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April 2016 |
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| Family Service Association of San Antonio, Inc.
Since 1903, we're the family
you can always count on!
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Our mission: Empowering individuals and families to transform their lives and strengthen their community.
Our core values: Respect, Responsiveness, Excellence, Integrity, and Accountability.
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Protect A Child
Keep A TEEN In School
Preserve A MARRIAGE
GUIDE A Lost Soul
CARE for a Grandparent
STOP A Parent's Violence
RESCUE An Abused Child
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Family Service Association
702 San Pedro Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78212
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IN THIS ISSUE:
- Viva Fiesta!
- Dreams Do Come True
- Now a 4.7 Million Dollar Dream Comes True
- Generous Gifts Made it Possible
- A Few Examples...
- Small Miracles, Every Day
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Get your Family Service 2016 Fiesta Medals!
2 medals, 1 family!
Get 1 medal for $8 or both for $12!
Call 210-299-2409!
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Once upon a time in a sprawling schoolhouse on the west side, thousands of children learned to read, write and do math, made lifelong friends and built memories in the classrooms, hallways and playground. Then one day, H.K. Williams Elementary School closed and sat empty, housing only memories.
Ten years ago Family Service, along with many partners, took a leap of faith, re-purposed and rented the campus from the Edgewood ISD and opened The Neighborhood Place, infusing the space with vibrant new energy and much needed services. In less than a decade, we have served more than 595,000 neighbors in a myriad of innovative ways helping to mitigate the trauma of adverse experiences for all members of the community.
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Now a 4.7 Million Dollar
Dream Comes True
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Photo: Legacy Campaign co-chair Johnny Hernandez and Family Service Board Chair Carl Friedsam sharing experiences about The Neighborhood Place.
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That will make it possible for us to ensure that the legacy of neighbors helping neighbors continues to empower the financially powerless, launch kids for school readiness, guide motivated adults to earn their GEDs, teach English as a Second Language, help parents become better at nurturing their children's success, engage fathers in their family life, provide health and wellness services, introduce teens to technology, connect neighbors to neighbors and oh so much more. These services help a community recover from the trauma of a closed school and empowers them forward into success.
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Generous Gifts Will
Allow Us To...
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take ownership of The Neighborhood Place. Philanthropic organizations and charitable foundations contributed $3.2 million to our capital campaign, "The Legacy Campaign" ... and in a stunning surprise last month, Bexar County awarded a $1.5 million gift to help us reach our goal. We now have the funds to purchase the building and acreage and make much needed basic improvements to the facility to permanently serve our neighbors.
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Photo: County Commissioner Paul Elizondo announces the county's gift to Family Service
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We are filling a critical void as Bexar County Commissioner Paul Elizondo said, when he referred to The Neighborhood Place "is a shining example of what a community can do when people of the right mind and the right heart work together." We have taken a holistic approach to helping a neighborhood enmeshed in poverty, child abuse, record high school dropout rates and innumerable family crises. We offer physical and mental health, financial, family and educational services for every age and ability. In zip codes 78207, 78228 and 78237, almost 29% of the population lives below the poverty line with an average per capita income of $15,597. Nearly one-third of the adult residents have not completed high school, and almost 18% are disabled. We're changing that trend, one person at a time.
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| Of the amazing happenings at The Neighborhood Place
- GED CLASSES - We partner with Region 20 Education Service Center to offer GED classes every quarter with a certified instructor and computer lab. It's free to participants, whose lives are permanently transformed by this educational achievement that opens doors for them.
- ESL CLASSES - Through computer programs, apps and conversation, we help approximately 30 individuals learn English as a Second Language every quarter. Participants form a strong social network while enhancing their ability to communicate and to seek employment.
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Photo: Resident Leadership graduates with Mentor, Victoria Salas
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- RESIDENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING - Among other benefits of this program, many participants have been guided to promotoras work where they assist neighbors in navigating health and wellness resources.
- VITA - Tax volunteers are on site to help people file their income tax in a friendly, well-informed, comfortable atmosphere. Helping low-income earners discover refunds gained through earned income and child credits is gratifying for taxpayers and volunteers. And the onsite presence of workers with the Affordable Care Act offers a resource for folks to apply for health insurance.
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Photo: One of Family Service's Financial Empowerment Centers
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- FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER - More than 5,261 individuals have received FREE financial counseling that has reduced their debt by over $6 million, improved their credit scores and helped them save $591,000.
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Small Miracles, Every Day
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And the miracles will continue, thanks to this community's faith in Family Service to strengthen families, connect neighbors, engender hope and transform the culture of poverty and trauma. If you can help, we appreciate every gift, of any size, to continue our services that helped 98,457 unduplicated individuals last year.
You can make a tax-deductible donation on our
secure web site or mail your gift to Family Service, 702 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78212. We apply 93 cents of every dollar to direct client services and every day, our services make our community a better place to live.
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VITA San Antonio at The Neighborhood Place
Now until April 18th, 2016
The Neighborhood Place Brought to you by Family Service
3014 Rivas St. San Antonio TX 78228
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is still happening at The Neighborhood Place! If you haven't filed your taxes stop by 3014 Rivas Street, call 210-431-7573 or click HERE with any questions.
Birdies for Charity
Now Until April 15th, 2016
Valero Texas Open's charity fundraising program Birdies for Charity is well under way. We are at par, help us get to a birdie! Donate HERE
Partnering for Lifelong Success Parent Summit
Friday, April 29th, 2016 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
The Neighborhood Place Brought to you by Family Service
3014 Rivas St. San Antonio TX 78228
Family Service is hosting our 2nd Annual Spring Parent Summit for families in our community. Topics to include:Financial issue,
Parenting a teen,
Grandparents as parents, and much more!
The Big Give SA
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016
24 Hour Event
Join Family Service as we raise $15,000 in a 24 hour period! Give online or dine-out at any Magnolia Pancake Haus location and order The Big Give plate special! Keep up with our Big Give activities on our Facebook page HERE
Change in Mind - Children's Mental Health and
Brain Science Professional Learning Summit
Thursday, May 5th 2016
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
The Neighborhood Place Brought to you by Family Service
3014 Rivas St. San Antonio TX 78228
The Neighborhood Place is hosting a professional development summit for all social workers and licensed professional counselors to discuss Brain Science, Trauma Informed Care, and Adverse Childhood Experiences. To register for this summit
please click HERE
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Our services to the community are among many programs Family Service offers to strengthen families, transform lives, and change the community. It is what we've been doing for 112 years. Your gifts in any amount ensure a brighter tomorrow for families in our community. Please send your contributions to Family Service Association, 702 San Pedro, San Antonio, Texas 78212.
or donate here:
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| If you have suggestions for future e-newsletters, please send your comments to [email protected]. |
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