Since 2013, Art Therapy at Children's Hospital Los Angeles has been funded completely through philanthropic partners such as RJP, who only provides much-needed resources to aid the growth of art therapy but also brings attention to the hospital. In April, 2014 Rialto Jean Project expanded their efforts to support New York Presbyterian Child Life Services, through all the sales from their NYC Concept Shop at South Street Seaport and several New York City retailers such as Kirna Zabete, Barney’s (the New York, Beverly Hills and online stores) and Maddy’s 390.
In 1991, the Children’s Hospital LA founded the Mark Taper and Jonny Mercer Artists Program- a comprehensive, innovative, multidisciplinary effort to apply visual arts, music, dance and expressive art therapy to a pediatric medical setting. By combining the dynamic energy of local artists and performers with the specialized therapeutic training of registered and certified art therapists, this form of therapy helps patients and families express and address their thoughts and feelings regarding illness and hospitalization. In addition, art therapy programs have played a proven role in the healing of patients by helping alleviate pain, and accelerating recovery time. "Art therapy provides the opportunity for the patient to be empowered and make choices about what they want to share through their artwork," says Nicole Albers, a Children's Hospital Art Therapist. "When I work with a patient for the first time, I explain 'sometimes it's hard to talk about what's going on in the hospital. There are a lot of adults here making decisions about what is best for you. Art Therapy gives you a way to express yourself in a different way. You get to be in charge of what we do, and you get to make all the choices."
The immediate goals of the RJP include providing additional art therapy staff, giving isolated and long term patients an ability to communicate with others through the use of Skype and FaceTime on iPads, providing MacBook Pro laptops for use in therapy sessions involving graphic illustration and design, music composition and more, along with donating art supplies, Photoshop software, projectors and video cameras to the hospital. These contributions to the hospital's art therapy programs will help children express feelings they might not otherwise be willing to share with words. By creating their own images they depict their fears and anxieties, patients can release some of those negative feelings and focus on hope and optimism, benefitting their recovery.
THE YOUNG AND THE BRAVE FOUNDATION & RJP
The Young and Brave Foundation is 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young people overcome the debilitating affects of cancerous disease. The organization aims to help these young, brave fighters and their families, overcome the challenges and hardships brought upon by cancer. Built on the foundation of LOVE, they exist to inspire, encourage, inform, as well as to invest directly into treatment and recovery. They do so through social networking, individual fundraising drives, community building, and financial support. They exist so that not one family fights cancer alone.
Cancer affects many, but those under the age of 30 are the unexpected ones, and The Young and the Brave Foundation is aware of this prepared to help. Through fundraising, advocacy, alternative medicines and critical advice, this organization journeys alongside the plight of the young and affected. Creating a community of fighters, survivors and activists unified to beat cancer is the destination. They believe in you, in LOVE and in a child’s right to fight like hell!
Founder Erin Feniger has created every pair of jeans from the RJP LOVE Collection with love; a portion of each sale will send art kits to the children and families supported by The Young and Brave Foundation.
#LOVEbeatscancer
The Young and Brave Foundation is 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young people overcome the debilitating affects and hardships of cancer. Built on the foundation of LOVE, they exist to inspire, encourage, inform, as well as to invest directly into treatment and recovery. They do so through social networking, individual fundraising drives, community building, and financial support. They exist so that not one family fights cancer alone.
Cancer affects many, but those under the age of 40 are the unexpected ones, and The Young and Brave Foundation is aware of this and prepared to help. Through fundraising, advocacy, and critical advice, this organization journeys alongside the plight of the young and affected. Creating a community of fighters, survivors and activists unified to beat cancer is the destination. They believe in you, in LOVE and in a child’s right to fight like hell!
Founder Erin Feniger has created every pair of jeans from the RJP LOVE Collection with love; a portion of each sale will support The Young and Brave Foundation’s #LOVEbeatscancer initiative. This project gives cancer survivors a platform to share their stories of triumph over cancer. This is the perfect way for survivors to continue the healing process simultaneously inspiring thousands of others fighting this deadly disease called cancer. Together with LOVE we all can beat cancer!
JOURNEY WITH US @denimdoinggood