Despite our recent winter rainstorms, the Santa Clarita Valley is about to swing into spring. Daffodil Days, one of American Cancer Society’s oldest and most beloved annual fundraising campaigns, begins this month and runs through March 18th. During that time, community members may pre-purchase the early March-delivered daffodils for themselves, others, or as anonymous Gifts of Hope for people in the Santa Clarita Valley who are battling cancer.
Daffodil Days 2008 co-chair, Diana Sevanian, says she’s excited to be involved in this worthy fundraiser, which over the past 13 years has raised more than $200 million in the effort to defeat cancer.
“These beautiful yellow flowers not only symbolize spring’s annual return, they also represent the heartfelt hope that cancer will eventually become a disease of the past,” said Sevanian, who along with many American Cancer Society volunteers and staff members have been personally touched by cancer.
To assist in selling the flowers, on-site Daffodil Days representative sites are being sought, stated the journalist and licensed registered nurse.
“We need rep sites within which the flowers can be sold,” Sevanian said, emphasizing that those locales are customarily large businesses, schools, places of worship, hospitals, or other organizations.
At rep sites, designated persons pre-sell the daffodils, then submit orders and distribute them within their organization when the flowers arrive,” explained ACS volunteer Holly Feneht, who again this year is co-chairing the event with Sevanian.
“It is as easy as selling Girl Scout cookies,” said Feneht, a young businesswoman with a passion for the American Cancer Society.
“When the daffodils are delivered in March they will come to Steve’s Valencia Florist in Newhall. From there, we, along with other ACS volunteers, get them out into the community. Orders over $250 will be delivered by Daffodil Days volunteers to rep sites; under $250 must be picked up at the florist.
The flowers, Feneht adds, generally arrive in closed bunches that vibrantly open in a day or so.
Since 1973, Daffodil Days has been empowering people, from school children to corporate CEOs, in making a difference in the fight against cancer. Proceeds from the floral fundraiser enable the ACS to provide free services and programs to cancer patients. That includes:
• Road to Recovery — Transportation assistance to and from oncology treatments
• Reach to Recovery — A one-on-one support program that matches trained breast cancer survivors with those newly diagnosed with the disease to provide emotional support and guidance
• I Can Cope — A series of online educational classes for people with cancer and their loved ones
• Look Good Feel Better — A free program dedicated to teaching women techniques to help restore their appearance and self-image during cancer treatments
• Man to Man — A program that offers free information and support to men with prostate cancer
• Clinical Trials Matching Service — A free and confidential service that helps cancer patients locate a cancer clinical trial based on their individual situation.
“Daffodil contributions also provide the ACS with vitally needed dollars for funding innovative cancer research, educate people about the value of cancer prevention and early detection and advocate for important public health policies that benefit the community,” said Cheri Fleming, president of the American Cancer Society SCV Unit. “By supporting this fundraiser, people are helping researchers discover new treatments in their search for a cure, as well as helping provide ways to improve the lives of those suffering with cancer.”
Steve’s Valencia Florist deserves our deepest gratitude for this fundraiser’s yearly success, said Heather Warrick, American Cancer Society Santa Clarita Valley Unit’s Health Programs Manager. “Every year he turns his floral shop over to us as ‘Daffodil Days Central.’ Steve does this entirely out of the goodness of his heart and his love for helping people.”
Warrick, who has been battling metastatic breast cancer for 13 years, urges members of the Santa Clarita Valley to become involved with Daffodil Days.
“Together we can fight cancer while enjoying the first flower of spring and the hope for a cancer-free tomorrow,” Warrick said, adding, “If you are interested in selling daffodils at your company or as a volunteer in helping with this year’s Daffodil Day’s campaign, please contact us. We need your support!”
Daffodil prices/packages are as follows:
Bouquet (10 gorgeous flowers; no vase): $10
Sunshine (10 daffodils in a lovely 7-inch vase): $20
Vision (Two bouquets to arrange as you wish in a clear, artistic, oval-shaped 5.5-inch vase): $35
Bear and a Bunch™ (A plush 10-inch Boys bear named Bea R. Hope, designed exclusively for Daffodil Days): $25
Gift of Hope: Donations support the mission and allow the American Cancer Society to anonymously deliver bouquets of daffodils to cancer patients in the community. Note: Bouquets are not delivered to specific patients, nor are donors’ names attached to the gifts. While a minimum donation of $25 is suggested, larger donations are greatly accepted and will help support greater numbers of cancer patients and their families.
Nancy Coulter, Warrick’s mother and a longtime American Cancer Society volunteer (including past president and Daffodil Days chair), believes that Gifts of Hope are one of the most dynamic gifts a person can give.
“I have personally delivered Gifts of Hope for many years and it’s always an experience I’ll never forget,” Coulter said. “To hand a bouquet to a cancer patients and say, ‘Someone here in the SCV wants you to know that they care about you and want to ease your cancer journey with the hope of these beautiful flowers’ is a wonderful feeling. To be involved in the Daffodil Day campaign is to make a difference in this world.”
Thanks to Daffodil Days 2007, the American Cancer Society was able to give out more than 10,000 Gifts of Hope to cancers patients throughout Los Angeles County communities. In the Santa Clarita Valley, more than 300 Gifts of Hope were distributed.
“Having gone through cancer I can say, when you’re having chemo and someone walks in with daffodils, that just brightens up your spirits and makes it a much better day,” said Agnes Russell, a seven-year breast cancer survivor, American Cancer Society volunteer, and Daffodil Days committee member.
Supporting Daffodil Days is a meaningful way to start off the New Year, Sevanian said, noting that cancer counts for three-times the annual number of deaths caused by alcohol, car crashes, illegal drugs, suicide, homicide, fire and AIDS, combined.
“Together through Daffodil Days, and the community’s support, we can fight this disease and save lives,” she added.
Daffodil Days rep sites, as well as volunteers (for arrival day set-up and delivery) are needed. For further information call 661-298-0886, option 3 or 1-888-335-5868. You may also go online to www.cancer.org.