MKF Foundation in the News

We have received great feedback about the articles published about the MKF Foundation with some responses from those that have identified with Michelle’s story. If you’re interested in writing a news story about one of our upcoming events or about the Foundation itself, please contact us. We’d love to talk to you and get the word out about how we can serve and support nonverbal and nonambulatory individuals and their families.

Medlar’s Designs Exclusive Jewelry, Hosts Fundraiser for The Michelle Kuri Foundation

San Antonio, TX, July 10, 2014. Medlar’s Fine Jewelry Store is set to unveil “The Michelle’s Rose,” a unique jewelry piece designed to honor the late Michelle Kuri, namesake of The Michelle Kuri Foundation. According to owner Chapman Stout, Medlar’s Fine Jewelry will host its annual in-store fundraiser for the Michelle Kuri Foundation September 11, from 5:30 p.m., to 8:30 p.m., at 7115 Blanco Road, San Antonio. The public is invited to enjoy catering by Brio Restaurant, kosher catering by the Chabad Center, wine and champagne by S.A. Liquors, and enjoy music by Zahava (San Antonio’s world-class string quartet). Climax of the evening will be a live auction of exciting jewelry items modeled by young women and men.

Co-hosts for the evening are Medlar’s owner Chapman Stout and Elisheva Placeres Nawrocik, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board, the Michelle Kuri Foundation.

According to Mr. Stout, “Medlar’s has designed and created a ‘Michelle’s Rose’ jewelry piece exclusively to benefit the Foundation. The ’Michelle’s Rose’ has been designed for both women and men. According to Mr. Stout, ’Our vision for Michelle’s Rose gold and diamond rose pendant was to create a unique multi-dimensional design which will evolve each year. Our use of dimensional layering of the diamond accented petals symbolizes the multi layered integrated approach which is the foundation. The evolution each year will reflect the growth and success of the foundation. He says: “Our idea is to add new limited edition pieces each year.” Special guests include Rabbi Chaim Block, Executive Director, Chabad Center for Jewish Life & Learning, Rodfei Sholom’s, Rabbi Scheinberg, Agudas Achim’s, Rabbi Abraham, Temple Beth-El’s Senior Rabbi Nathan.

“The Michelle Kuri Foundation aims to support those caring for non-verbal and non-ambulatory patients. Often, those involved are family members, but include medical personnel (doctors and nurses) as well. The Foundation is named for my daughter, who suffered from severe cerebral palsy until her death at age 37 in 2008,” says Dr. Nawrocik. (A native of Mexico City, Mexico, Dr. Nawrocik and her family have made San Antonio [and the Stone Oak area] their home since 1987.) She says, “My experience helped me define the three key support areas of the Foundation. 1) Education (where the Foundation will begin its work) is needed. First, we aim to inform families about resources and more. Those in the medical field which serve these patients—doctors, nurses, and technicians—needs to know how to better communicate with non-verbal patients and their parent caregivers. 2) Emotional support is a major need because of dreadful stresses which families suffer. 3) Financial help is often necessary, since many patients age out of financial aid sources.” The Foundation will address these key needs through a number of programs, according to Dr. Nawrocik, who earned her PhD in General Psychology and is owner of San Antonio-based Positive Futures, LLC., The Michelle Kuri Foundation is a 501(c) 3 certified non-profit organization as of August, 2013.