President Kim Forsythe is featured in United Airlines Inflight Japanese Magazine “United Leader’s Review”

We are now regularly receiving contributions of dragonfly beads from 66 Japanese bead artists. The other day, we received a cute picture that was bursting with the gratitude of the children, who wrote, “This picture isn’t drawn well, but we wanted to send you our thanks!”

In our April newsletter we reported that we would begin receiving contributions from Japanese bead artists, and since that time, nearly everyday beads have reached our office, contributed by a huge number of bead artists!

On 4th March, the Shine On! Beads of Courage Program was started in the Tokyo Metropolitan Children’s Medical Center. On the event held on that day, participating children and families gathered to review treatment that had been conducted up till their participation in the program and represent these treatments via strung beads.

Until now, the hand-made glass beads for children have usually been donated by American bead artists.
But, in order to start Japan’s ‘Shine On! Beads of Courage Program‘ delivery to over 10 hospitals throughout the year, we called upon some great bead makers in Japan and are pleased to announce that this month, hand-made beads from Japanese makers have at last made their way to the Tyler Foundation!

On January 23rd, 2011 the Asahi Shinbun featured the Shine On! Beads of Courage Program in an article.

The Tyler Foundation launched the Shine On! Beads of Courage Program at Ibaraki Children’s Hospital last October. During the Tokyo Shine On! Marathon Challenge 2010 runners carried colorful beads with them to give to children fighting cancer.