YWC event raises awareness for ‘Beads of Courage’

Allison Wexler (left) and Julie Feldman make bracelets at the Young Women’s Cabinet “Bead Inspired” event.

JULIE GLASER RAY
Special to the AJP
An evening of fun, philanthropy, coffee, and dessert,” read the postcard for the Oct. 24 “Bead Inspired” event hosted by the Young Women’s Cabinet (YWC). A program of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, YWC involves Jewish women ages 25 to early 40s in the Jewish community through cultural, educational and social programs. After a successful YWC event last fall at Ben’s Bells — a project that distributes clay bells throughout Tucson to inspire kindness — the cabinet decided to devote a program each year to raise money for a local charity.
YWC learned about Beads of Courage, Inc., a Tucson-based national nonprofit, through cabinet member Dana Narter, whose sister-in-law, Jean Baruch, is the founder. “We wanted a fun activity,” said Narter. “There are lots of good events, but this was perfect because we could make a bracelet for ourselves and another one that went back to raise money for Beads of Courage.” Narter, along with cabinet members Amy Beyer, Sue Emam and Beth Margolis, organized the sold-out event.
Piloted in Phoenix Children’s Hospital in 2003, based on a concept that originated in Canada, the Beads of Courage program supports children coping with serious illnesses by giving them colorful beads to commemorate milestones along their treatment paths. The program is now in 35 children’s hospitals across the country, serving 5,000 children.
Beads of Courage recently opened a retail space at 2612 E. Broadway, with the first year’s rent paid by the Kiwanis Club. Baruch’s vision for the space was to hold fundraising parties at the store, during which participants would make bracelets to be sold at conferences around the country, generating revenue for the organization. She hoped that people looking for a way to celebrate an occasion and support a national charity would take advantage of this opportunity.
Baruch’s idea came to fruition with the YWC event, the first one at the store. After listening to Baruch talk about the history and services of the organization, the 40 participants socialized and noshed while creating 70 bracelets for the nonprofit. Each bracelet, made from colorful hand-blown glass beads, will be sold for $10, with the income to be used to pay for program beads and shipping and handling expenses.
To give the participants a reminder of the event, each woman made an “Eye Like You” bracelet to take home, named for a bead painted with an eye that each incorporated into her piece. The bracelets, along with visiting the space, help spread the word about the group. “It got people into our office to learn about the organization,” said Baruch. “Since that event we’ve booked two additional parties, including hosting a baby shower for one of the participants at the YWC event.”
“It was nice to have an opportunity for young women to get together in a way that was social and not intimidating,” said Margolis. “They had something to do and the fact that Beads of Courage does programs for sick children — who doesn’t want to help?”
Beads of Courage retail space is available for hosting events and volunteers. For more information call 331-1984 or visit beadsofcourage.net.
Julie Glaser Ray is a freelancer writer and graphic designer in Tucson.