Kayla Lafi, an enterprising 17-year-old, is certainly
making her mark in the Celiac community!
She’s created a new non-profit, Teens Living with Celiac (TLC), and
hosted its premiere event, a fashion show titled “Catwalk for Celiac.”
Having lived with Celiac since the age of eight, Kayla
sought a “fun and innovative” way to raise awareness and funds for the
autoimmune disease. She had an experience several years ago that left a lasting
impression and also served as the inspiration for her desire to join help
others.
While in California competing in a pageant, Kayla met a
girl from Colorado who was also living with Celiac. Before that chance
encounter, Kayla had never met anyone in her age group who had been diagnosed.
The two girls shared the same questions, concerns and ideas and enjoyed the
time they spent together.
“We both were so excited to have finally met someone else
with Celiac who understood the teen/kid Celiac experience,” Kayla said. So what does a teen do to bring this issue to
the forefront? What else? Find the resources and financial support to
create a non-profit. Kayla took it one
step further. In 2011, she applied for
Scholastic, Inc.’s BE BIG In Your Community contest to support civic
engagement. Kayla was chosen as one of
ten first place finalists from all over the country to win a $2,500 community
grant for her program. This grant has
allowed Kayla to incorporate her non-profit, TLC, and enhance her already
spectacular annual fundraiser, Catwalk for Celiac. This grant also matched Kayla to a local
affiliate of the national Points of Light Institute, the Volunteer Center of
Bergen County. “The mentorship has been
a wonderful opportunity to work side by side with an inspiring and passionate
young lady who I know will succeed in whatever she does,” states Debbie Emery,
Program Director for the Volunteer Center of Bergen County.
According to Kayla, TLC is a non-profit organization
driven by teens for teens! “We want to give support to other teens with celiac
disease as they are making a difference in their communities. We have developed
programs and project kits to help YOU raise awareness in your community!”
TLC's mission is to raise awareness for Celiac disease to
the general public and their communities so that no celiac teen, tween, or
child feels left out! Young people who
are diagnosed with celiac disease need a place to feel at home and not
isolated. TLC provides the support needed for teens with celiac, raising
awareness and helping them make a difference.
The importance of peer connection is not lost on Kayla.
She is using her annual “Catwalk for Celiac” as a springboard highlighting her
nonprofit organization, TLC, encouraging others, especially young people, to
promote awareness in their own schools and communities. This year’s event, which featured the fashion
show plus delicious (gluten-free) dinner, music, raffles, and presentations by
inspiring speakers, raised almost $9000.
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