News
CCC director wins award
Brad Carter, CCC executive director, receives 2008 Public Citizen of the Year award
The National Association of Social Workers-Texas Branch (NASW-TX), Abilene Chapter held its annual award reception on Thurssday, March 27. Awards were given by the local chapter for Social Work Student of the Year (BS and MS), Social Worker of the Year, Lifetime Acheivement Award and Public Citizen of the Year.
Brad Carter, CCC executive director, was awarded the NASW's Public Citizen of the Year award at the reception for his work with Connecting Caring Communities, neighborhood association and a variety of other community groups and organizations. The award honors an outstanding member of the community whose accomplishments exemplify the values and mission of the profession of social work, but is not a social worker.
Klista Bomberger, a longtime volunteer and worker at the North Park Friendship House, was also honored at the reception as Social Work Student of the Year (BS).
Youth Plan Block Party
Two Northpark Neighborhood youth planned a block party for their blocks that was held last Saturday May 29th at the Northpark Friendship House
This semester our Friendship House youth are doing projects of their choosing in order to give back to their community. Allie and Gabby, both 6th graders chose to throw a block party for their neighbors. With the help of two HSU volunteers, Stephanie and McKenzie they were able to get free BBQ dinner donated from Isaiah 58 ministries, plan games including a three legged race and egg race, and all the kids won great prizes. Approximately 25 neighbors attended and enjoyed the fun. The girls did a great job and were encouraged to continue finding ways to give back to their community.
Friendship House Spring Break Family Fun
During Spring Break the Northpark Friendship House will be visiting the zoo and Abilene State Park.
The Monday and Tuesday of Spring Break our Northpark Friendship House families will be having field trips for the whole family. On Monday we are going to go to the zoo as a group of neighbors and enjoy seeing the animals and spending time together. On Tuesday we will take a short road trip out to the State Park, cook out hot dogs, go for a hike and play games. Most of the neighborhood children and youth have never been to the State Park and the Parents wanted to have something fun for their children to do over Spring Break. At our Semester Parent meeting one of our moms suggested a trip to the State park because they wanted there kids to have something to talk about when they go back to school and have a way for our families to interact together as we all get to know and care more about one another.
Local Primary Election Forum
Sheriff, Commissioner Candidates answer questions
Connecting Caring Communities partnered with the African-American Leadership Council and the National Association of Social Workers, Texas Chapter, Abilene Branch, to host a forum with candidates running for Taylor Country Sheriff and Commissioner, precinct 1. All six candidates for these offices attended the forum as well as about three dozen citizens. The forum was held at HSU on Saturday, March 1. More forums are being planned to help inform voters regarding upcoming bond elections, City Council and AISD school board seats. Look for information as it comes to attend, meet candidates and have your questions answered.
You Made Abilene, CCC A Winner!
CCC Finishes in Top 50 of America's Giving Challenge
As we reported in early February, Connecting Caring Communities received over $2,000 from online donors like you during the month of January through America’s Giving Challenge, sponsored by PARADE Magazine and The Case Foundation.
Last week, winners of the contest were announced and Connecting Caring Communities finished in the Top 50 and was awarded an additional $1,000 as a finalist in the contest. This brings our Challenge total to over $3,200.
To all our donors and those who helped spread the word about the contest— thank you for making Abilene, and CCC, a national winner in America’s Giving Challenge!
For more information and details about America's Giving Challenge, go here.
Rep. Susan King Visits CCC
Abilene's State Representative sees Friendship House first hand
"How has the Friendship House benefited you?" State Representative Susan King asked the youth of the North Park Friendship House on Monday, February 11. The youth responded about new friends, relationships, mentors, fun and getting to do projects and service for others as the great things about coming to the Friendship House each week.
Representative King visited with the youth and volunteers and took a tour of the North Park Friendship House to see the great work that Connecting Caring Communities is doing in our city.
Youth Club member Shelby Bailey reports:
A few weeks ago our state representative Susan King, visited the North Park Friendship House. I thought it was cool because she took the time out of her busy schedule to come and talk to us .She asked us about our lives, and how long we had been participating in the many activities at Friendship House. It was nice to know that the one representing our state in political decisions cares for the people she stands for. Because so many times no one cares about kids, especially someone with her power. Most of the time we’re just treated like because we’re kids we don’t matter, we don’t have opinions, and she didn’t, she cared. She got down to our level and talked to us and didn’t lecture or urge our parent’s votes, she cared. I enjoyed her visit, others may have different opinions, but this is mine, and I’m going with it.
Laptops for children in Abilene and around the world
Connecting Caring Communities recently purchased 20 laptop computers for use by children in Abilene and in developing countries around the world.
New computers...for us?” The words of an eager child at the Friendship House exclaimed. Yes, these new stylish and modern marvels were for these wonderful children and they caught the eye of every child. A few sat down for the chance to use one of the five XO laptops bought for each Friendship House.
Their small fingers traveled along the different textures, memorizing every key, button and device. Grateful grins spread across their faces. Each new program needed experimentation. Volunteers watched and helped them navigate new treasures. LaShay and DeSandra made movies together—movies that would lead to fantastic memories.
Through the “Give One, Get One” program of One Laptop Per Child Foundation (OLPC), CCC purchased the cutting-edge XO laptops to use in the weekly Kids Club activities in the Friendship Houses. The laptops are designed for educational use by children and for durability of being used by children – at the Friendship House or in the African desert. For each of the ten laptops that recently arrived at the Friendship Houses in early February, a laptop was sent through OLPC to developing countries like Somalia or Haiti.
The XO laptop is designed for children to be “learning learning.” The child-designed laptops have many unique qualities. Chief among these ideals is the intentional way the laptop is set-up for children to explore the world, learn about themselves, work on problem-solving and be creative. The laptops are child-sized, but utilize proven methods of teaching while also fulfilling the needs to do online research or write a paper for school.
One Laptop Per Child was founded by Nicholas Negroponte with a core of Media Lab veterans with the goal to provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment and express themselves. Learn more about OLPC and the XO laptop at www.laptop.org.
CCC Success with Giving Challenge
In January 2008, CCC took America's Giving Challenge sponsored by Parade Magazine.
Parade Magazine and The Case Foundation partnered together to sponsor America's Giving Challenge in January 2008. Connecting Caring Communities, with over 1200 individuals on its Caring Team, decided to take the Challenge of finding the most online donors during the month.
Although CCC was not one of the Challenge finalists, we were able to raise over $2300 from over 115 individual donors. These online donations will help us move toward our aggressive 2008 goals of expansion and increased impact in the community. Online donations are still a great way to financially support CCC. Click the "Donate" button on CCC's home page for more information.
In the contest, a minimum $10 donation had to be made online. The four organizations with the most different donors were declared winners-- and received an additional $50,000 prize. Winning organizations were able to secure donations from over 2500 individual donors.
Special Donation
A Friendship House volunteer not only donates her time but restocks our Friendship store that the kids can get prizes from with the points they earn for participating at the Friendship House
After the Holidays one of our volunteers came to our planning meeting with her arms full of six bags of toys and prizes to restock our Frienship House store. She and her parents bought all the prizes for our kids with their own money. She told me, "I love these kids" and she wanted to do something special for them. Thank you!
Friendship House Activities to Begin
The NorthPark Friendship House will be getting back to our normal schedule starting the first week of February.
Everywhere I go our neighborhood kids keep asking when we are going to get started back with activities. We are excited to have our semester planned. We will have our regular activities including Youth Club, Kids Club, Reading Club, Exercise and Nutrition, Moms and Tots and Neighbor Lunch all in full swing. We have some fun activities including having the HSU dance team come teach our kids a routine, as well as new Reading Club partners for the kids, and a Neighborhood Family Fun Run all in store.