Agape Dance Academy Donates to Jacob’s Heart!

Jacob’s Heart Provided 125 Families With Assistance and Holiday Cheer This Past Holiday Season

Agape Dance Academy presented a donation of $1,950 to Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Services from the 2017 Nutcracker fundraiser at the Mellow Center for the Performing Arts in Watsonville.

Agape Dance Director, Melanie Useldinger hosted the fundraiser ballet for the community, which also benefits Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Services and sets as a reminder to continue to support this wonderful non-profit all year. www.jacobsheart.com

“Jacob’s Heart exists to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses by supporting their families in the challenges they face, ” said Lori Butterworth, Jacob’s Heart XO. “ For the past 20 years, Jacob’s Heart has provided emotional, practical, financial and peer support to hundreds of local children with cancer and thousands of their family members.

“At Jacob’s Heart, we envision a community where every child with a serious or life-threatening condition has a strong, supported and informed family empowered to fully participate in their care. We strive to inspire compassionate action within local communities, to create a safety net of support for the unique needs of each child and family.

“With the support of the Agape Dance Academy, Times Publishing and many other local community organizations, Jacob’s Heart has managed to provide 125 families with essential assistance and holiday cheer during this past holiday season. Community involvement is especially important for the existence and prosperity of Jacob’s Heart, as we receive no government funding or reimbursements for services.

“In the last 12 month period, the support of our community has enabled Jacob’s Heart to provide: $364,243 in Financial and Practical Assistance for phone bills, rent, utilities, food, meals, fuel and funeral expenses; 4,018 bags of nutritious groceries delivered to homes and hospital rooms by our compassionate volunteers; and 2,570 hours of direct emotional support for families, including group, family and individual counseling for children, teens and parents enduring treatment or bereaved by the loss of a child.

“We are honored by the Agape Dance Academy’s proactive involvement fundraising for our families, and by Times Publishing for their continued community support.”