Dear Children's Rainforest Supporter,

It's hard to imagine the devastation to a family when their child is diagnosed with cancer. There are tremendous breakthroughs being made in treatment, and the odds of a complete recovery are getting better every day, but for most families, this truly is the struggle of their life. In 2001, the Board of Directors of Optimist International established the Childhood Cancer Campaign and declared this as our primary focus, with the following objectives:

• Support to children diagnosed and receiving treatment for cancer.
• Support to families and care partners of children with cancer.
• Support to healthcare and service providers.
• Support for cancer research.

Consistent with the common values that Optimists share worldwide, we believe that positive activities and surroundings contribute greatly to our personal health. Pediatric healthcare professionals are well aware of the impact that a wholesome and creative environment has on our body's ability to heal, and many new hospitals reflect this trend. Unfortunately, the majority of stricken children end up in older facilities or smaller hospitals that just don't have the funding or technical resources to provide these accommodations.

The Children's Rainforest Project was established in June of 2004 by the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Optimist Club of San Diego to create vibrant healing surroundings for child cancer victims. The source of so many healing plants and compounds, the rainforests resonate with the colors and sounds of life.

The world famous San Diego Zoo and Optimists have formed a unique partnership to provide an intimate understanding of the rainforest animals and their habitat through our Children's Rainforest Art Explorer program. We feel that we achieve a healing synergy when we combine these activities with colorful, inspiring surroundings within the treatment environment. Accomplished artists and craftsmen use a broad range of medium to bring the rainforest to life within these spaces.

We cordially invite you to review our program, and join the many members and supporters who have helped to make this healing dream a reality.

Sincerely,

Bob Langhorst, President

Dan Evers, Director