SUMMER 2024 NEWSLETTER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS & ORGANIZATION VALUES
OFFICERS
Nancy MacMorris-Adix, Chair
Retired, Legacy Silverton Midwives
Lillian Kay, Chair-Elect
HomeSmart Realty Group
Rich Schultz, Past Chair
Cherry City Metals
Jeff Moore, Secretary
Saalfeld Griggs PC
Mike Blanchard, Treasurer
Johnson, Glaze & Co.
BOARD MEMBERS
Marni Altman | Mother Tree Olive Grove and The Arbor
Steve Altman | True Private Wealth Advisors
Josh Bailey | Aldrich CPAs + Advisors LLC
Kyle Brouse | Salem Insurance Agency
Ross Carey | Retired, U.S. Bank
Gina Defa White | COUNTRY Financial
Deana Freres | Santiam Canyon Long Term Recovery Group
Pedro Gomez Jr. | Former FBB Program Parent
Levi Herrera-Lopez | Mano a Mano
Danae Johnson | Capital Financial Planners
Brian Johnston | Dallas Glass & Window
Rob Kansky | Green Acres Landscape
Kathy Lauer | Bryn Mawr Vineyards
Diane McLaran | McLaran Enterprises
Wes McWhorter | Premier Remodeling & Design
Jerry Moore | Retired, Salem Chief of Police
Christy Perry | Retired, Salem-Keizer Public Schools
Leilani Slama | Salem Health
R. Taylor | Chemeketa Community College
Ernesto Toskovic | KeyBank
Becca Wulf | B Salon
Patrice Altenhofen | Executive Director
FOUNDATION BOARD
Steve Altman, Chair
Brian Johnston, Secretary
Ross Carey, Treasurer
ORGANIZATION VALUES
• We respect the unique personhood of each child.
• We believe in the power of a securely attached family.
• We are family-centered, caring and supportive.
• We strive for equity and celebrate diversity.
• We are collaborative and ambitious.
• We emphasize strengths and assume positive intent.
• We honor vulnerability and courage.
• We offer optimism and hope.
• We express gratitude for our community’s generosity.
FROM PATRICE
Family Building Blocks recently adopted our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. For the first time, our planning process was informed by a formal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan. This plan was developed based on a broad array of input and feedback from our Rock Star Staff, our Board, and our community as a whole. Thank you to everyone who participated. We are pleased to share an update.
Based on your feedback, we will be focusing on three major themes:
• Equity Teams:
We have created two Equity Teams, one made up of staff and of Board members. These teams have developed an Equity Lens that will support inclusiveness in our decision-making.
• Accessibility:
We aim to ensure our facilities and services, as well as our fundraising events and activities, are accessible to all. An example of this is continuing to employ and provide direct services staff who reflect each child and family’s culture and language. This also means that we will be more mindful to make available ASL and other language interpreters (as well as other requested accommodations) at our luncheons and other events.
• Broadening our Base to Diversify our Leadership:
Our base of community support is strong and generous, and our staff and Board leadership is ambitious and engaged. We would like to invite a broader array of people to get involved as volunteers, donors, table captains, sponsors, etc. We are hoping to invite more people to sign up as monthly donors, even if it’s just $5 a month. We also want more community members to serve on our Board committees. We believe that these are the ways people get connected to the FBB mission, leading to leadership opportunities, such as serving on our Board. Our goal is that even more people become lifelong advocates for children and families.
In the coming months, you may be invited to participate in a tour of one of our sites, to share your opinions in a survey, or join us at an event. If you have a strong connection with FBB, we hope you will join in and invite others to become involved. If you are newer to FBB and would like to get more engaged, please reach out me: patrice@familybuildingblocks.org.
Thank you for partnering with us to “Keep Children Safe and Families Together!”
Patrice Altenhofen, Executive Director
UNCORKED 2024
Uncorked 2024 was a rousing success because of the unwavering support of our community, local businesses, and generous individuals who believe in the mission of Family Building Blocks. Words cannot express our gratitude for our supporters, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and host, Byrn Mawr Vineyards. Your partnership is invaluable. Together, we raised over $415,000, which will contribute directly to serving more families and creating a brighter future for children in Marion and Polk counties.
We are excited to do it all again with you next year!
FREE EVENT!
HIGHLIGHTS
RIVERFRONT FAMILY FEST
Saturday, August 3, 2024 is our 15th annual Riverfront Family Fest! Thanks to our sponsors, our annual health and safety fair for families to attend and is open to
This event is open to everyone in the Whether you’re a family of five or a group of friends looking for an afternoon of activities, there’s something for everyone at the Riverfront Family Fest. Featuring over 60 health and safety vendors as well as food trucks and snow cones, we are excited to share this opportunity to create lasting memories with your families and little ones! See you at Salem’s Riverfront Park!
Families will enjoy: Helicopter landing, fire trucks, tasty treats, face painting, obstacle courses, and more!
There are still opportunities to join the Family Fest Fun Team. You can help create magic and excitement for families and children attending. We have a variety of roles from face painting to greeting children and families as they enter the Riverfront Family Fest. This is a great event to volunteer as a family! Contact Gaby at 503-566-2132 or gestrada@familybuildingblocks.org to volunteer or scan the QR code to learn more about the volunteer opportunities available this year.
HIGHLIGHTS
KATIE AND THE CASTLE
Katie Buckley has been volunteering in the Family Building Blocks Therapeutic Classroom for over seven years at both our Helen's and Chelsea's Place locations. This summer, a child in our Therapeutic Classroom started playing with wooden blocks, and Katie immediately asked the child if he needed help making his project. Without hesitation he said, "YES!" and Katie jumped right in to assist. Working together, they made the child's building come to life!
Upon completion, his classroom teacher, Lety, asked him several questions:
Platícame que estás construyendo?
El respondió: un castillo!
Y le pregunte quien vive en los castillos?
Respondió: la reina! y para quien era ese castillo?
Respondió: para ella (apuntando a nuestra voluntaria que esta en la foto con él)
Le pregunté, porque?
Y respondió: porque me esta ayudándo y ella es la reina de mi castillo!
Lety, Classroom Teacher: Tell me, what are you building?
Child: A castle!
Lety: Who is it that lives in castles?
Child: The queen!
Lety: And who is that castle for?
Child: Her! (points at Katie)
Lety: Why?
Child: Because she is helping me and she’s the queen of my castle!
Lety translated this conversation to Katie, who was touched by his sweet words! These are the little moments of magic that happen every day in our Therapeutic Classrooms between children, teachers, and classroom volunteers. We are so grateful for the time and attention our volunteers give to children in the classroom. The impact is truly immeasurable!
THANK YOU WALKER MIDDLE SCHOOL! VOLUNTEERING AT
As the school year has wrapped up and we've moved into summer, we want to give a huge THANK YOU to these student volunteers from Walker Middle School! This group of students supported our Gracie’s Place location, in West Salem, continuously over their past semester. Their enthusiasm is inspiring, and we hope to see them back next semester!
Contact us to learn more about volunteering on behalf of a school, work, or community group with Family Building Blocks. We would love to have you!
Whether it’s at an event like Riverfront Family Fest or in our Therapeutic Classrooms, volunteers are an integral part of Family Building Blocks’ ability to support over 1,300 children and 850 families annually. Because of our volunteers, we are able to ensure that each child in our Therapeutic Classrooms receives warmth, love, and critical nurturing attention; each family enrolled has the opportunity to access a full clothing closet and food pantry; and our offices and events have the support needed. Many hands make light work and we are the successful organization we are today because of the generosity and commitment of our volunteers!
Check out the video by scanning the QR code and learn how YOU can make an impact in your community.
Contact Gaby at 503-566-2132 to learn more about volunteer opportunities!
TAKE-A-CHILD TO WORK DAY AND FBB STAFF PICNIC!
This July, FBB celebrated Take-A-Child to Work Day and the FBB Staff Picnic! In the morning, children joined their parents on site across FBB locations, learning a little about what their parent does at work! The kids also enjoyed art projects, coloring books, scavenger hunts, snacks, and more.
The afternoon found our entire FBB Rock Star Staff and their families at Riverfront Park as we came together for an afternoon of sunshine, laughter, delicious tacos, face painting, and games at our annual All-Staff Family Picnic. Being in community together with our staff and their families serves as a reminder of how each individual contributes to our amazing program, allowing FBB to continue our important work in this community!
Pictured: Nancy MacMorris-Adix, Becca Wulf, Patrice Altenhofen, Ross Carey, Gina Defa White, Kyle Brouse, Lillian Kay, and Jerry Moore
Pictured via virtual meeting: Tanya Hamilton, Rob Kansky, Christy Perry, Danae Johnson, Steve Altman, Ernesto Toskovic, Rich Schultz, Jeff Moore, and Marni Altman
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
In honor of May’s Mental Health Awareness month, our partners at COUNTRY Financial donated $50,000 to Family Building Blocks! The donation will be used to provide continued training for the Family Building Blocks Mental Health program and personnel. Thank you to Gina Defa White, FBB Board Member and COUNTRY Financial Willamette Valley Agency Manager, for presenting this generous donation during our May board meeting. We appreciate your continued partnership!
DORIS’S PLACE SUPPORTERS
Exciting things are happening at Doris’s Place, our Santiam Canyon location, thanks in part to these incredible Corporate Sponsors!
PRESENTING SPONSOR
ENGAGING SPONSORS
Focus Heating & Cooling
Kiwanis Club of Stayton Lulay Financial, LLC
CONTRIBUTING SPONSOR
Rotary Club of Stayton
To learn more about becoming a 2024 Doris’s Place Corporate Sponsor, contact Julie today at jduran@familybuildingblocks.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
SAVE THE DATES
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Held at the Salem Convention Center, the Dream Builders Luncheon is a free event highlighting the power of prevention and the extraordinary return on investment that Family Building Blocks’ quality early childhood programs provide. Celebrate with us as we honor the community’s commitment to “Keeping Children Safe and Families Together.”
PRESENTED BY:
Friday, December 6, 2024
Helping raise nearly $3 million since it began in 1990, the Gala of Trees has supported children in need in Marion and Polk counties. This event features live auction decorated holiday trees, tabletop trees, wreaths, and jumbo stockings – bidding and winning for a great local cause! The 2024 Gala of Trees dinner and auction will be held at the Salem Convention Center.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE EVENTS: Contact Kat at khills@familybuildingblocks.org or 503.566.2132
SPONSOR THE EVENTS: Contact Julie at jduran@familybuildingblocks.org or 503.566.2132
GALA OF TREES CALL FOR DECORATORS!
Join us to Decorate a Tree at Gala 2024! Our amazing volunteer “tree designers” are the heart of our event, creating fabulous trees and prize packages to be auctioned off in support of our mission to “Keep Children Safe and Families Together.” We have options to become Live Tree decorators, Silent Tree decorators, and Jumbo Stocking decorators.
Connect with our Gala of Trees Chair, Hannah Fouts at hannahoregonrealtor@gmail.com to learn more!
SPONSOR:
To update your physical address for our quarterly newsletter and to join our monthly IMPACT e-news list, contact Laura at lstovin@familybuildingblocks.org
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