Previous Events:
Elixir Fund installs DVD players in Oncology wing at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.- The DVD and Movie and Music Program was our Pilot Project with The Todd Cancer Institute which serves Miller Children's Hospital and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.
It has become a popular program and we now have over 400 movies in the DVD Library. Almost half of that collection was recently donated by Mimi Mamic, a patient that we met during a Mini Makeover Day who wanted to give back. She organized a DVD drive at work and collected over 200 titles. Our sincere thanks to Mimi.
The portable DVD players were much appreciated by the patients and we recently decided to upgraded to installed DVD players that are connected to the flat screen tvs now available in patient rooms. We have donated 25 DVD players that have been installed in the 25 of the rooms on the 6th floor, which serves Oncology Patients at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.
Executive Director Meg McQuarrie operating the new DVD players that were installed
in 25 patient rooms on thhe 6th floor at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
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June 7 - Children's Hospital of Los Angeles' Celebrate Life with HOPE event. The Elixir Fund was proud to be participating in this year's Celebrate Life with HOPE event.
This is a day of celebration for hematology and oncology patients from CHLA (both past and present), their families, doctors, and nurses. There were activities, games, food, and entertainment, with a special appearance by Jessica Simpson. The Elixir Fund's incredible volunteers, Janice Bremec, Taylor and Jona Howe, and Lena Cornejo provided makeup services to families that were having portraits taken at the event. We would like to thank our volunteers and our special guest, David DeLuise, who was on hand to greet the families.
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Elixir "Comfort Kits"-
Dolly Roberts-Solosky with some of the blankets she made for our "Comfort Kits"
The Elixir Fund is about to launch a new pilot program that works directly with patients and caregivers. We plan to send individual "Comfort Kits" that consist of an Elixir bag with a blanket, DVD player, and 6 month Netflix Gift Certificate to those in need of a little extra TLC.
Our thanks to Shauna Spenley and Netflix, who donated the Gift Certificates; and Dolly Roberts-Solosky who made all of the blankets. We will continue to update you on the progess of this project.
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May 18, 2009 - Mini-Makeover Day-
"I just learned about your organization. When you were in Long Beach Memorial Hospital yesterday May 18, you were kind enough to offer a treatment /manicure/hair/makeup for my dear sister in the chemo ward. Thank you for your love and light and giving spirit. ...Thank you again for your wonderful organization. You made my sisters day; and put smiles on all family members faces when we heard."
As you can see from the above quote, our Makeover Days continue to be a huge success and are much anticipated not only by the patients and their families but by the staff as well. A big part of what makes these days so successful are our incredible volunteers who are not only talented makeup artists, manicurists, and massage therapists, but they are also incredibly compassionate people who provided much needed comfort and compassion to patients and their caregivers.
Our thanks to Valerie Thomas, Judy Cocuzza, Emily Gray, and Lisa Bowman, who provided massage; Alex Franco and Alecea Duran, who provided manicures; and Janice Bremec and Jona Howe, who provided makeup services.
We would also like to thank Mimi Mamic who is a patient that we met on a former makeover day that was on hand to help us with the Makeover Day. Mimi also organized a DVD donation drive and collected over 200 DVDs that we have since donated to the movie library at Long Beach Memorial.
One of our incredible volunteers, Alex Franco, providing a
manicure at our March Mini-Makeover Day.
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March 28 & 29th - Family Portrait Weekend at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. The Elixir Fund was honored to participate in Family Portrait weekend at CHLA. Our volunteers provided makeup services to families having their pictures taken over the weekend. This is a fantastic event sponsored by Holden's Hope Train. We would like to thank all of our volunteers: Janice Bremec, Jonna & Taylor Howe, Lena Cornejo, & Heather Coopersmith.
Professional makeup artist Janice Bremec provided makeup services during CHLA's Family Portrait Weekend
Taylor Howe not only provided makeup services, but she also entertained
the families with her original music.
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March, 2009 - Elixir Fund's Sixth Anniversary
Spring is here and the Elixir Fund is celebrating its sixth anniversary. The Elixir Fund was born during
Kevin McQuarrie’s two-year experience with cancer treatment and is founded on his awareness of the impact that gestures, both large and small, had not only on him, but on his friends and family as well. Each year we ask you to join us in celebrating our anniversary by spreading the spirit of Elixir. Do something nice for yourself, your family, or a stranger. Plant some flowers in your garden, plan a fun family outing, or participate in a community service event, such as working in a soup kitchen or donating blood or platelets. We invite you to share how you celebrated with us by emailing us at contact@elixirfund.org.
Over the last six years the Elixir spirit and philosophy have touched many lives and this mission continues. Just since the start of 2009 we have:
Hosted an extremely successful mini-makeover day at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. Patients,
caregivers, and volunteers are anxiously awaiting the next makeover day in May.
Funded installation of 30 DVD players in oncology wing rooms at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.
Begun our redecoration project at Princeton Hospital to help convert an exam room into a place for patients
and families to relax or to meet with doctors and staff.
Provided make-up artists for a family portrait day at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
The Elixir Fund has become so successful that we no longer feel that we can run it simply as a volunteer-based organization. We are pleased to announce that our Executive Director, Meg McQuarrie will work full-time for the Elixir Fund beginning June 1.
On behalf of the Elixir Fund and those we serve, we would like to thank you for all of your support. Please join us in celebrating all of our accomplishments through your own Elixir-inspired actions. You may also celebrate with us in person; save the date for these Elixir Events - Friday, August 28 in Los Angeles at the Skirball Cultural Center or Sunday, October 25 in Princeton Junction at Mercer Oaks Golf Course. For more information on any our events or to find out how you may help, please visit our website at www.elixirfund.org.
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