  
|
|
|
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR HDSA ORANGE COUNTY AFFILIATE October 23, 2007 Dear HDSA Orange County Affiliate families and friends: We did it again - another stellar HDSA OC Walk for the Cure! I would like to express my deep gratitude for your hard work and generosity in making our 5th Annual Walk for the Cure a tremendous success! Events such as this are what give HD patients and families so much happiness, and something to look forward to every year. Everyone looked so happy – the donors, volunteers, performers, and most of all, HD patients and their families! It was heart-warming to see the look on the faces of the volunteers after the event - a VERY TIRED but VERY HAPPY look of contentment! Jeannie, Mike, Kathryn, EJ, Ann, Dina, Allie, Jennifer, Linda, Ofelia, Bob & Linda, David, Ginny, Lisa, et al, thank you! Thank you for your hard work! Thank you, also, to those who were not able to be with us but who sent in their contributions and were with us in spirit. Our brought in additional groups and organizations that did not know about Huntington’s Disease prior to our Walk campaign, and are now committed to joining us in our cause. Such groups included: · The Orange County Vietnam Veterans Chapter members · The Orange County Rotary Club · The Black Women of UCI · The UCI Latino Club · The UCI Trevor School of the Arts Production Team · Oakley employees · The American Red Cross These are just a few of the new recruits that I can think of off the top of my head. It was also very gratifying to see not only the returning walkers but also new smiling faces! Needless to say, we are a very special organization. Our Affiliate is driven by vision, passion, and compassion. Perseverance, focus, and fearless tenacity gives us the strength to keep striving toward the cure and toward providing HD families with the medical care and comfort that they require. Your generosity and hard work has taken us closer to realizing our goals. Some of our achievements include: · having secured a monthly HD clinic at the Gottschalk Medical Plaza at UC Irvine, · providing in-service education to care on Huntington’s Disease · educating families about PGD and IVF · making TV and radio appearances to inform the public on current HD research development · speaking at lectures presented to medical students · making presentations at schools, companies and organizations to cultivate relationships, inform them about HD and to solicit sponsorships for our events and to bring visibility to our cause and following up with stewardship · Inspiring renown choreographer, Donald McKayle, to choreograph and produce a preview of the HD Ballet, as a tribute to Woody Guthrie · meeting with State Senate legislators to discuss the housing issues faced by HD families · Representing HD families in the Stem Cell Research Center at UC Irvine as part of the Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) comprised of representation from the MS organization, ALS Organization; Diabetes Organization; Parkinson’s Organization; Spinal Cord Injury Organization; Deaf & Blind Organization; and our own Huntington’s Disease organization. Again, thanks to each and every one of you for another tremendous event that will be a lasting and fond memory for our HD families, friends, and community. Warmest regards, Frances Saldana Chair, HDSA Orange County Affiliate
Dear HDSA OC Affiliate: JANUARY 25TH, 2007 I am very pleased to announce that Nancy Chandler will be our event coordinator for our 2007 HD Walk for the Cure. Nancy has vast experience in event planning - one such event being the naming of the Paul Merage School of Business Celebration. This event involved business and community leaders from all over Orange County, academia, and the media. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and has earned a Certificate of Completion from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Program (AFP). She is a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and is about to complete a Liberty Arts Degree with emphasis on Business. Nancy will be working closely with Kathryn Pearson, EJ Garner, Dina and me as we plan another fantastic event for the coming fall. Please feel free to contact her if there is a specific area in which you would like to volunteer for the fall walk. Nancy's email address is hdsa.nancy@yahoo.com We will be sending out a SAVE THE DATE notice for the Walk Kick-off which currently being planned for late February. I'm looking forward to seeing you all soon! Warm regards, Frances Saldana Orange County Affiliate |
|
|
