Downey, CA--September 30, 2008
Diversity lecture, "Women In Pain: Gender Matters"

September 2008
For the 5th consecutive year, For Grace has sponsored a resolution proclaiming September as Pain Awareness Month in the Golden State. This year we worked with Senator Carole Migden (D-3rd District) who authored the resolution, SR 33. We at For Grace extend a heartfelt thank you to the many California legislators and staffers who despite unforeseen difficulties made this proclamation happen just two days before all adjourned for the year!

August 2008
ABC News called upon Cynthia to be featured in their OnCall+ Pain Management website promotional video. The promo also features medical experts along with ABC News staff, and is currently being seen by many network executives and advertisers. Please link here to utilize this extraordinary resource.

July 2008
For Grace encourages women in pain to access a great, new advocacy resource, "In the Face of Pain", to bring to your community awareness of the pain gender divide through media, legislation and civic groups. WIP-- take action and be heard today!

June 2008
Thrilled to announce that our new Women In Pain PSA is now available for viewing. This 30 second spot, titled "Unsung Heroes", features actor Jack Coleman, star of NBC's hit drama, "Heroes". In the PSA, Jack delivers our message about the pain gender divide to the world! Please link here to view (QuickTime Video)

Duarte, CA--May 30, 2008
For Grace partnered with Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative and City of Hope to hold the first annual Women In Pain conference. We assembled a world-class roster of speakers/presenters, along with performers/artists, who educated and inspired women in pain and their health care providers. Please see a post-conference article that appeared in City of Hope's Hope News.

April 2008
For Grace is now a contributing consultant for ABCNews.com as they're currently covering many stories about pain and its management. Our first collaboration was with an article that ran on April 9th entitled, "Healing Meals: Foods That Might Fight Pain." Link here to see article. And link here to see our second collaboration, "Killer Jobs: 10 Painful Professions" (May 19th). Please watch for many more to come...

October 2005 — Currently Airing
(Picked-up by The Learning Channel & Home and Health Worldwide) “Issac’s Nightmare” (QuickTime video) For Grace founder Cynthia Toussaint's journey with RSD is the focus of a segment that is airing on Discovery Health's Mystery Diagnosis show. Told from four different perspectives, this segment provides an in-depth look into the full RSD experience.

March 2008
Please visit our YouTube site to view For Grace's most recent videos about conditions that impact women in pain. Also, we continue to add pain-related videos as they become available through YouTube and other organizations. Please click here to view: youtube.com/ForGrace

February 2008
Ms. Toussaint is an ongoing contributor on Loolwa Khazzoom's new "Dancing With Pain" blog. Please see Cynthia's posts about "Abandonment Issues" and "Healing Dance."

February 2008
Cynthia Toussaint signed a contract with a national best-selling author to pen a book proposal. Her memoir, tentatively titled Battle for Grace, will focus on her 25 year fight to survive and prevail over her devastating chronic pain experience. Cynthia’s life-partner John Garrett’s reflections will be uniquely woven throughout, providing a voice for the often over-looked caregiver challenges. Once this phase of the project concludes, Ms. Toussaint's literary agents will work to procure a publishing deal and movie option. For Grace is excited about the women in pain awareness outcome of these efforts.

Los Angeles, CA--January 24, 2008
Speaking engagement

Glendale, CA--October 27, 2007
Our founder, Cynthia Toussaint, was one of the awardees of this accolade presented annually to women making strides in the health arena. Cynthia was nominated by the Los Angeles County Office of Women's Health for her work at For Grace. She attended the Women of Courage luncheon at ABC7 where she and her efforts to better the lives of all women in pain were profiled.

September 2007
This year For Grace teamed with State Assemblymember Nell Soto to officially proclaim September as Pain Awareness Month in the Golden State. HR 15 "calls upon all Californians to observe this month by participating in appropriate ceremonies and activities and by learning how to improve the quality of life for people in California suffering from pain." September, due to the efforts of Partners for Understanding Pain, has now been recognized nationwide as the month to acknowledge pain as a major health issue in the country.

August 2007
For Grace has assembled a comprehensive list of actions women can take to help gain control over their pain. Categorized by self-care, assertiveness, clinical advice and on-line resources, these easy-to-use, practical ideas will smooth the ripples of any challenging pain day!

August 11, 2007
To help ensure the ethical and equal treatment of all women in pain, Cynthia Toussaint spoke at a rally sponsored by OneCareNow.org held at Los Angeles City Hall. Cynthia shared her failed healthcare story, speaking out in favor of California Senator Sheila Kuehl's single-payer univeral healthcare bill (SB 840). Other speakers included Lily Tomlin, Lt. Governor John Garamendi and Delores Huerta.

July 2007
For Grace is a proud endorsee of the 2007 Consensus Statement for the National Pain Care Policy Act. For more information, please visit the American Pain Foundation website.

July 2007
Marking an evolution in our organization's history, For Grace launched a revised website reflecting our expanded mission "to ensure the ethical and equal treatment of all women in pain." We're thrilled to be moving forward with an effort that spotlights this critical, emerging health issue. Cheers to change!

San Diego, CA—April 26-28, 2007
For Grace exhibit

March 2007
For Grace is pleased to announce that our founder, Cynthia Toussaint, was featured in the health section of the March 6th issue of Woman's Day. The article authored in first-person and entitled “My Mystery Disease” chronicled Cynthia's 14-year struggle to find her RSD diagnosis – and the choices as a woman in pain she made to find better health and well-being. This story reached 20 million readers across the nation, raising further awareness of chronic pain as a major health concern. Download article as .pdf (510k).

Need that special item to empower women in pain in your community? Please visit For Grace’s WIP Awareness shop at http://www.cafepress.com/forgrace to peruse an assortment of quality items to do just the trick! (Note: no proceeds from sales go to For Grace as prices cover cost only.)