GoodWorks Newsletter – September 2010/issue 3
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A Note from the President
Dear Friends:
My family has spent the last month volunteering for our agency’s Ready in Five Family Mentoring program, where we were matched to a Karen refugee family from Burma. We meet about once a week to help our Karen family prepare their five-year-old boy for kindergarten. Our volunteering has been incredibly rewarding—they are so appreciative of every little thing we do to help with what has to be an incredibly traumatic adjustment.
To be honest, it has also been somewhat stressful. We’ve spent many hours worrying about our Karen family. We hope the parents will find jobs. We wonder if it will be difficult for the children to adjust to our schools and culture. And we worry that some people with whom they will come into contact as they adjust to this country will not be kind and understanding.
But, like the American families that receive help through our agency, I know they will persevere. More than ever, I’m thankful that Heartland Family Service exists to help families overcome the challenges that so many must face.
Sincerely,
John H. Jeanetta, MBA, MSW
President and CEO
In this issue:
- Addison Makes The Grade
- Strike A Chord 6
- Program Updates
- 2010 Safe Haven Golf Event
- Join The Heartland Family Service Friends Guild!
- HYP: Heartland Young Professionals
- Upcoming Events
Addison Makes The Grade
Addison, a high school sophomore, was failing at school. Struggling with posttraumatic stress disorder, she refused to get on the bus in the morning, she avoided the other students and she visited the nurse’s and counselor’s offices often.
Addison’s fears sprang from her mental health disorder. She just couldn’t cope with the pace of a typical school day. She needed to stop at times to deal with whatever issue was causing her distress, and there was no time to do that at school. Mid-year, Addison’s parents and the school counselor decided to enroll Addison in the Heartland Family Service Therapeutic School. The K-12 school offers a full academic curriculum taught by special education teachers and on-site therapists who work with the students daily.
Initially, Addison resisted the change. But on her first day at the school, when her anxiety overwhelmed her, a therapist helped her to stop and compose herself. When she missed the bus, the staff picked her up. Day by day, they worked with Addison to calm her fears and keep her focused on her studies. She was good at math, so to boost her self-esteem the staff took her to an elementary school to volunteer. “I helped the students in math and reading,” Addison said. “That was a good experience, because helping other people actually helps me, too.”
Addison graduated last May after two and one-half years at our Therapeutic School. Now she is looking for a job and is a more confident young woman who is making progress through her own success.
2010 Strike A Chord 6
Heartland Bandstand was the theme of the sixth annual Heartland Family Service Strike a Chord fundraiser for Southwest Iowa children and families. The event, held Friday, July 30, at Harrah’s Convention Center, raised $55,000 and included dueling pianos, a celebrity art auction, live and silent auctions and a raffle. Council Bluffs residents Matt and Barb Walsh served as host couple for the event.
This fun-filled evening began with the soothing piano stylings of local pianist Deb Jennings. The pace then gradually built to a lively dueling pianos performance with Bonnie Mizelle and Phyllis Tilley, Las Vegas dueling pianists.
In addition to the engaging musical program, a number of local “celebrity artists” created original works of art that were judged and auctioned. Local morning radio show hosts adorned wooden guitars according to a theme of their choice. Otis Twelve of Classical 90.7 KVNO won the People’s Choice Award. Other artists included Pat of Pat & JT from Q98-Five, Spicoli & AP of 89.7 The River, Arthur & Riell from Star 104.5, and Lucy Chapman of 1110 KFAB.
Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber provided his unique commentary throughout the evening as “Mick Clark,” Master of Ceremonies.
Click here to see more photos from this year’s Strike A Chord event.
Program Updates
This fall, our Therapeutic School opened at the former Pusey School in Council Bluffs. In addition to a K-12 academic program, the school provides therapeutic support to students with major mental health issues. “We provide a safe, supportive, individualized environment where each child can grow academically and heal emotionally,” said Therese Korth, Ph. D., director of the school. About 60 students from the Council Bluffs school district attend the school annually.
Throughout August, employees of 24 local Kwik Shops collected donations for Heartland Family Service through its “Make a Difference With a Dollar” campaign. In one day, Kwik Shop #667, on 48th and L, raised $600 from customers as well as employees who threw pies at district advisor June Cullom for a $5 donation. Their efforts for the month raised $16,211.36 and helped to close a funding gap for our new Ways to Work program that provides low-interest auto loans to help families with transportation for job, school and health needs. Thanks to Regional Operations Manager Jimmy Lewis and all the Kwik Shop employees for choosing Heartland Family Service as the charity for their annual fundraising effort!
2010 Safe Haven Golf Event
The 17th annual Heartland Family Service Safe Haven Golf Event, held June 28 at the beautiful Indian Creek Golf Course, raised $63,000 for victims of domestic abuse. The event was hosted by the Heartland Family Service Friends Guild and was sponsored by Arby’s Panda, Inc.; Kiewit Building Group, Inc.; Superior Honda and Acura of Omaha.
The 18-hole event began at 11:00 a.m. with a delicious lunch consisting of a BBQ beef sandwich, baked beans, potato salad and a vinaigrette pasta salad, followed by 38 teams that scattered across the course for the shotgun start. The golfers’ skills ranged from expert to fun-loving, and everyone enjoyed a relaxing afternoon on the beautiful Indian Creek course. The 27-hole course allowed foursomes to play through quickly. Afterward, everyone enjoyed dinner and an awards ceremony.
Dan and Sue Gomez and Jim and Rochelle Mullen served as event chairpersons for the 18-hole event. Dianne Scott is president of the Heartland Family Service Friends guild, which provides volunteers and fundraising for Heartland Family Service programs.
In addition to the Safe Haven concealed shelter, the Heartland Family Service domestic violence program includes a 24-hour crisis line, emergency intervention, assistance with medical attention and protection orders, counseling and support groups for women and children.
Click here to see more photos from this year’s Safe Haven Golf event.
Join The Heartland Family Service Friends Guild
Do you enjoy the company of smart women? You’ll join a couple hundred or more as a member of our Friends Guild.
The guild functions as an auxiliary organization and component of our board of directors to broaden awareness of Heartland Family Service and to assist with its activities. You can join as a member and know your membership fee is helping our clients. Or you can get involved by joining a committee to conduct more than a dozen special events, youth groups, program projects and client support activities. Make new friends while you make a difference.
We need you! Please contact Caryn Ficco at: (402) 552-7424 or cficco@heartlandfamilyservice.org.
HYP: Heartland Young Professionals
Heartland Young Professionals (HYP) is a dynamic group of individuals under the age of 40 who are dedicated to civic partnership, professional and personal growth and who have a shared interest in Heartland Family Service. The mission of HYP is to provide networking, volunteering and professional development opportunities to young professionals while supporting the mission of Heartland Family Service through service, advocacy and financial support. To learn more, contact us at ljorgensen@HeartlandFamilyService.org or
(402) 552-7418.
Upcoming Events
Salute to Families – IOWA
November 11, 2010 @ 6:00 pm
Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, IA
402.552.7456
Salute to Families – NEBRASKA
November 18, 2010 @ 6:00 pm
Happy Hollow Club, Omaha, NE
402.552.7447
2011 Annual Gala
February 19, 2011 @ 6:00 pm
Embassy Suites, La Vista, NE
402.552.7424
