Message from our Executive Director
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It is said that April showers bring May flowers, and I believe it! Our program is blossoming, and we now are serving eleven guests, including seven children ages six and under. Each of these children is so precious, and it is a privilege to watch them grow and thrive under the care of their loving parents!
Hope on Houston also has had growth in the past month: Texoma Community Center's Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) programs moved in down the hall from the Family Promise Day Center. We welcome our new neighbors! Speaking of flowers, Amyee (our case manager) and I saw lots of Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush, and Buttercups on our way to the Family Promise 16th National Conference held this year in San Antonio. Read more about that below. Meanwhile, may you find beauty in each day!
Gratefully,
Leigh
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"Mission Possible" was the theme of the Family Promise National Conference held this year in San Antonio. Leigh and Amyee attended this 3 1/2-day event, and both feel it was time very well spent! Between them, they attended 22 informational sessions and discussions in addition to hearing the 3 keynote speakers. They came back energized and ready to implement new ideas. With 350 people in attendance, they were able to network with Affiliates from all over the US. The commitment, compassion, and accomplishment of Family Promise was on full display! The focus was on the collective vision that Family Promise does not just provide shelter, but is a holistic solution to family homelessness. The National aspiration is to change the future for 1,000,000 children by 2030! Thank you for being a part of that change!
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Sesame Street Focuses on Family Homelessness
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“Losing one’s home brings enormous challenges, yet families can be incredibly strong and determined to create a better future. Every family can build a sense of hope and learn ways to cope…and remember that no one is alone!”*
During the
Family Promise National Conference
held in San Antonio last month, attendees (including Grayson County’s Leigh Walker and Amyee McAlister) were privileged to hear presentations by
Kama Einhorn
, author of, “We Got This!”, a new book published by
Sesame Workshop
, the nonprofit organization behind
Sesame Street
. In this book you will meet Lily, a brave, hopeful 7-year-old who remembers what it was like to not have a permanent place to stay. When Lily meets a mama and baby bird who have lost their nest, she and her new Sesame Street friends get a chance to offer help and hope.
Come by the Day Center and check out the book!
*For more resources, activities, tips, videos, articles, and other materials to help children through tough situations, visit
SesameStreetInCommunities.org
.
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Family Promise Introduces New Logo
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During his CEO speech at the Annual Conference, Claas Ehlers announced that the organization has modernized the Family Promise logo. This is part of ongoing efforts to refresh the look in general.
“We have accomplished a lot with the old logo, but Affiliates, and the National Office, felt it needed to be updated. We believe a simpler, more distinctive evolution of the logo will do a better job to increase awareness of our Network of Affiliates.”
“We choose to focus on the star as people have always felt the star was the most important aspect, and have wanted a cleaner, more modern logo. The star is important because it represents the five key elements of Family Promise”:
- Shelter
- Prevention
- Stabilization
- Community
- Promise
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As our affiliate matures and expands, our website needs to keep up – to effectively
communicate
to our audience (families experiencing situational homelessness, volunteers, donors/supporters). We are pleased to be working with
DSBWorldWide
to build our second-generation website. We expect to be roll out the new site early this summer. More in future newsletters!
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First Annual 'No-Show Gala'!
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Be on the lookout for your invite to the first annual Family Promise of Grayson County No-Show Gala!
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Denison Service League Supports Family Promise
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Family Promise Board Vice President Jeanna Peters (left) accepts a check from
Denison Service League
President Cindy Jones. FPGC was honored by the Service League and greatly appreciates the DSL’s on-going support. With up to 14 guests in the program when at capacity (currently we have 11), we go through a lot of supplies. This thoughtful and generous donation will help keep our operations running smoothly and effectively.
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Sherman Service League Supports Family Promise
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We are so grateful to the
Sherman Service League
for their ongoing support of Family Promise of Grayson County. SSL recently presented Family Promise with a generous gift that will be used towards mental health and case management services for Family Promise guests. Jamie Dyer’s tireless efforts in heading up this year’s Charity Ball resulted in gifts to many area nonprofits. We also very much appreciate League members such as Carissa Butscher (pictured below with Leigh Walker) and Tessa Foreman for volunteering with Family Promise. Thank you all for your help in ending childhood homelessness in Grayson County!!
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We Appreciate Our Volunteers!
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Sherman high school FCCLA students Andrea and Ivonne help sort clothes for guests.
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FCCLA students Gina and Cameron organize the food pantry at the Day Center.
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Sherman high school FCCLA students Cade and River recently volunteered their time at the Family Promise Day Center.
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Volunteers Support Family Promise Through RightGift
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Congratulations to Family Promise volunteers
Megan Taylor
and
Johnathan Byrd
who are getting married on May 18
th
! In lieu of a wedding registry, Johnathan and Megan very thoughtfully and generously requested that
their guests provide support to Family Promise of Grayson County through their donations, gifts, and prayers. They provided a link to
RightGift.com
on which needed items are listed. Anyone desiring to honor Megan and Johnathan in this way, and/or anyone wanting to donate items to Family Promise of Grayson County may use this link.
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