Recent Events:

March 15, 2010 - Elixir Fund's Seventh Anniversary

"The Elixir Fund is a smile on my face." - Jaye Dryer

Thank you for helping the Elixir Fund provide comfort to cancer patients and caregivers across the country for the last seven years.

Featured on our anniversary card this year is Jaye Dryer, a remarkable woman whom we had the good fortune to meet at one of our makeover days. Even though Jaye was not having the best of days, she graciously shared her story with us for a video that you can view on our website at www.elixirfund.org. She thanked us for allowing her to participate, knowing that appearing on our video would help others. Later that day, Jaye’s sister Kathy sent an email to the Elixir Fund thanking us for putting a smile not only on Jaye’s face but also on the face of everyone she told about the strangers who appeared in her room that day to offer her a makeover.

This is a shining example of the impact the Elixir Fund has on cancer patients and their caregivers. All of this was made possible by friends like you. We invite you to help us celebrate our seven years at one of our fundraisers this year: July 30 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles for our Seventh Annual Auction or November 14 at Mercer Oaks in Princeton Junction for our Fourth Annual Cocktail Party and Auction. 

If you would like to volunteer at one of our upcoming events, or if you would like to host a fundraiser of your own, please contact us at (800) 494-9228 or via email at contact@elixirfund.org.

On behalf of the Elixir Fund and those we serve, we thank you for supporting us.

October, 2009-Smencils- Our thanks to the Smencils Corporation for their generous donation of 5 cases of Smencils to be given to our partner hospitals. Smencils are pencils with a scent. They are made from recycled newspaper and are available in graphite pencils and colored pencils. They are available in scents such as cherry, bubble gum, pineapple and more.

We have already sent Smencils to The Todd Cancer Institute for use in our Kids Packs. These are bags with pencils, activity pages, coloring pages, and more available to children who have accompanied their parents to treatment. They will also be shared with Miller Children's Hospital. We have also sent some of the Smencils to the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles' HOPE program which serves the Hematology and Oncology patients as well as the Art Therapy Program which serves all patients.

Our thanks to Connie Hoyos Nervi for making this donation possible.

July 6-8, 2009-12th Annual Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Conference. The Elixir Fund was honored to participate in the 12th Annual Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Conference in Washington, DC. We met many wonderful people and helped spread the word, not only about the Elixir Fund, but about Rational Therapeutics and The Vanguard Cancer Foundation as well.

Patty Brown and Elizabeth Panke, shown with Meg McQuarrie below, were on hand to share their amazing stories about how the Chemosensitivity Test offered by Dr. Robert Nagourney of Rational Therapeutics saved their lives. They are truly inspiring.

Elizabeth Panke, Meg McQuarrie, and Patti Brown at the 12th Annual Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Conference in Washington, DC.

Patti Brown and Elizabeth Panke were walking billboards, wearing dresses that told their incredible stories of survival and the impact that Rational Therapeutics chemosensitivity testing had on designing the right treatment for their cancers.

Previous Events:

• Children's Hospital of Los Angeles: Celebrate Life with HOPE
• May Mini-Makeover Day
• Family Portrait Day at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
• Elixir Fund and Capessa

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.

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.

- Back to top

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, Jona & 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.

- Back to top

Elixir Fund and Capessa - Executive Director, Meg McQuarrie, was asked to participate in a website that was being built to showcase the stories of women and how they have changed their lives. We were honored to be asked to share the story of Elixir and are pleased to announce that the website, www.capessa.com is now live. To view Meg's page, please follow this link to "Laughter is the Best Medicine." Our thanks to Capessa for including our story.

- Back to top