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Note from the Executive Director
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| It's hard to believe it is already November and the holiday season is right around the corner! November is National Adoption Month and we can't wait to celebrate local advocates that help our children find forever families that will provide an opportunity for them to thrive. To learn more about some of the work our Guardian ad Litem volunteers are doing to support paths to permanency read our update here! |
Cause An Effect
Monday, Dec 5th, 4:00 - 8:00 PM
Chipotle
92003 US Highway 19
New Port Richey, FL
Make dinner a selfless act by joining us for a fundraiser to support Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Tampa Bay. Go to the New Port Richey on 12/5 from 4:00 to 8:00pm and let the cashier know you're supporting the Guardian Ad Litem Foundation to make sure that 50% of the proceeds will be donated to Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Tampa Bay.
Santa's Toy Workshop: Shopping Dates Available
Pasco: Saturday, December 10; 10-11:30 AM
Pinellas: Wednesday, December 14; 3-6 PM
Many of you have submitted families to our annual holiday gift drive and have been paired with donors to support your children's specific wishlists.
We know that many GALs are appointed to cases after our submission deadline and want to ensure their families have a happy holiday season.
If you have a family not covered by other resources, please join us at Santa's Toy Workshop to shop for the children you serve. If you are unable to make the scheduled times, please coordinate with your CAM to shop AFTER the scheduled open house. Special thanks to Advanta IRA, Mease Manor, Bon Worth, the Palm Harbor Newcomer's Club, and other local companies and organizations that make the holidays bright for our late shelter children!
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Partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay has recently partnered with Eckerd Kids
to match volunteer mentors to more than 100 area children in the foster care system. BBBS is recruiting adults who are specifically interested in working with foster children who are currently placed with a relative or family friend in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco Counties. If you would like to learn more about this new program, or would consider becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister to these children in need, please contact Jack Sheppard, Managing Director of Partnership Development.
Adoption Resources
Adoption Advocacy Center has relevant information, book lists, and videos about therapeutic parenting and real life situations.
Child Welfare.Gov has podcasts, information on engaging youth and supporting families.
Check out the new campaign from the Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco to help encourage teen adoption: Can You?
Eckerd Kids Fostering Education Initiative
In partnership with the Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Schools Eckerd Kids' Fostering Education Initiative provides school guidance counselors and social workers to foster children 0 -18 in licensed care. Eckerd's Education Specialists are available to help case managers, foster parents and relatives navigate the system to connect youth to educational support.
Find more information here.
Empowerment and Advocacy for Teens
Florida Youth SHINE is a youth run, peer-driven organization that empowers current and former foster youth to become leaders and advocates for their communities. Their goal is to share their stories and experiences in order to improve the system of care for our brothers and sisters currently in care and for those who have yet to enter care.
Children's Needs Requests
The Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Tampa Bay supports requests from Guardian ad Litem volunteers to provide for
emergency needs, tutoring, and normalcy requests
to assist the participation of GAL children in age appropriate extracurricular activities. Contact your CAM to submit a
request
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Children Who Have a Guardian ad Litem
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Do Better in School
Have Fewer Placement Changes
Receive More Services
More Likely to be Adopted
Spend Less Time in Foster Care
Are 50% Less Likely to Return to Care
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Support the
Guardian ad Litem Foundation
of Tampa Bay
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| To provide advocacy and support for abused, abandoned, or neglected children in the Guardian ad Litem Program of Pinellas and Pasco Counties. |
| We envision a world where every child has a safe and permanent home with the opportunity to thrive. |
Superhero 5K
a Huge Success!
We'd like to give a last heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you who so generously sponsored and ran/walked in the SuperHero 5K, Walk & Stroller Roll. We truly could not have pulled this off without your support, which directly affects our service of helping children involved in foster care that the Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Tampa Bay, Inc. represents.Thanks to you, this event was a HUGE success and we were able to raise over $25,000 to support children who have been removed from their homes through no fault of their own!
Special thanks to all of our sponsors. Please support those who support our children- next time you visit tell them thank you for being a hero to a child!
In kind sponsorships include: Rockin' Ricky DJ, Progressive Arts Dance Company, St Leo University, New Wave Nutrition, and LaDee-Da Kid's Spa of Clearwater.
Mark your calendar-next year's run will take place in Safety Harbor on Saturday, September 23rd!
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Does Your Company Offer a Matching Gift Program?
A matching gift is a charitable donation by a corporation that matches an employee's donation to an eligible nonprofit organization, most often dollar for dollar. Thousands of companies across the country have matching gift programs. To see if your company might be one of them, look here:
If your company is not on this list, check with your HR Department to see if your company matches monetary donations or volunteer time.
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