| A Note from Lesia Cartelli, Founder and Director |
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 Greetings Friends, Sponsors, and Supporters:
Wow, such vulnerable times - on so many fronts. Throughout my day I see faces of concern, worry and fear of their financial security, often our professional positions, and our personal and country's future. It brings me to wonder and hope that maybe somewhere in all this uncertainty is a blessing. Perhaps the blessing presents itself as an opportunity (yes, maybe forced) for us to travel inside ourselves and honor what truly is important in our lives: our families, friends, and our health. Finding security within.
I have been witnessing people actively try to find balance in their lives. I hear of more "family dinners" to people "spending time in nature". Re-evaluating our lifestyle, long overdue. People making positive changes and thinking about how we can "pay it forward". "It" means different things to different people. What does it mean to you? Look at an email I received recently from one of my girls who participated in Angel Faces:
Dear Lesia:
I volunteer a little with the special ED kids from my school. I work in their class as a teacher's aid. This month I got to pick out what type of field trip they got to go on. I thought of Angel Faces and how good the makeover made us feel - so special. We have a school down here called School of Tech where regular high school students get special training to become a nurse, cosmetologist or engineer. So we set it up for all the cosmetology students to give our kids makeovers. Well, when we walked in there with all 26 kids I did not think it was going to work out so well, but once we got those kids out of their wheel chairs and on to the hair cutting chairs, and some of the girls got manicures, I have never seen the kids so happy and laughing so much. Those kids had grins from ear to ear and both guys and girls looked so good with their new haircuts and nails. It was an amazing thing to see how by just someone giving a little bit of TLC to those kids and people seeing that even though they do have disabilities, they are no different from what other people are, they are still human; - it reminded me a lot of Angel Faces and how just that experience made me feel so much better about life and how I looked. Some of those kids yesterday would not let go of me they were so happy they got to go. Thank you for teaching us to love ourselves, to take care of us, and to pay it forward.
Crystal
(Age 18. Burned as an infant). |
| News at Angel Faces |
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| I have three pieces of exciting news! First, we have launched our monthly support sessions and follow up program for the girls. Each month the girls have an assignment to complete. Assignments include watching a particular movie (Penelope, staring Reece Witherspoon, about a girl born with a nose of a pig) and reporting how the movie's message relates to them. This month we also address how to survive Halloween when you have a facial difference. All great stuff! Amazing how much the girls need and respond to our new ongoing monthly support.
Secondly, I'm proud and pleased to share with you I have just won "WOMAN OF THE YEAR" in the field of healthcare by the Women in Leadership program of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce. This award is given to selected honorees who have demonstrated exemplary character & integrity along with outstanding leadership ability. The ceremony is November 14th. This is the sixth award I have received for Angel Faces. I am truly humbled, honored and blessed to have found my life's work.
Lastly, Reader's Digest has profiled Angel Faces in their "Make Your Mark" program. You can check it out here: Make Your Mark. I'm grateful the word is spreading throughout this country and abroad about the important work of Angel Faces for adolescent girls with facial injuries. |
