Global Genes® and Festival of Children Foundation Announce First RARE Carousel of Possible Dreams

Global Genes, a leading rare disease patient advocacy organization, and Festival of Children Foundation are proud to announce the first-ever RARE Carousel of Possible Dreams on February 28, 2018 in San Francisco, at the Children’s Creativity Museum. The inaugural event is a collaborative effort to support families affected by rare disease by utilizing Festival of Children Foundation’s well-known Carousel of Possible Dreams fundraiser on World Rare Disease Day.

“Festival of Children Foundation is proud to choose Global Genes as our national partner for an all-new, unique fundraising and awareness event,” said Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, founder and executive director of Festival of Children Foundation. “We are excited to grow our Carousel of Possible Dreams program and can’t think of a better way to raise awareness for rare diseases than to host this event on World Rare Disease Day 2018.”  

The RARE Carousel of Possible Dreams will provide a unique fundraising opportunity for participating rare disease charities. Rare Disease representatives will ride the celebrated LeRoy King Carousel over the course of the event to complete their individual pledge drives that will fund defined “dreams” or needs. Though the event will be held in San Francisco, RARE Carousel of Possible Dreams will also provide organizations with a virtual way to participate, expanding further involvement from across the US.

“We are so honored to partner with an exceptional organization that continuously gives back to children and families around the country,” said Nicole Boice, CEO Global Genes. “The generosity of this program and of Festival of Children Foundation will help provide much-needed funding to very deserving rare disease charities.”

The 2018 RARE Carousel of Possible Dreams application process will open in September 2017. Global Genes and Festival of Children Foundation will develop a review committee for the applications, and will announce the selected charities later this year. In addition, a select number of sponsorships will be made available. More details to be announced soon.

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About Global Genes

Global Genes is a leading global rare disease patient advocacy organization. The group’s mission is to eliminate the challenges of rare disease. Global Genes accomplishes this by providing patients with educational tools and resources, critical connections and support that equip patient advocates in rare disease. Recognized worldwide by the Blue Denim Genes Ribbon™, Global Genes unites experts, advocates and patients of all ages to stand together in hope for treatments and cures for the estimated 7,000 rare and genetic diseases that impact approximately 30 million Americans and over 350 million people worldwide.

About Festival of Children Foundation

Festival of Children Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that serves to bring together and coordinate the efforts of charities, companies and individuals who actively work to improve the lives of children. Festival of Children Foundation gives a voice, guidance and support. 100% of the administrative costs are covered by designated funding, allowing donations to go further in direct support of programs and services that improve the lives of children. www.festivalofchildren.org

About The Carousel of Possible Dreams: The Carousel of Possible Dreams is a unique and innovative fundraiser. Volunteer fundraisers rush aboard a carousel and go round and round and up and down for their charity. Using nothing more than their cell phones, each carousel rider is tasked with raising a minimum financial goal for their charity before being allowed off the carousel. Since 2009, The Carousel of Possible Dreams has raised over $3 million for children’s charities at events held in Central Park in New York City; the Eden Palais, a spectacular 19th Century European Salon Carousel housed at the private Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington Hills, Illinois; Griffith Park in Los Angeles; Disneyland, and at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California.