Announcing ten new rockstars!
by Rachel
Last week The Avril Lavigne Foundation (TALF) announced the 2013 expansion of The Avril Lavigne Rockstar Clubs at Easter Seals into 10 markets in the United States and Canada.
I love working on anything with the Rockstar Clubs. It’s inspiring to see Avril’s passion for sharing the message of inclusion — that kids and young people with disabilities want to laugh, have fun with their friends, and just fit in. The Rockstar Clubs will bring much-needed recreational programming for kids and youth with disabilities.
Award-winning singer/songwriter and philanthropist Avril Lavigne selected the ten Easter Seals winners herself, choosing programs she thought embodied her foundation’s R.O.C.K.S. mission to “provide Respect, Opportunity, Choices, Knowledge, and Strength to children and youth living with serious illnesses or disabilities.”
Avril said she had a hard time narrowing it down to ten and thought that the opportunities Easter Seals affiliates presented were very exciting. “I have seen first-hand from my work with Easter Seals how important recreation programs are for kids with disabilities,” she said. “My goal is to help bring more resources to these great programs, which are often the first to experience budget cuts.” The ten winners she chose are located in:
- Los Angeles, California
- Houston, Texas
- Billings, Montana
- Chicago, Illinois
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Seattle, Washington
- Youngstown, Ohio
- Miami, Florida
- Alberta, Canada
The winning programs include everything from dance therapy classes to an adaptive bike program. My favorite thing about the Rockstar Clubs is that they allow kids and teens with disabilities to just be kids. Social events, music, theater, sports, arts, leisure time, hobbies, getting out in the community and camp — it’s about experiencing and enjoying life. Congratulations to all the winners — you really are rockstars!