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all you need is love

Tamara Braun (Carly) brings a little TLC into her life

for Tamara Braun (Carly, GENERAL HOSPITAL), TLC means more than "tender loving care." It stands for the Therapeutic Living Center For The Blind, a residential community serving those with developmental disabilities. The actress says that there is a lot of other kind of TLC going on behind the center's doors. It's the organization that she believes in most - not just because of what she can give them, but because of what they give her back.

Reaching Out
"It's a happy, positive environment," Braun says of the San Fernando Valley, CA- based community that offers living space and group programs for those with multiple limitations. "They're so uninhibited. When you're with these people, they want the exact same things that we do, but they don't have the walls up that we learn to acquire through life. It's all about love. Everyone wants to touch you and hold your hand. And what a hug does! When you give somebody a hug, you're getting that hug right back. They're proud of their accomplishments and who they are. They are encouraged to connect with others and to talk about their feelings.
"Every man and woman in the world should be doing that!" Braun professes.

Home Is Where the Heart Is
Braun met Bernice "Bunny" Pearlman, one of TLC's founders, a few years back and instantly took liking to her. "She and her husband were looking for places to put their son, Larry for permanent care because she had been doing it for 20 years," Braun explains. "They went around to these institutions and the next one was worse than the one before. So they said, 'We have to do something because we can't be the only ones out there who need help.' And TLC was born.
"This is a wonderful place, and they do such important work," Braun adds. "These people are filled with love and joy and aren't ashamed to show it." For information about Therapeutic Living Center for the Blind, visit their Web site at TLC4blind.org

Soaps In Depth March 15, 2005