Posted by: Ashley @ 1:32 pm
Although there is still chill in the air, golfers are warming up their swings for the second annual Birdies for Charity.
The United Methodist Children’s Home is participating once again in this program through the Regions Charity Classic.
“Even if you aren’t necessarily a fan of golf, it is easy to get excited about the Children’s Home,” said Ashley Anderson, Senior Development Specialist for the UMCH.
This fundraiser allows donors to pledge a dollar amount per-birdie or a flat donation for charities.
“Friends of the UMCH may donate directly to the Birdies for Charity website and we will receive 100% of the donations generated,” said Anderson. Pledge cards are also available at the Public Relations & Development office in Birmingham.
“The top three charities will also receive bonus money from the Birdies for Charity program,” said Anderson. “It would be wonderful for the United Methodist Children’s Home to receive an additional $10,000!”
As an added incentive to donors, each person who makes a pledge will be given the opportunity to guess the total number of birdies made by the Champions Tour players during the tournament.
The grand prize this year for guessing the birdies is a getaway package at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida.
“We will also be giving away day passes to the tournament,” said Anderson. The Executive Club tickets are good for any one day of the tournament.
The tournament runs from May 13-17, 2009 at Ross Bridge in Hoover, AL. To make a donation to Birdies for Charity, Click Here For United Methodist Childrens Home
UMCH is at another pivotal point in its long and strong history. Just as we’ve done for more than a century, we foresee changes happening in the general environment of childcare and we proactively evolve to best meet the needs of today … as well as establishing an even stronger foundation to care for children well into the future.
We are changing the way we think about appropriate childcare and improving our services to children and families in order to make an even more dramatic and positive impact on their lives. We are reorganizing our staff, regions, fundraising and awareness efforts, and leadership … all to better serve children and families in the most efficient and effective way possible.
So now is the perfect time to re-energize the passion supporters have for UMCH … and to reach the next generation that will continue the strong tradition of supporting this mission-driven, healing ministry. We designed an iconic symbol that embraces our mission in a simple, visual way.
Our new logo is unique and will stand out among all the others, just as we do in our excellent service to children and families. We want our supporters and partners to recognize the difference in our ministry, and feel affection and confidence when they view our logo.
Our mission is to follow the example of Christ by embracing all God’s children … on child, one family at a time. Clarifying our century-old tradition of this vital ministry, our logo brightly illustrates our mission bringing focus to an embracing heart.
The bright colors symbolize more happy memories of childhood … a hope and goal we have for the children and young people we serve. The heart is embossed into a symbol of diversity, representing our various programs serving a diverse population. The United Methodist symbol is infused into our logo to identify our church connection … and emphasize the important spiritual aspect of our services to children and families.
We hope that whenever you see our logo, you easily recognize who we are and feel the loving embrace of the heart in our mission shared by all of our caring staff members, Board members and foster families.
If you would like to use our logo in your publications to help connect our ministry with yours, you can find downloadable logo files on website, http://www.umch.net./ Go to the Media Center / Press Room from the homepage menu.
Posted by: Jill @ 11:00 am
Home Sweet Home - Our newest UM Children’s Home is located in Crestview, Florida and will serve up to 24 adolescent children and teens.
God continues to move and guide the United Methodist Children’s Home ministry, as He has blessed us with several incredible opportunities to expand in Florida.
In 2006, Children in Crisis, a non-profit entity founded to raise funds to construct a children’s village in Ft. Walton Beach, sought out the help of UMCH. CIC asked to contract with UMCH because of our established reputation and our proven successes in caring for abused and neglected children. UMCH agreed to help, and obtained a state license to operate an emergency shelter and group home in the newly constructed CIC facilities.
UMCH operated both programs with great success, and upon the expiration of the contract with CIC, UMCH assisted them with obtaining their own license to operate. As of Friday, February 6th, CIC is an independently-operated agency caring for young children.
This transition allows UMCH to expand even further in Florida to reach older children who are much harder to find homes for due to their age and behaviors related to trauma stemming from their childhood. Our newest home in Crestview is set to open in April, and will serve adolescents and teens suffering the pains from abuse and neglect … and in desperate need of a stable, loving and Christ-centered home.
“This will be one of our largest single homes,” said Steve Hubbard, UMCH President & CEO. “We will be able to serve up to 24 children in this home, and give the special loving care that our ministry has traditionally provided.”
The facility is located in a residential area, but very close to schools, medical care, and other services that will be needed for the children living there. Renovations are almost complete, and soon will be fully staffed to serve adolescent-age children with special emotional needs.
Area Methodist churches are already rallying their support around this home. Crestview First UMC has been hard at work, and plans to host an Open House and Shower to help provide the many needs for this home. Also, groups from this mission-minded church are planning to help provide new mattresses for the 24 twin beds needed.
Woodbine UMC is also getting involved. Its motorcycle ministry members, W.O.R.D. (Woodbine Outreach Riding Disciples), have expressed their desire to help decorate at least two of the children’s rooms! And … New Bethel UMC is planning on adopting a room as well!
UMCH is very grateful for all of the love and support we’ve received in the Pensacola District as we follow God’s lead in continuing to grow His ministry to ”the least of these among us” in the Florida region. He has always blessed this ministry through His many servants, and we are faithful that His hand will continue to move people to action in Crestview!
Keep visiting our website to follow the progress of our new home for children, and find out how you can get involved.
Posted by: Jill @ 2:46 pm
Angie Lewis, children’s director at Jasper First UMC, accepts the “Heart of the Volunteer” award from UMCH TFC supervisor, Janice Hawkins.
The First United Methodist Church of Jasper has been a strong supporter of our therapeutic foster care program in Jasper, AL. The UMCH staff in Jasper presented them in January with our “Heart of a Volunteer” award. This church has received recognition in the past from UMCH, and they deserve it every year!
“We had a child come in here with just the clothes on his back and within no time they were down here with clothes. They are always ready to help if we need it and they are in the top 10 of giving in the Northern District,” said Janice Hawkins, Northwest TFC supervisor.
Every year they provide a big Christmas party for the foster care children in their area. They make sure each child is fully sponsored and receive some of the items on their Christmas lists. Children have walked away with big ticket items like a television or a Wii.
Throughout the year they are poised to provide for any emergency or special needs the children have. They have faithfully provided items such as clothing, a breathing machine, and computer monitors. They not only give money and goods but are also generous with their buildings.
“They allow me to use the church to train foster parents and hold advisory meetings,” said Janice.
Thank you First United Methodist of Jasper! May God bless you for your generosity.