Very Special Arts Festival A Success

The Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens opened its doors and welcomed special needs children for the Very Special Arts (VSA) Festival. This four day hands-on-art festival welcomed over 2,500 school children from the Greater Jacksonville Area with varying disabilities, including more than 250 children with autism.  "Thanks to the partnership between The Cummer and The HEAL Foundation, ten percent more children with autism were able to attend this year's VSA Arts Festival." - Susan Gallo, Associate Director of Education, The  Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.

It is unprecedented for a museum of this stature to recognize the importance of children with special needs to participate and enjoy hands on experience of the arts. The participating children, many wheelchair bound, rarely have the opportunity to ever leave their school or home settings. To witness the interaction of children and volunteers among the beautiful gardens, sculptures, Miessen Porcelain collections, and the great art masterpieces, was truly priceless. 

The Cummer Museum recently formed a partnership with HEAL in a new initiative named HEALing Arts involving inclusion art camps with peers and children with autism.

"Green our Vaccines" will be the rally cry heard from parents in our nation's capitol on June 4^th.  Leading the charge will be Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey. The intention of this rally is the removal of dangerous toxins from childhood vaccines and to reform the vaccine schedule. Families are encouraged to visit their representatives to weigh in on three important bills before Congress right now.  The HEAL Foundation is a sponsor of the "Green our Vaccines" rally. For more information, or to register to attend the rally in Washington D. C. click here.

This year surf camp's name is changed to "A Special Day at the Beach" in order to focus on giving our campers a solid base of ocean activities that they will enjoy the rest o f their lives.  HEAL will again partner with Sunrise Surf Shop, the city of Jacksonville Beach, and the Ponte Vedra Rotary Club to sponsor two sessions of surf camp at the end of June.  Up to fifty children will be able to participate.  Hundreds of volunteers, from the surfing community will be assisting and coaching the children. 

Last year's event was a huge success and many children surfed, rode in ocean kayaks, sailed and frolicked in the waves.  The smiles and laughter of children, parents and volunteers left a lasting memory on all who attended.  In the words of one parent, "I just wanted to thank you all for this opportunity.  There are not many extra -curricular activities for autistic children and this provided them with a wonderful day of fun."  Another parent summed it up with, "This was a blessing to my son and our whole family.  Please continue this program."

Children must be at least 8 years old.  Registration forms will be available starting May 1^st at the Jacksonville Beach Rec Center at Sunshine Park.  Registration closes on June 1^st , so sign up soon! 

The 2008 Valley of Dreams will be held again at the TPC Sawgrass.  Please mark your calendar for the June 26^th Gala and June 27^th Bobby Weed-Pete Dye Charity Golf Classic.  Jenny McCarthy, actress, best- selling author, and mother of Evan who has recovered from autism, will return as our celebrity guest.

Last year's event sold out in two weeks, attendees enjoyed words from Jenny McCarthy, dinner, dancing, and a fabulous live auction, followed by a perfect day of golf on Dye's Valley Course.

Individual tickets and foursomes will go on sale at the end of May.  Click here for sponsorship packages and the sponsorship reply form.

HEAL is proud to bring filmmaker Joey Travolta to Jacksonville.  Travolta travels the country with his production crew, providing special need populations with a two-week film camp.  Fifty kids between the ages of 10 and 17, 30 whom have autism, will have the opportunity to write, act, direct, and produce a documentary titled "Free To Be Me".  HEAL would like to thank the University of North Florida for the involvement of their College of Education with this project.  UNF is also providing classroom space and a film location for the camp.  HEAL is grateful to Karen Sadler of Atlantic Beach ArtLife Productions for providing creative and production services. In order to participate, students are nominated by a teacher or therapist.  Registration materials are going out to Duval and St. John County School systems. 

To read the press release on the film camp, click here.