Contact Us: 818-980-KIDS (5437) or info@werockthespectrumstudiocity.com | Open 7 days a week
Dina Kimmel, a successful entrepreneur, is giving to the community, and word is spreading. She is giving strength, love, patience, and acceptance. Kimmel, president and owner of We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym in Tarzana, has designed and built her kid’s gym with a specific clientele in mind. Thirty percent of the children that come through the door are children who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD. It all started with a little boy named Gabriel.
My business is We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym for All kids. Our doors opened at the end of the year in September 2010. We are an open play sensory gym. What that means is that all the fun equipment we use — swings, climbing apparatus and toys — is based on occupational therapy. All children love to play at We Rock, but for children who are on the spectrum, they need it!
In honor of Mother’s Day, this issue of TRIBE pays tribute to those driven, talented women who have dedicated their lives to the growth and well-being of two sets of offspring: one of their wombs and one of their imaginations. — Dina Kimmel, a self-described “granola girl,” grew up in the Santa Cruz Mountains but eventually found her way down to the San Fernando Valley. For the past 22 years, Kimmel has been a successful businesswoman — owning and operating a variety of stores in the Valley, including 15 years as owner of Lucky You, a resale clothing store. The inspiration for her newest business venture, We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym, was her son, Gabriel.
Studio City (cbsla.com): Mom’s Dream Of Opening Kids’ Gym Turning Into Nightmare. A mother says her dream of opening a fun and specialized gym for all kids has turned into a nightmare. Dina Kimmel is involved in a bitter dispute with a neighboring business owner.
Please help spread the word and help us keep Studio City doors OPEN! We cannot lose this fight but we need your help with our fundraiser. Thank you all so much!
http://www.werockthespectrumfundraiser.com/
This is a photo of our son Gabriel trying to help teach his new friend Destine how to swim. If one was to tell me 2 years ago I would be looking at this photo and reflecting on this precious moment, I would tell them it was a dream. Gabriel was diagnosed with Autism back in 2009 and could not learn how to swim until he was 5 years old. It took him to 5 different instructors before we found the angel that broke through his barriers (Mrs.Daniella Stark). Destine, his new friend, has Autism as well and to witness such love and compassion from my child has me crying as I am writing this to all of you. These moments in life stop me and thank God that I have a child with Autism. What I have learned and continue to learn from our Autism Angels is true love, compassion, devotion, patience, tolerance, and a daily reminder to never underestimate a child.
Above is a photo of Marvin Kimmel, my children’s great grandfather and myself Dina Kimmel Founder and Ceo of WRTS, LLC at Boca Raton’s Grand Opening in April. He surprised me at the Grand Opening in Boca and I was so overwhelmed with emotion, I couldn’t stop crying. He brought me his wife’s Marilyn’s pearls as an opening good luck gift and that it was, the largest Grand Opening thus far in WRTS. When I first saw him as he walked through the door (that is the photo above) I knew a huge part of the reason I was there and opening my first nationwide franchise was due to him and the extraordinary example this man has been in my life. Marvin became successful in business many years ago by “hard work”. There is no way around it, he would tell me. As I have been on my We Rock journey, he and his wife Marilyn have been my biggest fans. They have always treated me like I was their granddaughter. Due to Marvin and his son (my father-in-law) Bob’s financial and emotional support, their grandson and great grandson is now high functioning. We were able to build We Rock in our home 5 years ago and now…… well we are paying it forward and working our hardest to have every child benefit from a daily sensory diet. Thank you to my mentors Marvin, Marilyn. Bob and Pat Kimmel for making We Rock the Spectrum possible to not only help our Gabriel but ALL the children worldwide.
Take advantage of our early sign up specials for our summer camps. Each of our locations worldwide will be having summer camp. If you feel you will qualify for a scholarship, please email us a letter stating 1. why you think your child deserves a MBRTS grant 2. What is your child’s diagnosis? and 3. How old is your child and how many days a week do you feel your child needs one of our WRTS camps.
On April 29th, 2014 we had “The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony” at our WRTS Corporate Office at 18859 Ventura Blvd in Tarzana . This was a huge moment for our company. We had a representative from the Mayor’s office, the Council members office, the Assembly office and the President of the Chamber attend with many other professionals and ambassadors of the chamber, as well as family and loved ones. Following the ribbon cutting was our event for our Non Profit MBRTS at McDonalds in Tarzana. They generously donated 20% of all food ordered between the hrs 4pm to 6pm. We look forward to the future and opening up a WRTS in an area close to you! See our link below to see the wonderful photos our photographer Kathleen Lantos captured. https://www.facebook.com/dina.kimmel/media_set?set=a.10203513254089760.1073741878.1166311576&type=1
Dina Kimmel studied Business at CSUN, but it is her mother’s intuition combined with her entrepreneurial spirit that led to the creation of We Rock The Spectrum Kid’s Gym. After her second child Gabriel was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dina began to research ways to facilitate her son’s development. Dina found that with early intervention many children were making significant improvements. This led her to create a sensory gym in her own home. Gabriel thrived and at the same time her older daughter Sophia enjoyed playing on the equipment. This provided the family joy and relief at the same time. “One of the biggest challenges when you have a child with any disability is that often all of your focus lands on them and the other siblings feel neglected or deprived”. The fact that both of her children were being entertained at the same time was a fantastic outcome.This was the beginning of We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym, “Finally a place where you never have to say I’m sorry”.
Nellie Akalp is a passionate entrepreneur, small business advocate and mother of four. As CEO of CorpNet.com, a legal document filing service, Nellie helps entrepreneurs start a business, Incorporate, Form an LLC, or set up Sole Proprietorships (DBAs) for a new or existing business. She has formed more than 100,000 corporations and LLCs across the U.S., building a strong passion to assist small business owners in starting, running, and protecting their small businesses the right way.
To learn more about Nellie, view free guides on starting and running a business, and see how she can help your business get off the ground quickly and affordably, please visit the www.CorpNet.com site.
Bari grew up in Woodland Hills, California. She graduated from El Camino Real High School and then attended The University of Irvine graduating in 1992. Bari always being interested in exercise and nutrition became a personal trainer while attending CSUN for dietetics. Bari met her husband Pat in 1992 and is a stay at home mom to her three beautiful children.
Bari became interested in making slideshows after her first son Ben was born. The slideshows started like scrap booking for her children and it took off from there. She realized this is a one of a kind heirloom to pass along to her children. With the urging of family and friends Bari has made it possible to share her work with you. If you would like to contact Bari, please visit her website at www.slideshowsbybari.com
4397 Tujunga Ave
Studio City, CA 91604
Phone: 818-980-KIDS (5437)
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBESubscribe to get the latest updates on events, classes, and more!