| The Andréa Rizzo Foundation // March 2018 |
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Foundation News
The Pazazz Performing Company of St. Louis has been supporting Dréa's Dream for many years in too many ways to count.
Their Annual Dréa's Dream Gala, on March 10th, was "over the top", as usual. With raffles and auctions and a VIP Reception, Pazazz exceeded their own fundraising record.
This year was especially poignant as it also honored their student, Arianna Dougan. After battling neuroblastoma for many years, Ari succumbed to this disease in November, but as was displayed at the gala, Ari's Light still shines brightly.
The Pazazz dancers have selflessly let their hearts move their feet to help children with cancer and special needs at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital where Dance Therapist, Katie Bohn, provides 3 hours of dance/movement therapy each week.
It was especially exciting to have Andréa's dance teacher, Sharon Mulcahy, attend this special event. Sharon is also our Connecticut based dance/movement therapist and a dear friend of the foundation since its inception.
Our gratitude for the Pazazz Performing Company of St. Louis is overflowing!
This month, we are grateful for...
T
he Andréa Rizzo Foundation is especially grateful to Patricia Raskin as she continues to spotlight our work on her many radio programs. Patricia has been a longtime supporter and has brought much media attention to Dréa's Dream.
Julie McDevitt
We are so very grateful to web designer, Julie McDevitt
of St. Louis, MO
for lending her extraordinary talent and donating her valuable time. Thank you, Julie! Be on the lookout for out for the brand new website.
I'
m constantly asked how the Andréa Rizzo Foundation has grown far and wide through the efforts of a completely volunteer staff. My answer is always the same, "Dréa has sent us a "Dream Team" of angels!"
E
ach month we will spotlight a different volunteer to show our appreciation. There are so many compassionate and dedicated volunteers and "angels" so I will randomly choose one to introduce to you each month.
We hope you'll enjoy reading about each of these individuals as much as we love presenting them to you.
Sincerely,
Susan Rizzo-Vincent
President
Dréa's Dream Team - March
Spotlight on Jenessa Vack
Graphic Designer, Jenessa Vack from Chanhassen, MN, has been behind the scenes creating personalized items with our logo, etc., to help shine a light on Dréa's Dream.
She's designed beautiful t-shirts and the most recent ones are for our dance/movement therapists in hospitals and schools nationwide.
After receiving her degree in Graphic Design, she continued her studies in Art Direction/Advertising and Portfolio School and has just begun her career in graphic design. We are fortunate that she is sharing her talents with The Andréa Rizzo Foundation.
Thank you, Jenessa!
Amazon Smile
You can raise funds for the Andréa Rizzo Foundation while online shopping at smile.amazon. Simply sign into your Amazon account at smile.amazon.com and click "Your Account" in the top right side of the toolbar, then click "Change Your Charity" in the scroll-down column. When prompted to select a charity, type The Andréa Rizzo Foundation and do all of your shopping for a good cause! (you only need to type in your choice of charity the first time you set this up). Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.
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Dance Therapist Corner
Katie Bohn, LPC, BC-DMT continues to provide dance/movement therapy to the Dréa's Dream program at Cardinal Glennon. See below a few words she has shared about her work there.
Dréa's Dream continues to bring the power of dance to fragile children at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Thanks to the continued support and funding by the Pazazz Performers, our program continues to grow! I have been extremely blessed to participate as a dance/movement therapist with the Dréa's Dream program over the past two years. Weekly I work, one on one, with children staying in the hospital - providing them with the joy of dance and giving them an opportunity for movement, connection and emotional expression.
I recently worked with a 7-year old girl who was paralyzed from the waist down. When I met her, she was lying very still in bed, watching TV, reportedly feeling "bored" and experiencing pain from a recent major surgery. During our session together we created an elaborate dance performance in her bed, including costumes, a "curtain" (e.g. scarfs) and dance performances by her two American Girl dolls. The patient chose the songs based on themes for the dance. We had water dances, fire dances and then empowerment dances to songs like Katy Perry's "Roar" and Rachel Platten's "Fight Song". The girl used the dancing color scarves in the choreography and eventually began dancing herself engaging in balletic arm and head movements in synchronicity with the music. She was smiling, laughing and expressing her own courage and inner strength through song choice and improvised movements for her dolls and her own body. I knew that the movement and laughter had not only lifted her spirits but also engaged her physically in her "new body", a body that is forever changed in its mobility. Mom also understood the importance of what was unfolding. Her eyes welled with tears numerous times throughout the session as she participated as the photographer and videographer for the performance. I continue to be humbled by the opportunity to work with and meet these amazingly brave children as a dance/movement therapist. Thank you to The Andréa Rizzo Foundation for making this possible!
Katie Bohn, LPC, BC-DMT
Dance/Movement Therapist
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Please send us your US Mailing address if you haven't received our annual newsletter in the past
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The Andrea Rizzo Foundation
10 East Beach Road
Charlestown, RI 02813
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Join dancers across the country today and start planning your dance-a-thon, performance or any dance event of your choice - big or small - to raise money for
Dréa's Dream programming nationwide. Email:
[email protected]
. We'll help you plan.
Dance Across America® participants receive a plaque for their dance school as well as individual tokens of appreciation for each dancer. Your school will be featured on our website, social media sites, and our monthly newsletter.
Already have an event scheduled? Don't forget to tag us in your pictures and videos on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube using
#dreasdream or
#danceacrossamerica. We look forward to seeing your events on-line!
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As we begin to reach Spring, there are always a flurry of benefit performances and dance shows that are helping our cause. What a wonderful way to welcome this new season. We can't wait to see all of the photos of beautiful dancers from all over the country!
Dance with Miss Lindsay Studio Dancers
March Events
March 4 - Mansfield, MA - On the Barre held their benefit performance at 1pm, at Mansfield High School, in conjunction with Revolution Performing Arts, Dance Express, Live, Love Dance Studio, In Sync Center for the Arts and Kalia Karr Dance Studio. They danced to raise money for the foundation.
March 10 - St. Louis, MO - Pazazz Performers held their 8th Annual Dréa's Dream Gala. This dance school is truly an inspiration.
March 24 - Marshfield, MA -
Director, Stephanie Holleran presented another amazing performance and Gala to support the Andréa Rizzo Foundation. Each year the dancers at Duval Dance and Music Academy put on a fantastic show followed by a wonderful dinner. Sharon Mulcahy, Andréa's dance teacher and our Connecticut based dance therapist, attended this event on behalf of the Andréa Rizzo Foundation.
April Events
April 20 & 22 - Newport, RI - Salve Regina University Dance Club is gearing up for their Spring Showcase that will benefit the foundation. These young ladies have passion, heart, and talent! You don't want to miss it.
April 29 - West Lafayette, IN - Purdue University's dance club, Higher Ground Dance Company, will once again dedicate their Spring performance to our cause. We are so grateful to each and every HGDC member for their years of support!
May Events
May 12 - Matawan, NJ - Arts in Motion
#danceacrossamerica
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Talent on Parade
has become a loyal sponsor, helping us get Dance Across America up and running for the past two years. They are an official sponsor of the Dance Across America campaign in support of Dréa's Dream nationwide.
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We thank the Rhee Gold Company for continuing to support our efforts and spreading the word of Dréa's Dream in their Dance Studio Life magazine and through DSL Dance Wire news on-line.
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The Moret Group has provided prizes for our Dance Across America pledge-raising competition each year. We are so grateful to John Debease at The Moret Group for arranging the donation of fabulous activewear for our top pledge raisers.
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