For my birthday this year, I am asking all of my friends, family, coworkers, former students and performers to give to the Child Life Department at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). For nearly 40 years, I have had the privilege of educating students in visual and performing arts at West Covina High School. I have also been blessed to work at the Happiest Place on Earth for 15 years where we make magic for young artists in programs like Disney Magic Music Days to Disney Imagination Campus, and walked countless parade routes with talented performers shining as musicians, dancers and singers. I have seen first hand the value of visual and performing arts for young people. No child should have to put their creativity and imagination on hold, even when they need life saving treatment like that patients at CHOC.

Please consider making a donation to the Child Life Department and help these specialists make magic, build dreams, spur creativity, and refocus the imagination and hope of sick babies, children and teens. 100% of your donation supports Child Life Department at CHOC when you donate to this page.

When you donate, you support programs like:

• Specialized therapeutic programs including our play room and bedside activities, pet therapy, music therapy and art therapy.
• Pre-surgery preparation and support, as well as operating room escorts, to help both patients and families feel more at ease with the surgery process.
• Therapeutic medical play that allows patients of all ages to better understand the hospital environment and their own medical conditions.
• Special entertainment that includes visits from special guests and entertainers, as well as entertainment broadcast from our Seacrest Studios located on the second floor.
• Sibling support because when one family member is hospitalized, we understand that the entire family is impacted.

Your gift can help purchase art supplies, musical instruments, graphic art classes, journals and writing tools, and SO much more for children.

Give what you can, and help make a difference!