We were honored to have a pre-event performance by the Guitar Ensemble from the Frostig Center, a school for students with learning disabilities which is served by RFB&D-LA. The four students in the ensemble, included: Monique Beltran and Tim Neary, in 12th grade, and Erik Roach and Spencer Koch in 11th grade.

The students played beautifully and straight from their hearts, which set the perfect mood for the event that followed.

The Mistress of Ceremonies, KTLA-TV's morning anchor Michaela Pereira, was warm and personable while maintaining a sharp wit and amazing awareness.

Speakers included Karen Arcos, a 14-year-old student visiting from the Blind Childrens Center, who talked about the invention she would like to create if she ruled the world! The audience was very impressed by her idea for a cane with a laser that would read barcodes in stores, to give people with vision impairment more independence!

After lunch, Executive Director Carol Smith gave a rousing speech, reminding the audience that, while we now serve 3,500 students in L.A. and Ventura Counties, we have a long way to go before we help all the students in need. There are 35,000 students who will drop out of school if they don't receive the help they need!

Our video, "Making it Happen," was then shown, and it was met with collective exclamations of surprise tears, and laughter. The video focuses on local RFB&D-LA students with vision impairment, physical disabilities or learning disabilities, who have beaten the odds and literally soared to the top.

Our next speaker was Pasadena Dad, Kevin Scanlon. Kevin, who is a molecular pharmacologist and gene therapist, is also the father of Kara Scanlon, who was one of the featured students in the video. While bursting with pride, Kevin told us about Kara's struggles and recent big successes.

Loyola Marymount University honors student Monica Augustyn gave the final speech. Monica is a 2007 RFB&D-LA Winslow Coyne Reitnouer Scholastic Achievement Award winner. She told us that she was actually relieved when diagnosed with dyslexia in first grade, because she knew then that she wasn't dumb, she just learned differently! Monica is a poised, accomplished young woman who further inspired the audience with her personal story of succeeding despite her learning difference.

To date, the event has already raised more than $140,000, which includes a board leadership gift of $100,000!

We are also very proud and grateful to announce the following individuals have joined the ranks of "Dream Builders" by pledging support for 5-years in a row:

G.S. "Terry" & Paulette Chapman
Michele McGarry Crahan
Lori Gross
Elizabeth & Clement Izzi
Sally DeWitt

We are very appreciative to all who attended, and hope that the open hearts and new understanding sparked by the event turn into action so that RFB&D-LA can continue to give students the tools to invent their success stories! Check out our photo album.

What can you do to help us achieve our goals?

Click here to attend a Learning Through Listening Tour
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