My Nonprofit Reviews
dkinnder
Review for Starlight Children's Foundation, Culver City, CA, USA
Daniel was born almost 8 weeks early. We waited to see what if any complications were to follow. He suffered many hospitalizations in the first year of life that we didn't even remember we had a real house to go home to. As the next few years went by we spent more time in doctors offices and therapy centers to provide him with the best quality of life as possible. Then we found out that he suffered a tramitic brain injury somewhere in the first year of life. We shifted gears over the next several years to continue our efforts on doing what was best for him but we started to forget about ourselves and what we needed. Our other two kids were always put on the back burner becuase we had to get their brother to a doctors appt or therapy appt. When Daniel was about 7 we were introduced to the Starlight Family. OUr first outing was to the circus. We hadn't been in years. We all had a great time and for the first time in a long time we heard all 3 kids laughing and having a good time. We knew that wihout Starlight we would not have made the time. We also didn't have to worry about how to pay for this as they covered everything so that we could attend. We no longer had to make a choice about to go out as a family or pay for extra medications or therapies. Starlight has always stepped in when we needed it the most. When the stress at home from the day to day struggles get to be so much that you just have to shift gears and enjoy each other. The great escapes and day brightners have proivded our family with opportunities that we could not have done without their support. They have become part of our family that we will never forget about.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
As stated above
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I would only wish that there was more funding for this organization so they could reach out to so many more families
Review for Starlight Children's Foundation, Culver City, CA, USA
Daniel was born at 32 ½ weeks. At first with only a 8 day NICU stay we didn’t think much then about what he would be faced with later. When he was in preschool he didn’t communicate and was not social with the other kids. At 5 he was diagnosed with a condition called non-verbal learning disorder and at 7 the MRI showed damage to the right hemisphere indicative of a traumatic brain injury. I was working at our local children’s when I was first approached by great escapes offering a new service in town. As I learned about it I also told them that I had their first client with my own son and I have been a family member since. Each day my son struggles to do what comes naturally to most of us. He doesn’t see himself as different just someone that leans differently and he has always set out to do the best that he can. However, that doesn’t come without being discouraged when he can’t, for being isolated from his peers who don’t understand or when he is pointed to when he acts different. Starlight has become a second family to him as well as all of us. He is free to participate as is without prejudice and he has met other children who share his some struggles. As a family we have met many wonderful families who have been down the same path as we have and only they can understand how sometimes the smallest of steps of access are nothing short that a major triumph in our world. We moved a couple of years ago, and despite leaving friends behind Daniel said is there are starlight group where we were going and I was happy to tell him yes. He was so happy to meet his new family and it was a a familiar atmosphere to him making the move a little easier for him and all of us. The time we spend with our Starlight Family gives us the opportunity to step back and just enjoy each other and see everyone laugh and have a good time. This doesn’t replace the daily challenges that Daniel faces or that we all face with him but for a few hours each month, it assures that we all focus on a fun family time atmosphere. We have been very lucky to participate in a host of events from ice skating, to the circus, to major leagues sporting events and a host of other activities. Raising a child with an life long illness is a major financial and emotional undertaking that without Starlight family we could not either afford to do on our own much less carve out the time to go do it. The Smith Family
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
We have been very lucky to participate in a host of events from ice skating, to the circus, to major leagues sporting events and a host of other activities. Raising a child with an life long illness is a major financial and emotional undertaking that without Starlight family we could not either afford to do on our own much less carve out the time to go do it.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
