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2006 Events

2007 Events

• Easter Giving: April 2007 at Miller's Children's Hospital- For Easter 2007, Four Pearls sponsored and created an Easter party for children and teens undergoing cancer treatment at the Jonathan Jacques Children’s Cancer Center at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach. Four Pearls provided Easter baskets, played games, colored Easter eggs, decorated bunny ear hats, and had an indoor Easter egg hunt with the children and teens at the hospital. The young patients had a blast and their parents were so grateful that we were there - bringing some fun into their children’s lives. The highlight of the afternoon was doing the bunny hop dance down a corridor on the treatment floor. It was so touching to experience these kids with huge smiles on their faces hopping down the hallway; some were even pulling their IV chemotherapy treatment along with them. You could tell we were creating quite a ruckus in the normally solemn hospital wing; even the children who were not feeling well enough to leave their rooms were peeking out of the small square windows on their doors. We could see their smiling faces looking out as we all hopped by.

• CHOC Prom: June 2007- In June 2007, Four Pearls had the opportunity to provide decorations for the annual CHOC Teen Prom. With Four Pearls’ help, CHOC was able to hold a Prom for many of their patients who may not otherwise be able to experience one - complete with decorations, music and prom pics. Members of Four Pearls went to CHOC to help set up and decorate prior to the big event. The set up for the Prom was intensive, but the final outcome was more than worth it. The hospital conference and meeting room was totally transformed into a magical medieval castle with an enchanted forest, drawbridge, castle towers and even some knights in shining armor! The “Medieval Knight” was definitely a big success. Several teen patients and their very lucky dates were able to dance the night away and just be regular teenagers for the night.

• Miller Children's Hospital Torch Run: June 2007- "Champions Run for Life," called the Torch Run, is a special day in which children with cancer, sickle cell disease, or other serious blood disorders run, walk, wheel or are carried in a relay, passing an Olympic-style torch. The Torch Run gives patients a chance to run a relay lap, with a torch in hand, and a crowd of friends, sponsors, and supporters cheering on the sidelines. Along with the relay, there are carnival games and entertainment, all of which is to raise money for the Jonathan Jacques Children's Cancer Center (JJCCC) at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach.

This year, Four Pearls was delighted to sponsor pediatric oncology patients at JJCCC whom we befriended at our Easter party. As a sponsor of the Torch Run, Four Pearls not only gave a financial contribution, but was also afforded the opportunity to develop a stronger relationship with our young friends we had met only two months prior.

Two of the friends we re-visited, Jeffrey and Dylan, were really happy to see us again, and showed excitement when we told them Four Pearls was sponsoring them. Jeffrey had just entered the hospital the last time we saw him. He proved to us that although he was sick, he was able to get out of the hospital and run with his supporters. And then there was Dylan, who of course was telling stories and running around, really eager to participate. To have met these two boys and now see them outside of the hospital was a special feeling and a very positive experience.

It served as a reunion that made us realize we were making an impact on the kids who needed a little sunshine in their life that day. It was a very special day celebrating another win against cancer, and paying tribute to the lives of those who were not as fortunate.

• Membership Launch Event: July 2007- The July 2007 Four Pearls Membership Launch was held at the beautiful bay front home of Mike and Tami Kahn. New members enjoyed refreshing summer cocktails from Absolut Vodka and light fare from Wolfgang Puck. Guests took pleasure in lounging on the docks and in the garden where DJ Albert created the perfect summer afternoon vibe. Pink Lagoon Boutique sponsored a summer fashion presentation featuring looks from Tysa and other up and coming designers. The event was a tremendous success with proceeds totaling nearly $20,000 from membership dues and silent auction items.

• SoCal Bio Fall Golf Tournament: September 24, 2007 at Marbella Country Club- Four Pearls was the benefiting charity of SoCalBio's annual Fall Golf Classic held at Marbella Country Club. Four Pearls assisted in hosting an entertaining first class golf tournament. A portion of the (dollar amount of tournament revenue) proceeds from the tournament went directly to Four Pearls, which will be used to fund the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation pediatric program.

• Making Dreams Come True 09/2007:In September, 2007, we lost our friend Monce Bravo, sharing the same day as the passing of our beloved Andi Collins on 9/4. We met Monce during our Christmas visits in 2006, were very touched by how intelligent, vivacious and tenacious she was, particularly while undergoing difficult and painful treatment. A few months after Christmas, we reconnected with Monce after finding out that her cancer had significantly advanced. Four Pearls was determined to grant a "wish" for Monce. Veronica called Monce to inform her that Four Pearls was going to make her dream of going to a Justin Timberlake concert come true. Monce was overcome with joy and cheered on the phone. Weeks before the concert, Monce’s father mentioned to Veronica that she was telling all her friends and family about the news, including everyone at the hospital, and how excited she was since she had always wanted to see Justin Timberlake. It would have been her first concert.

Sadly, Monce was not able to make the concert as she died a couple of weeks prior. Four Pearls is proud that we were able to know Monce and bring her the excitement and happiness that she experienced as she looked forward to going to the concert with her family and friends. The Bravo family says “thank you” to all of us for the friendship and support Four Pearls has been able to give to their family during the holiday season, and for granting her ultimate wish. Monce was laid to rest with her Justin Timberlake ticket. In honor of their daughter and sister, the Bravo family went to the concert and were deeply touched by the experience they came so close to sharing with their daughter.

Monce’s father recently mentioned that her friends at school had started a club in her honor because of all the kindness showered upon the Bravo family during the most difficult time of their lives. It is very moving to witness a community moved to do good by one they had lost so young. Monce's teacher has received approval from her school to have a memorial bench placed outside the library, in honor of Monce, who was always reading and always encouraging her friends and other students to read and study.

• Diamond & Pearl Ball 2007:500 philanthropist, socialites, and survivors attended Beckstrand Cancer Foundation's 4th annual posh Diamond & Pearl Ball honoring philanthropist and sports legend Tom Riach, who lost is battle to esophageal cancer in October 2006, with a moving tribute and video of his life. The ballroom of The Balboa Bay Club was transformed to an exotic evening in the Orient with deep hues of red and gold, and featuring clusters of red paper lanterns decorating the dance floor, embroidered satin chair covers, and red orchid blossom and hanging crystal-decorated bronze branch centerpieces. The ball, co-chaired by Joni D'Amato, Tami Kahn and Kirsten Prosser, featured ABC 7 entertainment reporter George Pennacchio as master of ceremonies. The presenting sponsor, Neiman Marcus and Van Cleef & Arpels at Neiman Marcus, contributed some major auction items, including a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond pendant and earrings won by Dave and Holly Wilson for $42,500, which they donated back to the foundation.. Cancer patient Stacy Farnsworth's story of her bout with a rare liver cancer and Beckstrand's lifesaving help brought home the foundation's mission of improving and enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients and their families. $1.1 million dollars was raised to help provide the missing link in patient cancer care.

• Care Package Delivery to Hospital: The Four Pearl Care Packages assembly and play-time for pediatric oncology patients at Miller Children’s Hospital was a wonderful experience. We had a great number of members volunteer in the morning to help assemble 75 Care Packages followed by a hand full of us spending time at the hospital with the patients. The kids were wonderful and very happy to have some new faces to talk to and play with, in addition to receiving our Care Packages. They were a hit! The teens also seem to really appreciate all the "goodies", especially the IPODS. One of the members even modeled our robe for fun! By the time we left, each patient had already begun downloading their music onto their new FP IPOD shuffle! We did a combination of face painting, nail painting, crafts and played some video games…..along with spending some time with the teens chatting about girls, boys, music - the usual “teen talk”. While painting the of nails of a patient whom we actually met during the Easter giving, we overheard a Child Life Specialist mention that she had not seen this particular patient smile all week….until the Four Pearls arrived!

Thank You Note from Father:
"My daughter is a patient at Miller Children's hospital and receiving her second chemotherapy treatment for Leukemia. She will be a patient there for the next 6 to 9 months, and is only able to go home for an occasional few days in between treatments. Last weekend, she was visited by several of your volunteers who were very warm and charming. They absolutely made her day. Jill was surprisingly comfortable with one of the volunteers, and she really made my daughter feel at ease. She gave Jill her first manicure complete with flower stickers and made her a cute Hello Kitty drawing that we've hung on the wall in her room. She was very kind, and was a great distraction from what had been a difficult day for us. Thank you."

The thank you note from this patient’s father was very special. We could not stop talking about her on our way home. The Child Specialist, as well as her father, had mentioned how nuturing she was for only being 2 years old. When new patients come in, she will waddle over to the room and leave her toys out for them to play with. She also leaves her toys in the play room for others. While Four Pearls was there, another 4 year old patient was crying when receiving a shot. Our little 2 year old friend leaned over her cradle and began waving and smiling trying to distract him from the pain and discomfort.

• BELIEVE 2007:BELIEVE 2007 was another wonderful year in reaching out to families to help make their lives easier and happier by bringing them a special Holiday they otherwise might not have had. Four Pearls’ members also presented sixteen Holiday Gifts for patients at the Jonathan Jaques Childrens Cancer Center in Long Beach, an area of their holiday program that typically falls short on support except for this year with help from the Four Pearls. A lot of these families have just returned from recent treatment, and coping with recent loss. Below are some comments Four Pearl members would like to share on their experiences;

"It was Christmas Eve at the Hospital. The whole family was there and they were very excited to see us. The patient was one year old, and his 5 yr old sister had put on her fancy dress when she knew we were coming. The first thing the mother said to us was "OH MY GOD, That's so many presents! They are going to have the best Christmas, thank you".

"I walked in and she had the biggest smile on her face when she saw all these presents. Then she just started to cry, so we hugged"

"She's so cute, she sounded so excited and said she felt like they won the lottery"

"They were so grateful, and really have had a very tough year. They saved the presents to open on Christmas day (because they really didn't have many others to open), but we played games with the boys for a while before departing. It was really a great experience for all of us. Can't wait to do it again next year!"

"I spent about four hours with the family. At first she was so happy and excited that her mother was afraid from being so overwhelmed with joy. She was particularly excited about her massage gift certificate. She has never had a massage or spa treatment and couldn't believe she finally has the opportunity to experience that. We chatted and hung out, it was hard to leave because I was having so much fun".

"Not only are you giving much appreciated gifts but more importantly precious time back to these families touched by cancer. Your help allows the families to stop worrying about the stress and the financial burden while they are sick and gives them a chance to just love, enjoy and support each other. Can't think of a better "gift" to give this holiday season."

2008 Events