I'm excited to also share with you we were awarded the Coastal Community Foundation's Hand to Hand grant of $10,000. WOW. What a group of amazing, motivated and dedicated women who are passionate about helping our girls along their often difficult journey.
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| Erin Grever, Angel Faces Volunteer; Lesia Cartelli, Founder and Director; Alice Jacobson, Hand to Hand Chair; Mary Murray, Board Member |
We hear the powerful stories from the families of the girls and the girls themselves about what they learned at Angel Faces and how by attending the retreat and participating in our monthly sessions has changed their lives. However, we know the importance of hard data to substantiate the value of what we deliver at Angel Faces. Led by our two licensed psychologists at the retreat, a pre- and post-research project was conducted. We were energized to learn that in November our data abstract - in a poster format - was accepted at the Southern Regional Burn Conference in Tennessee supported by the American Burn Association. While our poster was displayed amongst 28 other research posters, you can imagine our excitement when a first place ribbon was bestowed upon our poster.
You can view our FIRST PLACE WINNING POSTER with the research findings by clicking here.
Partnerships are the lifeblood of our organization. I'm pleased to tell you about our lastest supporter. GelTech Solutions, producer of FireIce products, has been extremely supportive of Angel Faces. They have also placed our logo on the World Champion Drag Racer Jay Payne's Ford Mustang.
GelTech Solutions Inc. (GLTC.OTCBB) through its products FireIce® and the FireIce Home Defense Unit™ are honored to be affiliated with Angel Faces. Over the years we have seen many of our close friends in the Fire Service sustain debilitating burns, some of which have ended their careers or caused them to pay the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Our affiliation with Angel Faces is just another way that we try to give back to those who have suffered due to our nemesis fire.
While in Colorado during the Boulder and Loveland wildfires this past summer Michael Cordani (CEO of GelTech Solutions, FireIce's parent company) was introduced to Angel Faces by Danette Haag, an AF Volunteer who sustained burns herself as a child, told him all about the program. Cordani said, "After careful consideration we made the decision that we needed to do all we could to bring awareness to this organization."
Through the FireIce Racing Team, we raise awareness for not only firefighters, but also those who have sustained devastating burns that have impacted their lives. World Champion drag racer Jay Payne, owner of the racing team, has experienced firsthand how burns affect people's lives; "My wife Shelly suffered burns on all of her extremities in a bad fire when she was driving Top Fuel Dragster so we're intimately familiar with the challenges these young girls have. When Michael Cordani asked us to help FireIce raise awareness for Angel Faces we jumped at the chance," Payne said.
FireIce® is a state of the art, water-enhancing fire suppressant and structure protectant that is currently being utilized by firefighters, first responders, and military personnel both domestically and internationally. For more information please visit www.FireIce.com.
With the awareness of all the bulllying in the news lately - I need to share with you a powerful story about Jenna and how she conquered her bullying:
My name is Jenna. When I was 3 years old I was burned over 95% of my body. It all started around 11am on Memorial Day (May 31) 1999. My mom was outside mowing the backyard while my dad was doing dishes. Then my brother was a few houses down playing with his friend at his house. So as everyone is busy I go into the garage and somehow knock over a can of gasoline. The water heater was right there, so as the gasoline is leaking it ignites and fumes go everywhere and I am in the middle. While this is happening my dad hears me scream so he comes outside to get me. As he is holding the water hose, my mom is calling 911. The ambulance takes me to the hospital and they said there wasn't much they could do so they flighted me to Galveston's Shriners Burn Hospital for Children.
Ever since I have been burned it has been really hard to go out into public. No matter what, people I know will always stare. When I was first burned it was really hard cause I was just getting used to looking different. I will have to deal with it for the rest of my life. It does bother me when adults stare because they know better. I don't like going swimming because people see my body and it makes me uncomfortable. There are things I don't do because I don't want people to stare.
Thanks to Scotty Stokes, an Oklahoma Fire Fighter, I had the chance to go to Angel Faces. At Angel Faces, I learned it's not all about looks. Angel Faces helped me overcome some depression. I wanted to kill myself all the time, I always said 'I'm not pretty' and most of all I was always negative. Angel Faces WILL change how you think about yourself. When I was there it was so beautiful and relaxing also. I did yoga, I didn't think at first I would be able to do yoga because my body is covered with tight burn scars but I learned yoga is not only about flexibility. Another thing I enjoyed was Spa Day, which gave me time to not think about anything no worries or anything.
Before I went to Angel Faces in June, I was really nervous about starting High School two months later. I knew it would be really hard and I would not be able to get through it. In school, kids always made fun of me and I didn't think it would be any different in high school. It was the same; students in the halls continued to stare and people would stop me and ask me what happened. I hated it. If I was to get through four years of high school, I needed for people to treat me differently than grade school.
Challenge day was approaching. It's a day when students are challenged with doing something they are afraid of. A LOT of students and teachers were in the auditorium.
I raised my hand. I was really, really nervous. I went to the stage and I told the entire auditorium filled with students and teachers how I was badly burned and what I had been through with surgeries and everything. I also told them that high school was really hard on me when people stared and made fun of me or talked about me behind my back cause I could hear what they were saying as I walked by.
When I was finished, it got really quiet for a long time then people stood up and clapped really loud.
As I left the stage, people started coming up to me and hugging me and talking to me. For the first time I knew what it felt like to have friends.
I learned at Angel Faces that if I talked to people (who were coming from compassion) and explained to them what happened to me and how I wanted people to be my friends, people would change how they were treating me. Well, I DID it - and it worked! Now I have more friends, people say 'hi' to me in the halls; they never did that in middle school. People talk to me more.....people don't stare anymore. Now I really love school. I would have never had the courage to do this if I have not been at Angel Faces. I would not have been strong enough to talk to people - especially a huge crowd like that if it was not for Angel Faces.
I hope Jenna's honesty and courage stirred your heart as you continue to witness our powerful work. It is my hope you continue to support us this giving season. You can donate online through our website by clicking HERE or mail a check to 539 Encinitas Boulevard, Suite 107, Encinitas, CA 92024. There are many more girls out there who need our guidance and teachings.
Warmly,
Lesia Cartelli
Founder and Director
