Faces Of Courage

10/22/2026

A Special Thank You to Emily Jackson!

I want to give a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful Board President, Emily Jackson, for taking the time to complete and submit a grant request to the DeBartolo Family Foundation for a $5,000 sponsorship of our upcoming Santa's Workshop Weekend.

Emily, you do so much behind the scenes to help keep Faces of Courage going, and I don't want those efforts to go unnoticed. I know how much time and work goes into preparing these grants, and I am so grateful that you continue to step up whenever we need you.

A $5,000 sponsorship would help us bring so much joy, laughter, and Christmas magic to children fighting cancer and their brothers and sisters. These kids deserve a weekend where they can just be kids, have fun, and forget about hospitals and treatments for a little while.

Thank you, Emily, for your hard work, your dedication, and most of all, your heart. We are so lucky to have you as part of the Faces of Courage family!

10/21/2026

A Huge Thank You to Patti Conover and Option Network!

A heartfelt thank you to Patti Conover for reaching out to Option Network, whose generosity resulted in a wonderful $1,500 donation to purchase much-needed kitchen supplies for our Faces of Courage camps!

Our camp kitchen works hard to prepare delicious meals for our campers, and having the right supplies makes a world of difference.

A special thank you to our amazing Chef/Dr. Elliot Cazes for taking the time to determine what we needed most and ordering the supplies to put this generous donation to good use.

We are so grateful to Patti for making this connection, to Option Network for their generosity, and to Elliot for all he continues to do for our campers.

It's wonderful people like you who help us keep our camps running and our campers fed, happy, and cared for!

Thank you for being part of the Faces of Courage family!

10/20/2026

What a whirlwind weekend!

It was one of those weekends that left me exhausted but grateful for every minute!

Friday afternoon started at Moffitt Cancer Center, where I had the opportunity to present at the 2026 Dr. Robert Gillies Machine Learning Workshop, presented by World Wide Technology.

Then it was off to Miami for the Uncorked Miami fundraiser! A HUGE thank you to Emily and Jon Jackson, Jean Thomas, Phil Rene, and my ride-or-die, Yvonne Scalise, for all their hard work making this fundraiser a success.

Mother Nature certainly kept things interesting! The rain didn't dampen anyone's spirits, and thankfully, the lightning strikes missed our tent! Once the event ended and everything was packed up, we hit the road for Tampa, driving through rainstorms practically the entire way home.

And because apparently we don't know how to sit still, Yvonne and I topped off the weekend by attending the Pink Brunch at Tampa Carrollwood Golf Club!

Three events, two cities, lots of miles, plenty of rain, wonderful people, and very little sleep!

Exhausted? Absolutely! Would I do it all again? In a heartbeat!

So grateful for the people who continue to show up, work hard, and help us make a difference in the lives of cancer survivors. It truly takes a village, and I'm blessed to have some pretty amazing people in mine!

10/14/2026

MIAMI AREA VOLUNTEERS & CAMPERS — WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Faces of Courage Foundation is looking for volunteers and campers in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and surrounding areas to help us serve w**e at the upcoming Uncorked: Miami event!

This is a wonderful opportunity to have some fun, meet new people, and help support Faces of Courage and our free cancer camps and programs.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Location: The Carousel Club at Gulfstream Park
901 South Federal Highway
Hallandale, FL

Volunteers must be 21 years of age or older.

Whether you're a former camper, a longtime volunteer, or someone who would like to get involved with Faces of Courage, we would love to have you join us!

Interested in helping? Please contact Peggie Sherry at [email protected].

Please share this announcement with your friends and family in South Florida. We would love to have some familiar Faces of Courage representing us at this exciting event!

Cancer is Serious, Camp is Serious FUN!!!

10/12/2026

A heartfelt thank you to Sahin Chowburg and the USF Winx Club for inviting Estrella Lara-Lopez and me to speak at the USF Marshall Student Center in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Estrella shared valuable information about breast cancer, the importance of early detection, breast self-awareness, and knowing what changes to look for. Education is one of the most powerful tools we have, and conversations like these can make a real difference in someone's life.

What a pleasure it was to spend time with such a wonderful group of young women who are interested not only in learning but also in supporting and encouraging one another through life's challenges.

It is refreshing and inspiring to see young women taking an active interest in their health, asking questions, and building friendships that lift each other up.

Thank you, Sahin, and all the ladies of the USF Winx Club, for the warm welcome and for caring enough to bring breast cancer education to your fellow students.

We loved spending time with you and hope you will continue to learn, support one another, and make a difference in the lives of others!

10/12/2026

A huge thank you to Shahd Alasaly for inviting me to be a guest lecturer at three Honors classes in one day!

My day started at 8:00 a.m. at the University of Tampa Honors Program, followed by noon at the University of South Florida Honors College, and wrapped up with another University of Tampa Honors class at 6:00 p.m.

What a day! I had the wonderful opportunity to share the story of Faces of Courage Foundation, our cancer camps, and the importance of understanding what cancer survivors and their families experience beyond medical treatment.

The students were bright, engaged, and full of thoughtful questions. It gives me hope to see the next generation taking an interest in helping others.

And let me tell you, after teaching three classes in one day, I have a whole new appreciation for teachers and professors! Bless every one of you! Teaching is hard work, and keeping students interested, engaged, and learning takes a special kind of talent and a whole lot of energy. I was exhausted, and that was just ONE day!

Thank you again, Dr. Shahd, for opening these doors and giving me the opportunity to share something so close to my heart. It was a long day, but one I wouldn't trade for anything!

10/12/2026

A HUGE THANK YOU to Joanne Mayers and Emily Jackson!

What a fantastic Saturday afternoon at our Halloween Paint & Sip!

A special thank you to our wonderful hosts, Joanne and Emily, for bringing everyone together for an afternoon filled with friendship, laughter, creativity, and relaxation. Thank you Rania for helping with set up and breakdown.

There was plenty of painting, lots of conversation, and even more laughter! It wasn't about creating the perfect masterpiece. It was about spending time together, making new friends, reconnecting with old ones, and enjoying a few hours away from life's everyday worries.

These are the moments that make Faces of Courage so special. Cancer may be what brought us together, but friendship and the joy of being together are what keep us connected.

Thank you, Joanne and Emily, for making this such a wonderful afternoon and reminding us that sometimes the best medicine is friendship, laughter, and a paintbrush!

10/12/2026

A big thank you to The Dance Project and the wonderful John Parks for another fantastic Courage in Motion dance class last Wednesday!

We are having such a great time moving, laughing, learning, and enjoying each other's company. It's amazing what a little music, movement, and friendship can do for the spirit!

Our next class is TONIGHT at 6:00 PM!

No dance experience needed! Just come as you are, wear comfortable clothes, and be ready to have some fun.

Location: Louisa Meshekoff
The Dance Project
204 N. 12th Street, Tampa

Classes are FREE and open to cancer survivors and the general public. You don't have to attend every class. Come whenever you can!

For information and free parking instructions, contact Peggie at [email protected].

Thank you to The Dance Project for helping Faces of Courage bring movement, friendship, and joy into the lives of our cancer survivors!

10/07/2026

Nurse Estrella has been our Lead Camp Nurse for over 20 years. Check out her Wellness Center's new offerings.

10/06/2026