2018 Auction Dates, Times, and Locations

Auction Time is Near!

Join us for our 2018 auction season! Come out for days of fun, food, and fellowship.

7:00 AM Breakfast | 8:30 Auctions Begin | Physician Remarks and Quilts to Follow 

Handmade quilts, handcrafted furniture, wooden crafts, sporting goods, handmade toys and garden plants will be available for buyers at our auctions. A variety of food choices will be featured including chicken barbecue, freshly made pies, donuts, whoopie pies, ice cream and more! The proceeds from the annual benefit auctions are a major source of revenue for the Clinic for Special Children.

Clinic_Auction_091915_006

Lots of food, including pizza, was available at the benefit auction for the Clinic for Special Children Saturday.

June 2, 2018 | Union County Auction
Buffalo Valley Produce Auction
22 Violet Road
Mifflinburg, PA 17844

Flower Auction and Rib Dinner | June 1, 2018
5pm-8pm

→ Directions
→ Sale Bill

June 16, 2018 | Lancaster County Auction
Leola Produce Auction
135 Brethren Church Road
Leola, PA 17540

→ Directions
→ Sale Bill

June 23, 2018 | Shippensburg Auction
Cumberland Valley Produce Auction
101 Springfield Road
Shippensburg, PA 17257

→ Directions

July 14, 2018 | Blooming Grove Auction
Blooming Grove Auction Inc.
1091 Free Road
Shiloh, OH 44878

→ Directions

September 8, 2018 | Blair County Auction
Morrison’s Cove Produce
174 Windy Acres Lane
Roaring Spring, PA 16673

→ Directions

NEW TEDx business talk by Cindy Bo, MBA, CSC board of directors

Cindy Bo, MBA, a member of CSC’s board of directors and Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer at A.I. duPont Hospital for Children| Nemours, delivered a compelling TEDx talk with an inspiring message about how some of the greatest business lessons can been learned through life experience in the selfless acts of others. The lessons she speaks to are universal: “hustle for what you want to achieve, be humble always, honor diversity, embrace challenging but positive change, and always anticipate the needs of others.” Her talk serves as a tribute to those who sacrifice in order to provide us all with a better life.

“In its first medical mission, Strasburg Clinic treats Mennonite children in Mexico”: Story by Lancaster Newspaper

Through CSC’s first medical missions outreach trip to a remote Mennonite colony in Mexico, our clinicians were able to evaluate 33 patients and help advise treatment for conditions from ear infections to life threatening ailments with potential underlying genetic derivations. “It is the first time an outside entity has ever been permitted to have a physical/permanent presence on colony land.” Read the full story of how Dr. Kevin Strauss, Karlla Brigatti, and Herman Bontrager applied their unique skill sets to help bring specialized medical care to an underserved community internationally. Full story from LNP and LancasterOnline here:

Strasburg clinic treats Mennonite children in Mexico

 

 

“Sweet Odyssey”: The Santos family’s inspiring journey from a rare disease diagnosis to the cure

A CSC patient family, Idario Santos and son Vinicius were recently interviewed by KDKA out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania about their inspiring book, Sweet Odyssey, in which they tell the story of Artur Santos’s (son to Idario and brother to Vinicius) incredible journey living with Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD). Their book walks the reader through Artur’s diagnosis with MSUD, the Santos family’s partnership with the Clinic for Special Children, Artur’s liver transplant surgery that saved two lives, and his eventual cure from this previously incurable rare genetic disease. This book serves as a testament to the amazing results that are being achieved every day due to recent medical advances made in the treatment of rare genetic disease and reinforces the specialized role CSC plays in genetic disease management, serving patients across the whole world.

50% of the proceeds from “Sweet Odyssey” will be donated to the Clinic for Special Children.

“Sweet Odyssey” is available for purchase in Portuguese and English.

Learn more about their book here: http://www.sweetodyssey.net/

Watch the interview here:

NPR Special: Science and Religion (featuring the Clinic for Special Children)

National Public Radio (NPR) featured the Clinic for Special Children in a special program that investigates the unique roles science and religion play  in modern medicine across different populations, including Amish and Mennonite communities. A Mennonite patient family seen at CSC, the Leinbach family, talks about their emotional journey through their daughter’s diagnosis with Maple Syrup Urine Disease to her treatment and participation in scientific research studies. Starting at 17:20 – 24:30, listen to Dr. Kevin Strauss (CSC medical director) and Adam Heaps (CSC executive director) talk about how CSC works to bridge the gap between science and religion in the Plain population, bringing critical medical and technological services to an underserved population.

CSC Featured in Lancaster Physician Magazine for Partnership with WellSpan Philhaven

Clinic for Special Children was featured in the Fall 2017 issue of Lancaster Physician Magazine for our partnership with WellSpan Philhaven in providing therapies for children who suffer from behavioral health challenges, many times coinciding with an underlying genetic condition. We partner with Dr. John Dolena and psychologist Jennifer Hailey, both pictured above in a photograph from Lancaster Physician’s article, to help children and families build the skills necessary to cope with and overcome behavioral issues or development delays. Read the article here on pages 10 and 11!

 

Lancaster Physician Fall 2017

 

 

 

A New Video: Making Healthcare Accessible to the Plain Community, A Talk by CSC Leadership

Watch our newest video to learn about how the Clinic for Special Children helps to make medical care more accessible for the Plain communities. Talk by CSC staff members Dr. Kevin Strauss (Medical Director), Dr. Erik Puffenberger (Laboratory Director), and Adam Heaps (Executive Director) in Ephrata, PA.

Click Here to Watch the Video

CSC’s Whoopie Pie Toss for Extraordinary Give!

The countdown to the 2017 Extraordinary Give is on! On November 17, 2017 donations will be accepted from 12 midnight – 11:59 PM as part of Lancaster County’s largest day on online giving. Every dollar donated at ExtraGive.org on November 17th will be stretch by a pool of at least $300,000 from the Lancaster County Community Foundation, Rodgers & Associates, and other corporate sponsors AND there are at least $50,000 in EXTRA prizes you can win for the causes you care about.

Donating is simple. On November 17th, visit ExtraGive.org at select ‘Clinic for Special Children’ as your non-profit organization of choice. If you would prefer to donate over the phone, please call the Clinic on November 17th between the hours of 9am and 5pm and we would be happy to receive your gift over the phone.

In 2016, nearly 60% of our revenue came from charitable contributions and benefit events.

Visit us on November 17th in Lancaster City at the Citizen’s Bank Fountain across from Lancaster Central Market for our 4th Annual Whoopie Pie Toss in celebration of the ExtraOrdinary Give!

For additional information, please contact Kim Calderwood at 717-687-9407 or kcalderwood@clinicforspecialchildren.org.

Welsh Mt./Garden Spot Run/Walk to Benefit CSC

Join us and take a run along the scenic Welsh Mountain on Saturday, October 21!

The event is a 5k & 10k Run/Walk event at the Welsh Mountain Park/Community Center just outside New Holland. The run is through country roads with a great autumn view of the valley. Entrants are requested to bring 2 non-perishable food items along with the $15 fee for 5k, $20 fee for 10k, $5 fee for kids. Proceeds from the race supports the New Holland Boy Scout Troop 48. Donated food items are provided to the ESSN/New Holland Area Food Bank. Snacks, drinks, fruit, refreshments provided.

Registration: 8am – 10am Kid’s Fun Run: Starts at 9:30 am 5k and 10k Run/Walk: Starts at 10am

Click Here to Register!

Our Fall 2017 Newsletter is Here!!

 

Twelve-year-old Lewis Martin, living with a previously lethal disease (SMA), became the first child in the world to receive a new, effective medication through a specializing catheter designed by a physician that had been evaluating Lewis at the Clinic for Special Children. His story is one of hope, medical ingenuity, and the love and dedication of a group of physicians including CSC’s Medical Director, Dr. Kevin Strauss, who refused to give up hope. Read Lewis’s full story, read about our upcoming events and current research, or browse our bulletin board of special event photos in our fall 2017 newsletter here:

CSC Fall 2017 Newsletter

CSC’s Fellow Physicians Featured in ‘Plain folk, complex problems: Valley grads doctor Amish families’

Matt Demczko, MD and Mike Fox, MD, two former fellow pediatricians at CSC, were featured in The Daily Item’s ‘Plain folk, complex problems: Valley grads doctor Amish families’ for their unique work on the cutting edge of care with the Amish community.

The Clinic for Special Children enjoyed the privilege of working closely with the two physicians who are helping lead efforts to open a new medical clinic in Dover, Delaware to serve the local Amish community. The new clinic will be the first of its kind to offer services directed toward children with special needs in southern Delaware. Designed and managed to closely replicate the Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, the vision of the clinic is to provide a local, comprehensive medical home for medically complex Amish and Mennonite children in the Dover area, and to improve the health of the communities that they serve by utilizing translational research and modern technologies.

“There is so much to learn yet about caring for the Amish and Mennonite and the unique conditions they are faced with,” Demczko said. “We learn something new each day that helps make our practice better, which helps us make more and more of an impact with those who may need it most.”

Read about their unique opportunity, how they’ve overcome barriers to care, and their rewarding results here: Plain folk, complex problems: Valley grads doctor Amish families

 

 

 

This Saturday 9/8! Our Last Auction of the Season!

Join us for our Blair County Auction, our last auction of the season! Come out for a day of fun, food and fellowship! 

Blair County Auction | September 9, 2017
Morrison’s Cove Produce
174 Windy Acres Lane|Roaring Spring, PA 16673

7:00 AM Breakfast | 8:30 Auction Begins | Physician Remarks and Quilts to Follow

Handmade quilts, handcrafted furniture, wooden crafts, sporting goods, handmade toys and garden plants will be available for buyers at our auctions. A variety of food choices will be featured including chicken barbecue, freshly made pies, donuts, whoopie pies, ice cream and more! The proceeds from the annual benefit auctions are a major source of revenue for both the Clinic for Special Children.

Welcome to Three New Staff Members!

Candace Kendig

Candace Kendig joined CSC as a Medical Receptionist in 2017.  She earned her Associates Degree in Specialized Technology, majoring in Medical Assisting in 2006.  Prior to working at CSC, she had 10 years experience working as an Administrative Medical Assistant for a Specialty office located in Lancaster.

“I am passionate about working for the clinic because it is very rewarding knowing that every day our work positively impacts the children and family.”

 

 

 

KaLynn Loeven

KaLynn Loeven joined the Clinic for Special Children in 2017 as a Laboratory Technician.  She is responsible for performing genetic research through microarrays and development of new testing assays. KaLynn earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 2009 and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology in 2010 from Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA.  Prior to joining the Clinic, she was employed as a senior chemist working in the method feasibility/development of pharmaceutical raw materials at Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories.

“The Clinic struck me as a unique opportunity to combine my skills in the laboratory with a motivation to serve.  As I learned more, I felt excited to become a part of a team which combines patient care and genetic research to     improve the quality of life for a vulnerable population.”

Ashlin Rodrigues, BS

Ashlin Rodrigues, BS, joined the Clinic for Special Children in 2017 as a Laboratory Technician. She is responsible for running several clinical assays including amino acid quantification by HPLC and DNA isolation from whole blood.  She also performs targeted mutation detection through Sanger sequencing and high resolution melting curve analysis. Ashlin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Misericordia University in 2013. Prior to joining the Clinic, she worked at Rutgers University as a Senior Lab Technician performing microarray preparation and analysis. From there she took a position as a Cell Processing Specialist at Novartis Pharmaceuticals. At Novartis she assisted in the development of a CAR T-Cell immunotherapy used to treat pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“The Clinic gives me the opportunity to see the impact my work has on patients first hand, which was something I was never able to experience in an industry setting. It is evident that everyone here is passionate about what they do and will go through great lengths to provide the best care to patients. I’m excited to serve alongside the talented clinic staff and to directly see the importance of my work everyday.”

 

A New Addition to CSC’s Board of Directors!

We are happy to announce Cindy Bo, MBA has joined CSC’s Board of Directors! Cindy is the Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer at A.I. duPont Hospital for Children| Nemours. Cindy received her Bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University and her MBA from Columbia Business School. She has long been an advocate for the Clinic’s mission and we look forward to her contribution as a member of the Board.

CSC Featured on WGAL for International Impact

 

Here is a video WGAL News Channel 8 Susquehanna Valley, Pa featured on their 6 PM broadcast earlier this month. Although about 90% of CSC patients are from the Old Order Amish or Mennonite communities, around 10% are patients like Lucas and Davi. We strive to increase the quality of life and alleviate suffering for children with genetic disorders from all over the world, serving patients from 20 countries.

 

Click Here to Watch CSC’s Feature Video

 

 

 

A behind the scenes preview of the making of the video!

   

Join Us Thursday on the National Day of Prayer

National Day of Prayer Community Breakfast

Scenic Village Conference Center @ Harvest Drive

3368 Harvest Drive, Gordonville, PA

7am-9am

Join us this Thursday for a free Community Prayer Breakfast for the National Day of Prayer in support of the Clinic for Special Children!

Breakfast will be served from 7am-8am with a prayer service to follow. Join in fellowship, worship, song, and prayer with local community members, special guests, volunteers, CSC staff, and worship leaders to commemorate this year’s National Day of Prayer.

Though there is no set fee for the event, donations will be accepted to benefit the Clinic for Special Children.

Thank you in advance for your support! We look forward to seeing you there!

 

 

 

Happy 28th Anniversary, CSC!

Happy 28th Anniversary, CSC! 28 years ago, the Clinic for Special Children opened its doors for the first time to care for children suffering from rare genetic diseases in Lancaster County. Fast forward to 2017, and the Clinic is now a world leader in personalized genomic medicine. Our staff of 15 dedicated individuals treats more than 1,200 patients from 40 states and 17 countries, diagnoses and manages over 175 genetic disorders, and collaborates with a thriving community of local practitioners, scientists, hospital systems, academic centers, and private industry. Through these partnerships, we have integrated subspecialty medical care, such as cardiology, audiology, and ophthalmology, into our medical service so patients have direct access to advanced clinicians and unparalleled coordinated care. Thank you to our dedicated supporters and our wonderful community for many years of helping us to advance our mission of creating a medical home for children living with genetic disorders. We look forward to serving for many more! Click here for CSC’s 28-year history

CSC’s Spring 2017 Newsletter!

 

Read the Clinic for Special Children’s Spring 2017 newsletter here! Featured in this issue are auction details including dates and locations, staff changes, exciting updates to CSC’s collaborative translational medicine projects, personal patient stories, letters, and testimonies, a local cardiologist’s inspiring story of courage, determination, and success, announcements about our upcoming events and meetings, and more!

CSC’s Spring 2017 Newsletter

Caring for Special Children in Your Communities

Please join us for a lecture by the Clinic for Special Children on how we can come together to support special children by saving healthcare costs, while improving the quality and effectiveness of medical care in your community.

CARING FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN
IN YOUR COMMUNITIES
A Talk by the Clinic for Special Children (CSC)
2pm-4pm | April 22, 2017

Fairview Reception Center
141 Jackson Road, Lebanon, PA 17042
and
2pm-4pm | May 6, 2017
Martindale Mennonite Fellowship Center
352 Martindale Road, Ephrata, PA 17522

Learn about:

  • What is new and exciting at the Clinic for Special Children!
  • How the Clinic’s model of care creates a medical home for children living with rare genetic conditions
  • How CSC makes difficult-to-access specialty medical services accessible to children with special needs
  • How innovations in healthcare are being used to keep the children in your communities healthy
  • What you can do to help

Refreshments and fellowship to follow talks. All are welcome.

2016 Annual Report

We are delighted to present to you the Clinic for Special Children’s 2016 Annual Report. The past year has been a year of innovation and growth as the Clinic continues lead the world of personalized genomic medicine. Through a focus on providing comprehensive local medical care, integrating science and clinical medicine, and sharing knowledge to improve the health of children who suffer from genetic disorders, the Clinic for Special Children serves as a unique model for rare disease that continues to inspire physicians, scientists, and the communities we serve.

In 2016, the Clinic for Special Children’s pediatric clinical team provided specialized medical care for 1,083 active patients living with rare genetic disorders from 40 states and 17 countries. CSC’s laboratory scientists conducted invaluable research, leading to the identification of 33 new disease-causing genetic variants. The Clinic’s expanded capability for the provision of specialty medical services has helped strengthen its position as a trusted medical home in our community.

The inspiring story of the vitality of Conor Martin, a 3-year-old boy living with Maple Syrup Urine Disease, is a testament to the effectiveness of the Clinic’s unique model of personalized genomic medicine. “We are truly grateful to the Clinic for being our medical home. CSC is a haven where we can receive not only the medical care Conor needs, but a place that focuses on the emotional needs of the whole family,” says Conor’s mom. Read his full story and the rest of our 2016 annual report here: >>2016 Annual Report<<

Rare Disease Day | February 28, 2017

Please join us in celebrating Rare Disease Day! This specially designated day is devoted to raising awareness amongst the general public, researchers, policy makers, and many others whose lives are impacted by rare disease. We hope that the day’s activities and campaigns serve as an inspiration and empower people in our community and beyond to make a difference in the lives of patients living with rare disease. We invite you to follow this link to make a gift in honor of Rare Disease Day! Thank you for your support and enthusiasm for a cause very dear to our hearts. Please browse our website to learn more about what the Clinic for Special Children does in our community to help patients living with rare disease every day.

CSC Welcomes a New Nurse, Keturah Beiler!

We are excited to introduce to you Keturah Beiler, the newest member of our CSC clinical team! Keturah earned her associates degree and nursing certification through Harrisburg Area Community College. As a part-time registered nurse with the Clinic, she will be organizing and administering immunizations, assisting with general patient care, and will be supporting the specialists who volunteer their time to the Clinic. “Having grown up in a Beachy Amish household, it is exciting and fulfilling for me to think of giving back to members of the Plain community who have influenced who I am today. I am passionate about serving people and helping the most vulnerable among us, our children.” Welcome, Keturah!

Juniata University Students Visit CSC

Recently CSC hosted students, teachers, and administrators visiting from Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA who were interested in learning about our unique model of healthcare, research, and communications. This group represented a diversity of different health majors and professional backgrounds from the college. We were inspired not only by their passion and engagement, but also by all that this group has already accomplished in their own community. These are the faces of our future doctors, nurses, genetic counselors, health communications professionals, and nutritionists. We are very grateful to have been a part of their journey to make a positive change in our world.

Auction Season is Upon Us! Find Dates Here

Auction Time is Near!

Join us for our 2017 auction season! Come out for days of fun, food and fellowship at our 2017 auctions!

7:00 AM Breakfast | 8:30 Auction Begins | Physician Remarks and Quilts to Follow 

Handmade quilts, handcrafted furniture, wooden crafts, sporting goods, handmade toys and garden plants will be available for buyers at our auctions. A variety of food choices will be featured including chicken barbecue, freshly made pies, donuts, whoopie pies, ice cream and more! The proceeds from the annual benefit auctions are a major source of revenue for both the Clinic for Special Children.

Clinic_Auction_091915_006

Lots of food, including pizza, was available at the benefit auction for the Clinic for Special Children Saturday.

June 3, 2017 | Union County Auction
Buffalo Valley Produce Auction
22 Violet Road
Mifflinburg, PA 17844

June 17, 2017 | Lancaster County Auction
Leola Produce Auction
135 Brethren Church Road
Leola, PA 17540

June 24, 2017 | Shippensburg Auction
Shippensburg Auction Center
1120 Ritner Highway
Shippensburg, PA 17257

July 8, 2017 | Blooming Grove Auction
Blooming Grove Auction Inc.
1091 Free Road
Shiloh, OH 44878

September 9, 2017 | Blair County Auction
Morrison’s Cove Produce
174 Windy Acres Lane
Roaring Spring, PA 16673

→ Directions

Meet Dr. Matt Demczko!

Dr. Matt Demczko recently completed a six month fellowship with the Clinic for Special Children. Dr. Demczko is a 2008 graduate of Franklin and Marshall College where he majored in biology and religious studies with a specific focus in genetics. Through one of his courses, Intro to Genetics, he became very interested in the genetics of rare disease, eventually helping to teach and recruit fellow students to the class. He received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and completed his pediatric training through Nemours/A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children with a third year spent serving as chief resident. It was this experience and training that introduced Dr. Demczko to a collaborative vision between CSC and Nemours to open a pediatric clinic that will focus on treating predominantly Amish children with rare genetic disorders in the Dover, Delaware community. In preparation for opening the new clinic, Dr. Demczko sought a fellowship with CSC in order to integrate himself into a training program that would give him the unique opportunity to care for Amish and Mennonite children living with rare genetic disorders. We are grateful for his contributions to our clinical care and special research projects during his time here and we wish him the best of luck with his future endeavors. Read about Dr. Demczko’s full story and progress updates in our upcoming spring newsletter.