A Worthy 2nd

poster1.10

posterafj14May 28, 2014, Agua Dulce, CAā€”A tradition in the greater Santa Clarita Valley is developing in May, brain tumor awareness month.Ā  Jackā€™s Angels Foundation, of Agua Dulce, CA, is dedicated to awareness, support, and research for DIPG, a pediatric brainstem tumor responsible for 80% of pediatric brain tumor deaths annually, no survivors, and no progress to that effect in over 30 years.Ā  The foundation was inspired in loving memory of James-William ā€œJackā€ Demeter, Agua Dulce resident, Ā 8/30/08ā€”7/30/12, afflicted with DIPG in late 2011, and suddenly lost forever; Ā it was motivated also from the fact that there are currently no answers in modern medicine to this affliction, and not nearly enough going on to find those answers.

 

AD18In the spring of 2012, while Jack was still alive, Peggy Marrone, art teacher at the Agua Dulce Elementary School brought to the Demeter household over 60 beautiful paintings in support of a music event for Jack slated for July 2012.Ā  Sadly, tumor progression set in and there was not time to adequately prepare the art for the benefit concert.Ā  Jackā€™s mother and founder of Jackā€™s Angels, Janet Demeter, remained determined that Jackā€™s Angels foundationā€™s first event should be dedicated to celebrating childrenā€™s art, and so it was, May 11 2013, involving childrenā€™s art workshops, fine art displays of local artists, and musical entertainment from professional artists and also talented young artists.

10372086_859090647439850_1816826806570550221_nOn May 20, 2014 Jackā€™s Angels hosted its 2ndĀ annual ā€œArt for Jackā€ event.Ā  The childrenā€™s art workshops included acrylic painting with Heidi Vaughn, art teacher at the Buckley School for over 30 years, Ā watercolor/crayon with Peggy Marrone, art teacher at Agua Dulce Elementary School, and creative collage with Stefanie Schussler10356352_859091650773083_4116294420460639043_n, local artist and teacher.Ā  Exhibiting artists included Lorlinda Osborne andJanine Ayres of Santa Clarita, CA; Ā the ā€œArt for Jackā€ traveling gallery created a special tribute to 6 DIPG children recently passed away, notably John Bradley Thompsonjbt3 and Naithan Sizemore,IMG_1597 whose stories the foundation followed closely and can be found documented on the foundation website.Ā  Ā Family mus1entertainment was highlighted by vocalist Teresa James and saxophonist Jerry Peterson, singer/songwriter Dave Fraser, ā€œNaked Rhythmā€ā€“ Alex Spurkel on Doumbek, Michael Battista on Flamenco Guitar, and Quetzel Guerrero on violin, accompanying theMeadowlark Dancers, a middle-eastern-style troupe of young dancers headed by Mrs. Tracy Costan, of Acton CA.10345987_859096917439223_3350309069388163681_n10277763_859091930773055_4109055565078154126_nĀ  Jim Thompson, master magician, enthralled the audience and employed extra assistance from the young onlookers, with many laughs and surprises.Ā Ā Center Stage OperaĀ made a special appearance, with performances by Shira Renee Thomas, principal soprano,10307194_859101037438811_281967773498587909_n heralding the coming this Fall 2014 of a choral program primarily for children in, but not exclusive to, the Acton-Agua Dulce area.Ā  More information about this program will be forthcoming this summer from theActon-Agua Dulce Unified School District. Ā Ā Delicious supporters of the event included Ritaā€™s Italian Ice of Saugus, CA, and Nothing Bundt Cakes of Valencia CA.Ā  Ā Le Chene Restaurant, of Agua Dulce, generously donated to the raffle, as well as ā€œJump 5150ā€ of Valencia, ā€œKidsArtā€ of Valencia, and 10300497_859097217439193_9068756672832812763_nā€œPinots Paletteā€ among others. Ā The Agua Dulce Royal Court and 4 local Cub Scout troopsassisted generously in the festivities.
10363390_859091350773113_7969734612158351793_n

Jackā€™s Angels first goal was to start a DIPG research fund at Childrenā€™s Hospital Los Angeles, and also to support and encourage the formation of such a fund at every major childrenā€™s research institution with a strong neuro-oncology program in the US.Ā  IMG_1658The first annual ā€œArt for Jackā€ event in May 2013 drew some attention for DIPG,IMG_3106 and the Mod Hatters of Actondedicated their fundraising efforts from their annual golf event to open the DIPG research fund for Jackā€™s Angels as the result of publicity for the first ā€œArt for Jackā€ event.Ā  They were awarded a trophy and certificate of public merit for their contribution to Jackā€™s Angels cause, Friday May 23rd, 2014 at the 2nd Annual Powderpuff Football Game benefiting Jackā€™s Angels, at Vasquez High School.Ā  Jackā€™s Angels gave out over 16 awards, including those key volunteers whose initiative enabled the foundation to survive its first year and begin to fulfill its mission.Ā  Brandi Beltran, Ā 2013 graduate of Vasquez High School, will accompany Janet Demeter Monday, June 2, in giving a gift to the DIPG research fund at Childrenā€™s Hospital LA. Ā ā€œArt for Jackā€ 2015 is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, 2015.

Oren Dye and Brandi Beltran, who put it all together last year, receive Young People's Award for outstanding service.

Brandi and her classmate Oren Dye, also a 2013 graduate of Vasquez High School, created the first Powderpuff game, now having the legacy of a 2nd annual event061.Ā  The support has been instrumental to Jackā€™s Angels continuing raising awareness for the urgent need for more research for DIPG and pediatric brain tumors, the leading cause of cancer-related death in children, yet one of the least-funded areas of research.

Because of Jackā€™s Angels membership to the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, an organization that has been consistently supportive of the new public charity, Ā Jackā€™s Angels President Janet Demeter had the good fortune of meeting, at an annual Chamber event,Assemblyman Scott Wilk, affected quite

Leadership Academy Graduates 2014

strongly at learning about DIPG from Jackā€™s Angels literature.Ā  Ā His office has worked tirelessly to pass a resolution to make May 25-31st DIPG Awareness Week in the State of California, the status information for which is now pending.Ā  Jackā€™s Angels is also committed to raising awareness for the fact that only 4% of the National Cancer Instituteā€™s annual budget for research funding goes to pediatric cancer research. Ā For more information about Jackā€™s Angels mission, visitwww.jacksangels.orgĀ home page.

For updates on current and upcoming events, visit the EVENTS page, or access our newsletter on the homepage ofĀ www.jacksangels.org.

Comments are closed.