ABOUT SHAWN DETTENMAIER
It All Started with a 3rd Grader
Shawn Robyn Tyler Dettenmaier born 1/3/2003 started a charity at 7 years old after watching her neighbor have to move from their home during the housing crisis. She asked her father if they could give families homes. Her parents who are middle class came up with the next best thing, to give families Christmas,. Ethan, Shawn's father had been exposed to Breakfasts with Santa from his mom growing up came up with Combat Radio: Breakfast With Santa and so that year, partnering with Greg Amsler the owner of Salt Creek Grille in Valencia, Breakfast With Santa was started. The charity started by Shawn, "Make The World A Better Place Foundation" buses in and invites local shelters and service organizations to a all you can eat breakfast, along with Santa, presents, games, art, and magic along with characters from various organizations including the 501st and Character Masters. From her parents years in the film industry, we have had stars attend the breakfast like Tom Kenny from Sponge Bob, Cameron Boyce, Carolyn Hennesy, Skai Jackson, Grey Griffin (voice of Daphnie in Scooby Doo), Tad Stones (creator of Dark Wing Duck), Bob Gurr (Disney Imagineer) and many more.
It All Started with a 3rd Grader
Shawn graduated high school early, while simultaneously attending college classes and graduated with her AA degree from COC at 18 with honors from both. She went on to college and received a full scholarship to University of Santa Cruz but this was during the pandemic before there was a vaccine or plan and it was decided she needed to stay closer to home so she chose Marymount California University which announced it's closing one week before her final and graduating. Luckily she was able to join California State University Northridge on a full scholarship and complete her degree. During covid lockdown, and school setbacks, she still maintained her grade point average and managed to always help others.
A True Fighter
Last year after Shawn's second booster shot, she developed optic neuritis. She lost her site in her left eye and was on steroids for a week. After she was released from Henry Mayo with a short taper of steroid pills she had a relapse 2 months later. At the UCLA hospital she was diagnosed with NMOSD, a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system. Her mother remembers Shawn's tearful plea as she asked, "what did I do to deserve this?" All I could tell her was nothing, from her gracious giving heart, to her hard work in school, she has done nothing wrong. That is why this year in addition to raising money for the Christmas Breakfast, we are raising money for the Guthy-Jackson foundation. The Guthy-Jackson foundation started research on the disease and research which saved Shawn's life. Their research may also provide the blueprint to cure all autoimmune diseases and may be a cure to cancer. So the answer to "why her" may be because she will help shine more light on this disease and help find a cure instead of just a treatment.
One Way to Make a Difference is to Donate
Shawn's organization has bagged backpacks for Josefa Salinas' non-profit "How to be A Girl", brought food, toys, blankets, art supplies and even a piano to Watts Empowerment Center with during the pandemic, assists in helping Children Mending Hearts started by Lysa Heslov, The family as part of the Crimson Pyrates, feed the homeless in downtown LA the last Sunday of every month with the Hiccup Pizza Project with Frankie Mercado.
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