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Meet Award Winning Book Author of Kathryn The Grape!

Find Out About The Charity Close to Her Heart

By Courtney Daly-Pavone June 20, 2018

She's known as Kathryn the Grape! Author, singer, and mom. Kathryn Cloward is the talent behind the seven-book series Kathryn the Grape stories about a spunky little girl who learns life lessons and builds confidence along the way.   Cloward writes from the heart, and she shared with me her personal journey that led her to her calling as a children's book author and musician. When she was a new mom, meditation, daily affirmations, and prayer helped her through a tough period in her life.  Taking one day at a time, and using self-help tools it dawned on her to educate children on self-empowerment.  It's also the message in every Kathryn the Grape book and song. 


Kathryn the Grape is highly relatable to children since she's a typical little girl going to school dealing with issues kids deal with in real life. Even parents connect to its message. The stories encourage children to express emotions, and not keep things bottled up.  According to Kathryn, "Human interaction is missing from our lives." She reminds us that "reading a book is tactile. The story comes to life when you sit with your child and read a book out loud, answer questions from your child about the book. We're able to create opportunities where we're bonding when we read to our children." When Kathryn performs a concert, it is multigenerational! Kids, parents even grandparents are known to sing along! 

Kathryn The Grape performs concerts at children's hospitals and is a big supporter of the MPS Society. 



What is MPS?

MPS I  is a metabolic disorder caused by mutated genes. There are many signs and symptoms of MPS I. The early signs usually are coarsening of facial features with an enlarged mouth, thick lips, and vision problems that progressively become worse. Additional symptoms can include: enlarged head, chronic nasal discharge, Splenomegaly, enlarged abdominal organs, & skeletal dysplasia.

Since 2017, the MPS Society has Funded Over $700,000 in Research Grants!

I spoke to Amy Holland, a member of the Board of Directors of the MPS Society, and mother of two children both diagnosed with MPS about the important work the MPS Society is doing to find a cure and assist families like her own.   Amy stated, "We offer family assistance programs which fund medical travel, durable medical goods, and we offer travel scholarships to our yearly conferences. We also have a large scholarship program to help affected individuals, siblings and parents pay for college. We gather a large group of patients and their family members and obtain funding for a trip to advocate on Capitol Hill every February, as well as offering training to each group to teach them to become effective speakers and advocates." 


Holland said she has a second family through the MPS Society.  "For my family, the Society has provided us with a group of friends who knows exactly how we feel with each new hurdle, giving advice and extending the purest form of empathy. This is the one thing our own family members and friends cannot give us, as much as they love us."

To Learn More About MPS Visit: www.mpssociety.org

Kathryn The Grape performs concerts at children's centers and hospitals and is a big supporter of the MPS Society her song “Heroes” will benefit MPS Society Visit: 

 http://kandoncares.org/heroes/

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