Summer 2012

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e-NewsletterTeen Adventure Camp Counselors 2007
Note from the Founder/CEO

Take a look at this picture.     

   

Here are three happy young adults and me. It's a nice photo, taken on May 5, 2012. So why are we so happy? Not because it is Cinco de Mayo, though that is certainly a good reason to smile. The reason for our joy is that we are all here and thriving!    

 

Meet Jimmy, Allie and Grissel. They are HIV+ and were born with the disease. I first met them when they were kids, at ages 13, 12 and 7 respectively. At that time, we could only dream they would be healthy and flourishing in 2012. None of us thought that Jimmy would have a four year old daughter (perfectly healthy and HIV negative), or Allie would be seven months pregnant, or Grissel would have a master's degree from the University of Southern California. While we hoped and wished for this day, we did not know if it would be possible. THIS IS WHY WE ARE SMILING!

 

Each of them has their own story of survival. Survival from sickness, discrimination, secrecy, drugs, depression, and loss of parents. Their hopeful and inspiring stories cannot be told without discussing The Laurel Foundation. *

  

Click here to continue reading about Jimmy, Allie and Grissel.   

 

* This summer, The Laurel Foundation will complete the filming of a documentary about the children, youth and families we serve. A special thank you to Chris Rhodes and his crew, Birns and Sawyer, and ADS for their continued support in the filming of this project. Release of the documentary is scheduled for 2013.  

In This Issue
Winter Family Camp Wrap Up
Ride for AIDS 10
Donor Spotlight
LEAF Mentorship Program
Online Support Group
Upcoming Events
The Art of Hiking
Our Donors
Quick Links

Web Video
Click to view our video!

Winter Family Camp Wrap-Up

Ninety-two children, youth and their parents/guardians found themselves in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains for Winter Family Camp 2012. The weather was ideal; with plenty of snow for tubing and snowman building, while the sun shined bright and warm.  Campers of all ages from 4 to 63 arrived from California, Arizona and Nevada to enjoy a carefree weekend away from the social stigma of HIV/AIDS.

 

The kids and teens had an amazing camp program with activities such as arts and crafts, archery, and snow tubing. Every day the campers learned more about themselves, discovering their own special gifts and learning different ways to share them with their community. Together they learned that they are only limited by their own imagination!

Winter Family Camp allows our families to spend quality time with each other and with new people who understand the intricate struggles of their everyday lives. It gives them a chance to have fun, and for one weekend put aside the burden of HIV/AIDS. One parent wrote us saying "You all have planted seeds in us that will continue to grow as the years go by."  Just as the laurel leaf was thought to have healing powers, we are dedicated to planting seeds of healing in the hearts of children, youth and families affected by HIV/AIDS.


Click here to continue reading.
Ride for AIDS 10 Wrap-up

On April 6 & 7, 2012, 17 riders from Southern California hopped on their bikes to RIDE FOR AIDS! A small, but dedicated group of riders began a 150-mile journey up the Pacific Coast on Saturday. While the previous day was filled with torrential rain and even tornados, the blue sky provided a beautiful backdrop before a sojourn in Irvine for the night. Supported by our amazing EMT team of Kay and Cristi Blackwolf, this spirited group of riders worked hard against the wind, but at each pit stop, were all smiles. 
 
Meanwhile in Santa Monica, another group of riders was preparing for a 50-mile ride on Sunday. With the support of ride leaders, Chris and Mel; bike technician, Randy; and nurses, Ethel Sanchez and Estella Lazo; the team had a smooth day along the route, cheered on by wonderful volunteers. At the end of the day, the riders raised more than $21,000 to send children, youth and families affected by HIV/AIDS to The Laurel Foundation's programs in 2012. 
 
Thank you to our sponsors, Clif-Bar, Craig's Crew, Price Point, Pasadena Magazine, Copymat Hollywood, Big 5, Nike, Panamerican Banana, Yahoo, LA Imprints, Yelp, DoubleTree Irvine, Starbucks, Jeff Eddings and Shifting Gears. Keep your eyes open for our SAVE THE DATE for next year's Ride for AIDS. We will have a new route!
Donor Spotlight

The Laurel Foundation would like to spotlight Alden Halpern, one of our most dedicated donors.

 

Alden's passion for our work with children, youth and families living with HIV/AIDS is inspiring. He generously supports our golf tournament every year, donates fashionable clothes for teens at our holiday party, identifies other possible donors and so much more. Most recently, we faced the daunting challenge of finding a new storage space for our many program supplies. We called Alden, and he jumped into action by securing a space for us. Now, we have a wonderful warehouse space that allows us to separate and organize all the supplies in such a way that makes it easy to prepare for each program. 

 

THANK YOU, Alden! We could not do it without you. Children, youth and families affected by HIV/AIDS are better off because of your support.

The LEAF Mentorship Program Update
Consuelo and Katy are embarking in a new journey together as they begin their new relationship in the LEAF (Life Enhancement and Fellowship) Mentorship Program. Previously having met at Camp Laurel, both parties were nervous leading up to their match date. All feelings were eased as Consuelo hugged Katy of excitement when she realized that Katy will be her mentor for the next year. Katy will be helping Consuelo transition into a new high school, expose her to new college and career opportunities, while helping her deal with the negative social stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.   

 

Consuelo and Katy are among 22 ongoing LEAF Mentorship matches. This program continues to prove its importance, as it provides a support system for children and youth affected by HIV/AIDS outside of camp on a year round basis.

 
 
Click here for more information about The LEAF Mentorship Program. 
New Program: Online Support Group 
The Laurel Foundation is thrilled to announce  the creation of an Online Support Group, which is a brand new, groundbreaking program currently being developed to provide children affected by HIV/AIDS a sense of community and understanding among peers. This will be the first facilitated online support group of its kind.

Within a closed and moderated online chat group, teens will have weekl
y scheduled discussions facilitated by a licensed social worker. Participation can occur anywhere-on the family's personal computer, on a participant's cell phone, or at the school library. In this emotionally nourishing environment, support group members will have the opportunity to share personal experiences and offer each other emotional comfort and moral support. The licensed social worker will provide practical advice on how to cope with their specific situations. 


While providing ongoing support and building a connections between peers, the Online Support Group program will also focus on educating participants about the importance of healthy living, including topics like medication adherence, birth control and pregnancy prevention, healthy relationships, and avoiding gang involvement. Armed with the information needed to make healthy life choices, participants are taught to lead self-reliant and fulfilling lives. The group will serve as the catalyst for change, as children log off, vitalized by social connections to rise above isolation and stigma to bravely cultivate healthy, fulfilling live.

Upcoming Events at The Laurel Foundation



Summer/Teen Volunteer Training June 9 & 10, 2012
Summer/Teen Camp ♦ July 1-7, 2012
HIV/AIDS Service Provider Breakfast ♦ Fall 2012
16th Annual Golf Tournament ♦ November 5, 2012
 


The Art of Hiking
As we prepare for some great hiking at Summer and Teen Camp, we thought we'd share some basic tips on how to safely plan your own hikes this summer! 
 
Are you ready for a hike? 
  • Plan your trip on a map and consider rest points.
  • The route chosen should be within the physical abilities of everyone on the hike.
  • Have an alternative plan in case of emergency, leave your itinerary with a responsible person back at home and indicate to this person when you will return.
  • Make a checklist of all items you need for your hike. This should include a first aid kit and other emergency material specific to the area being hiked, like extra water, food, and a jacket. 
  • Start slowly so that your body gets warmed up and your feet get coordinated. 
  • Wear comfortable and loose clothing that is appropriate for the weather conditions expected.
  • Pace your trip and don't rush.
  • Stop periodically, remove your backpack, stretch, swing your arms... and look around to enjoy the view.
  • Walk in a zigzag up steep slopes. This will minimize your effort and you will be able to walk further and have less strained muscles the next day.
  • When going uphill, check your footing, first place your right foot keeping your weight on your left food. When the right foot is well and securely placed, transfer your weight to the right foot and move up hill.
  • When going downhill, tighten the shoulder straps of your backpack because if the pack shifts it could destabilize you. 
Thank You Donors


We would like to say THANK YOU to our donors who have supported our efforts.
With your generosity, we are one step closer to serving over 500 children and youth this year!