k + his big heart:
Kevin's cousin, Alex, along with thousands of other boys like Alex, have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. DMD is the most common lethal genetic disease of children, and is 100% fatal. It is a progressive weakening defect of all the muscles in the body, and primarily occurs in boys. There is no cure, no treatment, and no survivors. Approximately 1 in every 2,400 boys worldwide is born with DMD, and they die, on the average, at about 16 years of age. DMD is a worldwide tragedy; kids of all colors, all nationalities, all classes, and all ethnic backgrounds die much too young, agonizingly, slowly, and painfully, from DMD. Please go to DMDfund.org to find out how you can help.
KOREH L.A. is the non-sectarian volunteer literacy program created by The Jewish Federation's Jewish Community Relations Committee. "KOREH" is the Hebrew word for read. Each volunteer spends one hour, once a week, reading with a pre-school or elementary school child. In just over nine years, we have trained over 7,500 volunteers to work with more than 16,000 children in more than 100 Los Angeles elementary and pre-schools. Principals, teachers, and volunteers express the impact that KOREH L.A. volunteers have on the reading abilities, attendance, classroom participation, and self-esteem of the children.
Kevin is currently working with a student named JASMINE at GLEN FELIZ ELEMENTARY . Kevin and Jasmine meet once a week, and work on improving her reading and comprehension skills. Jasmine is doing an excellent job, and Kevin is quite proud of her. jewishla.org
UCP Wheels for Humanity began as "Wheels for Humanity" in a Studio City garage in 1995. That year Wheels delivered 130 wheelchairs to people in Guatemala. Our organization grew and in February 1996, we incorporated into a 501 (c) 3 non-profit. We now operate from a 10,880-square-foot warehouse in North Hollywood, California. And we've continued to grow.
During each wheelchair distribution and seating clinic, a team of volunteer medical professionals work with our partners in developing countries to individually custom-fit wheelchairs and other ambulatory equipment - without regard to political affiliation, religious belief or ethnic identity.
UCP Wheels helps thousands of children and adults with disabilities each year gain increased mobility and dignity, traveling to developing countries such as Mexico, Vietnam, Uganda, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Brazil, Mongolia, Thailand, Ukraine and Zimbabwe. ucpwfh.org Donations can also be made to specifically provide wheelchairs to those in need in Haiti. ucpwfh.org
The Children's Defense Fund is the foremost national proponent of policies and programs that provide children with the resources they need to succeed. They champion policies that will lift children out of poverty; protect them from abuse and neglect; and ensure their access to health care, quality education, and a moral and spiritual foundation. The CDF has been leading our nation since 1973 to ensure a level playing field for all children. Please visit childrensdefense.org + get involved.
