Donate Today
Quick Escape

Safety Alert

To immediately leave our site click the QUICK ESCAPE button. Please test this now to ensure it works and you are familiar with its function.

We also suggest you clear your browser history after visiting our site by going to:

Tools › Internet Options › History › Delete

First Annual Festival of the Hearts

The one-day festival designed by teens for teens offers workshops, interactive activities, food and live entertainment centered around creating healthy and positive relationships

January 24, 2018 (Irvine and Ladera Ranch, Calif.) – Today, Tilly’s Life Center (TLC) and Laura’s House are proud to announce their first annual Festival of the Hearts event taking place at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Saturday, February 24, 2018, from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Organized by teens, the conference is geared toward both teens and parents and will focus on healthy relationships, cyber safety, positive thinking and affirmations, safe dating, social media and bullying, media literacy, substance abuse and warning signs. The event will also feature social activities such as therapeutic group yoga, art therapy and self-defense. In addition, the event will include lunch sponsored by El Pollo Loco and feature live entertainment by: The Breeze, Bella Dose, DJ Episode, spoken word artist Phil Kaye and Hanna Eyre from NBC’s “The Voice”. There will also be a themed photo booth donated by FoxTales.

Monica Utley, executive director at TLC states, “In honor of Teen Dating Violence Awareness month, we’re excited to work alongside Laura’s House in hosting this inaugural event catered to educating individuals on happiness, health & wellness while providing fun activities.” 

“One in three adolescents are in abusive relationships. Together with TLC, we want to empower and educate youth to recognize dating violence and know what to do if they see warning signs,” said Margaret Bayston, executive director at Laura’s House. “This event is just one of the many ways we are reaching teens as part of our Healthy Emotions and Attitudes in Relationships Today (H.E.A.R.T) program.”

Event Schedule:

8:00 a.m. – Breakfast & registration with music by DJ Episode

9:00 a.m. – Introductions and keynote by TLC and Laura’s House with performance by Phil Kaye

10:00 a.m. – Breakout sessions on positive affirmations, safe dating, cyber safety, and teen panel

11:00 a.m. – Social activities, including yoga, art therapy and self-defense

12:00 p.m. – Lunch and live music provided by The Breeze and Hanna Eyre; information booths

1:30 p.m. – Breakout sessions on social media and bullying, media literacy, substance abuse and warning signs of abuse

2:30 p.m. – Endnote speech by domestic violence survivor Ralph Rocha

3:00 p.m. – Live music by Bella Dose

This one-day event is open to the public. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased by visiting https://www.laurashouse.org/events.

TLC and Laura’s House would like to thank our sponsors El Pollo Loco and Foxtales for donating food and photo opportunities for attendees, and Saddleback College for the venue space.

Follow: @tillyslifecenter on Instagram, Facebook , LinkedIn and follow @TillysLC on Twitter.

Follow Laura’s House H.E.A.R.T. program on Instagram at @laurashouseheart

About TLC:

TLC aims to empower teens to overcome their own adversity and crises through positive thinking. Through tested methodologies from globally-respected thought leaders, TLC teaches effective life tools that equip teens with the confidence and self-esteem they need to take responsibility for themselves – ultimately giving them the power to make positive changes in their own lives. To find out more, please visit www.tillyslifecenter.org.

About Laura’s House:

Laura’s House is a nonprofit organization established in 1994 to provide domestic violence-related services.  We serve as the only state-approved comprehensive domestic violence agency in south Orange County, Calif., serving communities throughout Orange County and the surrounding regions of southern California.  Over the past 24 years, Laura’s House has provided shelter with support services to more than 5,000 abused men, women and their children and non-residential direct services including 24-hour crisis intervention, counseling, life skills education and legal advocacy to over 55,000 persons.   Our mission statement is as follows: Changing social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.  Our services include an Emergency Shelter, Counseling and Resource Center, Children’s Therapeutic Programs, Transitional Living Center, Legal Advocacy, and Community Prevention/Education and Outreach.  In 2017, we provided direct services to 3,821 persons and prevention/education and community outreach activities to 24,733 persons. To find out more please visit www.laurashouse.org and www.laurashouse.org/lhteen

Press Contacts:

Debs Choi, Tilly’s Life Center
714.310.9651
deborah@masterplancommunications.com

Heather Wong, Laura’s House
714-426-0444
heather@hkamarcom.com