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Remember being five? Oh, what would we give to exchange the endless buzzing Blackberry, pressing deadlines, piling laundry and juice-stained carpets to relive those carefree days of playing Barbies, climbing trees, and painting pictures! Footloose and fancy free, not a care in the world.
Local nonprofit organization Wonders & Worries, however, realizes that some kids aren’t as carefree – particularly with the high rates of cancer and other chronic illnesses affecting families nationwide – and they are taking a stand to help children cope when their parent has a chronic or life-threatening illness like cancer. Wonders & Worries is the only organization in the nation that offers children who have a parent with a serious illness free, professional support in both individual and group settings.zz
On Saturday, August 22nd, Wonders & Worries will host its 6th annual fundraising gala, ¡Que Maravilla!, celebrating “Vista Colores” – life’s colorful spectrum, and inviting all Austinites to support their cause.
All proceeds from the Latin-inspired event support Wonders & Worries’ mission to offer counseling and encouragement to local children facing the stress, worry and fear experienced when loved ones are ill.
“I hope that people understand how important it is to solicit help for their children during their time of crisis,” Development Director Jennifer Parker says. “Children will act out in a variety of different ways and they certainly don’t understand all of the changes happening in the family; therefore, it is so important to get help from a place like Wonders & Worries, and our name explains it all: when a parent gets sick, a child ‘wonders’ what is wrong and why their lives are changing and then the next natural reaction is to ‘worry’ about what is going to happen to their parent,” Parker says.
Held at the Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch, ¡Que Maravilla! promises an evening “with a purpose.” Enjoy music by Susanna Sharpe Brazilian Quartet; peruse a host of fabulous silent auction items and feast on a delectable dinner with fine wine and an inspiring speech presentation of firsthand accounts with the organization.
Parker adds that volunteers are welcome as well. “We can always use committee members and donors. People can get involved by reaching out to me at Jennifer@wondersandworries.org or 512.
329.5757.”
MORE INFO
www.wondersandworries.org