2013 Fall Newsletter

HOPE
LOVE
VICTORY
Overcoming developmental challenges through Christian Science
Fall Matching Gift Campaign Announced
T
his time of year always inspires a sense of gratitude, and
here at Twelveacres we are deeply grateful for the dedication and love expressed by our staff.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary describes a verse from
Luke (Chapter 6) this way, “The reigning love of God and
Christ in the heart is a good treasure … words and actions are
the produce from that treasure … it enriches a man.”
Our residents feel this treasure of Christly love through
the practice of Christian Science expressed in the care they
are given and in the loving atmosphere of each home — and
they respond to it. Progress and healing at Twelveacres are
expected, supported and on-going.
Some time ago, one of the residents fell and fractured her
ankle. She had daily support from the practitioner, as well as
the staff members, until she was able to walk normally again.
This is just one of many healings that has taken place in the
last year.
Our devoted staff is a great support team for our
Twelveacres’ mission — to witness spiritual healing in action.
Our fundraising goal for the balance of this calendar year
and the first part of 2014 is to support our staff by raising
enough money to retain and hire more Christian Science staff
members.
O
ne of our R-1 Visa students shared
these comments about her work
at Twelveacres:
“There is no limit to learning, no
limit to development. I see learning going on every day.
“Some of the residents are not verbal, but by just looking at their faces
you can tell when they are happy... Its
Ekpa Akpan, staff member really about family and connection
with people, and that’s something we have a lot of at
Twelveacres.”
Spring Matching Campaign A Success!
Thank you to all our donors who helped us reach
our goal. We raised $120,000 to support our healing
mission.
Newsletter Fall 2013
Several generous donors have contributed $43,000 for a
Matching Gift Program to get us started. All new contributions up to that amount will be
matched dollar for dollar, enabling
your donations to go twice as far. To
qualify for the Matching Gift Program, please send your donations
by January 31, 2014.
In preparing to purchase Lily
House in 2012, many of you contributed an extra $80 to help us achieve
our goal. We hope you will continue
giving an extra $80 each year in adLinda Graser, President
dition to your regular gifts. Please
contact us online at www.twelveacres.org or use the envelope included to help us show our staff how much we treasure
them.
Thank you for your loving support of the residents and
staff of Twelveacres.
With much appreciation and love,
Linda Graser, President of the Board
Help Us Fulfill Our Mission!
DONATE NOW
at
www.twelveacres.org
Send special instructions to info@twelveacres.org
ANNUAL MEETING 2013
You are invited to join us at First Church, Los
Gatos on Sunday November 3. The meeting, which
begins at 2 p.m., will be followed by a musical
experience with Désirée Goyette. Refreshments
will be served after the musical program.
A Fun Afternoon with Alex Cook
Alex giving instructions
O
n June 30th the residents, staff and guests enjoyed
an afternoon of art and music with Alex Cook at
the Los Gatos church. What a treat! Painters sat at tables
under canopies as they filled in the pre-drawn canvas
designs while Alex mixed colors for the various
sections. After enjoying homemade cookies, fresh
strawberries and lemonade, everyone went into the
Sunday School for Alex’s concert. Alex played the
guitar while he sang, and the lyrics were displayed on
a large screen so everyone could sing along. We are
very grateful to Alex and all those at the Los Gatos
church who helped with the success of this event.
One of the finished canvases is hung in the lobby
of our office (see above). The other murals are hung
Painting the HOPE LOVE VICTORY canvas
in Braeburn and Lily houses.
Hanging on the Lily fireplace
Hanging in the
Lily dining room
Another Way to Support Twelveacres
The most common donations we receive are outright gifts,
such as cash or a check, which we receive right away. But
many times people want to hold on to their money and other
assets for now, to be sure they can meet their family’s future
financial needs. These people are usually delighted to learn
that we have alternatives which allow them to still make a
gift. One of these options could be appropriate for you. They
are known as planned gifts.
Planned gifts can be revocable — a charitable bequest in
your will, for example — so you can change your mind at
any time. Or they can be irrevocable (just as outright gifts
are), so that you may benefit from an immediate income tax
deduction.
The attraction of irrevocable planned gifts is that they are
deferred. You part with an asset today, but the actual giving
Page 2
of the asset to us is put off for a while — often until after
your lifetime (and that of a surviving beneficiary, if you
wish). During the time in between, you receive the benefits
from the gift.
For example, with a charitable remainder trust, you receive lifetime income from the asset after it is placed in a
trust, and then we receive the remainder of the trust after
your passing. Or you could deed Twelveacres a remainder
interest in your home and still retain the right to live in it.
The key feature of planned gifts like these is that they allow
the donor to benefit as well as the charitable organization.
If you would like more information on the various options available, please contact Lin Watts, Executive Director,
at 408.410.0537 or director@twelveacres.org.
Twelveacres, Inc.
A Message from the Executive Director
B
ring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may
be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith,
saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows
of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not
be room enough to receive it, (Malachi 3:10).
Many years ago, Bob Koehler, when he was the administrator of Twelveacres, took a future staff member on a
tour. Here is her testimony of a healing which took place
during that tour.
“During the tour, a young
woman had what would be
called a seizure. I was not
bothered by the scene because I had seen many; but
what happened next, I had
never seen. A staff member
knelt down beside her and
Lin Watts, Executive Director
simply, lovingly said ‘God is
Love.’ The seizure stopped immediately. She said, ‘Okay,’
got up and walked away with the staff member, smiling.”
Like this resident, many people with developmental
challenges have had healings of seizures or other disabilities while at Twelveacres. Many Christian Scientists,
including our Program Director, Amy Hellyer, also had
their first opportunity to support healing while working
at Twelveacres. Many continued working here or went
on to become Christian Science nurses, practitioners and
staff members or teachers at other Christian Science facilities, organizations, or schools. Each of them has blessed
and is blessing the world with their support of Christian
Science healing.
We need your help so that more people will have the opportunity to be healed and learn to support healing at Twelveacres.
In the last year, many of you increased your donations so that we
could purchase Lily House by December of 2012 and replenish
our funds afterwards. We are very grateful for your increased
donations. If you would consider continuing these donations,
this would enable us to retain and hire more Christian Scientists to work at Twelveacres, and thereby provide greater support for our healing mission.
This year, we had more healings, hired more Christian Scientists, including an experienced Program Director, and increased
our general fund donations, while reducing our expenses—
which helped us to achieve our goal of purchasing Lily House
and replenish our funds afterwards. We hope that you will continue to assist us so that more people will have the opportunity
to be healed and learn to support healing at Twelveacres.
hen asked what she
likes about working
at Twelveacres, Amy Hellyer,
our Program Director, said,
“Working here is a lot of fun.
I have met and worked with
a lot of good people. It’s great
to be able to help developmentally disabled people in
a Christian Science environment. We have an awesome
Amy Hellyer
opportunity to actively use
Christian Science every day and to share it with others.”
Fun at the Circus
A Day on the Golf Links
AST residents Carrie, Jeff and Peter spent the summer practicing their
golfing skills. Then on August 19th, they participated in the annual Special Olympics Golf Tournament at
The Villages Golf Course and Country Club. There were participants
from all over Northern California.
Some of the skills tested during the
tournament were chipping, driving,
and long and short puts. The day was
hot and humid, but full of excitement
and wonderful accomplishments.
Carrie brought home a gold medal,
Jeff a silver medal, and Peter a bronze
medal. Everyone enjoyed spending
the day with old and new friends.
W
Page 3
Going to the circus this
summer was a wonderful activity for our
residents. They saw a
wide variety of performers: tigers, elephants, dogs, horses,
tight-rope walkers, a
human cannon ball,
flying acrobats, unicyclists playing basketball, dancing and
clowns. Seeing the looks of amazement on the faces
of our residents while they watched the show was a
joy to behold.
Twelveacres, Inc.
Reports of Healing and Progress
There is another resident who is a great helper around the
Lily House: Recently a resident went out to lunch with her
house! She assists the staff with preparing lunches, including
sister. Staff brought a single step stool to help the resident get
helping to blend the food using a special button, and stayinto the van. The resident stepped up onto the stool but then
ing through the whole process rather than wandering off. She
stopped because there was still another big step to get into the
also helps staff with laundry, and has
van. The staff tried to encourage her to
helped pick up a few items at the grocery
go ahead and try the big step. The resistore and given money to the cashier.
dent continued to stand quietly on the
Recently she used her communication
stool; the staff stood quietly also. After a
device to ask to go out for a walk. This
minute the resident turned herself 180°
is a wonderful step of progress with her
and just sat down on the seat. This was
communication.
an easy and comfortable solution for
Another resident is expressing greater
her, and she figured out how to do it. At
awareness of her activities. On Saturday
the next stop, the step stool was placed
mornings this resident usually Skypes
at the door and without hesitation the
Enjoying lunch
with her family. Recently it has been obresident used her method to quickly
vious by her smile and quietness that she knows she will soon
and easily get into the van. It was wonderful to witness how
be talking with them. She is also
God directs His ideas.
making progress with followWhen a resident was walking in the neighborhood recenting instructions. For example,
ly, she met a woman. The resident shook the woman’s hand
when she gets home from day
and said, “Hello. How are you?” With a smile the woman reprogram she is asked to carry
sponded, “I am fine.” With that the resident continued on her
her lunch box to the kitchen and
walk. This same resident is continuing to express her intelliplace it on the counter. Now, ingence and love to others. When a staff member arrived at the
stead of leaving her lunch box
house in the morning, the resident looked at the staff member
wherever she finds a place, she
and said, “I like you!” She continues to increase her vocabuusually carries it to the kitchen
lary and uses new words in the right context. She attended
counter before setting it down.
camp and had a happy time. The camp staff remarked about
At a recent outing with all of the Attending church on a Sunday
how cooperative and willing she was to try new things. She
houses she was willing to walk with another resident who was
also demonstrated flexibility when plans or staffing changed.
holding her hand; she was alert to where they were going and
The final comment from camp staff was, “She was such a joy
responded to requests. The staff members really enjoyed seeto have this week! She brought smiles to everyone around her.
ing the two residents showing their friendship and support to
We can’t wait to see her again.”
each other.
Another one of the ladies at Lily has been working with
Even though one of the residents does not communicate
staff to stretch and move her arms, and is now expressing
with words, she is able to let staff know when she needs help.
more freedom of movement
Recently she would hit her head against the headrest of her
in reaching and stretching.
wheelchair. The practitioner was called. Staff encouraged her
This resident is always a joy
to get comfortable in bed, and then began reading to her from
to be around. While her exthe Christian Science Sentinel. She focused on the reading and
citement is being expressed
was quickly at peace and able to go to sleep. This same resnow by a quieter volume,
ident has continued to be at peace while attending outside
she still has the same high
activities. For instance, she frequently stays quiet during an
level of happiness. Church
entire church service, and was smiling and quiet during an
members have commented
entire movie. She has been very happy and comfortable sitto Twelveacres’ staff that she
ting up on her bed without support from staff members.
is more peaceful during the
services. She also has inBucknall House: Staff members have worked diligently for
creased in her ability to hold onto her own cup and bring it to
some time with one of the men on the correct order of steps
her mouth to drink.
for one of his chores. One morning he completed all steps in
(continued on page 5)
Page 4
Twelveacres, Inc.
Reports of Healing (continued from page 4)
the proper order without any prompting or reminder from a staff member was not present. Staff members have been
the staff. Staff members have observed this resident give him- working with her to wait until they arrive. As a result, she has
self Christian Science treatments on two different occasions. been announcing who is at
In the first instance, staff picked him up from his day program the door and then waiting.
and had a concern about him. Staff encouraged him to work At one point she was havwith his favorite hymn (#161 by Mary Baker Eddy). In the car, ing trouble with her knee
the resident began to recite the hymn and voiced the truth and was limping. Through
about both himself and the situation. This seemed to calm his the support of the practithought and he moved on to other topics. In the second in- tioner, her knee was healed
stance, while he was waiting for the home-staff, he became within 2 days, and she was
increasingly anxious. He was quiet for a minute and then able to participate in a long
the staff heard him reciting to himself the Lord’s Prayer and walk around the neighborsome additional thoughts. He was peaceful after that. This hood. Saturdays used to
was particularly wonderful because he initiated praying for be difficult for her because
she loves going to day prohimself, recognizing his need to
gram. Over the last couple
feel peaceful. On another occasion
of months, there has been a
this resident was chatting with a
change and she has come to enjoy Saturdays. She approaches
staff member when he slipped in
the staff in the morning and asks, “What are we going to do
a surprise compliment! He asked,
today?”
“Did you wear your boots last Friday?” The staff answered, “yes.” He
AST: Residents from AST participated in a
replied, “I like them.”
Kiwanis One-Day Clean Up at Alum Rock
A resident was drying her hands
Park in San Jose. After registering, the
with paper towels outside of the
AST residents were assigned to rake wood
bathroom while staff was talking
chips in the play area. Because of a mobilwith another resident. Instead of disposing of the towity challenge, one resident could not join
els at an inappropriate location, staff turned around to
the group, but spent most of her time readdiscover the resident had walked back into the bathing the Bible Lesson. When asked why she
room and thrown them away. Another time this resiwas sitting off by herself reading and not
dent was repeatedly saying, “I want to go home” and
helping, she said, “I will be supporting the
seemed on the verge of tears. One of her house-mates
group spiritually.” She wanted the group to
shared some words of
know that she was helping.
comfort with her, and
When a staff member was recently ill
Enjoying Campbell Concerts
then they and a staff
and
did
not
show
up
for work as scheduled, a resident asked
member began singing hymns
to her. Shortly after, she re- why somebody else showed up for work instead. After being
turned to her joyful self and told the staff member was ill, the resident said, “We are praywas even laughing. At another ing for her and we know that God is taking care of her.”
Recently all residents of Twelveacres were out for lunch.
time she began refusing to go
to her day program. Through When it was time to leave the restaurant and go back to the
prayerful support from the homes, a staff member needed help in walking a Lily House
practitioner, and encourage- resident to the parking lot where the vans were parked. When
ment and love from the home one of the AST residents saw the situation, she very gently
and day program staff, this took the arm of the Lily resident and talked with her while
was overcome. More recently, they walked to the van.
Special Olympics golf
she has gotten up and headed to the front door independently
Braeburn House: A resident was unable to go to the bathwhen the day program van arrives.
One of the Bucknall ladies is anxious to answer the door room, which made him very uncomfortable and unable to
when the doorbell rings, and would sometimes open it when sleep at night. The following day, he had constant elimina(continued on page 6)
Page 5
Twelveacres, Inc.
“
...with God
nothing shall be
”
impossible.
Luke 1:37
Summer Interns Return
isters Angelica and Kelley Carmona worked at Twelveacres
again this summer. Angelica is a Sophomore at CSU Monterey Bay studying Marine Sciences. She worked at AST, and
especially enjoyed taking the residents to the weekly concerts
at the Campbell Community Center.
Kelley is a Senior at UC Santa Cruz, majoring in Literature.
She worked at Braeburn and Bucknall houses and she successfully completed the Direct Support Professional Training
through the California Department of Education.
S
Angelica and Kelley
Reports of Healing (continued from page 6)
tion. When evening came, he was not able to retain food.
The staff continued calling the Christian Science practitioner — almost every hour. Finally around 11 p.m. of the
second night, he was free from all the challenges he was going through. He slept well and went to his day program the
following day. He was completely healed.
A seizure left a resident
shaken and very tired. The
practitioner continued working for her and, after an hour,
she was able to do her daily
activities with no sign of being tired. Another time she
fell on the bathroom floor
landing forward on her hands
and knees. She was helped
up. The practitioner was immediately called to prayerfully support her. There was
no apparent injury.
One of the residents started poking her right cheek, leaving a red area on her skin. Staff talked with her about not
doing this, contacted the practitioner, and then kept her busy
with other activities. In about
three days, she stopped poking herself and the redness was
gone.
Another one of the ladies
has needed to take breaks when
walking, and would stop and
sit down. This past month she showed progress by walking with staff from the house to the end of Braeburn Court,
which is about 100 yards. She now loves to walk around in
the back yard of the house and pick apples with staff.
Page 6
A resident was refusing to go to church, saying he wanted to rest. He also complained about his legs hurting, and
seemed confused much of the time. The practitioner prayed
for him, and now he agrees to go to church, reads his Bible
Lesson, and joins other residents to participate in various
activities.
One of the residents had
a seizure, which typically
would have left him very tired
for a day or two. The practitioner continued working for
him. In about an hour, he was
up and went to the kitchen to
get a snack.
Note from a staff member:
“Christian Science knows no
time, no barriers of any kind.
It heals great and small challenges. Our residents show all
of us how to ‘walk the walk’
and not just ‘talk the walk.’ It has been a blessing to witness many healings, such as: a resident who never read and
now reads; a resident who stopped walking and now walks;
another resident who would never tell what he wanted and
now does.”
Twelveacres, Inc.
Sowing Good Seeds at Twelveacres
A
new green house, start seedlings and nurture the new plants. She funded
local high school student led a project to
the project by holding a bake sale after church one Sunday, and collectreplace the old green house at Lily. Shaning items for a garage sale. The residents are already starting
non Miller, a Senior at
to harvest cherry tomatoes, lettuce and strawberries, and will
Monta Vista High School
look forward to broccoli and squash
in Cupertino and Sunday
this fall.
School student at a nearby
Christian Science church,
organized and led this
project to earn her Girl
Scout Gold Award (similar to the Eagle Award in Standing in the greenhouse
Boy Scouts). She worked with a team of people
to remove the previous structure, install irrigation, build several planter boxes, assemble the
Tomatoes and strawberries
Various kinds of squash
New Board Members
ene McAlister lives in San
Mateo and is a life-long
San Francisco Bay area resident. He is a member of First
Church, San Mateo, where he
is active on committees and
with the Reading Room. Gene
is the founder of EFM Insurance Services and focuses on
retirement and income strategies. Among other activities, he enjoys volunteering with the
San Mateo County Labor Council food distribution, traveling
and playing golf.
Jane Faller is a member
of First Church, San Mateo,
where she is President of the
Executive Board and Chair of
the Children’s Room Committee. Jane has served as a Sunday School superintendent and
teacher, house and grounds
chair, auditor, usher and Japanese Herald production and
distribution committee for
churches in other parts of the
country and in Tokyo. She was
Director of Development and Director of Admissions at independent schools in both Northern and Southern California
and on the East Coast, and is now retired. She loves spending
time with her seven grandchildren and traveling to the far
corners of the world.
G
Page 7
Welcome to our newest R1 Visa Student
ina Francisco is from Angola, and grew up in South Africa. She graduated from Principia College earlier this
year with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology and Anthropology.
While studying at Principia,
Nina heard about Twelveacres
from classmates who worked for
us as summer interns and visited
our booth at the Principia Job
Fair. Nina was recently accepted into the R1 Visa for Religious Workers program, and is now working with our residents while also pursuing a Master’s Degree in Social Entrepreneurship from Pepperdine University.
N
Eric Pagett grew up on the East Coast, in the beautiful
State of Connecticut. After attending Principia College and graduating with a Bachelors Degree in
Business Administration, Eric
moved to the central coast of California and entered the full-time
Christian Science practice. He has
found a love for giving through
service to community, church, and
mankind. In concert with his practice, Eric has experience working
in correctional facilities as a Christian Science Chaplain. Eric is also
a member of the Board of Directors of Euphrates Institute, an
educational non-profit organization. Eric enjoys traveling,
triathlons, and greatly adores his family.
Twelveacres, Inc.
Immediate Job Opening
We Welcome New Residents
We are seeking a Journal-listed Christian
Science nurse to serve as House Manager.
They will be responsible for the overall supervision and care of all residents within
their houses, and will supervise a team of
15 or more staff members. To obtain more
information, contact Lin Watts, Executive
Director, at 408.410.0537
If you know someone
who wants to be healed
of developmental challenges, please have
them or their family
contact us.
Please share this information with anyone
you think would be interested.
Help Us Fulfill Our Mission!
DONATE NOW
www.twelveacres.org
Send instructions to info@twelveacres.org
Contact: Lin Watts, Executive Director
Phone: 408.410.0537
Email: director@twelveacres.org
Friends often ask what our needs are. In response, we generated this list of current needs
that would greatly benefit from your support.
• $5,000 per month to cover the cost of caring for
• Frost-free upright freezer (15.8 cubic feet) for
one resident in addition to State funding
Bucknall ($600)
•
7-passenger van for Bucknall ($30,000)
•
New fences for Lily and Braeburn ($3,600 each)
•
Thermal-insulating/room-darkening draperies
for Bucknall windows ($1,350)
•
Refrigerator/freezer for Braeburn ($950)
•
Wheelchair van for Lily ($45,000)
•
Garden hoses and reels for Lily ($200)
•
Lifter system with sling for Lily wheelchair van
($3,000 )
Please contact Carol Miller if you would like to
grant any of these wishes.
Desk chair for Braeburn house manager ($175)
Phone: 408.341.0400 ext. 103
Email: assistant@twelveacres.org
WISHES GRANTED from our Spring Newsletter: Air-conditioner and HP printer for Braeburn;
Counter-top Convection Oven for Lily. Thank you!
From April 2013 through September 2013 Twelveacres received
greatly appreciated donations in the names of the following:
In Honor of:
Amy Hellyer
Amy Long
Andrea Moon
Carrie Carson
Chris Eshbaugh
David & Alice Bullwinkle
Debbie Mueller
Elissa Charles
Hazel Smathers
Jill Grimes, CS
Joanne H. Mattson
Laura Spaulding
Lin Watts
Manya Kaseroff-Smith, CSB
Mary Baker Eddy
Melinda Wehren
Molly Byers
Shari Tobias
Steven P. Watts
Wynne Byrnes
In Memory of:
Alice Hellyer
Amy Howell Wagner
Ann O. Spaulding, CSB
Barbara Wyman
Chet & Louise Rollins
David C. Stevens
Dick Byers
Dick Gatehouse
Frances Williams
Gary Pike
Hugh Scott Pennington
John Gibson
Karen Sheedy
Karl Untch
Marian Wells
Martin R. Jacobs
Mary Ann Angell
Mary L. Smith
Mildred D. Butler
Natalie Shepard
Robert C. Koehler, CS
Robert Nawman
Robert Posgate
Roland Scott Carpenter
Ron Toutjian
Sally Miller
Sally Shepard
Page 8
President
Linda Graser, CS
Redwood City, CA
Vice President
Susan Breuer, CS
San Mateo, CA
Secretary
Corinne Cline
Pinole, CA
Treasurer
Gene DeBolt
Santa Rosa, CA
Jane Faller
San Mateo, CA
Francesca Karpel
Belmont, CA
Gene McAlister
San Mateo, CA
Twelveacres’ Wish List
•
Twelveacres
Board of Directors
Shirley Schmale
Steven L. Smith
Suzanne Bowman
Suzanne Cowin
Ted Tuggle
Wanda Grenke
Woody Humburg
Andrea Moon
Walnut Creek, CA
Eric Pagett, CS
San Luis Obispo, CA
Michael Reynolds
Berkeley, CA
Lisa Ritterbuck
Avila Beach, CA
Clint Tobias
Wilmette, IL
Christoper Wright
Belmont, CA
Lin Watts
Executive Director
Amy Hellyer
Program Director
Twelveacres
Newsletter
Fall 2013 Edition
Published By
Twelveacres, Inc.
595 Millich Drive
Suite 104
Campbell, CA 95008
Telephone: 408.341.0400
Fax: 408.341.0411
Website:
www.twelveacres.org
Twelveacres, Inc.