Community
Winter 2012
L. I. N. K. INSIDE Get Involved J. Thompson Brown Awards Leslie’s Letter ...and more!
It’s Not Just Our Name. It’s Our Promise. Together, we’re making a difference
L
ooking at the happy faces of William, age 2, and Suniyah, age 3, surrounded by their family in the sunny mentoring room at Stubbs Elementary, you’d never guess what happened just a year ago. On December 9, 2011, their mother Lawshawn received a call at work with the kind of news that every parent dreads: her two youngest children had been injured in a fire. William and Suniyah were at home with their grandmother when the fire broke out, sparked by faulty electrical wiring. Luckily, firefighters were quick to respond and were able to rescue the children. Both children spent two weeks in the hospital recovering from their injuries. But here’s where you helped…where together, we made a difference. Lawshawn’s two older children attend Stubbs Elementary School, part of Children & Families First’s Eastside Community Schools project. Nambia, now in 3rd grade, and Camden, in 5th, are connected members of the school community, taking advantage of virtually everything the community school has to offer – from the Girl Scouts afterschool program to mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and so much more. Nambia loves reading
and art (Keith Haring is a new favorite), and Camden is excited to learn the saxophone and earn badges in Girl Scouts (including Reading and Good Deeds). Luckily, the older girls were safe at school when the fire happened. And when news of the fire spread, the school community rallied around the family. Lawshawn says, “There was an outpouring of support. Everybody came together for donations, clothes, volunteering. Anything that we needed, the whole school came together for us.” Lawshawn attributes the generosity to the school’s love for her girls and adds, “It’s very reassuring to know that we can come into the school and get help if we need it. It’s a good thing.” This is the heart of what Children & Families First believes – that together, we are stronger. That together, we can overcome our hardships. That together, we can succeed. With your investment in Children & Families First through our Friends Campaign, we are able to touch the lives of thousands of people in Delaware, offering them a brighter future. Please consider making as generous a gift as you can. Your donation will make a world of difference to children like these.
Visit www.cffde.org/donate
There are many ways
you can support Children & Families First: Donate to our annual
Friends Campaign, which directs your gift dollars to where they are needed most.
Consider making plans for a bequest!
A TASTE FOR ART SAT
GETINVOLVED
Save the Date...
March 2, 2013
6:30–9:30pm, Greenville Country Club
Find out more at www.cffde.org Support the United Way
Designate a gift to C&FF through: • United Way of Delaware: #299 (partner agency) • United Way of Southeastern PA: #1466 • Combined Federal Campaign of DE: #50028 • State Employee Charitable Campaign: #50300
Donate critically needed items such as: Diapers | Baby formula | New baby clothes New toys | New/gently used children’s bicycles New elementary school uniforms (sizes 5-14) for the Eastside Community School project
Shirts (polo or button down, in white or navy blue) Pants/shorts/skirts/jumpers (in navy blue) Sweaters (crewneck, v-neck, or cardigan, in navy blue)
Give the gift of
time!
Become a Children & Families First volunteer! Our team of volunteers is made up of people like you, who give the gift of time to help us help Delawareans in need.
A unique culinary and creative arts experience! Savor signature dishes showcased by local student chefs. Mingle among the works of area artisans. Relax among friends. Shop 'til you drop. It’ll be the place to be for a perfect evening!
Opportunities change frequently, so please contact our volunteer coordinator, Kathie Stamm, at (302) 777-9762 or Kathie.stamm@cffde.org
of art sales will benefit Children & Families First
Photos by AC Hensler
It’s not just our name,
it’s our promise
Healthy Babies | Early Childhood | Supporting Teens | Positive Parenting Family Resources | The Workplace | Older Adults
www.cffde.org | (800) 220-3092 Children & Families First strengthens Delaware families by delivering an innovative and effective continuum of community-based social services. In existence for more than 125 years, CFF builds the foundation for strong communities with child-centered and family-focused programs.
THANK YOU to everyone
who celebrated as we honored Patricia Dailey Lewis, Esq. with the Muriel E. Gilman Advocacy Award and Rep. Terry Schooley with the J. Thompson Brown Award. It was a great night of recognition for those who work hard to protect Delaware’s children and families. Thank you to Pat and Terry for their wonderful work! Clockwise from top left: Honorees, Patricia Dailey Lewis, Esq. and Representative Terry Schooley; Sharena Lee, LaKresha Roberts, Veronica Black and Gina Schoenberg take a break from celebrating to pose for the camera; Representative Terry Schooley receives her award from CFF Board Chair, Tom Collins; Attorney General, Beau Biden, awards Patricia Dailey Lewis, Esq. –Photos by Elisa Komins Morris
A Taste for Art of Southern DELAWARE Many thanks to the artists, chefs and patrons who made A Taste for Art of Southern Delaware at the gorgeous Baywood Greens a success! We had a blast!
dearfriends, D
ecember is a time for gathering with family and friends to celebrate holiday traditions, many of which make use of light, whether it is candles or brightly-colored bulbs. Given the similarity across many cultures, I can assume that the traditions evolved to guide us through the dark days of December. And when I think of the family we introduced you to in our cover story, I am reminded of how important it is that we provide light for each other. We talk about how important it is to get things right from the very beginning. At Children & Families First we have focused on this important principle, whether it is home visiting for pregnant and parenting women or technical assistance to improve the quality of early care. Our goal is to help children get the best start so they will succeed in school and in life. But I think we should recognize too how resilient children and adults can be. Even when things go wrong – a family suffers a terrible fire, a child is abused or neglected – there is hope for the future. New research shows us that the brain is able to make new pathways, even in adulthood. In fact, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) project showed that our brains undergo a massive reorganization between our 12th and 25th years. A recent article in National Geographic described it this way: “As we move through adolescence, the brain undergoes extensive remodeling, resembling a network and wiring upgrade.” Of course we want to get everything right the first time. But when we don’t, there’s still hope. And that hope is at the core of so much of what we do – from foster care and adoption, to residential treatment for teens, to parenting skills training. In this time of celebration, let’s remember to offer hope and light to one another – not just in December, but all year-round.
Great food, artists and people got together for a great cause at A Taste for Art of Southern Delaware 2012! photos by Keith Mosher Photography
NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE
PAID WILMINGTON, DE PERMIT NO. 1263
2005 Baynard Boulevard Wilmington, DE 19802 New Castle County (302) 658-5177 Kent County (302) 674-8384 Sussex County (302) 856-2388 www.cffde.org
OFFICERS
Thomas P. Collins, Esq., Chair Jennifer B. Jonach, Vice Chair Katy Connolly, Secretary Peter A. Hazen, Treasurer Paul McCommons, Assistant Treasurer
BOARD
Aguida Atkinson, M.D. Sandra H. Autman Jessica C. Bain Don C. Brown P. Clarkson Collins, Jr., Esq. Sally DeWees Gayle Dillman José F. Echeverri Veronica O. Faust, Esq. George W. Forbes, III Gary M. Golden Patricia Walther Griffin, Esq. N. Christopher Griffiths, Esq.
Pamela E. Harper Nancy Karibjanian Ted Kaufman James G. Klabe, Jr. John W. Land Catherine LaPenta Ellen K. Levin Anthony J. Lewis Casey McCabe Paul McCommons Shauna B. McIntosh, M.D. James H. McMackin, III, Esq. Wilma Mishoe, Ed.D. Heather A. O’Connell Brian G. Pettyjohn Barbara S. Ridgely, Ed.D. Kim Zeitler Robbins John F. Schmutz, Esq. Janice Rowe Tigani, Esq. Lee A. Wheeler
ADVISORY BOARD Angela B. Case Mary Jo Chandler Karen D. Doherty Megan T. Goeller Pauline D. Koch Jane P. Maroney Robert R. Meade Stephen M. Mockbee Elizabeth T.B. Pierson Gilbert S. Scarborough, III Joanne K. Sundheim, Esq. K. Jean Williams
Gloria S. Fine Larry D. Gehrke James H. Gilliam, Sr. Edward W. Goate, Ph.D. Susan A. Herrmann Hon. Mary M. Johnston Stephen R. Permut, M.D. June Jenkins Peterson David B. Ripsom, Esq. Barbara F. Soulier
CEO
Leslie Newman
HONORARY BOARD Carol Harlan Aastad Max S. Bell, Jr., Esq. Joan McD. Connolly Dr. Lozelle J. DeLuz Glenn M. Engelmann, Esq. Katherine L. Esterly, M.D.
OURMISSION
OURVISION
CORESERVICES
Children & Families First helps families develop solutions to meet challenges and embrace opportunities.
Communities where children are nurtured and safe, individuals are valued, and families are strong.
Healthy Babies | Early Childhood Positive Parenting | Supporting Teens Family Resources | Workplace Older Adults
It’s not just our name, it’s our promise Children & Families First strengthens Delaware families by delivering an innovative and effective continuum of community-based social services. In existence for more than 125 years, CFF builds the foundation for strong communities with child-centered and family-focused programs.