Southern California Families: Save the Date for Summer Fun At Camp Cosmos, July 22, 2018

Get ready for Summer right now! Camp Cosmos helps Southern California kids born with facial differences connect with each other in a fun, and creative environment. The day camp is free to participants. Learn more about this great day on the ConnectMed website and in the flyer below.  

A Circus Performance with Heart Will Help SoCal Family, CCA, and Love Me, Love My Face

By Crystal Kouri 

Our son P.J. was born with Treacher Collins. The birth was a surprise and an opportunity to exercise compassion for our son and other children born with the same syndrome.

My son, P.J., faced many challenges in a short time. He will continue to need more surgeries and procedures throughout his life. He spent the first nine weeks of his life in the NICU. He had a mandibular distraction and a G-Tube placed before he was allowed to come home.  He has three more major surgeries scheduled this year. They include, one to repair his cleft palate, one to remove the hardware in his jaw, and one to remove parts of his skull to treat his recent craniosynostosis diagnosis.  P.J. also needs a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid, or BAHA, which is not covered by insurance.

Little did I know that P.J.’s medically-necessary hearing aid would lead to an opportunity to help others, too.

While posting about his hearing device on Instagram (a platform that I use to communicate with other TCS moms while spreading a bit of kindness), Nathalie Gaulthier, my dear friend and owner of Le Petit Cirque, suggested that I do a “Go Fund Me” page to raise the money for his BAHA.  I was reluctant about the idea, so she suggested doing a Le Petit Cirque show to raise the money. I found that idea more acceptable, because we would not only be raising money for P.J.’s medical expenses, but we would also have the opportunity to raise awareness.

I felt that the Le Petit fundraiser had a greater purpose than just raising money for the hearing aid. Circus performers were often ridiculed and called “freaks” as they were part of a spectacle called the “freak show.” Today, they are embraced and admired for their talents and differences.  The cirque show and the history of its performers aligns perfectly with the message of acceptance we strive to portray through P.J.’s experience.

After agreeing to Nathalie’s idea for a charitable event, I began planning two shows that would be impactful and successful. Since I have been in the entertainment industry for 20 years, I decided to do my best to use my contacts to grow the show, and grow we did. Nathalie and I have been working around the clock. We want to not only put on a great show, but, also, to drive home the Choose Kind message focused on acceptance and positivity to others. We are so honored that Jono Lancaster, motivational speaker and founder of the Love Me, Love My Face Foundation, will be flying in to speak at the event. Erica Mossholder, Executive Director of Children’s Craniofacial Association (CCA), will speak about her organization and the support they provide to individuals living with craniofacial conditions. Everyone can look forward to a number of celebrity attendees that committed to being there at the performances on Sunday, April 22nd at 2PM and 6PM.

Considering the Le Petit Cirque show’s success and recognizing the importance of giving back, I decided to donate a percentage of the proceeds to CCA and the Love me, Love My Face Foundation.  As a thank you to Nathalie, my handy husband and P.J.'s grandfather, also built new wooden platforms for Le Petit Cirque’s theatre chairs to create stadium seating for their studio where the event will take place and the young circus performers practice.

Organizing this event has been nothing short of a whirlwind of selflessness, people helping other people, and working together to create something beautiful and heartfelt.  It has been a wonderful experience and I will be so proud to one day tell my son that he was the inspiration behind this magical show.

Two Le Petit Cirque Charity shows will take place on Sunday, April 22nd, 2018 at 2PM and 6PM in Inglewood, CA. The 2:00PM performance is sold out, but tickets remain available for the 6:00PM show. If you are in the Southern California area you can purchase tickets at this Eventbrite page.

2018 Retreat Deadlines & Early Itinerary

Symposium: The symposium schedule is still being finalized and I thank you for your continued patience regarding this matter.

Retreat Photo for Program and signed Photo/Video Release Forms: Thank you to everyone who has emailed me your photo for the retreat program and your signed photo/video release forms. If you have NOT sent in one or both of these items, you will be receiving a separate email reminder later today. The LAST day to submit the photo and signed forms is May 1^st.  

Below are some important deadlines and additional information about the events taking place at the retreat. PLEASE be sure and read thru everything. J

 IMPORTANT DEADLINES:

May 1st: Deadline to email me a picture for our retreat program. This can be a family picture, picture of your child/children or an individual picture.

May 30^h: Last day to book your room at CCA’s discounted rate. Here is the online booking link and our discounted rate is $139 per night, plus tax. https://reservations.travelclick.com/4650?groupID=1695394

May 31st: Deadline to sign up for child care during the Educational Symposium and the Symposium sessions you and your family will be attending. (Will send information for both ASAP)

June 1st: Deadline to let me know which meals you and your family will NOT be eating.

Annual Retreat and Educational Symposium Itinerary 

RETREAT EVENTS:

THURSDAY:

Registration: At this time you will check-in with the CCA Staff and Volunteers so we know you have arrived. You will be given a retreat bag full of goodies such as a retreat t-shirts, name tags and more!

Retreat Kick-Off: We will kick-off the retreat with some announcements and introductions. Tacos and Entertainment will be provided for the families.

FRIDAY:

Breakfast will be provided

Group Meet-ups: During this time, you will have the opportunity to meet other families who have children with your child’s craniofacial syndrome or condition and families who have children within your child’s age group.

Lunch is on your own

Talent Show: Brought back by popular demand! Everyone loved last year’s Talent Show, so we are doing it again this year! If you plan on performing in the Talent Show, please email me the name of the performer and what talent they will be providing. Each performer will have about 2-3 minutes for their performance. Once all slots are filled, I will be sending you an email to gather additional information from you and assign you a time for your performance.

Family Night/Dinner Provided: Every year at the retreat we do a basket raffle during Family Night (which takes place on Friday night) and the families love it, so we are going to keep it around. For those of you who have never been to a retreat, let me explain how this works. We ask our retreat families to bring an item or basket with items which represents your hometown, city or state. Then we number each basket and set a brown paper bag in front of each item. We sell raffle tickets and you simply place your ticket in the bag of the basket you would like to win. Once everyone has purchased their tickets, we hold a drawing for each basket. It's really neat to see what everyone brings each year. Please don't feel like you have to bring something, this is just totally up to you. And last, but not least, if you are bringing an item or basket for our raffle please bring this to registration on Thursday. Registration will be taking place from 11:00am-3:00pm. (If you have any address labels, you might want to bring them with you. It saves you from having to write your name on the tickets. Ticket prices are 20 for $5) Entertainment will be provided.

Teen Night (Ages 13-19): If your teen will be attending Teen Night on Friday, they will be eating dinner with everyone else in the Grand Ballroom. When it is time for Teen Night, will have a place for them and the chaperones to line up outside of the ballroom and then we will walk everyone to the Pool. I am looking for 3-4 Adults to chaperone teen night. If you are interested, please email me.

CCA Adults’ Casino Night (Ages 20 and up): If you are a CCA Adult with a craniofacial condition and will be attending the Casino Night, you will be eating dinner in the Grand Ballroom. You will head to Casino Night at 8:00pm which will be located in the Olympus room.

SATURDAY:

Breakfast is on your own

Zumba: Our very own CCA Dad, Jerry Carchi, will be teaching a fun Zumba class for the entire family!

Group Photo: Each year we do a big group photo. We ask that you please wear your CCA Retreat T-shirt which will be provided in your retreat bag during Registration on Thursday, June 28^th.

Pool Party/Boxed Lunches Provided: Everyone will head to the pool for an afternoon of fun. Boxed lunches will only be provided from 11:00am-1:00pm.

Dinner/Dance with DJ and Dinner Provided: Most of our families do dress up for this event, although not required. The attire isn’t formal, more like slacks, summer dresses, etc…

SUNDAY

BREAKFAST PROVIDED: We will give our hugs, say our goodbyes, exchange numbers and start the countdown to the 2019 retreat!

Download Free, "Wonder" Curriculum

Educators around the country rejoice! CCA's "Wonder" curriculum is now available with just a click of the mouse. Click the images below to access a PDF of the lesson plans that you can use in your classroom. Thank you to Carolyn Johnson for her hard work on the curriculum for our teachers.

Southern California Families: See Le Petit Cirque on April 22nd For Free!

Buy Tickets Today! Follow this link to purchase tickets and learn more about the Le Petit Cirque performance on Sunday, April 22nd at 7:00PM. Get Tickets! » Southern California families, you are invited to two benefit shows by Le Petit Cirque on Sunday, April 22, 2018. The two performances of "The Magnificient" will benefit CCA and Paul Patrick "PJ" Reynafarje, a sweet new addition to our community recently born with Treacher Collins Syndrome.  This one-of-a-kind performance by Le Petit Cirque will feature professionally-trained youth dancers, aerialists, and contortionists, who will perform the great physical feats from Cirque de Soleil shows. Last year, Le Petit Cirque, performed at the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Concert featuring John Legend. Watch the video to see these awesome kids in action! "The Magnificient" performances will take place at Le Petit Cirque in Inglewood, California on Sunday, April 22, 2018 at 2:00PM and 7:00PM. There will also be several CCA families in attendance plus Jono Lancaster, UK activist and motivational speaker, will be presenting at the shows and mingling with families in attendance. The generous family behind this event are offering free tickets, one per family, to children associated with Children's Craniofacial Association. Currently, the 2:00PM show is very near sold out. Contact Erica Mossholder to inquire about free tickets for the show. PJ and his supportive friends and family will also donate a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales to CCA to help a family attend the Annual Family Retreat and Educational Symposium. To learn more about PJ, "The Magnificient" Le Petit Cirque performance, and to buy tickets, go to the EventBrite Page.