ASTORIA – The Carnival of Love Foundation (COLF) held its Holiday Party at Salt & Bone Smokehouse in Astoria. The event helped raise funds for the worthy cause through donations and the sale of raffle tickets. COLF helps raise awareness of autism spectrum disorder and offers programs for families and children with autism and special needs including the Divine Liturgy with Holy Communion at Saint Catherine Greek Orthodox Church in Astoria every first Saturday of the month for the children and their families.
Among the current programs offered by COLF for children are art therapy workshops at the Queens Museum; for parents- monthly support groups, monthly educational workshops, and 1-on-1 support sessions; and for families- recreational activities. The programs are a valuable resource for the community especially with the increasing number of children on the autism spectrum and with special needs.
Among those present at the event were Co-founder/Executive Director Dennisia Slabakis, Youla Efthimiou- COLF Parent Outreach Director, Anastasia Theofanis, Spiro Cardamis, Pericles Kanaris, Artemis Kohas, George Zapantis, COLF supporters, family, friends, and members of the community. Olympia Mylonas who wrote the music and lyrics for the Carnival of Love song was also in attendance at the event.
The attendees enjoyed flavorful appetizers and delicious desserts as well as music by DJ Sava. The items up for raffle included a wide variety of prizes from tables at upcoming concerts at Melrose Ballroom to festive gingerbread houses just in time for Christmas.
The mission of the foundation is to enhance the mind, body and spirit of children and families affected by autism and special needs, through access to alternative therapies, culturally-minded programs and services, educational resources, and unique healing experiences.
Through hosting educational workshops, community support programs for parents and siblings, and family recreational activities, COLF has made a tremendous impact in the lives of many members of the community. Their long term goal, as Anastasia Theofanis told The National Herald, is to open a Healing Arts Center in the Long Island City/Astoria area, to better facilitate all the community’s needs in one place. Theofanis also noted that COLF is getting ready to celebrate its 10th anniversary in April 2018. The need for support for this worthy cause continues and those interested in helping the foundation achieve its goals can donate online. Carnival of Love Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, founded in 2008. More information about the Carnival of Love Foundation is available at: www.carnivaloflove.org.
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Source: thenationalherald.com
