Lesia Cartelli, Founder and Director

Lesia Cartelli endured a serious burn injury over 50% of her face and body from a natural gas explosion at her Grandparents at the age of nine. The home was completely destroyed, yet her spirit survived. Not wasting her pain, Lesia is the founder and director of Angel Faces, the first and only national non profit organization whose mission is to provide healing retreats and aftercare support designed to inspire adolescent girls with severe facial disfigurements to achieve their optimum potential and develop meaningful relationships for themselves, their families and their communities.

Angel Faces was featured on the Dr. Phil Show (December 2006) where Lesia was awarded the Heart of a Woman Award. In addition to the Heart of a Women Award, Lesia has received numerous other awards for this innovative unique program.

Cartelli began her career in 1991, as Director of Support with the Burn Institute where she launched and directed the first camp for burn-injured children in southern California. Cartelli moved onto become the Community Relations Representative with University of California San Diego, Regional Burn Center and then was named Executive Director of the Orange County Burn Association. During this 17 year span she developed and directed after-care programs for burn-injured children and adults who have endured serious burn injuries. Cartelli founded the first national retreat for adult who suffered from severe burn injuries.

Cartelli was on the founding task force implementing Critical Incident Stress Management for the San Diego Fire and Rescue Department, serving for the Urban Search and Rescue, TF -8. Cartelli became Family Support Coordinator Critical Incident Stress Management Task Force after the 911 attacks.

Cartelli also spent two years as a volunteer for the Trauma Intervention Program in North San Diego County.

Cartelli has been featured on ABC NEWS 20/20, Readers Digest and several national women’s magazines. She has received numerous awards for the Angel Faces program including the 10 News Leadership Award in San Diego January, 2008. Cartelli is a dynamic motivational speaker who lives her live with passion and purpose.

In 1994, 25 years after the explosion Cartelli did an extraordinary act. She recognized that she could not help children and adolescent girls face their fears in life when she still had a fear of fire. Suited in Full Firefighting gear, Cartelli went into a "control burn" where wooden pallets were placed in a basement of a training tower, set on fire and burned throughout the tower. This exercise is designed to teach firefighters about Fire Behavior. Cartelli entered the building four times until the deep fear was released from her heart.

Two years after facing her fear and entering the fire, she married the Fire Captain from the San Diego Fire Department, Bruce Cartelli who escorted her into the burning Structure.

Cartelli lives in Southern California with her husband, Bruce, a recently retired Battalion Fire Chief with the San Diego Fire Rescue Department and their two standard poodles. Cartelli spends her leisure time riding her Harley Davidson, traveling, snow playing, flying out of a helicopter on a cable, growing Angel Faces, laughing, living strong and honoring each day as a gift…and working on a book. She can be reach at lesia@angelfacesretreat.org.

An Essay by Kara Skarzynski About Lesia

Ursuline Academy is a Jesuit school whose motto is Serviam, "I will serve." This is consistent with being educated not only for personal achievement, but more importantly toward the benefit of others. I believe Father Arrupe said this because education should not be used for selfish reasons but rather to improve the community. I feel as though people must strive to work for the benefit of others using one's personal experiences as impetus for change.

I met Lesia Cartelli, founder of Angel Faces, a retreat camp for girls with facial deformities, in February 2008. It was my friend's birthday and the one year anniversary of her tragic burn accident. I had heard of how Lesia restored my friend's confidence and helped her come to terms with herself socially after such a debilitating injury; I knew she was a woman who worked for the pure benefit of others. Lesia and her nonprofit organization work to empower vulnerable teenage girls to tackle their self esteem issues head on. She focuses on helping them achieve their optimum potential as they approach the social trauma, confidence, and challenges of looking different. From holding discussions about meeting the judgmental public to doing their makeup for homecoming, Lesia leads a life devoted to serving others, especially girls with burn injuries. Lesia is a perfect advocate for this cause because she, herself, was burned in a natural gas explosion as a child. While her house and possessions were destroyed, her strength and purity of spirit survived. Not only is her story inspiring, but also empowering because she took her own devastating experience and made it her lifelong goal to help others. She now proactively seeks out those undergoing similar traumas and provides a setting for them to heal safely.

I look up to Lesia as a strong woman who is successful in her accomplishments while maintaining a loving and caring disposition. I admire this characteristic immensely and can see that one woman can impact so many lives, especially that of my friend; I am inspired to share my beliefs and talents with others as well. Lesia is eloquent and personable as she exudes a positive radiance in every setting; I felt impassioned after my first conversation with her. My best friend went to Angel Faces in a body cast, a mere four months after she was burned over 50% of her body, and returned more radiant and confident than I had ever seen her prior to her injury. Seeing the sparkle return to my friend's eyes, I knew that God worked through Lesia to restore her life. God did not take Lesia's life in her home explosion; he took over her life so she could work in His name.

Lesia Cartelli is a superb example of living a life in the light of "men and women for others." She did not allow this negative experience to dim her optimistic view on life but rather received it as a blessing and an opportunity to change. She reminds girls that they are still the same person despite the way they look on the outside and gives them the tools to be powerful, loving young women. I am inspired by her work especially because she helped my friend heal both the physical and emotional scars of her burn injury. I am truly blessed and empowered to have the opportunity to know such an ideal role model; she is successful professionally, yet her compassion and kindness is the inspiration for me to live my life similarly.