News Archives
2009
On August 1 we launched our biggest fundraiser ever. We are beading the world's longest beaded necklace!! Working under the guidelines of the Guinness Book of Records to certify our efforts, thousands of people are helping us continue our program by donating just $1.00 to put a bead on this record setting necklace. Please visit our dedicated site for more information: www.longestbeadednecklace.com
In 2009 we have continued to expand our program and are privileged to be making weekly smiles with the recovering women receiving treatment at the Carol G Simon Center at Morristown Memorial Hospital of New Jersey. We are so honored to meet all the courageous women, and happy to bring our special bead program.
In June 2009 we were featured in the magazine, Get Creative. We were featured in a 2 page article about sharing your passion and being a creative superhero…We are so happy that our mission and information is being spread throughout the creative people around the world.
In July 2009 we are launching our biggest fundraiser since the conception of our organization. We are beading the world’s longest necklace. A wonderful New York bead company and the Guinness Book of World Records will help us achieve this mission, connecting the world one bead at a time..
For only a $1 donation you can put a bead on in your name or in the honor of a loved one. We will be beading this necklace for 5 months, so please join us. If you or your family, friends, company or community organization would like to participate, please visit our site and all the information you need to help us will be available www.longestbeadednecklace.com
2008
In September 2008 we expanded our services and started beading with the recovering women at the John Theuer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center. We have been received with enthusiasm and our weekly visits are a welcomed change during this stressful time for the patients each week.
In September 2008 after a successful fundraiser and many dedicated volunteers, we opened the “Crow’s Nest Art Center”... We provide classes/workshops in many art mediums for the community to enjoy... The classes fill up quickly and we add more classes every month.
In July 2008 we expanded our beading program into the Carbondale Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Once a month we fill our bead cases and bead smiles with the patients and they love it. It has been a huge success working in this new environment.
In July 2008 our friends at Z100 fm radio in New York invited us again to speak about our organization. It was wonderful to see the “morning crew” again.
In June 2008 a local radio station, Sunny 105 fm interviewed and welcomed our organization to the area. The host, Bonnie Robinson was a delight to speak with and we were glad to share information about our organization and our new headquarters/bead shop and art center.
In May 2008 we submitted a “beaded bench” for the Wayne County Art Alliance annual fundraiser event. It was wonderful to see the different artist take an ordinary bench and create unique works of art. We were honored to be a part of this event. Please visit their website at: www.waynecountyartsalliance.org
In March 2008 in our headquarters we created a space for the Bead Happy Workshop.. We designed a workshop atmosphere so the public can see what we make when we provide our beading therapy program in hospitals and cancer centers. It also serves as a walk-in workshop and we offer classes in beading techniques. A small section of the workshop is dedicated to a Art for Hearts gallery. Artists local and around the country donate items from their collections, whether it is pottery, paintings or one-of-a-kind jewelry creation. Stop in and have a cup of coffee..
2007
In October 2007 The Portable Playhouse packed up all their beads and moved its New Jersey headquarters to Northeastern Pennsylvania. By the generosity and support from the Spano Foundation and their mission to help organizations be self sustaining, a grant was awarded to us for a building in the beautiful town of Forest City, Pennsylvania. This space houses our mascot doll, Silly Mlly, and opening in February 1, 2008 a "Art for Hearts" Gallery and Bead Shoppe will help provide ways for the local community and supporters nationwide to help support our programs in hospitals and outpatient cancer centers. A new icon on our web site should be completed by the end of February. You will be able to see pictures of our new bead shoppe and the unique art pieces donated from artists around the country.
In May 2007, the Bead Unique Magazine 3rd Anniversary Special Issue, spotlighted our organization. The editor Pamela Hawkins and writer Beki Haley, wrote a wonderful piece, it was such an honor to meet Miss Hawkins, and we are so grateful they took the time to learn about our organization. It has been wonderful hearing from beaders all across the globe. Visit their site: www.beaduniquemag.com for yourself..
In May 2007 a special fund raising event took place at our friends, Jody & Richard Goodmans home in Short Hills New Jersey. This cocktail party and silent auction was a huge success because of the tireless efforts of our gracious hosts and the many supporters of our special programs.
On January 28th The Portable Playhouse and the Spano Foundation were highlighted in the "ON THE RUN" section of the Courier News. Gabrielle Spano one of the volunteers and board member for The Portable Playhouse displayed her beautiful smile and loving heart with regards to our mission, beading smiles. We are honored to have the Spano Foundation's continuous support. In January 2007, The Portable Playhouse program was commissioned by The New Jersey Cancer Institute, to expand our beading art program to the new children's hospice program.
In January 2007, The Portable Playhouse was awarded funding to expand our services into The Carol G Simon Cancer Center for Women at Morristown Memorial Hospital. We are so excited to bring this program to the women in the outpatient center.
In November 2006, The Portable Playhouse sponsored a fund raiser in Soho, New York. Pop International Gallery graciously housed the event, and it was a magical evening. We are now expanding our unique art program into pediatric wards in Mount Sinai Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital.
2006
In May 2006, a private cocktail party and silent auction was given by Jody & Richard Goodman to assist The Portable Playhouse with manufacturing costs of our Mascot Silly Milly. The night was filled with magic and smiles and our sincerest thanks go to the Goodman’s and everyone else who made the evening a success.
In April 2006, "The Little Gym" in Rockland County sponsored a fundraiser for our organization. It was filled with crafts and music for the children along with beautiful silent auction gifts. Many thanks to everyone for making the day shine. In April 2006, The Bergen County Twins Mother Club hosted a "Roaring Twenties Gala" in support of our program. The night was filled with excitement and we couldn’t be more honored to be chosen as this years charity. Our sincerest thanks to all who gave their time and energy to make this special night a success.
In March 2006, Fox5 New York news featured our organization on their evening news program. We were interviewed by Dr. Sapna Parikh, and we explored the importance of our mission in children’s hospitals and how there is more to healing then just medicine. Dr Parikh discusses how our regular weekly visits give the children, who are in the hospitals for long periods, a sense of time. And more importantly helps the children forget about their illnesses for a while. We are honored and grateful for their continuous support and bringing light to our organization.
In February 2006, Whiz-FM Z100 radio station featured our organization on their "Morning Show" with Elvis Duran and the Morning Zoo. They have continued to support our cause in helping children smile, we are so grateful for their continuous support.
2005 and before
In June 2005, Maryann Corey, founder of The Portable Playhouse, was presented with the Humanitarian Award in recognition of her outstanding dedication and humanitarian service for the welfare of other human beings. The award was given by the New Jersey State Council Calumniates.
In January 2005, The Portable Playhouse was featured on ABC News in New York. We were honored that ABC recognized the importance of our program by helping us educate the public with our unique healing program for the recovering children. The Portable Playhouse was featured on Fox 5 News in New York in December 2004. We truly thank Rosanna Scoto and reporter Anne Craig for their time they took to organize this story and discuss our organizations value to recovering children. We are proud to announce that in June 2004, Maryann Corey was presented with "Women who make Magic" award by New Jerseys radio station Magic 98.3.
In December 2003, we were featured guests on WHTZ-FM Z100 Morning Show with Elvis Duran and the Morning crew. They continue to be a major supporter of our organization since we began our program. In December 2003, The Portable Playhouse was featured on News12 "Morning Addition" and "Afternoon Edition" program. We are truly happy to be given the time to discuss our organization and to be recognized for the value of our program during the healing process for recovering children.
We are very proud to announce that in April 2003, Maryann Corey, our Co-founder and CEO, was presented with the Spirit of Women Community Recipient award by the Women’s Wellness & Healthcare Connection. The award was presented to "ordinary woman who do extraordinary things for the contributions they have made to the issues women face in the areas of work, family and health and the impact they have had in their community and in the lives of others." Maryann is automatically entered into the national competition held in May 2003 in Baltimore, Maryland.
In February 2003, we were featured in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze. "Cape illustrator donates artwork to good cause." The overwhelming popularity of our mascot, "Silly Milly" has prompted the creation of a children’s book and a Silly Milly doll. We were honored to meet a truly talented illustrator, GJ Stange who believed in our mission and donated her extraordinary gifts to bring this book to life.
In January 2003, we were recognized by Johnson& Johnson for our outstanding community spirit and applauded us for addressing the tremendous need for alternative approaches to healing and for nurturing the human spirit.
In December 2002, we were a featured guest on WHTZ-FM Z100 Morning Show with Elvis Duran and the Morning Crew. They boasted about our organization on the air to the thousands and thousands of their listeners and allowed us to get our message out. They continue to be a major supporter of our organization since the beginning.
In October 2002, we were featured in a Hackensack University Medical Center Press Release, "The Portable Playhouse Strings Beads and Smiles Together at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital." They praised our program of bringing healthy distractions to the children with enthusiasm, compassion and smiles.