Greetings!
Alone, we make ripples. Together, we make waves. I am pleased to report that despite challenges such as increasing violence in the community and the horrific effects opioid abuse is having on children and families, we are making progress in our work to stop and prevent child abuse, and helping families recover.
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We’re busy planning our 2018 Rally to End Child Abuse, planned for Wednesday, March 28, on the lawn of the Big Four Bridge. It’s the kickoff for April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and brings together friends and partners to recommit to protect children and families.
On the heels of the rally is the Champions for Children Breakfast, our largest single fundraising event. The breakfast is 7:30 to 9 a.m., April 11, at the Mellwood Arts Center, and I hope you will join us as a table host or guest.
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We’re excited about our partnership with Baptist Health Floyd, in New Albany, which makes it possible for us to provide even more services that are critical to Floyd County families through co-located facilities donated by the hospital and in partnership with the Floyd Memorial Foundation. And we’re looking forward to having staff in the new West End YMCA when it opens in Spring of 2019. We’ve been working to help the underserved families in West Louisville, and this expansion makes that possible. We are now focused on partnering with purpose through building strategic relationships throughout the community.
There is bittersweet news – we had end our service to homeless children and families, but the good news is that we worked with Volunteers of America, which agreed to take on staff and programs, so there was no disruption in service for most client families. Our goal was to ensure families had access to the help; VOA’s support ensured that.
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Plans for Impact V – our shared services group, along with Boys & Girls Haven, The Center for Women and Families, Dreams With Wings, and Zoom Group – is moving forward to deliver strategic, professional, and highly productive business solutions to the five partners agencies. This first of its kind local collaboration reduces costs, increases purchasing power and operating efficiency, and ensures access to and delivery of high-quality services, and holds promise to add other paying clients in the future.
All of this is because of your partnership, your support. We couldn’t do what we do without you, and make no mistake, the work you enable and empower is making a profound difference. This year, we expect, again, to help more than 6,000 children and family members escape violence and abuse, and recover their smiles, happiness, and security.
So, thank you for giving children back their smiles, their childhoods, and for making this a better, safer community for children and families.
With appreciation,
Pam Darnall
President/CEO
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A Generous Gift for
First-Time Parents
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Family & Children’s Place is excited to announce a $60,000 grant from the
Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence (JHFE) that will provide for the hiring of a Community Outreach Coordinator position for two years for our HANDS program.
The coordinator will visit Neonatal Intensive Care Units in four area hospitals, working with doctors, nurses, and clinicians to increase participation in the HANDS program for at-risk babies and families. The grant will allow Family & Children’s Place to expand services in major Louisville area hospitals as well as the general community, allowing us to serve a larger population of new parents and families.
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Family & Children's Place Welcomes New Ambassadors
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Family & Children’s Place is welcoming six new Ambassadors to its 2018 volunteer corps.
This is the fourth class of Ambassadors, who help create awareness of and support for the agency through volunteering, speaking, and networking opportunities. Class members also receive mentoring by Board of Director members, and have the chance to make a big difference to the lives of children in the community.
Class members for 2018-19 are:
- Lauren Bisig, Northwestern Mutual
- Alex Brey, Underhill Associates
- Carson Economy, Centerstone
- Hannah Oliver, Hilliard Lyons
- Eric Payne, Republic Bank
- Patrick Wilson, Mountjoy Chilton Medley LLP
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Family & Children's Place staff wears blue to recognize Human Trafficking Awareness Day on Jan. 11. #wearblueday
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Emmie the Facility Dog Joins Family & Children's Place!
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The agency has some PAWSome news to share! A very special new staff member – Emmie – facility dog for the agency’s child advocacy centers in Kentucky and Indiana!
Emmie is a specially trained – and she’s still in training, along with her handlers, Becky League and Shannon Wright – golden doodle that will offer comfort and love to children who visit the CACs who may have been physically or sexually abused.
Emmie is possible through a generous gift from board member Bill Ehrig and his wife, Coleen, who paid to secure Emmie and for her training.
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Good to See Marsy's Law Progressing
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Family & Children’s Place is pleased to see Marsy’s Law – a proposed constitutional amendment to ensure protections for victims of crime – make it through the Kentucky General Assembly, and thanks and congratulates lawmakers for approvals in the Senate and House, clearing the way for the measure to appear on the ballot in November. We were especially pleased to have our President and CEO Pam Darnall among the voices selected to speak out for victims during hearings before the Senate and House.
Marsy’s Law guarantees that victims have the right to notice of court proceedings, the right to be present at judicial hearings, the right to be heard at pleas and other proceedings and the right to avoid unreasonable delays. The measure is named in honor of Marsalee “Marsy” Nicholas, who was killed in 1983.
It gives victims of crimes equivalent rights as those who commit crimes, and as Darnall noted, “We see a lot of hurt people who believe that the system works against them … Marsy’s Law will ensure that they are informed and heard, and provide them a sense of security as they maneuver through the judicial system.”
Kentucky is among 14 states that do not offer constitutional-level protections for crime victims, but voters can change that in November!
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We Couldn't Do It Without You!
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Click on the image above to download our 2017 Gratitude Report.
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Looking for Tax Beneficial Ways to Give in 2018?
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The new tax bill, which is effective for 2018, could affect the deductibility of charitable contributions. With the increased standard deduction, many individuals will no longer be itemizing deductions and, if you do not itemize your deductions, charitable contributions may not be deductible. However, if finding a tax beneficial way to make a charitable contribution is still important to you there are a few options.
Gifts of appreciated stock will still provide tax benefits by avoiding capital gains taxes on stock that has appreciated in value when it is donated directly to charity.
Additionally, gifts transferred directly from IRAs remain tax beneficial for donors 70 ½ or older. Gifts of up to $100,000 made directly from the IRA to a charity can be part of a tax-free minimum distribution.
The best way to determine your most tax beneficial way to donate is to contact your financial advisor.
If you would like information on how to make a gift of stock or directly from your IRA to Family & Children’s Place please contact Larissa Reece at 502-855-6156 or by email at
lreece@famchildplace.org.
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Our families celebrated with holiday cheer during December. Check out some of the great photos taken at the Christmas parties!
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Rally to End Child Abuse
Wednesday, March 28 | 11 a.m.
Big Four Bridge Lawn
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Champions for Children Breakfast
Wednesday, April 11 | Mellwood Arts Center
Registration, coffee at 7:30 a.m., Program at 8 a.m.
For more information about the
Champions for Children Breakfast
, please contact Micah Jorrisch at
mjorrisch@famchildplace.org
or 502-893-3900 x 281.
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In-Kind - Along with financial and volunteer support, Family & Children’s Place has ongoing material needs that help facilitate our work with children and families. Click
HERE to see our wish list.
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Volunteer - Are you interested in volunteering? Contact Janet Tinsley at
jtinsley@famchildplace.org or 502-893-3900 x 265 for more information on volunteer opportunities.
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