PHFC Beginnings Summer 2023

PHFC STAFF ACCEPTS AWARD IN FELICIA’S HONOR

The staff of the Presbyterian Home for Children was honored to accept an award for our late friend and colleague Felicia Ayers Storey, who was honored by the member agencies of the Alabama Association of Child Care Agencies.

Felicia received the 2023 Virginia Gorman Award from AACCA, which honors a social services professional who is an active advocate for children. Felicia was highly respected in the state as a leader in social services over her distinguished career. She was a Licensed Master Level Alabama Social Worker (LMSW) along with being a Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard On Site Official and Trainer.

She was nominated by AACCA member Ellen Copeland, the retired Director of Services at St. Mary’s, and Danny Holmes, Executive Director of AGAPE of North Alabama and Treasurer of AACCA.

“Felicia was an advocate for her agency and the children and families she served,” Ms. Copeland said in the nomination form. “She always strived for fairness and what was right for her clients and agency.”

Felicia was the Senior Vice President of Program Operations and Services for the Presbyterian Home for Children when she passed away suddenly on Feb. 18. We miss Felicia every day, but we are pleased that her professional community remembers her as an advocate and a friend.

ON THE COVER

Ascension Leadership Academy students took a special trip to Living River on the Cahaba River to experience the classroom in nature. See more about their trip on Page 5.

2023 Board of Trustees

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Mr. George Fritsma Trussville, Moderator

Rev. Joseph Scrivner, Ph.D. Tuscaloosa, Immediate Past Moderator

Mr. Mark Feagin

Birmingham, Vice Moderator

Mr. Newell Witherspoon Huntsville, Treasurer

Ms. Carol Copeland Athens, Secretary

Mr. John Haley, Esq. Birmingham, Legal Counsel

Ms. Janice (Missy) Jones Mobile, Member at Large

Dr. Susan Ashbee Mobile

Rev. Christie Ashton Huntsville

Mr. Ted Autterson Mobile

Ms. Millie Chastain Talladega

Dr. Jimmy Davis Talladega

Ms. Paige Goldman, Esq. Birmingham

Mr. Jeff Hicks Montrose

Rev. David Jamison Enterprise

Rev. Tom Lewis Madison

Ms. Regan Liggins Vestavia

Ms. Linda Madsen Saraland

Rev. Brandon Miles Florence

Mr. John Myers Bay Minette

Mr. David Perry Birmingham

Rev. Madison Roberts Mountain Brook

Dr. Joyce Pettis-Temple Huntsville

Ms. Janis Williams Huntsville

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

Ms. Mary Otulana, Homewood

Rev. Robin Palmer, Madison

Ms. Christi Robinson, Huntsville

Ms. Brenda Uptain, Talladega

Mr. Chuck Williams, Hiram, GA

Rev. Jonathan Yarboro, Wetumpka

The Presbyterian Home for Children is a Christian caring community for children and families in need; serving children and families regardless of race, color, creed, gender, national origin or disability. The ministry is governed by a Board of Trustees elected in part by the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, North Alabama Presbytery and Presbytery of South Alabama.

Beginnings is published for the friends and supporters of the Presbyterian Home for Children. Children's identities may be disguised to protect the privacy of the individual.

Beginnings Editorial Staff: Cindy Fisher, Brad Fisher

P.O. Drawer 577

Talladega, AL 35161

Telephone: 256.362.2114

E-mail: info@phfc.org

Website: www.phfc.org

Volume 123 • Number 2

SUMMER 2023

FROM THE PRESIDENT

One hundred and fifty-five years ago, in the midst of a terrible war, the Presbyterian Church in Alabama set out on a mission.

The War Between the States was still raging when Alabama’s Presbyterians first met to discuss how they could help the most vulnerable victims of any war — orphans. The church launched a bold initiative to open a home for the growing population of children orphaned by war and by the myriad of maladies that were untreatable in the 19th century.

When the war finally ended, many Alabama citizens were left destitute, making fundraising for a home for orphans especially difficult. But Presbyterian women did what Presbyterian women always do: they stepped up and they stepped in. They made the dream of a home for homeless children possible. In 1868, the Presbyterian-sponsored Home opened its doors to care for their first children in need and quickly became a pillar of stability for countless children from across war-ravaged Alabama.

That’s why it’s fitting that in this, our 155th year, the Presbyterian Home for Children honored Presbyterian Women of the Presbyterian Church (USA) at all three of our signature Sweet Home Soirées. It was the faith and hard work of Presbyterian Women that raised the funds to build the Home 155 years ago, and their support has never wavered.

When I think about the Presbyterian Women and their love for the Home and for the children and their families we care for, I am reminded of one of the most famous books of the Bible, Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. In Chapter 13, most of us easily recall the verses about love being patient and kind. It’s later in the verses that Paul says love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Protection, trust, hope, and perseverance. These are definitions of love, and they define Presbyterian Women. Thanks be to God for them and for the love they have shown the Presbyterian Home for Children and some of the state’s most vulnerable citizens – at risk children and families.

Peace, Doug Marshall President

ALA STUDENTS REACH BIG HEIGHTS THIS SCHOOL YEAR

Ascension Leadership Academy students are out for summer, but before we said goodbye-for-now, we honored many students for high achievement during the 2022-2023 Awards Program. We also had the opportunity to observe the results of ALA’s fine arts program as the choir and piano students performed during the ceremony held at First Presbyteria n Church of Talladega.

Ascen sion serves all students in the Home’s residential programs and private students in gra des K-12 residing in the greater Talladega community.

Dur ing the awards program, two kindergarten students received Kindergarten Diplomas, a high percentage of students received A & B honor roll awards, and students earning high scores on achievement assessments were recognized for their accomplishm ents.

Th is year, as part of Ascension’s continuous improvement process, ALA added the Northwest Evaluation Association (NAEP) MAP Assessment as a measure of instruction and student achievement. MAP, which stands for Measures of Academic Progress, joined with other data points provides actional data about where a student is on their uni que learning path.

The MAP assessments have two levels of scores above the 50th percentile: High Average (scores between the 60th and 79th percentile) and High (scores above the 80th percentile). Schools generally hope that most of their students’ scores will reach the 50th percentile. Approximately one-third of Ascension’s students scored at or above the 60th or 80th percentile in reading, language, and mathema tics.

Al ong with MAP, we continue to measure learning in grades K-6 using STAR Reading and STAR Math assessments. These assessments have four levels of achievement, with level four being the highest. With eight students reaching the highest fourth level in reading and math, 53% of our students were on or above grade level with most well above their current grade-level expected achiev ement.

In a ddition to the accomplishments of our K-12 students, we have one junior, Phaethon Brown, who has completed 28 college credit hours for courses taken at Central Alabama Community College through our dual enrollment partnership. He has maintained an Ascension GPA of 4.25 and a CACC GPA of 3.785 for his college classes.

ASCENSION MOVES CLASSROOM TO NATURE WITH TRIP TO LIVING RIVER

Ascension Leadership Academy students and staff took a trip to Living River in central Alabama for an educational and spiritual fellowship day in nature.

Living River, set on the Cahaba River near Montevallo, is a camp and conference destination that was built by Sheppards and Lapsley to be large enough to hold the Presbytery’s growing and successful youth camping program and spiritual retreats for the Presbytery as a whole.

Presbyterian Home for Children CEO Doug Marshall thanked Living River staff for inviting Ascension to bring their classroom into God’s creation on the Cahaba River. “We are grateful to experience the goodness of God here,” Marshall said.

Director of Education Linda Harris said the trip was an extension of their school lessons taught while canoeing and hiking amid the beauty of Living River. “This was an enriched education experience that comes with life lessons about God’s nature and how to protect it and be safe in it,” Harris said. Lessons included environmental discussions with the Cahaba River Society.

Living River Director Jenny Thagard said they love their partnership with the Home. “We are thrilled to welcome Ascension students to experience God’s creation and supplement their curriculum with what we do here in nature,” Thagard said.

ASCENSION LEADERSHIP ACADEMY TEACHER FEATURE

Charles Ponder knew he would be a teacher since he was in second grade.

“I didn’t know what subject I would teach until a high school math teacher impressed upon me a love for math,” Ponder said. “Now I get the opportunity to work with young people and make a difference in their lives.”

Ponder, who has taught at Ascension Leadership Academy for five years after a long career in public education, was recently named to the additional position of Assistant Principal. He was also named the Presbyterian Home for Children’s Employee of the Month for March.

Ponder attended Jacksonville State University, where he earned a BA degree in education, with certifications in mathematics, English, sociology and psychology. He returned to JSU to complete a Master’s Degree in math education, and he also graduated with an educational specialist degree in mathematics from The University of Alabama. Ponder is certified in Gifted Education.

After teaching at Talladega High School for 23 years, he commuted to Carrollton, Ga., for 13 years to teach. He said he was enjoying his retirement when he agreed to finish out the school year at Ascension for the math teacher. “Five years later, I am still loving it!” he said. As an educator, he said he enjoys the personalized education he can give students at Ascension. "With the average class size being six students, each working at their own pace, you can get so much more done. No student is held up, and no one is rushed faster than needed. We have students who finish their lessons early and are allowed to move on to the next course. We often have students who work ahead enough to be able to graduate a year early.”

Ponder described himself as “a Christian man who loves his Lord, his church and his family.”

An active member of Ridgeview Baptist Church, Ponder is on the Board of Directors of 1.27 Kids, a local organization that supports Talladega County foster families. He has two adult children and seven grandchildren.

“We’re fortunate that we were able to convince Mr. Ponder to come out of retirement and join the team at Ascension, where his love of education continues to positively influence the lives of his students,” said Linda Harris, Director of Education and Assistant to the President for the Home.

Ascension Leadership Academy, a ministry of the Presbyterian Home for Children, opened in 1997 as the on-campus educational program for the Home and has since grown into a Cognia-accredited K-12 school focusing on academics and leadership.

ASCENSION STUDENTS ENJOY END-OF-SCHOOL BASH

Ascension Leadership Academy students celebrated the end of the school year with a fun day at another beautiful campus in Talladega, Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center. There were activities of interest for everyone—fishing, swimming, carpet golf, volleyball, corn-hole, and pickle ball. The pool has been completely redesigned and is the safest pool for swimmers of varying abilities. Thanks to everyone at Shocco for making our end-of-the-school-year party such a fun day.

CELEBRATING MOMS AND EASTER ON CAMPUS

Our staff showered the Moms in our Secure Dwellings program with gifts and love for Mother’s Day and Easter this year. We gave flowers and cards to the Moms who live at the Home campus through our Secure Dwellings program, which is transitional housing for homeless boys and girls with their female caregiver who is typically their Mom. We also hosted Easter egg hunts for the children – and their Moms! The Home provides hope and healing for children and Moms every day and on important holidays.

SMILES FOR THE CAMERA, WATER SLIDES ABOUND IN WILCOX COUNTY

The Home continues to expand mission outreach efforts in Wilcox County, with a special school picture day in April and an “end-ofschool” party in May.

In our partnership with M.I.N.D. Mentoring in New Dimensions, we invited Home alumnus Samantha Ferguson to F.S. Ervin Elementary in Pine Hill, Wilcox County, to utilize her photography talents and take school pictures of the children we work with often.

Along with taking photos, the Home gave out containers packed full with goodies donated by ministry partner Evergreen Presbyterian Church in Dothan. The containers included art supplies, beautiful plastic plates, blankets, toys, and even oral hygiene items.

On top of that, M.I.N.D. founder Brooks Thomas gave out to each child more toys and a brown bag lunch. Samantha took photos of the children individually and with the principal and teachers in their classrooms and some parents, much like she did at our Ascension Leadership Academy in March.

While Samantha is a professional Realtor with Keller Williams and owner of His Hands Photographs, she spent her early teen years at the Home during a difficult time for her family.

In May, the Home staff made a trip back to F.S. Ervin Elementary to host an outdoor end-ofthe-school-year party with M.I.N.D. Lots of smiles and laughter filled the school yard in Pine Hill as children played on water slides and in a bounce house. They tried out frisbees and enjoyed wonderful food grilled by M.I.N.D. leader Brooks Thomas.

TEENS 'SIT AT THE TABLE' DONATED BY THEIR CHURCH AT UNION VILLAGE

Double Oak Community Church donated funds for the Presbyterian Home for Children to purchase a special green picnic table for the residents at Union Village.

The table was given for our residents who are blind, deaf, or deafblind, and it was placed in an ideal spot for these residents to enjoy fellowship and the outdoors.

In early June, a group of teens from Double Oak Community Church in Mt Laurel and Chelsea came to volunteer and clean up around the PHFC campus and Union Village and happened across the picnic table their families and church donated last year.

After these 45 students with their leaders trimmed bushes, placed pinestraw, and pressure washed sidewalks to beautify our campus, they stopped to spend some time at this special picnic table. Student Pastor Hunter Gregg said it was the perfect way to show the students the importance of giving to help others in need.

“We connected the dots for the students,” he said, adding they all took turns sitting around the table that has a plaque that reads what Jesus says, “Come and sit at my table.”

Gregg told the students tables are there for friends and family to form a community and minister to others – in this case by beautifying the space of those living at Union Village and the Home. This way, when the residents of Union Village get home each day, they are proud of where they live.

We are so appreciative of these wonderful students and leaders for making a huge difference at the Presbyterian Home!

PAINTING FOR SELF-CARE

The Home has the best staff that puts their hearts into caring for the state's at-risk children and families who come to us at difficult times in their lives. But that calling can be a challenge. To provide an opportunity for our staff to relax and spend quality time together as a team, we hosted a painting class led by an instructor who is very familiar to us: our beloved past Director of Development Karla Shackleford. She did an amazing job encouraging and teaching our team as they created a work of art in our gym on campus. We appreciate Karla for sharing her talent with us!

HOME HOSTS HUNTSVILLE, MOBILE SWEET HOME SOIRÉES

The Presbyterian Home for Children hosted its third Sweet Home Soirée on May 11 for Huntsville and its second Soirée for Mobile on June 22.

Attendees enjoyed a fun evening of live music and fellowship while helping us raise funds to support the mission of the Home as well as our fully accredited Ascension Leadership Academy.

The Huntsville Soirée was held at Von Braun Center and honored the Presbyterian Women of the North Alabama Presbytery while the Mobile Soirée was hosted at the Country Club of Mobile and honored the Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of South Alabama. Presbyterian Women were honored for their coming together to raise the funds needed to form the Presbyterian Home for Children 155 years ago and providing unwavering support ever since.

“Each Soirée gives the Home the opportunity to recognize and honor individuals and organizations who have given so much to help the precious ones entrusted to our care,” said Doug Marshall, President and CEO of the Home.

Money raised at both Soirées in addition to the Birmingham Soirée in March all went toward the purchase of a nice preowned SUV so our Family Bridges Program staff can safely travel to homes to check on children who live in various rural terrains of the seven-county area we serve. We also raised funds in Mobile to begin replacing 10-year-old textbooks at Ascension Leadership Academy.

The Soirées featured a plated dinner, jazzy live music, silent auction, and competitive live auctions. The live auctions were conducted by Terri Walker, AL lic. # 1233, who is one of the country’s leading female auctioneers and works alongside her auctioneer husband Lance Walker. Walker Auctions specializes in benefit auctions. Talented saxophonist Jerry Robbins entertained the crowd with a full repertoire of hits.

At each Soirée, attendees experienced a video sharing stories from alumni who gave testimonials of how their time in the Home’s care shaped each of their lives for the better.

UNION VILLAGE UPDATE

It takes a village to build a Village.

PHFC has partnered with AIDB since 2017 to offer Union Village, a permanent supportive housing community for individuals who are deaf, blind, deafblind, or multi-disabled. PHFC operates Union Village on a separate and secluded part of its campus for AIDB consumers.

Crews from Talladega-based Graham Davis Construction have almost finished work on a major new addition of tiny cottages in Union Village. The construction project adds six tiny cottages (two 500-square-foot homes per duplex) to the four existing small cottages at Union Village, unique and unmatched in the nation. These tiny cottages continue to feature special accommodations and accessibility designed especially for the blind, deaf, deafblind, or multi-disabled community.

“These cottages will bless the lives of the AIDB consumers who will live here, and the rent will help the Home fulfill its mission to fund our care of children,” said Bud Kitchin, vice president of operations for the Home and overseer of the project. “It’s thrilling to be involved with such an innovative project that enables two Talladega institutions to better serve their consumers. I’m especially pleased to be working with a local construction company who builds high quality homes and also knows and appreciates the missions of both institutions.”

The project started in 2022 thanks to grants from The Regions Foundation; the city of Talladega; Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc.; the Holle Family Foundation; KODA Technologies, Inc.; and The Caring Foundation, in addition to a gift from the congregation of Shades Valley Presbyterian Church and a second grant in 2023 from the city of Talladega.

In addition to the workers and the donors, the project required a temporary construction loan, in this case a community revitalization loan financed by another Talladega institution, First Bank of Alabama. FBA President and CEO Chad Jones said, “Our part was simple: provide funding for a community enhancement that positively affects those with a need.”

“The project was something we supported from Day 1, and it has been a pleasure to see these continue to be a success,” Jones said about the Presbyterian Home. “Their vision, along with AIDB, has been immaculate. Growing the hearts and lives of those affected with these new cottages is a masterful project.”

Rental income from Union Village provides an additional funding source for PHFC, which serves at-risk and homeless children, youth, and families in addition to young female adults in crisis and families in crisis. Program participants come from across the entire state of Alabama.

Each new cottage is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. They include zero-step entry, minimal thresholds, 8-foot ceilings, zero-barrier showers and other features. AIDB provides full wrap-around support services to Union Village residents such as job coaching, case management, transportation, assistive technology, and more.

VOLUNTEERS FILL CAMPUS WITH TEAMWORK

It’s been a busy summer at the Home with volunteers coming over several weeks in June to help us in a big way on campus, at Union Village, and at the PHFC Thrift Store.

We’ve welcomed at least a dozen churches to provide a hand with landscaping at campus and sorting through donations at our new 20,000 square foot thrift store that is packed with awesome merchandise for sale.

We’ve had a visit from Auburn Opelika Korean Church which was a group of students and adults led by Rev. Samuel Kim.

Thanks to our partnerships with Student Life Camp and YM360 at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center also in Talladega, they refer many volunteer groups to the Home during their summer camps.

We had incredible visits from Double Oak Community Church, Wadley Baptist Church, Manna Church, First Baptist Church of Zebulon, Georgia, Brushy Creek Baptist Church, United Community Church, and First Baptist Church of Greeneville, Tennessee, helping improve our facilities which help serve those entrusted to our care.

The Alabama summer heat and rain hasn’t slowed down our volunteers as they have made major progress with general cleanup and organizing around campus, at Union Village, and at the PHFC Thrift Store.

Our hearts are overflowing with deep gratitude!

MEMORIAL GIFTS

ESTHER PAULINE ADAMS

John and Diane Lynn

AMY ALLRED

Karen Crockett

DON ARMSTRONG

Peggy Willich

NELL AND HERBERT ARNOLD

Elizabeth Silvo

JOHHNY GLENN ARSEMENT

AuthoraCare Collective

LEO, SR. AND BESSIE B. AYERS

Cornwallis and Jewel Hudson

GINGER AND LEON CHAUDRON

Emily Helms Stafford

FRANKLIN CLAPP

Barbara Clapp

DOT CLINE

Ray and Mary Wills

PHILLIP D. CONTORNO

Hueytown Hobby Club

THE REV. DR. SHEP CRIGLER

Ken and Jane Hill

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PRESBYTERIAN HOME FOR CHILDREN ARE LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER WITH THE NAME OF THE DECEASED IN CAPITAL LETTERS FOLLOWED BY THE DONORS’ NAMES.

JEAN V. FINDLAY

Kathy Lane

LINDA D. FLOYD

Robert Floyd

DOUG FRANKLIN

Peggy Schlemmer

PHILIP GEDDES

Hall and Susan Bryant

RICHARD H. GILLIAM, JR.

Hall and Susan Bryant

CLAUDINE HOPPER

Donna Rogers

RALPH HORNSBY

Hall and Susan Bryant

GARY HUCKABY, JR.

Hall and Susan Bryant

DR. ALLEN C. JACOBS

Merilyn Anderson

LILLIAN JEANE

Greg and Karen Jeane

E.G. BAILEY

Sheila Huddleston

Lagena and Charles Powell

Andrea and Ryan Sullivan

WALTER BATSON, JR.

Hall and Susan Bryant

MIKE BILBRO

Helen Bilbro

VAN BLANKENSHIP

Sidney Thompson

WILLIAM BAXTER BOOTH

Hall and Susan Bryant

ELOISE BOYD

Louise and Pierce Boyd

JOAN LANDHAM BROTHERS

Stephanie Topsy Landham

JOANN BYRAM

Susan Fogg

BETTY CANADA

Sidney Thompson

ANN AND MONROE CARROLL

James and Claudia Carroll

Fairfield Highlands Presbyterian Church

DAVID CARROLL

James and Claudia Carroll

Fairfield Highlands Presbyterian Church

JERRY OWEN DAWSON

Hall and Susan Bryant

SANDRA DAWSON

Hall and Susan Bryant

ETHEL BARKER DEUPREE

Faye Irby

JOAN DOWDLE

Josephine Tucker

ASHLEY DOYLE

Geri Doyle

ADDIE FAULK

Steve and Paulette Turner

STAN FEE

Matthew and Donna Brown

Douglas and Delana Burdette

Ann Compton

Marsha Drake and Larry Mark Daniell

Alan Diamant

Ann Fee

John and Carol Fee

Alan and Barb Forshey

Velva Graves

Bill and Gigi Haile

Lucille Hawkins

Larry and Lisa Matice

Martha Miller

Susan and Paul Parker

David and Janice Plasterer

Joanne Sanders

Janet Scott

John and Dora Stevens

Mike Svetlik

DONNA GLOVER

John and Sarah Glover

BETTY JOE GRAY

Margie Turney

MAJA GREEN

William and Rebecca Green

DIBBY GRIFFIN

Josephine Tucker

JOHN AND MARILYN GRIFFITH

Phillip and Suzanne Ward

ROBERT HOWARD GUYNES

Ken and Jane Hill

JEANETTE SPAINHOUR JINNETTE

Priscilla Comer

HELEN JONES

Jan Brown

ODESSA MACON JONES

Ted Jones

ANNA KEYSER

Joan Last

HJAMES R. HARPER, JR.

Hall and Susan Bryant

FANNIE M. HARRIS

Marie Player

BETTY C. HARRISON

Peggy Schlemmer

JOHN M. HEACOCK, JR.

Hall and Susan Bryant

CHARLIE HELMS

Hall and Susan Bryant

HELEN HICKS

Frances Gray

ROBERT H. "BOBBY" HOLLIS, JR.

Cindy and Hayne Hollis

SARA ERWIN LACEY

Suzanne Lacey

THOMAS JACKSON LANDHAM

Stephanie Topsy Landham

JENNIE LAST

Joan Last

VIRGINIA LAUDENBAUCH

D. Scott McLain

ANNA HARTZOG LAWRENCE

Richard and Peggy Allen

Mary and Kendall Carnie

Cynthia Echols

Sarah Edwards

Susan and Thomas Hagood

Ray Lerer

Nancy Madigan

Jim and Joan Martin

Will Martin

Dolores Miller

Tiffany Murray

Ginger Snyder

MEMORIAL GIFTS

CHARLOTTE LEACH

Tom and Donna Coon

Gina Gentry

The Nichols Family

John and Debbie Sullivan

MARGARET LEACH

Jessellan and James Dunn

CHUCK LEWIS

Sarah Edwards

DOROTHY LILLEY

Greg and Karen Jeane

RET. LT. GEN. JIM LINK

Hall and Susan Bryant

EFIE PEARL LYNN

John and Diane Lynn

M

CHARLES MADDOX

Frances Maddox

ZACHARY MARKS

Robert and Debra Marks

MR. AND MRS. W. H. MARSH

James Marsh

JOYCE G. MARTIN

Tallatron

IDA MASON

Louise and Pierce Boyd

GINGER MATTHEWS

Lee Matthews

GEORGE DEAN MCLEAN

Joan Creighton

Randy and Christy Little

PATSY LOU SMITH MEANS

George and Margaret Fritsma

Randy and Christy Little

BETTY W. MEDLOCK

Joe and Martha Medlock

THAD MORGAN

Sarah and Ray Dial

MARK MURRAY

Shirley Hinton

DAN W. NASH, SR.

Hall and Susan Bryant

CALVIN NEWLIN

George and Margaret Fritsma

TOM AND MARGIE NUNNELLEY

David and Beth Nunnelley

JOY OLSON

Sarah and Ray Dial

WINNIE O'NEAL

Tallatron

HELEN ORSER

William and Rebecca Green

OSCAR AND AMY REEVES

James and Claudia Carroll

Fairfield Highlands Presbyterian Church

HUBERT RICHARDS

Bob and Rebecca Reynolds

GINI RICHARDSON

Sarah Edwards

CAMMACK RICKS

Ken and Jane Hill

JANETT SAVELL RIDOUT

Janis and Bruce Williams

VIRGINIA C. ROBERTSON

Mary Beth and Joe Philips

NANCY GORDON ROBINSON

Hall and Susan Bryant

THE REV. JIM STANFORD

Bill Scott

EVA BELL STANKARD

Gail Sharman

LEAH STEPHENS

Jane Rutland Reed

JOSEPH STONE

Bruce and Linda Dingman

TTED AND MARIE TAMBLYN

Barbara Clapp

LOUISE AND ALLEN TARTT

Anne Tartt Lyons

CURTIS W. TAYLOR

Dawn and Bob Beck

Dennis Dever

Thomas and Mary Anne Dever

JOEL PATE

Delora Pate

BARBARA L. PHILLIPS

Ginny and James Hornsby

ROBYN CRANDALL PRICE

Jane Rutland Reed

MARY KNIGHTEN SANDERS

Ted Jones

PAULA CARTER SANDERS

Hall and Susan Bryant

KAY BLAYLOCK SCOTT

Judith Davis

SHIRLEY SELF

John and Carolyn Tate

JAMES AND MARY SILAVENT

Linda Silavent McMillan

BETTY SMITH

Carolyn Hurlbert

Donna Marquez

EDWARD RAGLAND

Hall and Susan Bryant

MARGARET M. RAMSDELL

Kathy and David Silvie

ETHEL P. REECE

Heritage Sunday School Class

Deborah Jernigan

SARA BESS SMITH

Jo Beth Hurt

CAMILLE WOFFORD SOLLEY

Timothy Solley

WYETH HOLT SPEIR, JR.

Mary Jane Skinner

DONALD SPENCER

Hall and Susan Bryant

Becca Lambert

JOE B. TAYLOR

Christina Tidwell

ALENE W. THOMAS

Jane Rutland Reed

ROBERT WAYNE THOMAS

George and Margaret Fritsma

ANNE TURNER

Steve and Paulette Turner

WSCARLETTE WALKER

Jerry and Lana Boozer

JOAN WARREN

Hall and Susan Bryant

JIMMIE FAYE SMITH WILLIAMS

Janis and Bruce Williams

DONALD H. WOOD

William Stillings

DONATIONS MADE TO PHFC IN LOVING MEMORY OF FELICIA AYERS STOREY

The Home was honored to accept contributions in loving memory of our longtime friend and colleague Felicia Ayers Storey, with the blessings of Felicia’s husband James Storey (pictured with Felicia).

ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHILD CARE AGENCIES

DR. SUSAN JONES ASHBEE

TED AND MARCIA AUTTERSON

LOUISE AND PIERCE BOYD

PATRICK AND TAMMY MENTZER BROWN

CAHABA SPRINGS

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ELLEN COPELAND

DR. RICHARD CROW

PAM DAVIS

JOSEPH AND SARAH DAVIS

GEORGE AND MARGARET FRITSMA

JOHN HALEY

STEVE HESTER

THE REV. DAVID AND DEE KOZA JAMISON

LELAND AND MARTY KELLER

THE REV. ROBERT AND LINDA MADSEN

DOROTHY MARTIN

PEARSON MCGHEE

SHARON AND BOBBY MOORE

MOUNT CANAAN BAPTIST CHURCH

DAVID AND SHARYN NUNN

MARIE PLAYER

BELLAIRE AND CARON RILEY

JAMES STOREY

ANNE WHITFIELD

JANIS AND BRUCE WILLIAMS

JAMES AND DEBORAH WRIGHT

FAMILY MAKES MEMORIAL DONATION FOR ASCENSION SCHOLARSHIP FUND

A Scholarship Fund at Ascension Leadership Academy has been created for students from the Presbyterian Home for Children thanks to a generous donation from the estate of Walter R. Bell.

Ascension is the Home’s Cognia-accredited school that provides personalized learning instruction to help our students develop academically, socially, and spiritually to their maximum potential

Through his estate, Mr. Bell supported that mission by creating a Scholarship Fund for Ascension in memory of his parents, Dr. and Mrs. William H. Hutchinson, and his mother, Mae Lewis Hutchinson Bellin.

“This gift is truly a legacy of pure love in a shared calling from our Lord to these very precious ones,” said Doug Marshall, President and CEO of the Presbyterian Home for Children.

The school’s priority is to foster the development of a strong, moral core; create an interest in learning; and develop life-long, self-disciplined learners who will become the leaders of their communities and provide service to others throughout their

lives. We are incredibly grateful for this wonderful legacy of love left to our students by the estate of Walter R. Bell to help our children and youth become the fully functional persons whom God created them to be.

You can join his efforts by giving to this Scholarship Fund by visiting us online at: ascensionleadership.org/give

PHFC accepts gifts made from a will or bequest, through IRAs or publicly traded stock, bonds, closely held stock, mutual funds, or life insurance. After providing for loved ones, one final act of generosity is often made through a bequest in a donor’s will or living trust or as a beneficiary in a life insurance policy to provide enduring support for PHFC’s vital work.

For more information, contact Jennifer Braxton, Director of Development, at (205)410-4851 or jbraxton@phfc.org.

HONOR GIFTS

RECEIVED FEBRUARY 2023 THROUGH MAY 2023

THE BOOZER FAMILY

Jerry and Lana Boozer

ETHELYN BROWN

First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville

THE MARIANI FAMILY

Jerry and Lana Boozer

CARL MARTIN

George and Margaret Fritsma

MARTHA M. MARTIN

Carl Martin

HONORARIUM CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PRESBYTERIAN HOME FOR CHILDREN ARE LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER WITH THE NAME OF THE HONOREE IN CAPITAL LETTERS FOLLOWED BY THE DONORS’ NAMES AND, IF STATED, THE OCCASION.

SSEN. RICHARD SHELBY

Gene and Belle Bennett

JENNIFER AND CHUCK SMITH

George and Margaret Fritsma

DAN SOUTHERN

George and Margaret Fritsma

JONNIE MAE CAMP

Sterrett Post Office

BROOK CARRUTHERS

Bo and Jan Monroe

GERALDINE CATALANO

Jeannie and Stan Brandon

CAROL COPELAND

Matthew and Diann Copeland

Steve Copeland

JACKSON EVERS

Jeannie and Stan Brandon

THE MATTHEWS FAMILY

Jerry and Lana Boozer

DR. KEITH MOORE

First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville

SPECIAL HONORS

In Honor Of ROSEMARY JAGER on her birthday

Jo Beth Hurt

In Honor Of JEAN MOORE on her 95th birthday

Chuck and Sharon Moore

In Honor Of FOSTER PARENTS

WJANIS WILLIAMS

Rob and Ellen Rosson

MARY WITHERSPOON

John Witherspoon

John and Jan Spears

MARGARET NORTHEN

Beverly and Joseph Brasell

JOHN AND PAULA OFFUTT

Bill Valentine

SARA LEE GREEN

David and Sara Finney

SHARON PADGETT

First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville

PLEASE USE THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE FOR CONTRIBUTIONS OR ADDRESS CORRECTIONS. ENCLOSE THE MAILING ADDRESS PRINTED ABOVE WITH YOUR REQUEST. GIVE

PHFC!

Do you have a car, truck or van that you no longer use? Don’t feel guilty every time you walk by it. Donate it to the Presbyterian Home for Children.

The Home may be able to use your vehicle. Or we can sell your old vehicle and use the funds to help support our programs. Either way, you can feel good knowing that you're supporting a ministry that is helping some of the state's most vulnerable citizens, at-risk children and families. And your vehicle loved over the years will now receive a brand new purpose in life.