home’s grown
The Difference You’re Making in Children’s Lives!
kids FALL 2019
Dreaming Big While Having a “Ball” Arthur Quaye believes in paying it forward.
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Arthur, now age 24, is a 2014 Masonic Children’s Home alumnus and 2018 Bloomsburg University graduate. He currently works as an inside sales representative for the Philadelphia Union soccer team in Chester, Pennsylvania.
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In August, he invited children’s home youth to attend a home soccer game against the Houston Dynamo at Talen Stadium, where they mingled with residents from the Masonic Villages at Elizabethtown and Lafayette Hill and enjoyed delicious food and drinks on the pre-game party deck. “I reached out to Joe Murphy (Masonic Villages’ CEO) about doing this event,” Arthur said. “He was really receptive to the idea and helped me set it up with the help of Bill Kingsbury (CEO-Elect). It was my way of giving back. I thought the kids could use some advice and encouragement.
Like, ‘this kid graduated from the same place as you and he’s out chasing his dreams. You can do that, too.’” In 2009, Arthur was living with his father in Philadelphia when he moved to the Masonic Children’s Home based on a teacher’s recommendation. While at the children’s home, he was a student athlete, excelling in track and field, football and basketball. While moving from the big city to Elizabethtown was an adjustment, his interest in sports made things easier. “I made a lot of my closest friends through sports,” he said. “Some of my best friends to this day are from Elizabethtown.” Arthur went on to attend Bloomsburg University (of Pennsylvania), where he played football and track and field, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications with an emphasis in public relations (PR) and a minor in political science.
weekends and sometimes during the week. There are two home matches a month, from March through October, and 18 home games per season. “On match day, I get to the stadium early, meet up with groups, do seat visits and work the ticket headquarters, as well as different sales tables around the stadium,” he said. “It’s very busy.”
After college, Arthur completed an internship with a PR firm in Philadelphia and also with the Penn FC soccer club (PFC, formerly known as the Harrisburg City Islanders) to gain additional sports industry experience. “I would go to a bunch of events all around Lancaster County, trying to grow the brand of PFC, because it was their inaugural year,” he said. “That was my first experience with professional sports. I stayed five months, and once I saw the job posting at the Philadelphia Union, I applied for it.” Arthur has been working with the Philadelphia Union since March 2019. He and several other sales representatives sell various types of tickets (group tickets, season tickets, etc.), while at the same time trying to drum up new business.
The job aligns with Arthur’s career goals because he loves sports and always wanted to work in a high-paced, dynamic industry. “Building a background in sales is important because I want to work in business, and generating revenue is a good background,” Arthur said. “My dream job would be to work for a sports management agency (as a marketing representative or in sponsorship sales).” Down the road, he hopes to earn his master’s degree in sports business or law. For now, Arthur is enjoying his time spreading the word about the game of soccer in Philadelphia. “We haven’t been around as long as the other Philadelphia sports teams (2010), so we’re still growing our fan base,” he said. “A lot of what we do is reaching out to people through cold calls and events, getting people to learn about Union soccer.” Arthur works five days a week and attends every home match on
He said he also learned the value of hard work, persistence, determination and enthusiasm. “If you’re putting your all into it, you’re getting your all out of it. You’re not just talking the talk, but walking the walk.”
Your gifts are helping kids, like Arthur, grow up to find successful futures that allow them to give back - thank you!
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When it came time to choose a career, Arthur knew he wanted to do something with sports. Bloomsburg didn’t have a sports management program, so he thought it was best to pursue PR.
HOME’S GROWN KIDS
Arthur with Mark Kurzenknabe and Virginia Migrala, assistant director and director of the children's home
Arthur credits the children’s home with instilling in him a solid work ethic. “Balancing my time and putting enough time into academics and studies was heavily emphasized there,” he said. “Also, growing up with people from different backgrounds helped me to communicate with different types of people and personalities, which definitely prepared me for what I’m doing now.”
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Making the Impossible, Possible seem so far out of her reach. Melinda said the structured nature of the children’s home became very helpful to her, allowing her to set attainable goals for herself. While attending high school, Melinda said she had great teachers. Through her experience, she found her passion in education and decided she wanted to attend college for teaching so she could help other children reach their goals, too.
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“Sometimes you’re called to things in your life, and I realized that’s something I would be good at,” Melinda said.
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Melinda Tkacs moved around a lot as a child. She first lived with her father. He then left her with her aunt and uncle in California, and soon after, she went to live with her grandmother. When Melinda entered into high school, she didn’t think many educational opportunities were possible for her. College after graduation seemed at an even larger distance. As she entered tenth grade, Melinda’s father found the Masonic Children’s Home, where he sent Melinda, as he no longer wanted to care for her. There, Melinda found opportunities and a family she never thought she would have. It didn’t come easy at first, because the home was more structured than where she lived
before, and she was 16 years old. “It was definitely difficult coming that old to another setting that was completely different than what I had ever experienced,” Melinda said. Melinda lived with seven other girls and two house parents. After beginning school at Elizabethtown Area High School, she found that many of the girls she lived with at the children’s home were in the same classes at school. Because of this, she became good friends with them. Melinda did well in school and started becoming involved in activities like sports and work. For the first time in her life, educational opportunities like college did not
Education, sports and work were not the only activities Melinda participated in. She also had a lot of fun with friends while she lived at the children’s home. They went to the beach, swam in the indoor pool and even went on a trip to Disney World. In addition to the opportunities she received, Melinda said the children’s home helped give her a resiliency that might have been lost had she not gone to live there.
“They provide counseling, they provide structure and they provide support systems so that you can be resilient. You can move forward in your life and know that whatever happened to you is not the end all be all, that you could do something with your life and you are worthy of having opportunities,” she said.
After graduating high school, Melinda achieved her goal of attending college for education, thanks to financial support from donors. Then, she continued her education further to attain her master’s degree and master’s degree plus 30 (30 credits above a master’s degree) in the field. Now, Melinda is in her 15th year of teaching and teaches seventh grade social studies at Penn Wood Middle School in Darby, Pennsylvania. Her future goals consist of continuing her teaching and involvement in her teacher’s
union, Pennsylvania State Education Association. “I want to keep teaching and helping students reach their full potential like the children’s home has helped me to do,” Melinda said. “I’m completely grateful to them for all my opportunities, because they helped shape me partially into who I am today. Without them, I would not be as successful as I am today. They definitely provided my foundation.”
Turn Your Required Minimum Distribution into a Qualified Charitable Deduction • Haven’t taken all of your required minimum distribution (RMD) this year? • Don’t need all or part of your RMD to live on? • Hate to pay taxes? • Enjoy helping others?
THEN CONSIDER THIS: Give all or part of your RMD to the Masonic Children’s Home, and you will make a difference for a child in need.
Call the Masonic Charities Office of Gift Planning at 1-800-599-6454 or complete and send the enclosed form to find out how you can: • Give part or all of your RMD to the Masonic Children’s Home • Avoid taxes on your RMD • Put a smile on your face!
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• Own an IRA?
ACT NOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD!
HOME’S GROWN KIDS
ARE YOU 70½ or older and:
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Finding a Sense of Self Rina is known among her friend group as “the jokester.” She loves to make people laugh and encourage them to just be in the moment. However, she hasn’t always been so generous with her humor or open to new friendships.
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“When I first came to the children’s home, I wasn’t so great with people,” Rina recalls.
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Her hesitation came from her home life, where she had to take on more responsibility than other children her age. After her mother left when she was just 11 years old, Rina spent the majority of her time caring for her younger brother, who was 7 years old at the time, often while their father was working. “My dad was always working double shifts to pay the bills,” Rina said. For a man who knew his daughter deserved more than what he could give her, Rina’s father was searching for answers to his family's struggles. When a friend told him about the children’s home, it became clear that it was the best place for Rina to learn, grow and thrive, all while taking on the appropriate amount of responsibility for her age.
“When my dad and I found out what the children’s home would do for me, including paying for my college, we both cried,” Rina said. Today, four years after coming to the children’s home, Rina has just started her sophomore year of high school. She has a long list of extra-curricular activities, including karate, track and field (where she throws discus, shot put and, starting this upcoming season, javelin) and being a member of her high school’s Mini-THON program, which raises money to aid families affected by pediatric cancer. “The children’s home taught me to be myself,” Rina says. “If you just focus, you can reach any of your goals.” When she isn't being carted all around town by her house parents, Rina enjoys staying in with a favorite book – sometimes it’s historical fiction, other times it’s a fiction book with a little romance. She’s developed a love for reading, another thing she was sure she’d never experience. “All the tutors here help me study and be interested in things,” Rina said. “Growing up in Philly, I never got that help, and my dad was always so busy trying to support us.”
Soon, Rina will meet with the children’s home’s educational coordinator to discuss options for postgraduation education. She thinks she has her mind set on becoming a registered nurse, but she’s also considering a career as a midwife, where she’d work with expecting mothers during labor and delivery.
At the children’s home, Rina has experienced many “firsts” - first true friendships, first time on a roller coaster, and, most importantly, the first time she’s felt like she has the world in her hands. “My hope is that other kids get the same opportunities here as I did,” she said. “I appreciate all the people who give money to the children’s home. You saved my life. You made me who I am.”
Rina pictured with cottage housemate and friend, Noelia.
Your generous support is helping kids, like Rina, dream bigger than ever before! Thank you!
HOME’S GROWN KIDS
Rina would love to attend Penn State University, but she has a few other choices, too. “I never thought college would be a part of my life, so I’m excited,” Rina said.
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“I really love babies and kids. They’re just so cute,” Rina says. “I think it might come from helping to raise my little brother.”
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Three Ways to Support Our Kids this Holiday
Make the Season Brighter for Our Kids!
GIVING CATALOG
Purchase items to help our kids experience joy, find lifelong interests and build successful futures. Visit MCHGivingCatalog.org to view and purchase items. Items include books, educational opportunities, clothing, crafts and more. Consider purchasing an item as your gift to a loved one this season!
Choose from 24 items!
3.
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CORNERSTONE CIRCLE FOR MONTHLY GIVING
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Authorize a specified amount of money to be electronically transferred directly from your checking account or credit card to the children's home monthly. This is the easiest form of giving - plus, there are no worries of checks getting lost, stolen or destroyed, and you will receive a year-end statement of monthly giving for easy tax preparation. You can cancel your authorization at any time. To join, call 1-800-599-6454 or visit MasonicChildrensHome.org/donate-now.
AMAZONSMILE
When you shop at AmazonSmile for your holiday gifts, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the Masonic Children’s Home. Bookmark this link, so all your eligible purchases will benefit the children’s home every time you shop: smile.amazon.com/ch/23-0846955.
Thank You ALL GIFTS GIVEN MAY 1 - SEPT. 30, 2019 SCHOLAR DONORS
AUTHOR DONORS
Boyd Watterson Asset Management
Evelyn Hunter-Longdon
Mason Crawford
MENTOR DONORS William and Joan Moyer
Ann Edinger
ASSOCIATE DONORS
Bill and Carla Fishel
Trudy Prath
Lodge No. 106
NEW CENTENNIAL SOCIETY MEMBERS
HONOREE
DONOR
George R. and Elaine L. McLaughlin
Benjamin Anderson
Carolyn Painter
John H. Griesemer, Sr.
Roland and Jill Morris
Charles Holloway
Houseman Lodge No. 211
John and Jean Lewis 50th Anniversary
Albert Rowland
Boyd Watterson Asset Management
Greg Neuhauser
John and Barbara Kolchin
Adeline Rembish
John and Barbara Kolchin
Christenson Investment Partners
David Simington 100th Birthday
Steven and Nancy Styer
Mildred Worstell
Theodore Hervol
Sandra Zupanovich
Robert Zupanovich
Logan Lodge No. 490 Meyersdale Lodge No. 554 Joseph and Barbara Murphy
National Investment Services, Inc. WISH LIST Richard Vaux-Ivanhoe Lodge No. 384 Rooster Woodshop John Savickas Jay and Nancy Smith
CONTRIBUTORS
Wayne and Nancylee Garafola
HONORARIUM GIFTS
Tim and Marcia Spangler
Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania, Order of Eastern Star, Inc.
Janet Townsend
Evelyn Hunter-Longdon
Arthur and Dorothy Wert
Logan Lodge No. 490
Jeffrey and Sharon Lee Wonderling
Ronald and Judy McKnight
MEMORIAL
DONOR
National Investment Services, Inc.
Jean Carol Albright
Stuart and Barbara Brown
Esther Arons
John and Barbara Kolchin
Rooster Woodshop
Russell C. Ashby
Tracy and Sandra Miller
Fred and Mary Jane Sample
Anne R. Berlin
Cheston Berlin
Grace Bertolet
Roy Bertolet
Jane H. Bird
Eileen Elliott
Tom and Gretchen Endres
Daniel B. Breneman
Patricia Breneman
John Brenner
James and Ruth Woof
Robert Broggi
Rose Ann Broggi
Vida H. Burchfield
John and Carol Bream
Lois Spiegel Case
Deanne Molinari
Clinton Spiegel
Gaylon Cathcart
Michael and Barbara Cathcart
Marcia L. Zinkel
MEMORIAL GIFTS
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Christenson Investment Partners
David and Jean Stettler
HOME’S GROWN KIDS
Stuart and Barbara Brown
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Thank You MEMORIAL GIFTS
MEMORIAL
DONOR
Linda Cherris
Ann Finkbeiner
Robert Corey
Chris Reynolds
Carl Cott
Grace Cott
Edward Deschamps
Margit Deschamps
Katherine M. Dubbs
Wayne and Debra Dubbs
Lewis Gene Ebersole
Gerri Ebersole
Paul L. Edinger, Jr.
Ann Edinger
Charles W. Elliott
Margaret Elliott
James T. English
Margery English
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Robert L. and Fern I. Erdman James and Brenda Bomberger
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Donald E. Eshelman
Norma Eshelman
Robert Henry Forney, Jr.
James Easton
Jessica Easton
Baird and Marion Krecker
Arthur Sedmont
Walter Sipe
Chester and Lola Fox
Chester and Sandra Fox
Dreer H. Graburn
Lynne Graburn
Lois K. Griesemer
Roland and Jill Morris
Barry E. Hair
Gertrude Hair
Vernon E. Hazlett
Jean Hazlett
Edgar L. Herbine
Alice Herbine
Sidney S. Hersh
Joel Hersh and Cynthia Tyger
Burton and Grace Hineline
Todd Hineline and Cynthia Bartynski
Gail I. Hoch
Robert Wm. Lichty
Florabelle Lichty
Benjamin Loscher
Robert and Leslie Loscher
John D. Lucas
Jane Lucas
Anna Kolchin Mellin
John and Barbara Kolchin
Ann Miller
Stuart and Barbara Brown
Jean Montello
Joan Muffler
Richard W. Morgan
Phyllis Morgan
David and Elizabeth Morris
Roland and Jill Morris
Elaine Mosgrave
Charles and Louise Mosgrave
Vel Naylor
Randall Gotwalt
James C. Nickle
Samuel and Laura McElheny
Charles L. Nixon
Gail Nixon
William Northey
Stuart and Barbara Brown
Janet Oberholtzer
William Oberholtzer
John & Eveleen Oberholtzer William Oberholtzer Ronald Oberholtzer
William Oberholtzer
Thomas Oberholtzer
William Oberholtzer
Daniel Padezanin
Richard and Judith McEwen
Robert Hoch
Arthur Painter, Jr.
Stuart and Barbara Brown
Michael J. Jenkins
Marjorie Jenkins
Thomas K. Pilston
Ronna Pilston
Francis B. Klein
Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc.
Homer O. Potter
Audrey Potter
David A. Rice
Nancy Rice
Otto M. Kline
Janet Townsend
Ellis Riebel
Joanne Riebel
Richard Koch
Kenneth and Janet Hartranft
Howard Rissmiller
Bonita Rissmiller
Hedy Kupersmit
Donald and Tina Marie Simington
Cokie Roberts
Stuart and Barbara Brown
Allen Lauderman
Jo-Ann Lauderman
Willie Schloeffel
Andrew and Doris Zelez
Michael Lema
Bob and Joanne Bateman
Raymond Simpson
Stuart and Barbara Brown
Jeffrey and Sharon Lee Wonderling
Sherrie Letcher
Stuart and Barbara Brown
Robert and Christine Cassel
Ron Chelius and Betty Behm
Charles and Carol Curry
Richard and Wendy Davis
Jeanne Kelly
Kyle Kemp
Deanne Molinari
Clinton Spiegel
Visiting Angel Living Assistance
Larry and Carol Wolford
Dorothy “Dot” Mae Stout
Crawford Caulking Co.
Mason Crawford
Elizabethtown Chapter No. 407, O.E.S.
Bruce and Joan Howarth
Sandi McCool
Ava Ritter
Joan Varacallo
Edith Wetherhill
George Boyd Tamski, Sr.
Darla Lee Tamski
Emery G. Thurston
Jean Thurston Weiss
Charles Townsend
Darla Lee Tamski
Lloyd Forrest Townsend
Janet Townsend
Royden E. Tyger
Joel Hersh and Cynthia Tyger
Sander Vanocur
Stuart and Barbara Brown
Betty Weamer
Suzanne Anderson
Patricia J. Weckerly
Ivan Weckerly
Earl Wenrich
Stuart and Barbara Brown
Todd A. Wert
Arthur and Dorothy Wert
Walter L. Wolf
Marjorie Jenkins
Herbert E. Zearing
Family
June E. Zearing
Family
Ted Zwiebel
John and Barbara Kolchin
The following memorial gift was omitted in the Spring 2019 issue of “Home’s Grown Kids.” We apologize for this error. Constance Joan Reynolds
C. Robert and Catherine Wentz
Financial information about Masonic Village can be obtained by contacting us at 1-800-599-6454. In addition, Masonic Charities is required to file financial information with several states. Colorado: Colorado residents may obtain copies of registration and financial documents from the office of the Secretary of State. (303) 894-2680, http://www.sos.state.co.us/. Florida: SC No. 00774, A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-HELP-FLA. Georgia: full and fair description of the programs and activities of Masonic Charities and its financial statement are available upon request at the address indicated above. Illinois: Contracts and reports regarding Masonic Charities are on file with the Illinois Attorney General. Maryland: For the cost of postage and copying, documents and information filed under the Maryland charitable organizations laws can be obtained from the Secretary of State, Charitable Division, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, (800) 825-4510. Michigan: MICS No. 11796 Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Masonic Charities may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888-236-6167. New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY CALLING (973) 504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp.htm#charity. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT. New York: A copy of the latest annual report can be obtained from the organization or from the Office of the Attorney General by writing the Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-888-830-4989. Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Masonic Charities may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Virginia: Financial statements are available from the State Office of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA, 23218. Washington: The notice of soliciation required by the Charitable Solicitation Act is on file with the Washington Secretary of State, and information relating to financial affairs of Masonic Charities is available from the Secretary of State, and the toll-free number for Washington residents: 1-800-332-4483. West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. REGISTRATION IN THE ABOVE STATES DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION OF MASONIC CHARITIES BY THE STATE.
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Leslie Bichner
HOME’S GROWN KIDS
Grant F. Stetzler
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MASONIC CHARITIES Office of Gift Planning One Masonic Drive • Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2219
You’re giving our kids a chance to find friendship and fulfillment! Thank you for your support.