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2023 Grand Service Project

2023 Grand Service Project

Sydney Gsp
Click Here to Watch Sydney Announce Our New Grand Service Project
at the First OV in Sacramento on May 29, 2022!

Below is the transcript of the speech given by our Grand Worthy Advisor Sydney, introducing our new Grand Service Project, Pawsitive Teams (www.pawsteams.org/) at the First Official Visit in 2022.

How many people in this room have participated in a graduation ceremony from an educational institution? Regardless of where you graduated from, your graduation ceremony is a key part of your life. It is symbolic of change, of progression, and of moving on to new adventures. As a whole, graduation is an immense milestone, but for some even having the ability to walk across the stage to receive their diploma is one of their biggest accomplishments by itself. An accomplishment that took months of hard work, effort, and immense perseverance to make happen. 

To people who struggle with disabilities, even simple tasks like walking at graduation, or being in a big group of people seem like an unreachable task. That is one of the reasons why working animals is so important. In the case of therapy dogs, from helping a child who is learning to read to visiting a senior in assisted living, therapy dogs and their owners work together as a team to improve the lives of other people. And in the case of trained service dogs, individuals with disabilities are provided with greater independence, the ability to do everyday things that we often take for granted.

Two women in San Diego, California were puppy raisers for a service dog training organization. They would spend many months working with and loving these pups. As the puppies were ready to move on to formal service dog training, they watched the trainers and met some disabled individuals who were learning how service dogs could make a difference in their lives. That’s when the seed was planted. 

In 1997, Carol Davis and Charli King - with one dog - created Pawsitive Teams. When they opened, their programs included training and placing service dogs for San Diegans with limited mobility and teaching a six-week Therapy Dog Prep School. Since then, they established the Pawsitive Animal Assisted Therapy program, which partners with facilities in San Diego that serve people who would benefit from interactions with therapy dogs.

While a number of therapy dog programs are active in California, Pawsitive Teams’ program is unique, as certified handler & therapy dog teams work directly with professionals to provide goal-directed therapy for the recipients. For example, a goal could be for a student to speak more clearly, or for a veteran to be able to go to Home Depot without fear. This is different from other forms of therapy dog volunteering and involves far more creative thinking from the handler, who has to be actively involved with designing tasks for each interaction.

In addition to goal-directed therapy, Pawsitive Teams also provides service dog training and placement for those with mobility limitations.  It also trains and places facility dogs, who work with professionals in the work setting to accomplish client-related goals. 

I am so unbelievably excited to announce that California Rainbow will be partnering with Pawsitive Teams as our 2023 Grand Service Project! From top to bottom, Pawsitive Teams stands out because its priorities are being placed always where they belong, on the welfare of the dogs, and on the needs of the clients and community they are serving. Our goal for this year is to sponsor the training and placement of 3 service dogs and to help financially support Pawsitive Teams with the execution of their mission to enhance the lives of people with special needs. California Rainbow, together we can help support this wonderful organization, so they can continue to utilize dogs to help improve the lives of so many people

Thank you.

 

2022 Grand Service Project

2022 Grand Service Project

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Below is the transcript of the speech given by our Grand Worthy Advisor, Katie, introducing our new Grand Service Project, the Fresno Chaffee Zoo (www.fresnochaffeezoo.org/) at the First Official Visit in 2021.

Hello everyone and welcome to the world-famous Jungle Cruise®, my name is Katie and I will be your skipper for this afternoon.  Now, everyone, turn around and wave goodbye to the folks back on the dock … they may never see you again. Remember, I get paid for the number of people I take out … not the number I bring back!

Our first stop will be right on your left, the Greater One-Horned Rhino. Native to the Indian subcontinent, this fellow right here is the largest of the rhino species. The Greater One-Horned Rhino used to thrive in the grasses of India, but unfortunately, they now risk extinction due to hunting. However, due to conservation efforts, the Greater One-Horned Rhino is making a comeback in Asia. I once heard that rhinos love to use their head to push objects like logs and even a ball. Did you know these rhinos are identified by a single black horn that is about 8 to 25 inches long? This right here is a perfect example of why you never get into an argument with a rhino. He’ll always get his point across. 

Our next stop will be directly to your right. If you look closely, you can see a beautiful Malayan Tiger.  Did you know that these animals were listed as critically endangered in 2015?  There have been huge conservation efforts to globally bring back these magnificent creatures through organizations and education. Male Malayan Tigers can grow up to be 8 feet in length and use their incredibly strong legs to move around at a fast speed. That’s no house cat over there.  Malyan Tigers can jump over 20 feet, and we must be at least, well … 19 feet away!  Don’t worry, he’ll jump right over us.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the moment you’ve all been waiting for…the backside of water!  If you look over here to your right ... and then back to your left, you can have a glimpse of … wait, that's not the backside of water … it's the Grand Service Project!  California Rainbow will be partnering with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for the Centennial Year Grand Service Project.  The zoo will be opening a new Asia exhibit featuring orangutans, rhinos, tigers, and many more animals that are home to the continent.  California Rainbow will have the opportunity to support the Malayan Tiger exhibit, work on enrichment programs throughout the zoo that creates experiences for the animals that allow them to perform their natural behaviors and learn about conservation methods worldwide.  In addition, there will be animal opportunities for alumni to adopt that special animal they hold near and dear to their hearts.  I am beyond excited to be able to work with all of you and the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for this centennial year and cannot wait to show the world what California Rainbow has to offer.

There will be more information to come on the Grand Worthy Advisor Instagram, so each week keep by watching Meerkat Mondays.  Thank you for riding with us!  If you enjoyed yourself, my name is Katie and this has been the world-famous Jungle Cruise®.  If you didn’t, then my name is Mrs. Regier.

Thank you.

 

2021 Service Team

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When the world is upside down, how do we keep service in our hearts and hands? This year, California Rainbow is looking for girls to think outside of the box. The girls selected to serve on this team will be in charge of planning and executing a Statewide Service Project during the 2021 Grand Year!

See the flyer for more information on this exciting new opportunity!

Click here to download the 2021 Service Team Flyer!

Support The Painted Turtle and Let The Kids Be Kids

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“There are nearly 20 million children who fight a life threatening condition in the United States and for these children the illness is always present and it cannot go away.” -Isabella L., Grand Worthy Advisor

During the year of 1999, Paul Newman, Page Adler, and a few others co-founded the life changing non-profit, The Painted Turtle.  Adler says she drew her inspiration from the experience she had as a young adult volunteering at Newman's first camp for children with serious medical conditions, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Connecticut.  "We wanted to level the playing field and say to kids, 'You can be like any other kid,'" said Adler, who co-founded the camp with her husband, award-winning music producer Lou Adler, and other philanthropists, including actors Paul Newman and Jami Gertz, and NBA coach Larry Brown.  The organization coined its name due to the widespread species of turtles found in most of the United States.  Adler says, "It's an animal that has a tough exterior and a soft interior, very much like these kids that we're serving."

“At The Painted Turtle for children ages 6-17 with all kinds of chronic pain, 90 of them to be exact, can participate in a camp of their dreams, absolutely free. Not only is their trip free of cost, it is free from judgment.” - Isabella L., Grand Worthy Advisor

According to The Painted Turtle’s website, their goal is “to reach beyond illness and inspire children with life-threatening diseases to become their greater selves.” and to “​to empower campers—to make new friends, try new things, build self-confidence, and become more independent in their medical care. In short, we aspire to help our campers discover all that is possible in their lives.”​ Their website also states that their mission is “to provide a year-round, life-changing environment for these children and their families – one that allows children to participate in an authentic camp experience by supporting their medical needs and offers their families care, education, and respite.” Since opening in 2004, the magical environment of The Painted Turtle has served thousands of campers and family members at their year-round camp programs.

The oasis is a​ 17-acre developed site on 173 acres in the Angeles National Forest​ ​located in Lake Hughes, California.​ ​The Painted Turtle has many activities that they offer at their state of the art camp, which include horseback riding, ropes course, arts and crafts, woodshop, archery, team building experiences, fishing, boating, singing and dancing.

“Every child deserves to fun, feel accepted, and be included.” - Isabella L., Grand Worthy Advisor

California Rainbow is excited to learn about and support our 2019-20 Grand Service Project this year, The Painted Turtle. For more information and a virtual tour, visit ​thepaintedturtle.org

By:  Hannah W., Assistant Grand Editor

Did You See The Double Rainbow?

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I decided to take a little journey to find out what was really at the end of it and what I found was – you guessed it, a leprechaun! Bouncing up and down, this little leprechaun told me her name was Goldie and she was more excited to tell me what was in her pot of gold than the Grandies are at Revelations! Contrary to what legend says about her pot of gold, the coins that are filled in it are not made of physical gold but instead something priceless; the acts service she saw the members of California Rainbow for Girls create this year towards Megan’s Wings – the non-profit organization they have chosen to support for the 2019-20 year.

Goldie first explained to me what Megan’s Wing’s goal is and how it was founded. Megan’s Wings started in memory of Megan Savage, who lost her battle to leukemia at the age of nine in April of 2003. As a tribute to their daughter, the Savage family created Megan’s Wings. They named the organization Megan’s Wings because whenever they are lucky enough to see a butterfly it reminds them of her. Megan’s Wings is a non-profit is based in Upland, California. They help families navigate their journey with pediatric cancer by supporting their financial, emotional, and physical needs.

“The course of our lives can change in an instant. One simple action or short phrase can alter our life forever.” – Hannah H., Grand Worthy Advisor.

California Rainbow primarily supports their chosen non-profit by working hard throughout the year raising funds through fundraisers and drives. Each assembly comes up with their own special ways to do this. In just a short time, at Grand Assembly, they will present the funds they raised to the Megan’s Wings founders.

My green loving friend then told me about a few of the times California Rainbow had the luck of the Irish with them and were able to work hands on with Megan’s Wings:

Members of Citrus, Sunshine, and San Fernando Valley Assemblies volunteered with one of Megan’s Wings founders, Kim Savage to help clean up Megan’s Home. Their goal for the day was to make the house spotless before a little boy came home from his last day at chemotherapy. Megan’s Wings and California Rainbow worked together so that he would get to play freely in his home and yard without any worries.

For the 4th of July, Hannah H., Grand Worthy Advisor, Kaitlyn D., Grand Worthy Associate Advisor and Grand Historian, Kellianne B., Grand Choir Director and Representative to Ohio/Pennsylvania, and members from San Fernando Valley Assembly worked with Kim Savage, Co-Founder of Megan’s Wings at City of Hope Medical Center located in Duarte, California to make life a little more joyful. They held a party and spent the day doing hair and nails, playing games, and participating in arts and crafts with the families and children affected by pediatric cancer.

California Rainbow even teamed up with Megan’s Wiings for a fundraiser at San Manuel Stadium to see the Inland Empire 66ers play!

Goldie then told me that all of the assemblies and areas in California Rainbow were making an enormous impact on Megan’s Wings. Here are just a few examples of pure gold;  

Serena’s Bay Area Buddies

These seven Assemblies raised $6,981.46 for our Grand Service Project Megan’s Wings which they presented at their OV! The girls in the area went to the Oakland Observatory, held a sleepover, and then hosted a Service OV at the Masonic Home in Union City.

Marshall’s Martians

Natoma Assembly held a community service event at the Palladio Fall Festival. At the event they made sure to showcase a jar to help raise money for Megan’s Wings.

This little leprechaun’s pot of gold must have weighed a ton because these were only a few of the many, many gold coins she had in it.

Goldie didn’t only have a heart of service but she was full of puns! She wanted me to ask you to MARCH for Megan’s Wings by carrying the fundraising momentum throughout March until Grand Assembly. You can still help! One great suggestion is to make a Personal Pledge to the Grand Service Project. A Personal Pledge is a pledge to give up something or do something, in order to receive a donation – for example, to donate the cost of a cup of coffee instead of having that morning Joe one day! You can turn these pledges in at Grand Assembly. You can also donate any amount through the donate button on  www.gocarianbow.org or click the donate button on our March for Megan’s Wings Facebook post!

Make sure to take all your potatoes, lucky charms cereal, and four leaf clovers to Ontario, CA from April 6-9 2019 for Grand Assembly, The Winter Solstice: All That Glitters and Snows!

Hannah Williams
Public Relations Team

Did you miss out on something at the Last OV?? Step right up!

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Marshall’s Martians took us to Sacramento to see The Greatest Show and boy oh, boy, did it start out with a bang!  Our ringmasters brought in Mrs. Marshall’s area which included the following assemblies, Natoma, Camellia, and Rose.  Not only was every Grand Officer and our Supreme Deputy inside of “The Big Top” but get this, the ringmasters brought 30 members from Natoma, Camellia and Rose assemblies to participate in the Last OV!

Our Grand Worthy Advisor, Hannah H., spoke about how a young boy named Diego had many struggles while going through his treatments with chemotherapy and although he had many battles to fight, he kept hope and his faith near to his heart.  While Diego was facing problems with transportation for his treatments, to help him no longer face this struggle Megan’s Wings were able to buy Diego and his family a car.  This is a prime example of how Megan’s Wings goes above and beyond when they find someone in need. “When faced with adversity people can do one of two things; they can either overcome it or succumb to it.” -Hannah H. Grand Worthy Advisor

To View Hannah’s Speech from the Last OV, Click Here!

Have you made your Personal Pledge to the Grand Service Project yet?  This is a new fundraising opportunity to raise money for our statewide service project, Megan’s Wings.  A Personal Pledge is a pledge to give up something or do something, in order to receive a donation.

The new Membership Team members were announced and will serve for one year.  The newest member from the south is Emily M. from Fullerton/Yorba Linda Assembly and from the north is Kaelyn S. from Marysville Assembly.

The new southern Leadership Team members will serve for two years.  The southern member is Katie S. from Visalia Assembly and the northern member is Megan L. from New Hope Assembly.

The new Grand Marshals (Vivacious Vans) for Grand Assembly 2019 are the following girls: 
Emily M. from Fullerton/Yorba Linda Assembly
Emily M. from San Jose Assembly
Abigail S. from Marysville Assembly
Makena M. from Oak Summit Assembly

The Pages for Grand Assembly are:
Supreme Deputy:  Isabella L. from Golden Star Assembly
Grand Directors: Cristina M. from Natoma Assembly
Grand Worthy Advisor: Cameron M. from Fidelity Assembly
Grand Executive Committee: Kamryn M. from Redding Assembly and Jordan M. from Rose Assembly
Pot of Gold: Ryanne G. from Woodland Assembly
Sound: Carshe’la B. from Concord Assembly and Angelina R. Buena Park Talent: Sami M. from San Fernando Valley Assembly and Destiny M. from Roseville DeReimer Assembly
Decorations: Alexandra H. from Natoma Assembly
Registration: Beth H. from Unity Assembly

See you at the next greatest show in Ontario, CA from April 6-9 2019 for Grand Assembly, The Winter Solstice: All That Glitters and Snows!

Hannah Williams
Assembly Resources Committee, Public Relations Team

2019 Grand Service Project

2019 Grand Service Project

To view the video of Grand Worthy Advisor Hannah making the announcement of this year's Grand Service Project, Megan's Wings, at the First Official Visit in 2018 by click on her picture on the right.

Below is the transcript of the speech given by our Grand Worthy Advisor, Hannah, introducing our new Grand Service Project, Megan's Wings (www.meganswings.org) at theFirst Official Visit in 2018.

The course of our lives can change in an instant. One simple action or short phrase can alter our lives forever. Kim and Dave Savage were an average American couple, happily married and raising their children in a small suburb located in Southern California. One of their daughters, named Megan, was a sweet, outgoing little girl with a courageous heart and a considerate soul. But, one day, the course of the Savage’s lives changed with one, four worded phrase: your child has cancer.

Megan had been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a rare type of leukemia which affects the blood and bone marrow. They began treatment in California but Megan needed more specialized care that wasn’t available here. So the family packed up and started to seek treatment in Texas. The attention Megan needed during her battle coupled with the temporary move to Texas caused her mom, Kim, to not be able to maintain her job. Funds became tight and the family began to struggle in a way they had never struggled before: financially. Fortunately, they had a great support group of friends, family and coworkers to help them with these struggles and they were also involved with a Foundation in Texas which aided them in this time of need. Unfortunately, Megan lost her battle to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in April of 2003, at the young age of 9 years old. The Savages were devastated, but they remembered the support system that was available to them and they wanted that support system to be available to other families coping with the same problem.

So, in January of 2005, 20 months after Megan passed away, the Savage Family established Megan’s Wings to assist other pediatric cancer patients and their families and to honor Megan’s memory. Based in Upland, Megan’s Wings helps families navigate through their journey with pediatric cancer through supporting the financial, physical, and emotional needs of families, acting as advocates, supplying resources and transportation and funding cutting edge cancer research. Their goal is to improve the care and quality of life of children coping with cancer and they do so through various programs.

Their patient aid program helps families pay their bills, compensating for the lost income from parents having to take off work to provide their child with around the clock care. This assistance comes in the form of medical or utility bill payment, gas cards, groceries, and even rent or house payment. They also provide temporary housing to families whose child needs to stay close to hospital for treatment through Megan’s Home.

As a tribute to their daughter, the Savage’s created Megan’s Wings. They named the foundation Megan’s Wings because butterflies remind them of her whenever they are fortunate enough to see one. This year, we can work together to help Megan’s Wings provide their services to even more families. The assistance we provide will help families be able to focus on their child, instead of worrying how they can make it all work. California Rainbow, I ask you to join me in supporting Megan’s Wings’ mission of helping families impacted by childhood cancer take flight. Thank you.

California Rainbow Donates $61,341.80 to Families Forward to Help Homeless

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Imagine being homeless. You are a mother with three kids. You and your kids are trying to make things work and pay bills and one day you lose your house. What would you do?

Amanda was facing this issue with her kids when she called Families Forward, an organization in southern California that helps homeless families.  After contacting Families Forward, she was paired with a caseworker that helped her find stable housing and a job. Her kids also benefited from Christmas and Back to School programs addressing the needs of her young family.  In 2018, Families Forward helped over 284 families like Amanda’s find this kind of stability with jobs and housing.

Amanda’s story was shared by Families Forward’s Director of Development Ms. Jen Granger during a presentation at California Rainbow’s annual Grand Sessions in Fresno in March 2018. Ms.Jen Granger was delighted and amazed to find out that California Rainbow had raised $61,341.80 dollars for Families Forward over the past year. Grand Worthy Advisor Alana presented Ms. Granger with a check representing the collective fundraising efforts of the members throughout the state.

A service report was also presented at the event in which it was announced that in addition to fundraising efforts, Rainbow members had donated backpacks, food and toys to many of the Families Forward programs throughout as well as volunteered at their headquarters sorting food and inventory. Additionally, the membership of California volunteered a grand total of 8,198 hours to various service projects and made “Hope in a Bag” homeless care kits they could pass out to homeless throughout the state.

Rainbow Girls of California can be proud of their contribution toward helping homeless families and other charities this past year.  Many children and parents have hope for the future and a stable lifestyle thanks to the generosity of California Rainbow.

Watch the video of the girls announcing the amount California Rainbow had raised throughout the year along with Ms. Jen Granger’s speech here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRZV0I8-6hM

Find out more about California Rainbow at www.GoCARainbow.org
Find out more about our 2017-18 Service Project, Families Forward at www.families-forward.org/

Food Drive for Families Forward

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At the Northern Instructional on Saturday, June 17th in San Francisco, Grand Worthy Advisor Alana called upon California Rainbow to participate in several different types of service projects to benefit families across the state.  First, we will be having a food drive that will culminate at the Southern Instructional that will benefit our Grand Service Project, Families Forward, directly.

She is also encouraging Assemblies all across California to hold food drives to benefit their local food banks as well.  Click on the images below to download the flyers for the California Rainbow Food Drive!

Click on image for full color PDF.

Click on image for grayscale PDF.

Click on image for full color PDF.