Sponsorship Opportunities

Playing and attending summer camp seems like a natural part of being a kid, but for a child battling an illness it is often the exception–not the rule. This is where CoachArt comes into play.

This isn’t just any summer camp. Specifically designed to cater to the special needs of this population, the expertise of physicians and nurses has been solicited to provide the best environmental conditions for patient participants. Their choice prescription: lots of laughter & play.

Research shows that laughter is healing, play is productive and putting a smile on the face of a child can improve their health and possibly even extend their life. This is why CoachArt exists.

But play doesn’t stop at the patient. We’ve learned that the art of play benefits the volunteer mentor, siblings and the entire family. At CoachArt, we call this, “The Art Of Improving Lives,” and it’s why we continue to expand our community of care.

TECHNOLOGY SPONSOR – $15,000  Camp CoachArt offers photography, filmmaking and animation classes. Each of these classes uses technological equipment that CoachArt must purchase and/or rent. This sponsorship covers the cost of these materials.

Sponsorship includes:

• Logo inclusion on all event marketing materials and communications
• Website, posters, signage, emails, Facebook page/social media, etc.
• Branding on all event marketing materials and communications as Technology Sponsor
• Option to include marketing materials in camp gift bag (for all attendees, seen by parents)
• Sponsor logo on website
• Inclusion in all event Press Releases as Technology Sponsor
• Invitation to Closing Ceremonies
• Full-page ad in Hope section of 2012 Champions Ball Award Dinner Tribute Journal
• One table of ten to 2012 Champions Ball Award Dinner
• 10 tickets to the 2012 Champion Ball Award Dinner

LOCATION SPONSOR – $10,000  To hold a camp offering the best in arts and athletics takes a special location with a variety of spaces. This sponsorship covers the cost of the Camp CoachArt location.

 Sponsorship Includes:

• Logo inclusion on all event marketing materials and communications
  • Website, posters, signage, emails, Facebook page/social media, etc.
• Branding on all event marketing materials and communications as Location Sponsor
• Option to include marketing materials in camp gift bag (for all attendees, seen by parents)
• Sponsor logo on website
• Limited inclusion in all event Press Releases as Location Sponsor
• Invitation to Closing Ceremonies
• Half-page ad in Friend section of 2012 Champions Ball Award Dinner Tribute Journal
• 4 tickets to 2012 Champions Ball Award Dinner

VARIOUS CAMP SPONSORSHIPS – $5,000   There are a variety of “Camp-Level” sponsorships available. Each sponsorship includes:

• Logo inclusion on some event marketing materials and communications, Website,posters, signage, emails, Facebook page/social media, etc.
• Branding on sponsor-specific items
• Invitation to closing ceremonies
• Option to include marketing materials in camp gift bag (for all attendees, seen by parents)
• Half page ad in 2012 Champion Ball Tribute Journal

Transportation Sponsor – Many of our campers do not have the means to get to and from camp. CoachArt offers campers free transportation for the duration of the session. This sponsorship covers the cost of transportation services for those campers. A magnet will be created of your logo paired with the Camp CoachArt logo and placed on the side of all camp transportation vehicles.

Materials Sponsor - Camp CoachArt instructors donate their time for camp, but CoachArt covers the cost of lesson materials. This sponsorship covers art supplies that will be used in a variety of projects throughout the week. Lessons include, but are not limited to, animation, yoga, mosaic art, soccer, cooking and more.

Volunteer Sponsor - Our volunteers donate their time throughout the week as counselors, instructors and administrative support. This sponsorship covers the cost of maintaining and caring of these volunteers through providing food, mileage and any extras they may need.

Closing Ceremonies Sponsor - On the last day of camp a special ceremony takes place showcasing the work campers have done over the week, awarding prizes and celebrating with a luncheon. This sponsorship covers the cost of food and gifts for campers and volunteers along with covering the cost of food for families and invited guests.

For more information on sponsorships listed or in kind donations for the 2nd Annual Camp CoachArt, please contact lori@coachart.org

Our friends at Handstand Kids continue to support CoachArt and you can too! To celebrate the launch of their newest Baking Around the World cookbook kit, Handstand Kids will donate 20% of sales to CoachArt! Your kids will LOVE this adorable baking cookbook as much as ours have! Use the promo code “CoachArt”

Visit www.handstandkids.com

Grateful — Appreciative of benefits received; thankful.

I am grateful for the things that you have done.
Yes, I’m grateful for the victories we’ve won.
I could go on and on and on about your works.
Because I’m grateful, grateful, grateful.
Flowing from my heart,
Are the issues of my heart
It’s gratefulness. — Hezikiah Walker

On the heels of Mother’s Day there is much to think about and I am grateful for the process. Having experienced two losses that affect me deeply during this time, I am mindful, reflective and thoughtful. The loss of my mother was early in her life yet, natural in the circle of life. However, having a miscarriage in the late stages of a pregnancy was not supposed to be a part of that circle. So in reflecting during this time it brings my heart hurt yet gratitude.

I know this sounds strange because it says I’m grateful for loss. And in actuality it’s exactly what I mean.

In our gratitude we normally think of what we have. Yet, being grateful is about what we have already received. The love I felt, the insight I gained and the compassion I’m able to share with others going through similar circumstances are attributes I would never had if my losses had not occurred. I now have first hand experience to help others get through difficult times — and I have wonderful, heart warming, humorous and loving stories that range from laughing with my mother to feeling a first kick from my unborn child.

It is these lived experiences that I am grateful for.

We all have loss and I’m certainly not here to say we shouldn’t experience the pain and tears associated with having a loved one gone forever. But, I do believe we must appreciate what we had while we had it and learn from whatever that period affords us.

We must be grateful — in good and bad. We must be grateful that these experiences shaped us into who we are. We must be grateful that we had someone or something to look forward to. We must be grateful that they were a part of our lives to help us grow and to help us love.

Today take a moment to be grateful for whomever is helping you grow. If that special someone is still around, appreciate them more by acknowledging what they’re bringing into your life. If they are no longer here, say a special word or prayer thanking them for what they’ve left. Know that you are not alone in loss and in the collective of that spirit there is hope and that leads us to a grateful place of love.

How long have you been a CoachArt Volunteer? I have been a CoachArt volunteer since January 2012.

What made you decide to volunteer with CoachArt? CoachArt offers a really flexible schedule that allows people with busy schedules to participate.

What do you like most about volunteering with CoachArt? I love the idea of using art to improve lives and also help others find their own creative talents.

What type of activities have you done at CoachArt? I’ve done crafts that include ocean dioramas, paper mache and origami, and art pieces that include painting/watercolor, pastel, charcoal and color pencil.

Why do you volunteer with CoachArt? CoachArt has allowed me to work with kids that enjoy art just as much as I do. I was able to revisit some of the art projects I have done as a kid and share it with my CoachArt student. Through working with my CoachArt student my meaning of art has changed dramatically. I see art from a very different perspective now and also realize how art can really impact lives! Art is not just a piece of paper and color; it’s the story and expression behind the work, that makes it truly beautiful!

What advice would you give to a new CoachArt volunteer? Share your talent with CoachArt, you will make huge difference in someone’s life.

Would you recommend CoachArt to friends? Yes!

What other volunteer activities are you involved in? I helped out with another organization to paint pottery and plant seeds.

What would you like for our readers to know about you? My profession has nothing to do with art! I just really enjoy art!

How can CoachArt improve its’ services? How about an outdoors/hiking and art session…

FEAR — False Evidence Appearing Real

A friend shared the story from the Bible when Elizah the prophet ran in fear because he was threatened.  Though destined in his prophecy he ran in FEAR because he lost his faith. Elizah saw false evidence appearing real. His mind was playing tricks on him as he thought something bad would happen even though he knew God’s promise to him.

So many times we are like Elizah, running in fear. We try to see into the future based on false evidence and the reality is, we don’t really know what the future holds.

For some the fear is moving forward in a career — not sure how or if they should move forward. For others it’s opening hearts in relationships — whether to trust feelings over thoughts. Whatever fear we have, we must stop, stand to it and face it head on. Looking fear in the face shows the reality of what is and what’s really possible.

Fear paralyzes so many people in so many instances. It’s like a thief taking away your power to choose a positive futuristic path.

Take some time to think about what has you running in fear and then think about where the False Evidence Appears Real and shake it off.

Remember the acronym for FEAR and find what’s real!

On Saturday April 28, twelve CoachArt students interested in filmmaking got the opportunity of a lifetime. The students learned from Monster’s Ball director, Mark Forster what inspired him to enter the field of film, his experiences as a director and tips and tricks of the trade.

Mark then mentored students throughout the day while they wrote and directed their own short documentaries. A piano prodigy with cancer on his spine,  a poet with sickle cell, a post-kidney transplant recipient and a dancer – all uniquely special. The students shared stories of laughter and fun leaving the challenges of their illnesses behind.

CoachArt’s Program Partner, Make a Film Foundation helped to make filming possible and will edit the final products. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) served as the backdrop for this very special day.

Kai Tramiel, CoachArt’s Outreach Coordinator commented “This was our second Vidz4Kids project with MAFF, and my expectations were far exceeded, once again!” Tamika Lamison, founder and Executive Director of Make a Film Foundation added, “Every time we do a VIDZ 4 KIDZ with CoachArt, I am reminded once again of why I love this program so much. Watching the children, mentors and volunteers show their passion, enthusiasm and creativity, never gets old.”

See all of the fun from the day in our photo gallery.

Being broken usually makes one feel sad. The definition in itself is something fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order. Broken refers to being rejected, defeated or in despair. And usually, you can count on a broken piece to be discarded and left for not good.

Today, I heard homily referring to Jesus being broken on the cross. It made me realize that we all experience being broken at some point through relationships, emotions and maybe even in a physical sense. Though we are broken, we’re not designed to be discarded. We are human and in our brokenness we actually should learn a lesson. Whether that lesson is about how we care for our bodies or our hearts, the process of healing is always better when we ask for help or support.

In sharing our broken situation with others, we open the door for solutions and chances to fix or mend the problem. Even better than fixing the problem alone, we often can share our stories and as others add to the mix, we realize we’re not alone. You see none of us are unique in being broken — as much as we think our story is the only one — it’s not!

The next time you feel broken or down, find someone to share the situation with. Ask them if they’ve experienced anything similar and then focus on how you can support each other to fix the problem. I promise you, even if there’s no fix — there’s something special in store and your one broken piece will blend with others and become a part of a beautiful mosaic masterpiece.