|
Home » Kids
Kids
Steven Firestein: Making Magic for Children
By Staff Writer
Steven Firestein thought he had it all. At 27, he owned a plush Encino home, drove a Cadillac and made a nice living as a real estate agent. Then he felt a bump on his scalp.
For months, Firestein ignored the growth, fearing he had cancer. By the time he went under the knife, the tumor had grown to the size of a golf ball. Although, it turned out to be benign, the cancer scare forced him to reassess his priorities. Firestein, who had met several children with cancer during his doctor visits, decided to devote his life to alleviating their pain and suffering.
"I wanted to do something for them," Firestein said. "I felt like they got a bad deal. I was no saint, and I thought, 'Why was I spared? Why did they get cancer?'"
In 1994, a year after his brush with mortality, Firestein founded a nonprofit that would eventually become the Kids Cancer Connection. A descendant of cosmetics magnate Max Factor -- whose family has donated millions to local charities -- he invested $10,000 to get the project going.
Firestein decided his L.A.-based organization's first program would be to give hats and caps to young cancer patients who had lost their hair from chemotherapy, radiation and other treatments. To Firestein, the Magical Caps for Kids program resonated strongly with him; doctors had shaved his head before removing his benign tumor, leaving him feeling vulnerable and self-conscious. To date, Magical Caps has given away an estimated 40,000 caps across the nation.
"I think what he's doing is terrific," said Marcia Helton, a 59-year-old professional caregiver from Los Osos, Calif., who has assembled a group of girls called the Little Angels to knit hats, scarves and blankets for Kids Cancer Connection and other charities. The caps "make kids feel cared about. It's also great for their families, because the families feel better when their kids feel better."
Kids Cancer Connection also partnered with the TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) during their tour across the country. The Turtles visited 14 KCC affiliated hospitals including the L.A. County - USC Medical Center near downtown. The costumed characters visited three floors of children and were amazing.
Circus Vargas was also involved with Kids Cancer Connection. "We are always happy to be able to bring attention to a cause or charity while at the same time bringing smiles and enjoyment to children who might not otherwise be able to experience the circus." says Katya Quiroga, owner of Circus Vargas. At the Circus Vargas Canoga Park Extravaganza show, the toys collected went to the Kids Cancer Connection.
The 2010 Optimist Dad's Day Dash is a race that raises money for the Kids Cancer Connection. It will be held on Saturday May 22. In addition to the traditional 5K-10K Run-Walk, it features a 5K Family Fun Bike Ride and a 2K Doggy Run. It is a healthy, family-friendly Race.
Under Firestein's direction, Kids Cancer Connection has also branched out into new areas. In the late '90s, the charity began sponsoring field trips to Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm and other attractions. Firestein, wherever possible, used his networking abilities to procure free tickets, even tapping the California Travel & Tourism Commission for vouchers.
Later, he helped establish the Courageous Kid Recognition Award to recognize the bravery of children battling cancer. Recently, a young boy undergoing a bone marrow transplant received the award at the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, where he now seeks treatment. More than 2,000 kids around the country have won the award since the program began in 2003.
Firestein himself has been recognized for his efforts. In 1995, he won a National Volunteer Service Award from Volunteers of America. In November, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) took to the House floor to praise Firestein's efforts.
Now a 40-year-old middle-school teacher in the Valley, Firestein still spends 20 hours a week on the Kids Cancer Connection, which has 300 volunteers nationally. Despite the time and financial demands, he has no regrets.
"I totally feel like I'm making a difference," Firestein says. For more info, go to www.kidscancerconnection.org.
My Child ID: Keep Kids Safe at Home or When They Travel.
By Kiersten Moffatt
What if parents could have peace of mind when they are at the airport or traveling with their children, prepared for any medical emergency or potential life-threatening situation? Now they do. Parents can now have a travel device that will truly make a difference - It's called My Child ID from AmberAlert.com, and it is the first comprehensive device that stores vital child identification data to help in missing person cases and medical emergencies.
My Child ID is a proactive tool for parents, law enforcement and emergency responders to safeguard children by helping to reduce the time it takes to gather accurate information when time is critical - from potential hours to minutes. In the form of a keychain, the My Child ID thumb drive stores vital information - recent digital photos, child stats (height, weight, eye & hair color, blood type, etc.) emergency contact information, medical information and more. This is no typical USB, My Child ID syncs with the company's state Law Enforcement Alerting Portals (L.E.A.P.) to issue immediate emergency alerts.
My Child ID is a product of AmberAlert.com. AmberAlert.com is committed to helping parents protect their children when at home or when they travel, and exists to help keep children and families safe through safeguarding, response and prevention. The company relies on revenue generated from the sale of the My Child ID in order to provide L.E.A.P. technology, along with service, support, training and maintenance, to State Law Enforcement Agencies at no cost.
Don't be caught away from home without a tool that can save your child's life. My Child ID retails for $39.95 and is now available online at www.amberalert.com and select retailers in your area.
back to top
|
