weSPARK Cancer Support Center

NON PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
VAN NUYS CA
PERMIT #2516
Cancer Support Center
weSPARK
FALL VOLUME 9 ISSUE 3
13520 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
7
CARING EDUCATION HEALING LAUGHS SHARING WHOLENESS SPIRIT
FRIENDSHIP UNDERSTANDING HOPE LIVING GROWTH STRENGTH
Cancer Support Center
CANCER
SUPPORT
CENTER
LIVING IN WHOLENESS...BUILDING HOPE FOR TOMORROW
Remembering
Burton S. Sperber
weSPARK Cancer Support Center mourns the passing of Burt
Sperber, the father of our founder, Wendie Jo Sperber. Passion,
creativity, humor and imagination are just a few words to
describe this talented man. In addition to founding his world
renowned landscape company ValleyCrest, being an avid
enthusiast of magic and being a devoted husband, father and
grandfather, Burt Sperber was a huge supporter, financially
and emotionally, of weSPARK. He contributed in ways both
large and small, outwardly and behind the scenes. We will
E
V
SA
E
H
T
E
T
DA
miss his enthusiasm and support for our cause and send our
deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
The Jason
Alexander
Texas
Hold ‘em
POKER
TOURNAMENT
Words from weSPARK
Inside...
Gratitude, community, family and friendship are on my
mind and in my heart this time of year. Well, I admit
I also think about all the yummy food and celebrating
with friends and family this season. It is a time when we
all think of others and how we can give back. In thinking
of giving, I think about how fortunate weSPARK is to have
such a generous community. I am talking about all of you,
who have opened your hearts and your wallets and made it
possible for weSPARK to provide free services to cancer patients,
family members and their friends for the last ten years. You have made
a difference in the lives of thousands of families. This year alone, you helped us
add the Teen’s cooking class, an additional two support groups, and a healing
breath yoga class that teaches how to breathe properly to help relieve stress,
re-energize and heal one’s body.
Remembering
Burton S. Sperber..................1
Words from weSPARK......1
Broadway & Beyond
Recap...............................2
3rd Annual
Run/Walk Recap........2
Tribute Donations to
Burton S. Sperber......3
weSPARK Guest
Testimonial....................5
I’m very grateful for your partnership and support of this amazing place we call
weSPARK, and so many of our guests call “home.” Thank you and I hope you will join
us in your continued support of this organization.
Nancy Allen, Executive Director
3
IN MEMORY OF BURT SPERBER
IN MEMORY OF BURT SPERBER
With Love From . . .
With Love From . . .
Abby & David Kohl
ACE American Insurance Co.
Albert Salvador
Albert Sweet, Craig Darian & All of Burt’s
friends at Occidental Entertainment
Alec Gores
Alexander Winnick
Alexandra Schoch
Amanda Pearson
Amy Snyder - Ruppert Landscape
Andrew Brennan
Ann & Jack Sperber
Annette Shapiro
Anthony Garruto
Antony Ressler
Araceli Montes
ARI
Arlene & David Ray
Arnold Nelson
Audrey Irmas
Barbara Bereny
Barbara Epstein
Bibiano & Tresia Costello
Bob & Ruth Zangwill
Brenda & Budge Offer
Brennan O. Libbey
Brian Storm & FIELDS INC.
Bruce & Amber Gendein
Bruce & Elaine Lazarus
Burdge & Associates Architects, Inc.
California Landscape Contractors
Association, Inc.
Carl & Lael Rosenberg
(Friends of Mel & Gayle Stern)
Charlene Nakamura
Charles & Lynne McClure
Christy Russell
Claire Dicker & Family
Claudia DeCea
Coastline Equipment
Coleen Friedman
Cumberland Family
Cyndi Etzler
Darren Gold
David & Debra Green
David Copperfield
David Vine
Deborah & Damon Fisher
Dina Dwyer-Owens
Don Brinkerhoff
Dorothea & Kevin Kaz
Dorskind Family
Dr. Sey Ulansey
Drs. Donald & Barbara Kornblau
Eddie & Robin Strause
Elaine Goodman & Family
Elaine Hanig
Eli & Arlene Chernow
Ellen Wolf & Isaac Blumderg
Eric Wasserman
Erica Rivera
Evelyn Jutin
Fernando Blanco
Frank Carson
Gail & David Friedman & Family
Gail Wilson
Gale Family
Gary & Helene Heller
Gayle & Mel Stern
Gayle Larson
George & Norma Reber
Gerry & Thomas Donnelly
Goodwin International
Greg & Angelica Barker
Harold White
Heather Gault
Hector & Matilde Lavenant
HighBank Advisors LLC
Howard & Margie Keyes
Hualalai Resort
Hydro-Scape Proucts, Inc.
Jeannine Imperiale
Jeffrey Mutch
Jill & Joseph Goldstein
Jo Skibby
Joan Bowman
Joan Ruben
Jocelyn Tetel
John Rucci
John W. Jordan II, The Jordan Company, LP.
Jon & Karen Lopez
Jon & Sheryl Layne
Jon Georgio
Jose Espinoza & Marissa Lopez
Jules Berlin
Karen & Gary Winnick
Karen Kleinhesselink
Kathryn Hannon
Kelly Duke
Kenneth Hutcheson
Kimberly Young & Steven Gottschalk
Kriss Keogh
Lannette Pabon
Larry Moline, FASLA Landscape Architect
Laura Cunz, RiversEdge Graphic Design
Laura Spivy
Laurence Leon
Lawrence Abbott
Lester & Kathrine Worsham
Libby Hershberg
Linda Ellis
Los Angeles Clippers
Louis Iglesias, Chartis
M. Colby Dehoff
Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff Foundation
Marca Helfrich
Marcello Liguori
Marco Pizzo
Marcy & Harold Stein
Margery & Alan Specht
Margie & Gary Golter
Maria & Vincent Germann
Mark Laatsch
Mary & Brendan McFadden
Mary Goodman
Maxine & Bob Brauer
Mel & Beverly Rosenthal
Michael Lyons
Mike & Debe Lucki
Mike & Sharon Hopkins, Manny, April & Ed
Mike & Tina Caveney
Milt & Suzanne Russikoff
Muriel & Sandy Simon
Nanci Rosenfeld
Nancy & Gene Giannulli
Nancy Allen
Neville Laatsch
Norm Neilson
Orange County Region
Pat & Sandy Gage
Pat Mahoney and Family West Coast Arborists
Paul & Vicki Soll
Pedro & Allison Mercado
Peter Wilkerson
Regina Marsh
Renny & Bernie Shapiro
Renu Agrawal & David Weber
Richard & Sara Hess
Richard Miller
Robert Lentz
Robin & Andrew Mandell
Roger & Lynn Zino
Roni Eller
Sally Winsberg
Sandy & Gene Dworsky
Sandy & Marvin Smalley
Sean Brosnan
Sharon & Phillip Adams
Sharon Adams
Sophia Ma
Southern California District Council of Laborers
Stephanie Feyne
Steve & Joan Stein
Steve Soboroff
Steve Valentine & Inna Korobkina
Steven & Andrea Lurie
Steven Beyer & Michael Penn
Steven Lewis & Lois Yaffee
Steven Pruchansky
(Greenscapes of Southwest FL, Inc.)
Sunny Deutschman
Susan Chapman
Susan Eskenazi
Suzanne & Paul Green
Suzanne Buirgy, Terry Mason & Sue Palladino
Sylvia Silver
Terri Cook Village Nurseries
Thomas Powell
Tim Carpenter
ValleyCrest Longboat Key Branch
Victor Bernardini
Victor Moore
Wickham Zimmerman
Wimmer Yamada & Caughey
4
2
5
weSPARK Guest Testimonial
Mary Murphy & Alonzo Bodden
Comedian & star of “Mike & Molly” Billy Gardell
Honoree & creator of “Desperate Housewives” Marc Cherry
& “Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman
Honoree Dr. Leif Rogers & partner Robyn Chamberlain
Broadway and Beyond
weSPARK was not sure it could top itself after last year’s amazing “Broadway Tonight” event. But on September
26th 2011 at the Alex Theatre, Barbara Epstein, the show’s producer/director, outdid herself again when she added
comedians and dancers to an already all-star lineup for this year’s “Broadway & Beyond” event.
Along with host Alonzo Bodden, stand up comedians Alec Mapa and star of CBS’s “Mike & Molly” show, Billy
Gardell, kept the audience in stitches in between being blown away by the vocal talents of Valarie Pettiford, David
Burnham and American Idol contestant Allison Iraheta. The stage lit up when “So You Think You Can Dance” winner
Russell Ferguson and contestant Gev Manoukian showed off their dancing footwork. weSPARK was thrilled to be
honoring three amazing individuals at the event, including renown plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Leif Rogers
with the “Commitment to Care” award, cancer survivor and judge
of “So You Think You Can Dance” Mary Murphy, with the “Heart
of weSPARK” award and “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc
Cherry with the “Creation of Awareness” award. The night ended
with a very special raffle drawing, with the winner receiving an
opportunity to meet John Travolta and attend next year’s highly
anticipated premiere of “Gotti.” It was a marvelous night of
laughter, singing and dancing with all proceeds from the show
benefitting weSPARK.
Former “American Idol”
contestant Allison Iraheta
Run/Walk warm up in Expo area prior to run
weSPARK’s 3rd Annual
Run/Walk
at Universal
Studios
Now in its third year, the Run/Walk has gained momentum and notoriety. Started by weSPARK’s
newest Board Member Anton Maillie, the event has continued to draw thousands of people, an
array of sponsors and local celebrities and representatives. Los Angeles City Controller Wendy
Greuel welcomed the crowd early and it was Wayne Brady who once again counted down to the
race start.
It was an emotionally exhilarating day, as runners and walkers, individuals and teams, children
and adults made their mark, crossing the finish line to receive their medal and the cheer of the
crowd. weSPARK congratulates the top three winners for the 5K: Evan Anozie, Jared Cienega,
and Jerry Dinowitz; and for the 10K: Kristoffer Chacon, Maxwell Griffin, and Jon Ross!
Perhaps what struck me most is: During cancer treatment
in the medical environment, virtually everyone who
touches you creates some kind of stress or pain—not
intentionally, of course—it’s just a necessary evil in fighting
cancer. At weSPARK, when anyone touches you, whether
it’s to do body work or simply give you a supportive hug,
you feel enormous relief and comfort.
Wayne Brady, Nancy Allen & Anton Maillie
Top 5K Females, 1st place winner Megan
Satterfield & 2nd place winner Zoe Fleck
the
My husband, Paul, is most appreciative as well. In his
words: “As a caretaker, it was comforting to know that
not only was there a place for my wife to find support, but
that weSPARK was equally willing to provide services for
me as well. They understood both the value and burdens
of a caretaker and wanted to make sure my needs were
also met. I am forever grateful for that.” We both cannot
speak highly enough of our experience at weSPARK.
Cancer is something no one wants to deal with, but once
you are diagnosed, you don’t really have a choice. Thank
goodness for an organization like weSPARK to help us in
our journey through this unfortunate disease.
– Barbara and Paul Caplan-Bennett
Torchbearers
living in wholeness...building hope for tomorrow
weSPARK presents...
Cancer Support Center
Please become a Torchbearer and
help support weSPARK!
We invite you to visit
our website
to view all tributes.
Thank you for your support.
www.wespark.org
Nancy Allen, City Controller Wendy
Greuel, Run/Walk Event Director &
Board Member Anton Maillie
Further, cancer is an expensive disease. At a time when
I was on disability and we were struggling to make sure
our bills were covered, it was a huge relief to receive
weSPARK’s services at no charge. I cannot overstate
what an incredibly valuable gift weSPARK gave me in
allowing me to receive much-needed help without a
strain on our finances.
ark alive at w
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eSPAR
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The Torchbearers is for bighearted
individuals who wish to give an annually
recurring gift to weSPARK Cancer Support
Center for annually recurring needs.
Universal Studios was lit up particularly early on Sunday,
November 13th as 2,000 people headed to the Backlot
for weSPARK’s 3rd Annual 10K Run & 5K Run/Walk.
With shirts in hand, participants descended on the exclusive
Backlot, making their way past some favorite (and even some
nostalgic) movie sets. Whether running past Jaws, New York Street,
Spartacus Square or Psycho House, there was no denying the excitement of this year’s Race
Venue. The War of the Worlds set awaited anxious runners and walkers at the final turn of the
race. Finding their way back to the Expo, runners and walkers were treated with an up close look
at the Great Outdoors House.
Like most people who have faced a cancer diagnosis,
I had spent innumerable hours in the sterile environment
of hospitals, labs and medical offices. I had been poked,
probed and cut into more times than I could count. When
I walked through the doors of weSPARK, the difference
was palpable. I knew immediately I had come to a safe,
nurturing place—full of compassionate people whose
sole purpose was to help me heal! At weSPARK, you are
surrounded by others fighting the same battle and armed
with a wonderful group of professionals to help you
recover from the physical debilitation of being ill and the
emotional trauma of losing a body part. The options of
services are quite eclectic—support groups, individual
body work, classes and creative outlets. It’s truly a
program with something for everyone.
your online community for patients,
caregivers, and supporters.
Look Good...Feel Better
Join us at weSPARK for a night of beauty & fun, plus
a make-up kit provided by the American Cancer Society.
We meet on the
2nd Wednesday of each month
in Sherman Oaks.
Space is limited, must call to sign-up.
To sign up, call Alexandra
at
(818) 906-3022
Come visit our website at www.wespark.org, Follow us on Twitter @wesparksupport and Facebook