grade next year, with second and third grades to come in the near future, Liz becomes emotional. She explains that it validates all her hopes and dreams she has for Jennifer.

All of the efforts of Liz and Jennifer have paid off. The parent group, under the guidance of Liz, raised $6,000 this past year for the Center — a new record! Also, Channel 54 TV Azteca pledged $5,000 to the Center.

Congratulations to Liz Flores and the parent group for an amazing year.

Alumnae News

Kyra Sweeney
Class of 1999

A big round of applause goes out to Kyra Sweeney for her outstanding performance at the Hollywood Bowl with flautist, James Galway.

Karen Arcos
Class of 1998

Center alum Karen Arcos has had a busy summer. On June 20th, she performed the Star Spangled Banner at the Center’s graduation ceremonies. After the festivities, her mother, teacher Marleny Vydelingum, drove her to Palm Desert to speak at the 2008 Delta Gamma convention. Karen spoke from her heart about her life as a blind teenager as well as describing all that the Blind Childrens Center has to offer young, visually impaired children.

Karen has also been helping out at the Center this summer. Rosalinda Mendiola, the Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Assistant Education Director, has put her to work transcribing documents into Braille, reading to the students and working one-on-one with kids who need some extra help with Braille. Thanks goes to Karen for being such an inspiration to the kids.

Morgan Sears
Class of 1986

Born prematurely, Morgan weighed just 2 pounds, 11 ounces at birth. She was diagnosed with ROP and secondarily nystagmous. That didn’t stop her mother from sending her to Camp Marydale, a Girl Scout camp, in her native Louisiana. Morgan’s mother, MaryAlice, reported that her daughter described her experience there just as “fun.”

Not knowing what an impact this camp had on her daughter, MaryAlice was surprised when Morgan applied to be an archery instructor at a Girl Scout camp in Riverside, California while in college. “She hadn’t touched an arrow since she went to Camp Marydale in fourth grade,” said her mother. Morgan became one of the most popular counselors as well as the Archery Director for three years running.

Congratulations to Morgan on graduating from California State University, Monterey Bay, in 2007 and her stellar accomplishments in archery.

Dr. Toni Marcy

In Loving Memory

Dr. Toni Marcy, Blind Childrens Center’s Child Development Specialist and dear friend, passed away on May 6, 2008 at the age of 96.

Trained as a doctor in her native Germany, she arrived in Los Angeles more than 60 years ago. While unable to practice medicine in the United States, Dr. Marcy found a way to continue her work with children through the UCLA Center for Child Development where she trained with Dr. Arthur Parmalee, Jr. Through him she was encouraged to study the unique problems of visually impaired children and their families.

Over the years, she became a nationally recognized expert in the field, especially for her work at the Blind Childrens Center. Sensitive not only to the needs of the child, she always remembered the profound needs of the family and gave them her support whenever called upon, night or day.

Dr. Marcy initiated the Center’s Cradle Club in 1954 and the Correspondence Program in 1980. She continued her support of the Center long after retirement. Decades after caring for patients she had diagnosed and counseled, they and their families would continue to seek her guidance, which she gave freely and generously.

It is notable that after more than 50 years of affiliation with the UCLA School of Medicine, she was still being asked to give seminars on child development to medical students in 2006.

Dr. Toni Marcy was a dear friend to all our children, families and staff. We will truly miss her.

Four Center alumni compete in the Braille Challenge

Out of 150 kids competing in the Braille Challenge on Saturday, June 28th, four were Blind Childrens Center alumni. Carlos Martinez, Kyra Sweeney, Vejas Visilavskis and Desmond Delgadillo competed in events included reading, writing, proofreading and interpreting graphs and charts.

This event was the culmination of competition which started at the school level, then onto city and state finals. Students from Canada also competed. Groups were divided into elementary, middle school, junior varsity, and varsity.

Congratulations go to Carlos Martinez who placed 4th in the varsity division. We are so proud of him and the other alumnae for representing the Center at this prestigious event.

Recognition

Blind Childrens Center has been selected as a Fernando Award honoree for 2008. The Center is one of 50 non-profit organizations to receive this honor in celebration of the Fernando Award’s 50th anniversary.

The Fernando Award is the highest honor for volunteerism in the San Fernando Valley and is supported by Valley Chambers of Commerce, civic, and philanthropic organizations.

Our deepest gratitude goes to Fred Thomas for nominating the Blind Childrens Center for this prestigious award.

Beeping Easter Egg Hunt

The Easter Bunny hopped by the Center bringing lots of joy and treats to the children. Our annual Beeping Easter Egg Hunt was a fun day that challenged the children by using their sense of hearing and touch to find eggs.

Of course, the Easter Bunny was there to help them out and offer a few goodies in exchange for their found eggs. Live bunnies, ducks and fluffy, little chicks added to the fun of a very special day.

Special thanks to:

• Performance Team Freight

• South Bay Alumnae of Delta Gamma

• Jim Amormino

• Angie Roman

• AT&T Telecom Pioneers

• Ralph & Janis Lake

…and all the other wonderful volunteers who joined us.

The Reptile Family visits the Center

Snakes, lizards, turtles and frogs all had their fun with the kids this summer. The children learned how to touch each animal gently while watching a big turtle eat some grass and a lizard eat a banana. The lizard even licked his lips when finished!

What a great learning experience for the kids and the teachers.

Fire Department Visit

The Los Angeles Fire Department came for a visit to teach the kids about firefighters and what to do in case of a fire. The kids got to see and explore a firefighter in all his gear before heading over to see the fire truck.

Between the roar of the engine and gush of the water from the hose, the kids got to experience a day in the life of a firefighter.

Tax Deduction

Please remember the Center when donating your car or truck. For more information, contact Muriel Scharf, Development Director, at the Center (323) 664-2153 ext 330.

Newsletter Archives

How You Can Help