National Bead Challenge Day – Beads of Courage Charity

Saturday, September 19, will see scores of glass art studios across the country stringing beads for the nonprofit organization, Beads of Courage, Inc. This group provides innovative arts-in-medicine programs for children coping with cancer and other serious illnesses. National Bead Challenge Day is an annual fundraising event which serves more than 60,000 children in 240 hospitals throughout the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Through the Beads of Courage Program, children receive colorful beads that visually symbolize their treatment journey. Among these beads are artisan-made “Act of Courage” beads given to mark important milestones during treatment and to provide an extra dose of encouragement for children struggling with challenges. Beads of Courage distribute over 100,000 “Act of Courage” beads each year, many of which will be created on National Bead challenge Day.
Long-time Felton resident and glass bead maker Donna DeGrande, local chair of this event, will be working along with many glass bead makers in the San LorenzoValley as well as Santa CruzCounty, creating one of a kind glass beads in a bead-making marathon. Two other local area glass bead making studios, Kiss My Glass at 660-A 7^th Street, Santa Cruz, and Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI), a 501(c) (3) organization at 401 Taylor Street, Suite 115, San Jose, will be hosting bead challenge day events.
The public is invited to visit the studios from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Bead Challenge Day to learn about the art of glass bead making. Talented glass bead artists will be at their torches for six consecutive hours, creating one-of-a-kind glass beads in a bead-making marathon benefitting Beads of Courage.
Additional activities will include live bead-making demonstrations, glass bead and jewelry shopping, and a make-and-take Courage Clip, along with door prizes and giveaways. Admission is free but some activities may require a small fee.
The public is invited to support National Bead Challenge Day by attending the live Bead Challenge events on Saturday, September 19 at either of the above locations, or by visiting www.beadsofcourage.org to sponsor a bead throughout the month of September.  Online bead sponsorships will help build a virtual strand of support online while funding vital Beads of Courage programs.