Spring 2009 Newsletter - Center for Grieving Children

Heart
from
the
S p r i n g
N e w s l e t t e r
2 0 0 9
The Center Raises $140,000 at our 12th Annual Auction
Camden Loeser
On Friday, February 6, 2009, 450 people gathered at the Holiday Inn by the Bay
for the 12th Annual Auction and Gala. The event raised just over $140,000 to help
support services provided to the more than 4,000 people The Center serves each
year. The Gala and Auction was chaired by Center Board member, Sharon SeslingLabonte and was sponsored by Re/Max by the Bay and the Spectrum Medical
Group. The auctioneer for the evening was Bill Zafirson.
Cindy Williams of WCSH Channel 6 served as emcee. The evening program began
with a round of applause for long time volunteer Paul Attardo, a 2008 Six Who Care
Award Winner. Another highlight included Board President, Kim True, giving
thanks to the more than 150 volunteers who keep The Center open year round. The
evening concluded with Executive Director, Anne Lynch presenting the second
annual Bill Hemmen’s Award to The Reverend Jacob and Kristine Watson for their
more than 20 years of service to The Center and their community.
Jacob and Kristine Watson
Underscoring the importance of the work that the auction and gala helps to sustain,
Camden Loeser, a young man who attends The Center - shared his story of how
The Center has supported him and his family since the loss of his father and then
inspired the audience to pledge support for the programs by performing a song
that he dedicated to his father.
Highlights of the evening also included the auctioning off of a trip with recent
Survivor Gabon winner, Bob Crowley - who shared his own appreciation for the
services provided by The Center and said that for him “helping raise money for
The Center was a no-brainer - I had to do it.” In a rare auction first for The Center
the first and second placed bids both got the chance to go lobstering with Survivor
Bob which helped to bring in $140,000 on the night.
Six Who Care Winner
Paul Attardo
Thank you to everyone who helped to make this event a success. Please mark your
calendars for the 13th Annual Auction to be held on February 5th, 2010.
photos by Jane Berger Photography
Lee Nelson and Cindy
Williams
David Banks, Anne Lynch and
Michael Banks
Survivor Bob and Peggy
Crowley with The Crispins
Executive Director’s View Point
Our Mission
To provide loving support to grieving children,
teens, families, and the community through peer
support, outreach, and education. We honor and
encourage the safe expression of grief and loss.
We provide a loving community to foster the
discovery and development of each child’s own
resiliency and well-being.
Bill Hemmens (1945-1998) Founder
2008-2009 Board of Directors
Kim Anderson True, President
Will Stiles, Past President
Patrick Veroneau, Vice President
David Stearns, Secretary
Bill Hendrix, Treasurer
Bethany Beausang
Vaughn Clark
These are challenging times for our community. The local and
national economy is having a significant impact on our families
as people lose work, face reduced benefits and try to cope with
increased stressors when illness or death impacts their family.
Here at The Center we have seen a marked increase in people
contacting us for support for children, teens and families.
We know that children who are supported through their grief
are less likely to attempt suicide, less likely to abuse alcohol
and drugs and more likely to do well in school. The Center for
Grieving Children has always provided support for the whole
family since we know that supporting the family will better
support the grieving child.
Anne Lynch
As part of staying attuned to the changing needs of our community, our board, staff
and key agency stakeholders undertook a strategic planning process to ensure that
we have the vision, talent and resources to meet changing demand.
Burr Duryee
Paul Gray
Charlie Hascall
Quincy Hentzel Germann
Michael Hiltz
Joe Hyatt
Scott Libby
The Center is regarded as an important resource locally, regionally and nationally.
Despite being in existence for only 21 years we have grown to provide services
to more than 4,000 children, teens and families each year and have developed a
reputation as a center of excellence and innovation by our peers around the country.
Our commitment to core values has held us in good stead as we have grown and
those committed to supporting us has held us safe during challenging times.
Susan LoGiudice
Julie McQuillan
Peter Miner
Phillip Morin
Jared Payton
Thomas Polko
As other agencies face similar challenges and compete for private donations to
supplement cuts in state and federal funding - The Center looks to our closest
friends; our individual, corporate or foundation donors to help us maintain quality
of services and meet increased demand thereby ensuring that children, teens and
families receive the support they need, free of charge for as long as needed.
Jim Salter
Sharon Sesling-Labonte
Nancy Thompson
Anne Verrill
East End School Joins Our Multicultural Program
Staff
The Multicultural Program is continuing to
grow in its ability to serve more children of the
refugee and immigrant community.
Anne Lynch, Executive Director
Linda Kelly, Program Director
Paul Golding, Development Director
In February, we were delighted to welcome
new participants from the East End School to
join the students from Riverton School. There
was much excitement in the planning and
welcoming of our new participants.
Patricia Ellen, Outreach Director
Kristen Fitts, Asst. Development Director
Nora Gross, Administrative Assistant
Diane Kimball, Development Assistant
Valerie Jones, Program Coordinator
Linda Nerbak, Family Coordinator
Carol Sylvester, TLC Coordinator
Consultants
Beth Elicker, M.S.
Christine Linnehan, M.S., L.C.P.C.
Connie Palys, L.C.P.C.
Marie Sheffield, L.C.P.C.
Dr. Bruce St.Thomas, Ed.D., A.T.R.
Beth Van Gorden, L.C.S.W.
Their first day at The Center opened with a
welcoming group activity so our participants
could get to know one another, tours of
The Center were given by our “seasoned”
participants, snacks and activities were shared, and the day ended with a special
drumming circle where everyone played a part. Upon review of the first day some
of the comments from our new children were, “Awesome”, “I had fun there,” and “I
wish we could stay longer!”
The Multicultural Program participates
in a drumming activity
Over the next weeks of our program we will continue to grow as a community as we
share the gifts of the many cultures that are represented in our group and learning to
embrace and celebrate what we all have to offer.
Bereaved Parents Group
The Center will hold an eight-week peer support group for Bereaved Parents
beginning May 3 and ending June 21, 2009. Living through the loss of a child can be
one of the most challenging things a parent ever has to face. Being able to share with
others who have had a similar experience can be beneficial. This group will provide
a safe space to share with others who have experienced a similar loss.
In addition each evening of the eight-week session will offer an opportunity to learn
about and practice “tools for the journey” that other bereaved parents have found
helpful. The Center is hosting two coffees prior to the group starting – the first on
Sunday, April 5 from 6:00-7:00 pm and the second on Wednesday, April 8 from 12:001:00 pm. We invite you to join us if you have an interest in attending the eight-week
session. Please call 775.5216 for more information.
Thank You to Our Friends
The Center has always been fortunate that our friends
in the community think of us when it comes time to
share resources and think of creative ways to support
our families. December and January saw some unique
and interesting local events that provided much needed
resources to assist us.
In early December local alternative rock radio station
WCYY 94.3 offered to help out with a pay to play radio
Anne Lynch with
WCYY DJ Mark Curdo
marathon. DJ Mark Curdo bravely volunteered to stay
on the air for 75 hours non-stop and take requests from
listeners to raise money and awareness for The Center.
He welcomed into the studio staff, volunteers, board members and families from
The Center to talk on air about our work. In a fun filled 75 hours there were many
highlights but perhaps the best was the local band who recorded a special song for a
Center family – that closed out the set as the grand total of $10,000 was announced!
Local brothers Zak and Ben Putnam have put their high school and college
friendships to great purpose. Each year they create fun events to stay connected to
friends and alumni and raise funds for local charities. This year the foundation they
head up: Spero – elected to raise money for The Center in memory of Cape Elizabeth
High School Student Timmy Thompson – in a series of special events around New
England, Spero raised enough to present The Center with a check for $10,000!
Members of the Cape Elizabeth
Soccer Team with their coach at
The 12th Annual Auction
Not to be out done by SPERO the Cape Elizabeth Girls
High School Soccer Team also decided to raise money
in memory of Timmy Thompson. Despite a great year
on the field the CEHS Girls Soccer did not bring home
the trophy but the team went all the way as far as The
Center is concerned since they recently presented us
with a check for $11,600 which is tremendous. We are
also very grateful to the Cape swim team for their
generous support of The Center.
If you read the newspapers recently you’ll have also seen that local businesses have
been stepping up to ensure that The Center has the resources to meet increased
demand. We have seen great support from fundraising drives from Bob’s Discount
Furniture in South Portland, an auction and holiday party from Express Employment,
and wonderful gifts from Health Dialog, Pierce Atwood and the Portland Harbor
Hotel who made us the beneficiary of their ice bar event.
Welcome Valerie!
Valerie Jones started
in the position of
Program Coordinator
on
January
5th.
Valerie
graduated
in 2007 from UNE
with a masters degree
in social work. She
comes to The Center from the Southern
Maine Agency on Aging where she
was an Elder Advocate and from
Counseling Services Incorporated
where she served as a Clinical Case
Manager.
Although new to the role as staff
person, Valerie has been associated
with The Center for 4 years, first
as an intern and continuing in the
role of Team Coordinator as well as
participating in outreaches, intern
supervision and teaching with outreach
director Patricia Ellen. As Program
Coordinator, Valerie will work
with the Multicultural Program and
Bereavement Program. Valerie will
also teach a professional development
course on Adolescent Depression and
Suicide that is attended by school
professionals throughout the state.
Second Annual Spring
Institute
During April and May The Center
will be featuring staff, volunteers
and guest speakers in our Second
Annual Spring Institute short course
series. Headlining our line up will be
Lynn Plourde, author of ‘Thank you
Grandpa’. For more information on
this event and our other workshops
please check our website:
www.cgcmaine.org
For more on Lynn Plourde please
check her website: http://www.lynnplourde.com/grandpa.html
News in Brief
Sara Asch, Cathleen O’Donnell,
Alison Beck and Paul Attardo are four
highly experienced Center volunteers
who are facilitating two, eight week
groups for incarcerated teens dealing
with grief and loss at Longcreek
Youth Development Center
Non-Profit
Permit #467
US Postage Paid
Portland, ME
555 Forest Ave
P.O. Box 1438
Portland, ME 04104
(207) 775-5216
Dates to Remember
4/13
TLC Spring Session Begins
6/13
18th Annual Pet Walk
9/9
7th Annual Golf
Tournament
10/4
18th Annual Maine
Marathon
10/17
Fall Training Institute Begins
2/5
13th Annual Auction
18th Annual Pet & People Walk
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 13th as The Center
will be hosting its 18th Annual Pet & People Walk at Payson
Park in Portland with a walk around Back Cove. After the
walk we will be having fun in Payson Park with music, food,
contests, and activities for all ages!
Online registration opens on April 1st. Visit us at www.
cgcmaine.org to register for The Walk or to sponsor a
participant. Online you can register, send emails to potential sponsors, create your own
Pet Walk web page and track your pledges.
There are great prizes for every pledge level you reach, including dog toys, t-shirts, gift
certificates and a special raffle prize! For more info or for volunteer opportunities at the Pet
Walk please visit our website or call Diane at (207) 775-5216 or email diane@cgcmaine.org
7th Annual Golf Tournament
We are excited to announce that our 7th Annual Golf
Tournament will take place at Dunegrass Golf Club in Old
Orchard Beach. Dunegrass is located on 300 + acres of
beautiful terrain and has a reputation as being the Portland
area’s premier public golf course.
We hope you will consider joining us on Wednesday,
September 6th. Foursomes begin at $600 and sponsorships
begin at $1500. We are also looking for volunteers for the day of the tournament.
Please visit our website - www.cgcmaine.org or call Kristen - (207) 775-5216 for more
information.