Turning Points July - Aug 2012

Children At Heart Ministries Newsletter Vol. 6, No. 3 - July/Aug 2012

Making the Grade

Inside:

n First in Their Class

- Page 4

n Keeping a Dream Alive

- Page 5

n Rules of Engagement

- Page 6

Our success stories are only possible because of your donations.

It’s a Celebration

F

ireworks helped us celebrate Independence Day on July 4 all across the nation. Some celebrated by having a few friends over and grilling hotdogs and hamburgers. Others used a day off from “normal work” to work in their yards to spruce things up. Families went to the lake or the beach for the day and stayed to see the fireworks illuminate the night sky, while others went to a baseball game and stayed for the light show with thousands of their closest friends. You can add hundreds of other things to this short list of ways the Fourth of July was celebrated. But really, what were we celebrating? Technically, it was the 236th birthday of the Declaration of Independence and our freedom as a country and as individual people. But while we celebrated “Red, White and Blue,” we remembered that it is God’s blessings upon all of us that allowed us to enjoy these freedoms.

With this issue of Turning Points, we do another kind of celebrating – the celebration of education. We celebrate the educational opportunities and achievements all across the Children At Heart family of ministries. In May, the Texas

TurningPoints Published for friends of

1301 N Mays Round Rock TX 78664 (512) 255-3668 ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org Todd L. Roberson, President/CEO

“ We are a family of Christian ministries that exists to honor God and build a better world by serving children and strengthening families.”

Baptist Children’s Home campus celebrated every child living in the Campus Life program. From the youngest in care to the graduating seniors, all were recognized and encouraged for their achievements over the past school year. For some it was being on the all A’s and B’s list for the semester or the year; for others it was a character trait that they exhibited – most helpful in the cottage, most joyful, best attitude, etc. The celebration recognized the most outstanding boy and girl, but the pinnacle had to be the seniors who were graduating. At Miracle Farm, our staff and families had a graduation ceremony recognizing the boys’ achievements at the Farm. Our college students, from Campus Life to Family Care to Gracewood moms, are encouraged and lauded in their efforts and educational successes.

This privilege of providing for children and families comes at no small price. Since 1950 and all the way up to today, people have prayed, given and worked so that those in our care across the family of ministries might have opportunities to better themselves, to better their families, and ultimately to better future generations. We say a great big THANK YOU for helping to make it all possible. We appreciate you celebrating with us as the difference is made one child, one mom, one family at a time!

Read on, and join us in this year’s celebrations.

Gratefully,

Todd L. Roberson President/CEO Gracewood Don Forrester, President Debbie Rippstein, Executive Director 1617 Elmview Houston TX 77080 (713) 988-9757 www.gracewood.org

Vol. 6, No. 3 – July/Aug 2012

Children At Heart Ministries

A Letter From Our President

Bill Martin Director of Communications bill.martin@cahgift.org Danna Reeves Graphic Designer danna.reeves@cahgift.org Ginger Swann Communications Coordinator ginger.swann@cahgift.org Contributing Writers: Haley Smith Miranda Bradley

On the cover: Celebrating our students’ accomplishments through the years!

Miracle Farm Don Forrester, President Alex Hamilton, Executive Director 10802 FM 2621 Brenham TX 77833 (979) 836-0901 www.miraclefarm.org STARRY Don Forrester, President Richard Singleton, Executive Director 1300 N Mays Round Rock TX 78664 (512) 246-4288 www.starryonline.org Texas Baptist Children’s Home Don Forrester, President Keith Dyer, Executive Director 1101 N Mays Round Rock TX 78664 (512) 255-3682 www.tbch.org ©2012 Layout/Design by Danna Reeves

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Printing by Sunset Press, Inc. www.ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org

Making the Grade

O

f the many young children who come to Texas Baptist Children’s Home, few have known success in the classroom before they arrive. Lackadaisical attitudes, sporadic attendance, the absence of parental involvement, and undiagnosed learning disabilities have left them grade levels behind and often unmotivated to succeed.

TBCH begins turning that around the day a child arrives, providing structure where none previously existed. Not every child becomes a success story but many do, thanks to support from staff and donors who make this ministry possible.

The fact that so many go on to attend college is a tribute to the ability of children from unstable backgrounds to grow into dedicated students and successful adults.

“We’re not just a place for kids to come live,” said Keith Dyer, Executive Director of TBCH. “We want to be a place where they tap into that part of themselves that is special, where they can find the inspiration, discipline and spiritual grounding to achieve their goals.”

Catch a glimpse as four alumni share their stories, representing hundreds of other TBCH students through the years: Jerry Tidwell was a freshman in high school when he came to TBCH in the early 1990s because of tensions at home. Intending to be a lawyer, he was accepted to Baylor University, but didn’t feel like he fit in and he dropped out.

Jerry transferred to Texas Tech University but, still floundering, he flunked out and moved back home with his dad. Continuing tension in the family motivated him to save money to return to college. After four years, he was able to re-enroll at Tech.

With the help of scholarship assistance available to former TBCH residents, he was able to finish college and attend law school. Today Jerry practices law in Plano, a career he said was made possible by TBCH. “They believed in me and supported me when I didn’t and couldn’t,” he says. “I didn’t realize all the lessons I was learning when I was at TBCH. At the time, I would grumble about the chores and the rules. But it taught me that you have to work hard to get what you want in life. I feel like a lot of people’s prodigal child.”

By the time he was 6 years old, Greg McAuley had already had three stepmothers. By the age of 14, he had a serious rebellious streak. In 1980, Greg arrived at the TBCH campus, bitter and brimming with attitude. He didn’t take kindly to authority figures, but he found comfort in academics.

“Schoolwork was my safe place,” Greg remembers. “And the staff at TBCH helped me maintain that. They encouraged me to focus on my studies, knowing that none of my emotional issues would derail me from that.”

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Texas Baptist Children’s Home TBCH staff helped him prepare college applications and find scholarships. He went on to earn multiple degrees and licenses, including a degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M. “They just continued to encourage me to focus on the good things instead of the bad,” he said of the staff. “Even though I crossed the line over and over again, they never gave up on me. I never quit because they were there to motivate and encourage me.”

Shirley Zirkle and her sister had been in the foster care system for four years when they finally found a safe haven at TBCH in the 1960s. Thanks to her newfound sense of security, Shirley was able to focus on excelling in school.

“TBCH was stable. That was something I hadn’t had before,” she said. “I was finally secure. It gave me a place where I could be comfortable and happy.”

Shirley was a cheerleader, on the student council and held offices in student organizations at Round Rock High School. That success continued throughout her college career at Hardin-Simmons University and later at the University of Texas. She went on to become a computer analyst.

When Jason Holmes came to TBCH 14 years ago, it was supposed to be a temporary solution. Instead, his new home became a place of comfort and direction, and led to his adoption by a new forever family.

“Being at TBCH allowed me to explore my academic potential,” he said. “The environment was ideal for a troubled youth.”

That environment led Jason to achieve a degree in computer information from Texas State University. Jason attributes the majority of his success to the core values he gleaned from TBCH. “I learned the concept of family, dedication and discipline,” he said. “I’ll forever be thankful for that because I will pass these ideas on to my kids so they, too, can be successful in whatever they do.”

— Miranda Bradley Read an expanded version of this story online at www.ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org/TBCH-Alums

RSVP for the 2012 TBCH Campus Life Alumni Reunion!

Saturday, July 28 visit www.TBCH.org and click on the Reunion link for more details.

July/Aug 2012 | Turning Points

3

First in Their Class

Miracle Farm

T

ravis came to Miracle Farm after he began showing signs of depression, started skipping classes and became generally unmotivated in school. Collyn arrived after falling in with the wrong crowd and having some minor scrapes with the law.

But both boys turned their lives around in part due to the success they found at Premier High School at Miracle Farm, a fully accredited charter school operated by Responsive Education Solutions. In ceremonies held June 1, wearing the traditional cap and gown and hearing “Pomp & Circumstance” played in their honor, Travis, 18, and Collyn, 17, became proud high school graduates.

For Travis, Miracle Farm meant a quick turnaround in the classroom, something he desperately needed in order to be able to graduate on time.

He was able to complete his sophomore curriculum as well as his entire junior Proud graduates Collyn, left, and Travis. and senior years of class work in just At the Farm, each boy’s educational experience is customized one year. to meet his particular challenges and needs. The boys attend “In an isolated environment, free from distractions, I learned school year-round each weekday morning in on-site classrooms, self-motivation at the Farm,” said Travis. “For the first time in my where certified teachers offer one-on-one instruction and life, I was surrounded by men. I could work at my own pace, and I guidance. gained a sense of purpose. It was the ideal environment for me to “It’s really just a matter of finding which learning style works achieve my goals and complete my high school education.” best for each boy,” said Caty. “Because of the unique learning For Collyn, living away from home allowed him time for selfenvironment at the Farm, we are able to ensure that they actually reflection, realizing the consequences of his actions and the hurt grasp and comprehend the material long term.” he caused his family. He quickly became motivated to get on Thanks to the educational program, Travis, Collyn and their track. His dedication to his school work at the Farm allowed him classmates have an opportunity to succeed not only on a high to complete his curriculum and graduate more than a year early. school level, but continue on to receive a higher education.

“It’s a big deal for me to graduate,” said Collyn. “Before coming Travis will be attending Texas Tech University in the fall, to the Farm, I seriously doubted I would ever stand at graduation, majoring in architecture. He will spend part of the summer and now I’m proud to be the first of my mother’s children to interning with Bogle Woodworks, a fine furniture company receive my high school diploma.” owned by Andy Bogle, a neighbor and friend of the Farm. Travis “Graduation at the Farm is really a unique experience for the and Andy are working on custom tables that will be donated to boys and their families,” said Caty Paben, principal and teacher Miracle Farm. at the school. “Because of the size of the ceremony, the boys Collyn is the first young man to enter Miracle Farm’s new have the opportunity to select their graduation speaker as well as Independent Living Program on campus. He has already secured speak at the ceremony if they choose.” employment with Glasco & Co. Landscaping in Brenham, and Many boys arrive at Miracle Farm with past failures in school will start classes at Blinn College this fall. As a result of his time due to learning disabilities, family issues and behavioral problems, working with the horses at Miracle Farm, Collyn plans to pursue a so a primary goal of the ministry is to get each boy back on track career in equine veterinary medicine. in the classroom. With an accredited on-campus educational The Children At Heart Foundation offers scholarships to program, teachers work hard to meet the individual needs of help boys like Travis and Collyn pursue higher education and each boy and allow them to achieve success in school, which in vocational training. If you have an interest in providing turn encourages them to achieve in other areas. scholarship funding to help our young people achieve their “Premier does an excellent job of tailoring curriculum for each dreams, please contact Dawson Clark at (512) 246-4221 or young man. Because the reasons for struggling in school are dawson.clark@cahgift.org. different for every boy, the tools given to them to succeed must — Haley Smith be different as well,” said Alex Hamilton, Executive Director of Miracle Farm.

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www.ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org

Keeping A Dream Alive

Gracewood

N

early two decades after she started, Mary Bonner has at last realized her dream of getting a college education at last.

“As long as a deferred dream is kept alive in your soul, it will not die or dry,” said Mary, a Gracewood mom and mother of five.

Not only has she achieved her dream — with the help of Gracewood and the Children At Heart Foundation — she recently graduated with honors and was chosen as the student graduation speaker at the Springfield College School of Human Services in Houston.

A native Houstonian, Mary began college at 18 years old at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Like most freshman, she was full of hopes and dreams. But 18 years later, she found herself divorced and College graduate Mary Bonner with her daughters, from left, back in Houston with only her van, Brianna, Mary, Briel and Gabri’Ella. children and two bags of clothes. And “I can remember sitting in one of my first classes thinking how no college degree. good God is.”

After leaving a marriage of 15 years and checking into a From Gracewood, Mary and her children moved into their shelter for abused and battered women, survival was her top own apartment, although the ministry continued to provide the priority. While living at a shelter and a “transitional” housing support she needed to accomplish her dreams. program, she found a job with Fort Bend County. She heard “After moving into our apartment, Gracewood helped us about Gracewood through the school one of her daughters move furniture into our new home,” said Mary. “I’ll never forget attended. the moment we closed the door and were finally on our own.

“I didn’t want to go to another transitional facility,” said Mary.

My son looked at me and said, ‘You did it mom!’”

“But God had actually already laid it on my heart that I would be Thanks to the stability Mary and her children found at moving to Spring Branch before I even knew about Gracewood.”

Gracewood, here oldest daughter, Briel, graduated from high Gracewood quickly became Mary’s transition out of school in May and will begin college in the fall. transition. She describes Gracewood as providing “CPR: “Because of Gracewood, my children now know that they Compassion, Prayer and Restoration” for her family. can accomplish their dreams despite what they’ve been through “After coming out of an institutional-type environment, or what they might face in the future,” said Mary. it was a breath of fresh air to walk into Gracewood’s home After completing 48 hours at Springfield College, Mary environment,” said Mary. “For the first time in over a year, I was received a Bachelor of Science in Human Services. The degree actually allowed to cook for my children and be a mom again.” will allow her to move forward in her career and become a It was at Gracewood that the dream of completing her probation officer helping families in crisis. degree began to come alive once again. She had more than “Gracewood allowed us to grieve and to rebuild,” Mary said. three years of credits completed at Oral Roberts, but the “The time there allowed me to go back to my original self, the university wouldn’t release her transcripts until she dealt with person God always intended me to be.” debt from defaulted student loans.

“When I think of Human Services,” she told her fellow It was with the help of Gracewood and a scholarship from graduates, “I think of the people who make up the Gracewood the Children At Heart Foundation that Mary finally had the staff who saw something great in me even when I was at my opportunity to go back to school. She enrolled at Springfield worst and believed in me enough to help me get the scholarship College in January of 2011 and began classes.

I needed so I could accomplish my dreams.”

“The miracle was that with all the obstacles in my way, I was — Haley Smith enrolled in college with my tuition paid in full with a scholarship thanks to Children At Heart,” Mary said in her graduation speech.

www.ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org

July/Aug 2012 | Turning Points

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Rules of Engagement

STARRY

W

hen Julie* and her sister, Jennifer* didn’t want to go to school, they simply didn’t go. They couldn’t read, hardly knew any of their letters, and even the simplest math problems were far beyond them. Homework? What’s that?

Julie, 8, and Jennifer, 7, had practically been raised by a 12-year-old sister. Their parents were busy partying and playing.

There were no rules for the children, for whom education was an afterthought, if it was thought about at all.

A little more than a year later, thanks to Larry and Claudia Williams, a pair of loving, compassionate, engaged Foster Parents at STARRY, the change has been dramatic and has set the stage for a lifetime of success.

From day one, the Williamses established structure and discipline, something the girls responded to immediately. Every day when they came home from school, they would sit down with Larry and read aloud for 30 Happy faces come from parental involvement in learning. minutes.

Every weeknight they would gather at the kitchen table with both Larry and Claudia and Throughout all STARRY programs, counselors and do homework together. Every day, the parents spent at least two caseworkers labor tirelessly to help instill in children a desire to or three hours working with the girls on their reading, spelling, succeed in school. Often that means making sure parents are fully arithmetic and social studies. engaged – loving, but disciplined – when it comes to classwork.

Since they started attending school regularly, says Foster Care “In all of our programs, we know that one of the keys to a Case Manager Mary Anthes, “the girls have never had a report successful childhood is success in the classroom,” Richard added. card that was not an improvement on their previous report card.

“If we can help a child build that good educational foundation, it Both girls have perfect attendance and the younger sister has opens the door to life-long success.” been on the honor roll for the entire school year.”

That is evident with Julie and Jennifer, two perfect examples of “Remarkably, neither their history nor their present story how consistency, structure and patience can pay off. is unusual,” said Richard Singleton, STARRY Executive Director.

“There is no doubt in the mind of Larry and Claudia that these “In our Foster Care, Counseling, Emergency Shelter and SAFE girls will go on to college and be very successful in life,” said programs, many of the children we see come to us with Mary. “They believe that they were able to catch them in a good educational difficulties. window to be able to turn them around successfully and help “They are behind in school, often because of habitual truancy, them achieve their dreams.” and the lack of parental involvement has meant they have missed *Names and photo changed to protect confidentiality the vital, secure attachment needed to feel safe, secure and able — Bill Martin to thrive in the classroom. Parental engagement can make a world of difference.”

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Golf Marathon Raises $166,660

Children At Heart Ministries

The 20th Anniversary Children At Heart Golf Marathon raised $166,660 for children and families.

Nearly 70 fundraising golfers, representing more than 50 teams, played 100 holes in a single day at the Golf Club Star Ranch and Teravista Golf Club. Children At Heart Ministries is grateful for the support of the golfers and their sponsors who do so much to help improve the lives of children, single mothers and families in our care!

The Children At Heart Golf Marathon lost one of its greatest champions with the passing at the end of May of Hal Harris, Sr. Together with his sons, Hal Jr., Andy and Scott, he raised more than $250,000 for the Golf Marathon over the years. He was a wonderful ambassador for our ministries.

In addition to his support of the Golf Marathon, Hal served as a trustee of Children At Heart Ministries and Texas Baptist Children’s Home. He will be missed! www.ChildrenAtHeartMinistries.org

July/Aug 2012 | Turning Points

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Anyone Can Do It!

Children At Heart Foundation

I

recently attended a workshop in which the speaker said she and her husband had told their kids for years, “Don’t think we are working this hard just to leave everything to you!”

She went on to clarify that she and her husband had spent their entire parenting lives trying to instill an attitude of ministry and philanthropy in their children.

Evidently, it worked.

When their daughter graduated from college, married, and began her first job, she called home to ask her mother whom she should list as the beneficiary on her workplace retirement account.

The mom clearly indicated that she should list her new husband as the primary beneficiary. But this mom continued her lifetime role of teaching and leading by asking the daughter if she thought her new husband would miss one or two percent of the value of the account if she decided to do something else with that small portion.

“No, mom,” she said, “he probably wouldn’t miss that small portion at all.”

So the mother encouraged her daughter to list her favorite charity as a secondary beneficiary. The daughter had actively served this charity as a volunteer and had previously requested the family make gifts to it in lieu of gifts to her directly.

The daughter filled out a simple form and submitted it with her employment paperwork … and with that, she became an estate donor to her favorite charity.

Beneficiary designations are the simplest way for anyone to make an estate gift to a charity. The most common

Make plans now to attend the 2012 TBCH Campus Life Alumni Reunion.

beneficiary designations occur with life insurance policies and retirement accounts. There are significant tax advantages to using a beneficiary designation with a tax-deferred retirement account, because the proceeds of such accounts are taxable to one’s heirs upon death. But distributions from a tax-deferred retirement account to charity upon death are typically made tax-free. So 100 percent goes to the charity.

Many caring friends have used a beneficiary designation and listed one of our Children At Heart ministries as the sole beneficiary. And we are grateful for their commitment and their future gifts, which will meet the needs of children and families for years to come.

Like the advice given to her young daughter by the wise mom in the story above, just about anyone can make a provision for one of our ministries, another charity or even their church.

Won’t you pray about this opportunity today? Please feel free to call us if you have questions.

Dawson Clark, CFRE is Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Children At Heart Foundation.

You can reach him at (512) 246-4221 or email him at dawson.clark@cahgift.org.

TBCH Family Care Conference

Saturday, July 28 on the TBCH Campus.

Cottage tours begin at 9:00 a.m.

Lunch at 11:30 a.m.

FREE for everyone, but RSVPs are required.

Call (512) 246-4203 or email cheryl.aurispa@tbch.org.

Visit www.TBCH.org and click on the Reunion link for more details.

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