Brothers Emilio, 6, and Marcos, 3, of Hollister are the Theme Children as revealed at the California-Hawaii Elks Major Project's Exalted Rulers' March on Saturday, May 21, at the CHEA's Annual Convention in Anaheim. Submitted photos
The Victorville Elks Lodge #1877 and Exalted Ruler Ralph Wareing are excited to announce the 2016 California-Hawaii Elks Major Project Theme Children.
This year’s CHEA Theme Children are brothers Emilio and Marcos.
Emilio and Marcos were born with a rare genetic disorder. So rare, that the name/label or DNA address of the disorder has not been identified to date. Both boys have hypotonia, low muscle tone. Emilio has apraxia of speech, he says just a few words, but understands what you say. He knows over 300 signs and uses about 30 in conversation. Emilio and Marcos are both globally delayed and have a great deal of hard work ahead of them.
Emilio is five years of age and started receiving therapy services because of an Elk who referred the family to the CHEA Major Projects. The occupational therapy services received through the Major Project has helped Emilio develop fine motor skills, gross motor play, and self-care skills.
He has made good progress toward achieving his therapy goals. A few of his achievements have been to develop oral motor skills for eating and pre speech. He is now toilet trained. He can cut and write the letters of his name. He is climbing more and taking risks in his gross motor play, indicating an improvement in his body awareness and balance. He attends a special kindergarten class and is making good progress.
Emilio has two favorite songs. "Kick the Dust Up" by Luke Bryan and "Happy" by Pharrell Williams.
These songs describe him well. He works hard, plays hard and is a very happy child.
Marcos is three years of age and is beginning to walk. Marcos also receives occupational therapy to work on his sensory processing for learning and postural control for moving. Since occupational therapy was already serving Emilio within the home, services were quickly put in place for Marcos soon after he came home from the hospital. As a result, Marcos' torticollis (neck is twisted at birth and head is inclined to one side) was resolved quickly.
He did not have feeding challenges and has shown good oral motor progress very early in his development. Marcos has just started attending a special preschool program.
CHEA has raised more than $3.5 million contributed this year by members of the Elks Lodges throughout California and Hawaii to be used in treating children with disabilities.
Ralph Wareing, exalted ruler of Victorville Lodge #1877, contributed $7,300, which was raised by the members of the Lodge and was presented to Robert Duitsman, chairman of the Major Project Board of Trustees at the CHEA Convention.
Since 1950, the 82,000 members from throughout California and Hawaii have turned over more than $112.7 million to the California-Hawaii Elks Major Project, Inc., which administers the nonprofit charitable corporation.
All of the funds are devoted solely to providing vision screening and therapy treatment to children with a broad range of disabilities. Without the Elks supported donations, many of these children would not receive such treatment.
The yearlong fundraising campaign is capped by an impressive ceremony at the Elks convention when representatives of lodges from throughout California and Hawaii present their donations to Major Project and Elks Association Leaders.
The raising of funds to aid children with disabilities is just one of the many philanthropic and patriotic projects which mark the Elks' contribution to our communit