Podcast #39 - Inspirational Connections

Podcast #39 of Xtraordinary Living is out. In this episode I interview Cindy Perliss, Director of the award-winning Art for Recovery program at the University of California San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Center. One of the program's projects is called the Firefly Project – where middle and high school students are paired with adult patients who are coping with cancer or AIDS. They exchange hand-written letters and personal artwork, poetry or music, and -- as we'll find out -- so much more. In this podcast, Cindy communicates her extraordinary mindset regarding living, sharing, dying and healing.

In our 39th episode, you'll hear:
-- What prompted Cindy to create the Firefly Project, and how she pairs a student with a patient as pen pals (over 70 students participated in 2006)
-- How the partners form rewarding relationships sight unseen over a nine month period
-- Why this program addresses three key needs we all have in our life
-- What happens if the patient dies during the time frame -- and how this sad scenario turns into an opportunity for many to learn about love, dying and healing
-- How students and patients culminate the end of the program – you won't want to miss hearing about this moving Art for Recovery event
-- What one piece of advice Cindy would give to others

To learn more about the program visit the Art For Recovery website or email Cindy at: cynthia.perlis@ucsfmedctr.org.

If you would like to make a donation to Art for Recovery, the checks should be made out to the UCSF Foundation with Art for Recovery noted on the memo section of the check. Art for Recovery is a non-profit based at UCSF. Gifts may be in honor or in memory of someone.

Please send the checks to:
Cindy Perlis
Director, Art for Recovery
UCSF - Box 1712
1600 Divisadero Street
San Francisco, CA. 94115

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This episode is approximately 22 minutes long. To listen to it, click on the play button below:



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Technorati Tags: Cindy Perliss, Art for Recovery, Firefly Project, Volunteering, Cancer victims, Xtraordinary Living, www.productivelearning.com, Rick Itzkowich