spring 2010 newsletter--lowres
DESCRIPTION
Spring NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
Boys and Girls Country NewsVolume 39, Issue 2, Spring 2010
18806 Roberts Road Hockley, Texas 77447
(281) 351-4976 Fax: (281) 351-4978
Donate Online!www.boysandgirlscountry.org
Inside...Pages 2-3Message from the
Executive DirectorYou're Invited to A
Vision for Children!Super Bowl Party!
Pages 4-5Meet Our College
Students!Thank You to Our
Volunteers!
Page 6Memorials and
HonorariumsGoing Shopping? Take
Us Along!
Page 7Welcome to New and
Returning Board Members...
...and Thank You to Our Past Chair!
Page 8Order Your Spring
Festival Tickets Now!Wishes You Can Help
Fulfi ll
Saturday, May 1st • 10:00 am to 5:00 pm • Free Admission!
Booths & Rides
Volunteer!
Be a Sponsor!
Plus: Take a tour and learn about our Home!
To volunteer, contact Darla Guerra at 281-351-4976 ext. 243 or at [email protected].
As an individual or with a group, you can sell raffl e tickets, collect auction items, post fl yers, staff a booth, help at the auction, or perform on stage!
Drawing prizes include:
Hotel and airfare for four at • Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida (some restrictions apply) 37" LCD HDTV • Kindle wireless eReader by • Amazon
You do not have to be present to win!
While admission is free, tickets for lunch, rides, games, and the drawing can be purchased at the event or in advance. Send in the order form on page 8 or visit www.boysandgirlscountry.org, click on "Spring Festival 2010" and then on "Order Tickets" on the Spring Festival page!
It's fun and games for all ages...from pony rides, train rides, face painting, bouncy castles, and dozens of midway games (with prizes!)...to rock climbing, obstacle courses, and Wii games like Rock Band and Dance Dance Revolution! You can buy (and make!) crafts...shop the plant sale and bake sale for great deals...and snack on cotton candy, snowcones, lemonade, coffee and gingersnaps, and the ever popular funnel cakes!
Admission!
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Join in the live, silent, and big board auctions and bid on a range of fabulous items...from great gift baskets to fi ne furnishings, restaurant and vacation packages, and more! Visit the website to see what's up for bid...and start your bid online!
Spring Festival is almost here! Mark your calendar and invite your friends and family for a day of fun that will benefi t our children! For details and updates, visit www.boysandgirlscountry.org and click on "Spring Festival 2010".
You'll see our kids perform...along with plenty of other great local artists!
To be a sponsor, please contact George O'Neal at 281-351-4976 ext. 225 or by email at [email protected]. Check our website for updated sponsorship opportunities!
New in 2010! We will host part of the festival, including the lunch, auctions, and new Virtual Zone, in our Student Life Center! Take a tour of the new facility, and take a break from the outdoor fun in the great indoors!
Win Great Drawing Prizes!
Entertainment
Auctions
Pale
ong
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Sponsorship Opportunities:
$50,000 Title Sponsor $25,000 Presenting Sponsor $15,000 Sustaining Sponsor $10,000 Supporting Sponsor $ 5,000 Partner $ 2,500 Friend $ 1,500 Buddy $ 5,000 Zone Sponsor $100-$1,000 Booth Sponsor
Order Tickets!
Each of us at Boys and Girls Country, in his or her own way, was excited about the New Year. We have two seniors this year and this is the start to the year in which they will graduate from High School, one of the major milestones in life! For me, it’s an opportunity to have my fi rst full calendar year to infl uence, and be infl uenced by, such an amazing program for kids. As I fell asleep on New Years Eve, I thought about the responsibility that comes with that.
On New Years Day, I awoke early and took our dog (a Welsh Corgi) out for a walk, and there, on the Boys and Girls Country property just outside my door, in the morning mist, stood three deer. It was a magnifi cent sight and I took that as a sign of more magnifi cent things to happen in 2010!
We had the privilege to start the year off “in service to others.” One of our beliefs is “few things are as important as instilling in our children the desire to help others”. On the fi rst work day of 2010, we held the fi rst Boys and Girls Country Blood Drive! Our leadership kids hosted the event along with the folks from the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. Over the course of that fi rst Monday in January, we had 32 donors, 27 who were able to successfully donate enough blood products to help 81 patients in the greater Houston area. We had several kids who rolled up their
sleeves and donated without blinking. Others were a little more conservative and told me they’d help administrate the drive, but were not ready to face the needle, and we were fi ne with that. As the drive went forward (most of the donors were our own staff) some folks were unable to donate so “holes” occurred in the schedule. When the nurses asked if anyone was available for an open spot, the kids would look at each other and one of them would say, “OK, I’ll do it….” They were amazing and I was so proud of them! This event was so successful that our next campus Blood Drive is Friday, June 4th. As time passed, we heard stories where people we knew were in need of blood and blood products and we all felt good to have contributed to one another, in such a time of need. Participating in this event taught us another life lesson, “The fi rst person served by service is the server.”
In residential youth care, we often have the philosophical discussion: do we want a good kid or a smart kid? The real answer is that we want both, but what the question poses, in residential settings, is “what’s most important, the home life or education?” In programs like ours, staff often fi nd themselves competing for the child’s limited time! This has been one of the topics we have focused on over the winter and as we head into spring. I believe the staff involved with solving this topic found the right balance for us. For Boys and Girls Country, the home on campus is the central part of our program, because that is the primary place where God and Christianity are taught and modeled. Right behind that is our Education program and we have all been excited about our progress in this area! (You may want to check our website to see our Honor Roll students!) Over these last school quarters, we’ve had over 25% of our “at risk students" make the “Honor Roll” and we’ve had nearly a dozen kids improve in three or more of their classes! Our school data now exceeds the accomplishments of the “regular” Houston ISD students!
Your support allows us to be “Life-Givers” to the children here. We work hard to provide “Hope” to each family we come in contact with. Sometimes that means we get to just plain have fun with our kids, and did they ever enjoy the Super Bowl party! Each child was allowed to bring a guest, and it was fun seeing the kids show off the Penny Loyd Student Life Center to their friends and showing off their friends to us! For me though, the highlight of the last few months occurred on a quiet Sunday afternoon in late February. One of the issues our staff brought to us was that very few of the sibling groups in our care have pictures of themselves all together. (We have 17 sets of siblings on our campus!) Through our development staff, we identifi ed Dave Clements of DWC Photography, and he donated his afternoon to come out and photograph each and every family! I was heartened as our staff primped over the kids as they prepared to sit in front of the camera. The kids felt special, gave their best smiles and giggled in joy with the results. Many stated “I can’t wait to show (Mom or Grandma or Dad)!” As I watched the proceedings, I could not help but think that “family treasures” were being produced that afternoon. I believe the kids will remember that day for quite awhile.
You’re invited to take a tour of our Home and learn more about the children we serve – and how your support helps us to raise them. Bring only an open heart and a friend. We’d like to host at least ten people at each of our upcoming sessions:
A Vision for Children
Saturday, June 12Saturday, July 1010:00-11:00 am.
Everyone is welcome!
You do not need to RSVP, but if you would like for us to know you’re coming, please visit our website at www.boysandgirlscountry.org and click on "Register Now". You can also fi nd future Vision for Children dates on the site under “Events”.
Page 2
Message from the Executive Director
Page 3
Even before I arrived last July, I was receiving e-mails and notes about the “Spring Festival.” In 2009, the Festival was “rained out,” promptly followed by a drought! The staff has diligently been working on assuring that we will not have to cancel another “Spring Festival,” ever! With the opening of our Penny Loyd Student Life Center last fall, we now have a dry, comfortable place to rely on, should the weather not cooperate with this important event. As many of you know, we have two major fundraising events a year, and following the Heritage Dinner, the Spring Festival is so important to us. The funds raised there allow us to assist the families seeking our assistance. If plans hold true, Mr. Jack Brewer, our fi rst Executive Director, will be present (signing a children’s book he has authored) and Ms. Shirley Wright, our last Executive Director, will also be present. I’m very excited about this event, mainly because the kids tell me they have so much fun on that day! I hope you’ll note the details about our Festival in this issue and please join us? I look forward to sharing some BBQ and a funnel cake with you!
Right: A visit from Jack Brewer, the fi rst Executive Director of Boys and Girls Country
As I write each column for the newsletter, I always come back to the kids and how amazing they are. Sometimes, it’s not what you accomplish in life, but what you had to overcome to get where you are. Boys and Girls Country offers an opportunity for our kids to become “self-sustaining and contributing adults.” This precious, sometimes “last chance” is made available by our Board of Directors and each of our donors. I often wish each donor could see what we see. It’s so special to witness the progress made by each child and to literally watch the kids “bloom” right before our eyes. What amazes me even more is the support you give us, without seeing that. Bless you for your service to our kids, delivered so faithfully.
Lou Palma
Super Bowl Party!
The Saints were winners – and so were our kids, thanks to friends who made this year's Super Bowl Party...well, super! The West Houston Chapter of the National Charity League went all out with party food (below right)...board member Donna Boyer scored a touchdown with a great cake (right)...and our friends at Houston Party Rental gave us a chance to practice a few tackles, sumo wrestler style! Thank you for making game day great!
Above: Brandon cheers on the
teams...and Kim is determined to win
her own match-up!Below: Crystal demonstrates the fi ne art of sumo
Who's Who – and Who's Where...Our current college and trade school students range from freshmen to soon-to-be graduates!
Page 4
David gives two thumbs up to the University of North Texas, where he is majoring in international
Left: Jason visits with Ms. Jacque with Ms. Jacque on our College and on our College and Career campus before Career campus before heading back to Texas heading back to Texas Tech University, Tech University, where he is studying where he is studying agribusiness.agribusiness.
Left: Left: Piero has a Piero has a visit from Mr. Chris visit from Mr. Chris at Stephen F. Austin at Stephen F. Austin State University, State University, where he is studying where he is studying communications.
Many will be the fi rst in their families to earn a college degree…because of friends like you who help us to support them from childhood to young adulthood. Thank you!
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Laura and Noah are studying at Lone Star College-Cy Fair, and Wendy is studying nearby at Lone Star College-Tomball.
Page 5
...in the College and Career Program!Andrew is at Texas State Andrew is at Texas State
Technical College, where he Technical College, where he is studying aviation technical is studying aviation technical maintenance and learning how to fi x maintenance and learning how to fi x planes (and how to cook on his own!).planes (and how to cook on his own!).
Amy adds some personal touches to her room at Sam touches to her room at Sam Houston State University, where Houston State University, where she is studying criminal justice.she is studying criminal justice.
How You Can Help!
While needs for our college students vary, we currently need gently used laptops for our students and for upcoming high school graduates. We are also always in need of birthday cards appropriate for both young women and young men.
Chris is studying at the University of Houston, the University of Houston, where he is completing his where he is completing his basic coursework.
Thank You to Our Volunteers!
We are grateful to our friends from the Rotary Club of University Area Houston and St. Thomas High School for giving our cottages a fresh coat of paint this spring!
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You can help our kids when you go shopping through the Kroger Neighbor to Neighbor Donation Program! Present this barcode, along with your Kroger Plus Card, to your cashier upon checkout. After the cashier has scanned the barcode and your Kroger Plus Card, you will be enrolled for the current year of the Neighbor to Neighbor Donation Program, through April 30, 2011.
Every time you shop at Kroger with your enrolled Kroger Plus Card, Kroger will contribute a percentage of your eligible purchases to the Neighbor to Neighbor Donation fund for our kids!
Page 6
In Memory Of Received January 16, 2010 - February 28, 2010
Judy AllenJim & Ruby BloodworthGeorge & Caroline PolkBill AndreaeRoss & Shirley AndersonVirginia M. ArdLarry & Robbie DeHayTula BiggsMr. & Mrs. Larry DeHayChuck BondsAudrey & Wayne ArnettDorothy Bonnette Don & Belle DawsonDonna & Andrew DiamantNancy & Dana FlandersMartha Lindsey & Tom
GrayJohn & Anita MillerBob & Dianne O’NealCarol Ann ReidDoris O’ReillyJymmye TaborJane Turlington
Will BoothEric & LaDora JerniganMarvin BrautigamDella & A.A. BrautigamElroy & Starlett BrautigamLeonard & Charlotte
BrautigamRobert BurkettJim & Margery AmbroseTom & Jane LilesJim & Ernestine RobertsonJoseph Chmiel, Sr.Albert & Hazel TomchessonPhyliss ChristopherGeorge & Caroline PolkAnn ClarkMr. & Mrs. George MitchellCravensCy-Fair Christian ChurchMrs. Lena EdwardsDr. & Mrs. Philip L.
Leggett
Jane FisherEncouragers Bible Class –
Second Baptist ChurchWilhem (Bill) FoehrTom & Patsy PattersonRobert Edward FosterEunice AllardyceEllie Jean GeerWillie & Orca WillhelmBetty HodgeCarroll & Sybil Strange Janet HoranRoss & Margie FosterDorothy HuffordNoel & Betty JonesJim JollyJim & Wilma WatkinsFather of Sharon KendallRoss & Shirley AndersonDean LetsonJames & Amanda Windsor
Chester Ray LoganPaul & Debbie BlackshearCy-Fair Federal Credit
Union StaffJohn D. MandelPatty & George GroschkeDon McLaughlinWilliam & Leslie BuckNalga & Paul McbaneA.C. MillerPamela MillerW.F. MooreMildred SalmonV.J. NiemeyerTom & Patsy PattersonMarie NyeDon & Belle DawsonAugust Hermas PetersonDeanna EmersonDr. & Mrs. Philip L.
LeggettIrene & Arnold Skor
Joe H. ReynoldsCleotelde BrooksJudge & Mrs. Joe R.
GreenhillHouston Livestock Show
and RodeoGwen InschoWilliam & Carol KeeleJames & Helen LeahyOdean and Jack McKenzieCarmella MongiardoKay MorganJean J. NashSchwartz, Junell, Greenberg
& Oathout, L.L.P.Barbara Strobel & George
BementKent & Connee SullivanMary Ann and R. B. TalleyMr. & Mrs. T. Marshall
WilkesR.A. SmothersEunice L. AllardyceSasha SymingtonCarroll & Sybil Strange Jamie Dawn WhitleyTom & Patsy Patterson
In Honor Of Received January 16, 2010 - February 28, 2010
Nancy BrennanTommy BrennanJack & Carolyn BrewerBetty Jean DoughtieWayne & Michele BrownRobert Brown
William Campbell FamilyAudrey & Wayne ArnettC.O. Chandler – 102nd
BirthdayRay & Betty GipsonRod Mace – BirthdayEdgar & Carolyn Reeves
James Plato Pappas – Birthday
Richard & Kris McGeeJames Allen PerryJanette McDonald
Ben PisklakLori HoffmanRonald PisklakEvelyn Romund –
BirthdayEdgar & Carolyn Reeves
N.A. Weiman, Jr. FamilyAudrey & Wayne ArnettGrant WeissmanJanette McDonaldJulie WilseyBen PisklakShirley WrightPam Wright
BOYS & GIRLS COUNTRY OF HOUSTON, INC
Attention, Kroger Shoppers!
Includes gift(s) made to the Boys and Girls Country Endowment FundYou can make your next tribute gift securely online at www.boysandgirlscountry.org. Click on "Donate Now"
Shopping at Randalls?
755
Download the Kroger Customer Letter, with our barcode, and the Randalls card from our website! Visit www.boysandgirlscountry.org and click on "Get Involved" and then on "Other Ways to Get Involved".
New on Board...and Back on Board!
Page 7
Welcome to our newest board members, Charles Herb Listen and Ben Pisklak...and welcome back to returning board members Penny Loyd, Leticia Trauber, and Pete Wardenburg! Thank you for your service and commitment to our children and our Home!
Mr. Charles H. ListenErnst & Young LLP
Partner
Doing Whatever It Takes!Mike Gatewood has served on our board since 2002, and for the past three years, he served as Chair of the Board of Directors. Last year, though he had already completed his two-year term as chair, Mike volunteered to remain in his role for an extra year, to help us through our transition in the Executive Director position. He put his heart into the role with extraordinary dedication, for which we recognized him with the "From the Heart" award for 2009.
It's not easy work being Chair of the Board...as any of our kids could tell you! In the book "Whatever It Takes", our kids shared their thoughts on the role that the chair and the board play in providing for our Home. We presented the book to Mike to thank him for doing whatever it takes!
Elaine Petranek, Director of Development, presents Mike with the book "Whatever It Takes".
The book, fi lled with pictures and our kids' words of insight and gratitude, was beautifully designed by our friend Kimberly Abey at Spotlight Creative LLC.
"Helps build houses and supplies us with food."
Lyndon, 11
"They give me a nice place to live and be happy." Rhonda, 14
"They work so hard for the kids here…and I give
all my thanks to all of them!" Alissa, 17
"They raise thousands of dollars and provide many things for us." Evan, 15
"They do everything we don’t know about."
Brittani, 12
"Many people who talk about what to do to make this place better." Amber, 14
"To me, they are the people who go the extra mile."
Jared, 12
"A bunch of good and nice people who get together and make sure residents get what they need." James, 13
"A group of people who care about us." Hunter, 10
"People who have a lot of things to do." Jorge, 17
"A good board." Serriah, 14
"Make funny jokes at the meeting and boss everyone around." Hemi, 15
"I would give candy and treats to all of the kids."
Diane, 17
"I would tell the kids to play in the gym." Jason, 10
"I would try to help Boys and Girls Country and
give them money every day." Xavier, 12
"I would keep things close to the same." Ashley, 16
Mr. Ben PisklakGables Residential
Regional Vice President of Investments
Ms. Penny Requa LoydCommunity Volunteer
Ms. Leticia TrauberCommunity Volunteer
Mr. Peter S. WardenburgRetired – Excalibur Products
Boys and Girls Country of Houston, Inc.18806 Roberts RoadHockley, Texas 77447
Address Service Requested
NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE
PAIDPERMIT NO. 11163HOUSTON, TEXAS
WISH LISTSpring Order Your Tickets for Spring Festival!
May 1, 2010, 10 am-5 pm (General Admission is Free)
Please send me ________ Kids All Day Event Pass(es) at $15 each
Please send me ________ Lunch Ticket(s) at $6 each
Please send me ________ Drawing Ticket(s) at $20 each (1 Lunch Ticket is included with each Drawing Ticket)
Please send me ________ set(s) of 6 Drawing Ticket(s) at $100 per set (6 Lunch Tickets are included with each set of 6 Drawing Tickets)
I cannot attend but would like to donate $______________
Name________________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________
City________________________ State______ Zip_____________
Phone________________________
Email____________________________________________________________
Signature__________________________________________________________
Enclosed is my check in the amount of $_______________ made payable to Boys and Girls Country
Please charge my: VISA MasterCard American Express Discover
Account Number: ________________________________________
Amount $_______________
Expiration Date _________
For more information, please contact George O'Neal at 281-351-4976, extension 225 or by email at [email protected]. Or, visit us online at www.boysandgirlscountry.org! You can also order tickets online!
Our Education Department Needs:Flash DrivesGraphing Calculators (Texas Instruments)Award Certifi cates & Prizes (stickers, trinkets, bookmarks, small toys, etc.)Stamps and Inkpads
Our Clothing Closet Needs:In all sizes, except where indicated:Girls’ and Boys’ Black No-Show SocksBoys’ and Men’s Boxers and Boxer BriefsBoys’ (all sizes) and Men’s (size S, M) UndershirtsGirls’ Training Bras and Women’s Bras (size C & D)Girls’ (all sizes) and Women’s (size 8 & 9) Hipster PantiesGirls’ and Boys’ Tennis Shoes & Casual Shoes; Girls’ Dress Shoes
Our Commissary Needs:Taco MixWhite Sugar and Brown SugarBBQ SauceMayonnaiseLaundry Soap Dish SoapPuddingHealthy Snacks (cereal bars, raisins, etc.)Cooking Spray (e.g., Pam)Salad Dressing
Our Cottages Need:Toaster (4-slice)Bath Towel Sets (bath, hand, and washcloth)Bath MatsSkillets (all sizes, restaurant quality)White & Colored Copy Paper, Photo Paper
Our Maintenance Department Needs:Plumbing supplies and toolsElectrical supplies (boxes, outlets, switches, covers, etc.)
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Full list at www.boysandgirlscountry.org Click on "Donate" and "Fill a Wish List"
$_______________
Expiration Date _________
O'Neal at 281-351-4976, extension 225 or by email at [email protected]. Or, visit us online at www.boysandgirlscountry.org! You canalso order tickets online!