Help Us Design a Legacy Bead Honoring California!

Have you always wanted to design a bead that would become an actual Beads of Courage bead?  Here's your chance!

In 2017, the state of California was named the "Most Inspired State" in the annual "Bead Challenge" fundraiser & beadraiser.  California achieved this recognition by raising the most funds and donating the most beads in the annual Bead Challenge event.

We will honor California as the "Most Inspired State" with a unique bead to add to our legacy collection, and we need your help to design it!  The design contest is open to everyone:  BOC members, siblings, families, clinicians, bead artists, etc.  

Remember, your bead design should represent or symbolize the state of California.  One design will be chosen by a panel of judges to be made into a real Beads of Courage bead.  Thanks for entering and good luck!

TO ENTER:  

Download both pages below.  Fill out the information on page 1 and draw your bead design in color on page 2.  Email both forms to:  becca@beadsofcourage.org

ALTERNATE MEANS OF ENTRY:  

Sketch your design in color on a blank piece of paper, including your name, address, phone number, relationship to BOC (e.g. member, sibling, etc.), and the hospital you receive your beads at, if applicable.  Email your design to:  becca@beadsofcourage.org 

DEADLINE TO ENTER:  May 31, 2018 - 11:59 PM PT

Bead Artists - Helpful Links!

Attention talented bead artists!  You may have seen our recent fliers for Bead Artists at the ISGB Gathering in Las Vegas or on our social media sites.  Here are some helpful links that will take you to all the forms and resources you may need.  

If you have any questions, please email becca@beadsofcourage.org.  Thank you for your commitment to Beads of Courage and the children we serve.  You put the Art in our Arts-in-Medicine programs!

2018 Bead Artist Interest Form - Find information and indicate your interest in our Bead Ready Kits, Bead Artist on Call program, and Dream Bead roster.

2018 Bead Challenge Interest Form - Sign up to be added to our email list for glass bead studios, bead artists, and others interested in helping with the 10th Annual Bead Challenge taking place in September 2018.

2018 BOC Bead of the Month Artist Interest Form - Submit an animal-themed bead design to be considered for a 2018 Bead of the Month.

Bead Ready Kits Order Form - For a $75 donation you will receive 10 Bead Ready kits to add your matched bead pairs to and sell as Carry a Bead kits.  Read more about the Bead Ready kits on the 2018 Bead Artist Interest Form, then order here.  

Beads of Courage Bead Artists Facebook Group - Join the official Facebook Group just for you, our dedicated bead artists!  Stay up-to-date on the latest news and share tips and tricks with your fellow artisans.

About the Beads We Use - Visit our website for information about the beads we use and how to donate.

Guest Blog - Beads of Courage mom and Team BOC member Shawnda Sallee

Harper Grace with her Beads of Courage.

Somehow, I started a mini Beads of Courage movement within my running group on Facebook. I’m currently training for the 2018 Disney Princess Half Marathon, a run that has been just out of my reach on two separate occasions. But not this year. This year, no matter how I have to do it, I’ll be there … running for my sanity, running for my daughter Harper Grace, running for her "Trisomy Siblings" and for all of their lives and, finally, running for a child whose name and diagnosis I don’t know and probably never will. 

The first attempt to run it and my inability to do so was caused by nothing more than the inability to get off of work. However, my second attempt was and is tied to my current attempt. In July 2016, I was in the best running shape of my life and had just signed up for the 2017 Princess Half the week before when I found out I was pregnant with Harper Grace. I didn’t even give that last point a second thought. I was a perfectly healthy and fit 30-year-old and my OB/GYN had no issues with me running it. But nothing is ever that simple in life.

Read more ...

Bead Artist Hall of Fame Inductees

2017 Beads of Courage Hall of Fame Inductees

Katie Baum

Terry Bendt

Ann Dehoff

Vicki Gentry

Melissa Fitzgerald

Lezlie Foster

Katie Hacker

Hannah Kiresuk

Jessica Rutherford

Caroline Saxon

Alexandra Spinglaschell 

Freezin' for a Reason!

FREEZIN' FOR A REASON!

Who wants to see Beads of Courage Board President Kaitlin Elledge (left) and Executive Director Jean Gribbon (right) jump in an ice-cold swimming pool in January?  

We do ... and we hope you do, too!

You have the power to make it happen.

Beads of Courage has set a goal to raise $10,000 in our 2017 year-end fundraising appeal, which ends on January 3, 2018.

Courage Tiger's Road Trip Day 89: 4 Days Left!

I am checking in from New Mexico today! We are almost halfway to raising our goal and are relying on you to help us out. New Mexico does not have any programs at the moment but they have the chance of having a NICU program with a little help from you. The Beads of Courage NICU program brings comfort and support to families that are coping with the stresses of having a premature baby. Your contribution during Bead Challenge can sustain 38 NICU programs that are currently offered

by Beads of Courage throughout the United States. 

We only have 4 days left to reach our goal and we want you to Make Courage Roar with and participate and fund the mission for the 9^th Annual Bead Challenge! 

Courage Tiger’s 2017 Road Trip is a feature of the 9th Annual Bead Challenge, a three-month nationwide fundraiser and beadraiser for Beads of Courage. As the official Beads of Courage mascot, Courage Tiger is visiting all 50 states to highlight the incredible work our organization does by sharing stories of our courageous members, families, clinicians, and the caring community of artists and supporters who make our vital work possible. Please get involved in Bead Challenge 2017 by visiting www.beadchallenge.org today. Sign up to PARTICIPATE as a fundraiser, CREATE glass beads, or DONATE to the cause. With your help, we can Make Courage Roar for kids coping with serious illness! Many thanks to Bead Challenge 2017 presenting sponsor Northwestern Mutual and supporting sponsor Soda Lime Times.

- Contributed by Cristal Rogers, Marketing and Communications Intern, Beads of Courage

Courage Tiger's Road Trip Day 79: September's Bead of the Month!

I'm in Florida for a second day, and I met the wonderful artist who created the September Bead of the Month! Her name is Tillie and she is a “lampworking addict." Most of the inspiration for her beads and other glass work comes from the surrounding nature of her home in Florida. I actually saw some of the Everglades on my way to visit Tillie, and it was truly inspirational!

Tillie discovered Beads of Courage through her 17-year-old grandchild, who is a member of our program. Tillie told me that her connection to our program is even stronger, “having two different kinds of cancer myself, I kind of understand the children who are fighting the battle against what I call the beast.”

When Tillie created the September Bead of the Month, she thought of the nature that surrounded her. She chose to make a “flock of fat, fabulous, funny Florida frogs" because they are all so unique.

“I hope that each child, fighting a life threatening disease, will look at one of my funny little frogs and see the love in the great big smile on each froggy face, and know that nothing in this world is without warts and scars, but is lovable anyway.”

Tillie is such an amazing artist, and definitely Makes Courage Roar. Thank you Tillie for sharing your stories with me, I will treasure them forever! Keep up with Tillie's new work on her Facebook and website! You can get your own September Bead of the Month here. Check back tomorrow for another story from Florida!

Courage Tiger’s 2017 Road Trip is a feature of the 9th Annual Bead Challenge, a three-month nationwide fundraiser and beadraiser for Beads of Courage. As the official Beads of Courage mascot, Courage Tiger is visiting all 50 states to highlight the incredible work our organization does by sharing stories of our courageous members, families, clinicians, and the caring community of artists and supporters who make our vital work possible. Please get involved in Bead Challenge 2017 by visiting www.beadchallenge.org today. Sign up to PARTICIPATE as a fundraiser, CREATE glass beads, or DONATE to the cause. With your help, we can Make Courage Roar for kids coping with serious illness! Many thanks to Bead Challenge 2017 presenting sponsor Northwestern Mutual and supporting sponsor Soda Lime Times.

- Contributed by Cristal Rogers, Marketing and Communications Intern, Beads of Courage