What a wonderful Disney day! New Hope for Kids received a $25,000 Making Dreams Come True Grant for our work with grieving children. Executive Director, Dave Joswick and Board Chair, Elizabeth Peele were honored to attend the ceremony and receive the check. Thank you Disney!
As the holidays are approaching, Children’s Grief Awareness Day (observed the third Thursday of November each year) is an opportunity to tell children they are not alone and that there is support, healing and hope for the season.
New Hope for Kids will honor Children’s Grief Awareness Day on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at the future home of New Hope for Kids in Maitland. See below for details.
Congratulations to Johnny Sandifer from Maitland who’s winning ticket was pulled Friday night, October 11th, at our annual casino night event, Shaken & Stirred. He is the winner of a new 2013 Vespa LX50!
UCF and its Cornerstone program continue to embrace New Hope for Kids in so many meaningful ways. Our newest partnership is with Gray’s Bookstore near the UCF Campus and General Manager, Colleen O’Boyle.
Colleen was introduced to New Hope for Kids when she was a Cornerstone team member. This group of business majors puts their learning to work to help local charities. “Colleen’s spirit, professionalism and Cornerstone experience has led to an ongoing commitment to New Hope for Kids and other charities. Our partnership with Gray’s Bookstore provides wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses, thereby supporting our community’s merit and substance,” states Wishes for Kids Director Rosie Wilder who works with new teams each semester.
As Colleen developed her professional career, she continued to work with various Cornerstone teams. She offers a Book Donation Program that has already generated $7,570 for New Hope for Kids! “We collected 132 boxes of books this semester alone,” states O’Boyle, “with most going to the efforts of New Hope for Kids, as that is a charity that is very close to UCF’s heart, and mine as well. Plus, we have the UCF Community to thank for our continued success, and we look forward to serving our fellow Knights and the surrounding community for years to come!”
Gray’s College Bookstores are family owned and operated serving UCF since 2008; founded in Louisville, Kentucky in 1987 by Chuck and Ellen Gray. Since 1987 they have expanded to 8 stores in 6 states, most recently in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at the University of Alabama.
For the Book Donation Program, the books can be of any genre, must be recent copyrights (within the past 5 years), in good condition (no water damage, torn pages, etc) and have an ISBN (the number by the barcode). Special collection boxes are provided by Gray’s which are used to gather books which can then be brought to their store located at 4250 Alafaya Trail, Oviedo, FL 32765. New Hope for Kids will start to have donation boxes at our Center for Grieving Children and at upcoming family events so that we can make it easy for everyone to donate.
Our 12th Annual Art of the Vine was held at Fields BMW in Winter Park on April 12, 2013 and judging by comments from attendees and reports from the staff, it was a great success. This always popular fundraiser netted over $208,000 for our Center for Grieving Children and Wishes for Kids programs!
From time to time, we offer a chance for feedback from the community through designated surveys compiled by New Hope for Kids Staff. After the Sandy Hook School incident, we have compiled a brief survey for school personnel and would appreciate your time to share your feelings and experiences with us. The survey is ten brief questions to help us better serve those who work with children ages 3-18.
Over our 17+ years, we have heard from parents and teachers that their children/students who experience the death of a parent, guardian or sibling are more likely to face emotional challenges, are prone to anxiety or loneliness, often need more support in school, and lack a sufficient support network to deal with their grief. They also tend to have more difficulty concentrating in class, higher absentee rates and experience a decrease in the quality of their schoolwork and homework. We are here to help.
We have compiled a brief survey to learn more about your needs and this information will aid us in preparing our resources and upcoming training programs to be held in the future.
You’re invited!
If your New Year’s Resolution is “Give back to my community” New Hope for Kids Volunteer Orientation will get you started.
New Hope for Kids will honor Children’s Grief Awareness Day on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at the Center for Grieving Children in Maitland FL.
