|
Dear friends and supporters:
We want to welcome you to the first electronic quarterly Florida
Keys Children's Shelter newsletter. We are so excited to be
bringing you the news & the happenings in this format.
We want to keep you informed about what is happening within
the agency,around the state and the country.
We want you to know that you can forward this newsletter,
you can unsubscribe from the newsletter and you can provide
us with feedback about the newsletter all at the bottom of
this first issue. We certainly invite you to check out our
newly designed website at www.fkcs.org and
subscribe to our mailing list.
Each quarter we will highlight the events and the news from
the previous three months. We will also look ahead to what
is coming up. We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions.
Thank you,
Kathy Tuell
President and Chief Executive Officer
FKCS Receives Coveted 4-Star Award
 Kathy
Tuell, President/CEO of the Florida Keys Children's Shelter,
was recently notified that FKCS was awarded the coveted 4-star
rating for sound fiscal management from Charity Navigator
--America's largest independent evaluator of charities.
"We are very happy to receive this 4-star award..."
said Tuell, "the timing is wonderful. During the current
funding climate, it is important that our supporters know
that their donations are being managed in the most efficient
way. Dave Bley, our CFO, has done an outstanding job in managing
all our resources."
Charity Navigator helps charitable givers make intelligent
giving decisions by providing in-depth, objective ratings
and analysis of the financial health of America's largest
charities. Charity Navigator awarded four out of a possible
four stars to FKCS. In earning Charity Navigator's highest
4- star rating, The Florida Keys Children's Shelter has demonstrated
exceptional financial health, outperforming most of its peers
in its efforts to manage and grow its finances in the most
fiscally responsible way possible.
Approximately one-forth of the charities evaluated receive
the highest 4-star rating. This indicates that the Florida
Keys Children's Shelter outperforms the majority of nonprofits
in America with respect to fiscal responsibility. As stated
by Michael Smith, Interim President of Charity Navigator,
"This exceptional designation differentiates the Florida
Keys Children's Shelter from its peers and demonstrates to
the public it is worthy of their trust."
Janey Miller, Chief Development Officer for FKCS said, "As
we reach out to the public for financial support, it is very
helpful to have this objective outside organization honor
our commitment to operate in the best manner possible. A donor's
trust is essential in this very important work."
The Florida Keys Children's Shelter is committed to rebuilding
lives, building futures and reuniting families. Our mission
is caring for children and families in crisis providing support
for: Safe Kids - Strong Families - Healthy Community through
shelter, counseling and outreach programs throughout Monroe
County.
FKCS Says Goodbye to a Dear Friend
Caroline Stuart "Sis" Rinehart Hilker Kelm
August 13, 1919 – March 9, 2008
The Florida Keys Children’s Shelter has lost one of
our longtime friends and supporters. Caroline Stuart "Sis"
Kelm, 88, passed away recently due to complications from pneumonia.
Caroline Stuart Kelm was involved with the FKCS from the
very beginning. Sis, as she was known, founded the Ocean Reef
Grandparents Group. This group was created to benefit the
Florida Keys Children's Shelter. As you read the following
excerpt from her obituary you will find that she was a lovely,
caring person and that she had a meaningful and interesting
life.
"A natural leader, 'Sis' was actively involved with
charitable organizations such as The Florida Keys Children's
Shelter, The Keys Children's Foundation, the Advisory Board
of the Hazelden Foundation, and the Chapel at Ocean Reef.
Mrs. Kelm was one of the original members of the Board of
the Ocean Reef Club and numerous other important organizations
throughout the country."
Yet, her real legacy was her love and passion for family
and faith. Mrs. Kelm was the originator of what she called
"The Circle of Love." She firmly believed that the
definition of family was a unit bonded by love, not by genes.
With this belief, one can understand why she became so involved
with the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter. This expression
of her love and faith is her lasting legacy."
On behalf of all our kids at FKCS, we say, thank you to our
friend “Sis," you will be missed.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
FACT: Three million incidents of child abuse are reported
each year in the United States. Seventy five percent of the
children who die from abuse are younger then than three years
old. The actual incidence of abuse and neglect however, is
estimated to be three times greater than the number reported
to authorities. The serious problem of underreporting is partially
due to hesitation by individuals who may suspect abuse is
taking place
Solution: Things you can do
Volunteer your time. Get involved with other
parents in your community. Help vulnerable children and their
families. Start a playgroup. Simple support for children and
parents can be the best way to prevent child abuse. Afterschool
activities, parent education classes, mentoring programs,
and respite care are some of the many ways to keep children
safe from harm. Be a voice in support of these efforts in
your community.
Discipline your children thoughtfully. Never
discipline your child when you are upset. Give yourself time
to calm down. Remember that discipline is a way to teach your
child. Use privileges to encourage good behavior and time-outs
to help your child regain control. Both words and actions
can inflict deep, lasting wounds. Use your actions to show
children and other adults that conflicts can be settled without
hitting or yelling.
Support prevention programs. Too often,
intervention occurs only after abuse is reported. Greater
investments are needed in programs that have been proven to
stop the abuse before it occurs--such as family counseling
and home visits by nurses who provide assistance for newborns
and their parents.
Know what child abuse is, and what the signs are.
Physical and sexual abuse clearly constitute maltreatment,
but so does neglect, or the failure of parents or other caregivers
to provide a child with needed food, clothing, and care. Children
can also be emotionally abused when they are rejected, berated,
or continuously isolated. Unexplained injuries aren't the
only signs of abuse-depression, fear of a certain adult, difficulty
trusting others or making friends, sudden changes in eating
or sleeping patterns, inappropriate sexual behavior, poor
hygiene, secrecy, and hostility are often signs of family
problems and may indicate a child is being neglected or physically,
sexually, or emotionally abused.
Report abuse. If you witness a child being
harmed or see evidence of abuse, or if a child tells you about
abuse, make a report to your state's child protective services
department or local police. When talking to a child about
abuse, listen carefully, assure the child that he or she did
the right thing by telling an adult, and affirm that he or
she is not responsible for what happened.
Invest in kids. Encourage leaders in the
community to be supportive of children and families. Ask employers
to provide family-friendly work environments. Ask your local
and national lawmakers to support legislation to better protect
our children and to improve their lives.
Write, visit, fax, phone, or e-mail your elected
officials. Request that your governor, state legislators,
county commissioners, and mayor proclaim the month of April
as Child Abuse Prevention Month and fly the Children's Memorial
Flag. Notify your U.S. Representative and Senators about activities
to memorialize children lost to violence.
Participate in ceremonies to memorialize children.
Read the names of children lost to violence in your state,
hold a candlelight vigil, or host an event at your state capital
to remember those children who were lost to violence.
Black and White Ball 2008
The 2008 Black & White Ball was truly a night of "Hollywood
Dreams" coming true. Guests entered the ball down a red
carpet lined with local "Walk of Fame Stars" to
be greeted by a Joan Rivers impersonator. Then dinner was
served behind Pierre's out on the beach. It was a evening
of great food, lively music and wonderful people. The agency
raised close to $65,000 after expenses. The highlight of the
evening was the coronation of the new King & Queen. Barbara
Edgar crowned Stacie Krupa as Queen and David Purdo crowned
Tom Smith as King.
We would like to thank the B & W Ball Committee members:
Co-Chair Lyndsey McGlasson and Co-Chair Holly Stewart, David
DeHass, Stacie Krupa, Nicole Lindholm, Coleen McManus, Pauline
Russell, Amanda Stieglitz and Claudia Stober.
We would also like to thank our fabulous Director Skip Bradeen
for a job well done as our emcee and also a great dance routine
with Virginia LeNoir. A special thank you to Donna Dietrich,
photographer and Pierre's for the perfect setting.
We want to thank our 2008 Queen Stacie Krupa and King Tom
Smith. We also want to thank the entire Royal Court Christi
Allen, Michelle Young, Mike Anzalone and Dr. Travis Bennett.
Months of fund raising created some very memorable events.
We appreciate all of your hard work and creativity.
In addition we want to thank all of our supporters, donors
and sponsors. This community never stops giving! We would
like to thank: Island Villa General Contractor, Corcoran Group
Real Estate, Design by Meeja, De Clues Art Printing &
Framing, Royal Furniture Gallery, TIB Bank of the Keys, Moorings
Realty, Inc., The Banyan Tree, Cheeca Lodge & Spa, and
the Happy Cat. There were many more local anonymous sponsors
and you know whom you are and we want to Thank You for your
generosity. We also want to thank all of the businesses that
we are unable to list and all of the businesses that provided
silent auction items. Without all of your support the evening
would not have been a success.
2008 HGTV Dream Home
A truly once-in-a lifetime opportunity happened this year
for the Florida Keys Children's Shelter. FKCS was asked to
host, manage and operate the tours of the 2008 HGTV Dream
Home. The planning started in July 2007 and the home opened
for tours January 2, 2008. Throughout the 62 days the tours
were open over 11,000 people toured the home. The HGTV Dream
Home was a huge success and raised $110,000.00.
We had many volunteers who faithfully showed up week after
week to help the agency staff the HGTV Dream Home. We would
like to thank all of the volunteers. We would like to thank
Ned Johnson and Jimmy Pruett, of the Shore at Islamorada,
for making this a possibility. Also a huge thank you goes
to Kathy Rogers, the Shore Development and Kym Collins, TIB
Bank. Without both of them this event would not have happened.
We could not have been successful without the help of the
Village of Islamorada staff and City Manager, the support
from the Village Council, Captain Fanelli and Chief Wagner.
We would also like to say Thank You to those folks at HGTV
that selected Islamorada as the site for the 2008 HGTV Dream
Home. We would like to thank Jack Thomasson, Donna Thomasson,
Terri Corcoran, Shannon Driver and Stephanie Barchi.
We would also like to thank the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce
and the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce. Both Judy Hull and
Jackie Harder did an absolute wonderful job in assisting visitors
and truly showing just why Islamorada and the Florida Keys
are a Dream Location for a Dream Home.
|
