Coronado resident and executive director Kelly O’Donnell continues to spread the “Designing Dreams” mission across the island.
Design Dreams is a 501c3 charity that uniquely supports pediatric cancer patients. “Many children have weakened immune systems due to the rigorous cancer treatments, and are unable to leave their homes. Design Dreams remodels the bedrooms of children battling cancer to create healing spaces that inspire children as they struggle with loneliness, isolation and the limitations that come with battling cancer,” O’Donnell said, adding that Design Dreams’ biggest goal is to create a hopeful, healthy and healing environment for patients and their families.
“Designing Dreams’ bedroom remodeling model is based on research into how a child’s physical space can combat the social and emotional side effects of cancer,” O’Donnell explains. “When we do a bedroom remodel, we consider several aspects that promote emotional well-being, including maximizing the room’s natural light, organizing the space, color choices, and design elements that evoke positive memories and sensory experiences.” Children’s hobbies and passions are also taken into consideration when designing these unique spaces. For example, Designing Dreams has created a ballet area in one room, a hockey rink in another child’s basement, and countless other notable additions and themes. “Bedroom remodeling targets are selected by child life specialists at Rady’s Children’s Hospital and are often in need of a meaningful renovation, reorganization, and optimization of their living space. Our bedrooms are designed by professional interior designers, functional space experts, and professional organizers.”
Not only is O’Donnell, the charity’s executive director, a local Coronado resident, but Design Dreams is connected to Coronado through the many volunteers who live on the island and various local businesses that directly support the charity. Every year, Design Dreams hosts a holiday gala to raise funds for the charity, and through last year’s event, the idea to add a second fundraising event in 2024 was born. “We host a gala every December called ‘Hope for the Holidays,’ and we have an event planning committee that plans fundraising events,” O’Donnell said. “The team asked us to plan a second event a year in addition to the gala.” After brainstorming, the theme for this new event took shape. “Many of the women on the event planning committee work in the health and wellness field. They came up with the idea of putting on a great wellness event to raise funds for our mission.”
And so “Hope for Health” was born – a “one-of-a-kind” health and wellness fundraiser with all proceeds going to pediatric cancer patients. The event will be held June 9th from 10am-2:30pm at Feast & Fareway here in Coronado. “The event will feature a HIIT workout with Remy Kam, yoga with Amy Buck from Mind Body Badass, [a] Sound Movement Collective Sound Bath, Lunch, Cocktails, [a] “We’ll have a DJ and over 20 wellness vendors,” O’Donnell enthused. These vendors include cold water baths, professional stretching, vitamin B12 injections, puppy therapy, chiropractic adjustments, acupuncturists, PT evaluations, juice presses and more. The event will also feature raffles, apparel for sale and gift bags for attendees.
All proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly to Designing Dreams’ mission of creating healing spaces for children like Brittany who are currently battling cancer while Designing Dreams works tirelessly to renovate her space. “Brittany was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) on October 7, 2022. She has completed chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. She recently relapsed and is awaiting the start of an experimental treatment to cure her cancer,” O’Donnell began. “Brittany shares a bedroom with her two sisters. We are currently renovating and expect her room to be completed in July.” To learn more and support Brittany’s bedroom renovation, visit https://give.classy.org/designingdreamsbrittany.
Brittany is one of countless children who are supported by Designing Dreams through fundraisers like Hope for Health. O’Donnell encourages everyone in the community to get involved in fundraisers and learn more about Designing Dreams’ mission. “We encourage everyone in the community to come and participate in our events!”
For tickets or more information about the event, visit https://give.classy.org/Hope-For-Health
For more information about Designing Dreams or how to get involved, visit www.designingdreamsusa.org or email Kelly O’Donnell at kelly@designingdreamsusa.org.
Volume 114, Issue 23 – June 5, 2024
