to Remember! - Children`s Friend

making a differ
ence...one
child at a
time
Summer 2010
A Walk
to Remember!
May 1 marked the 8th annual Children’s Friend Walk
Sponsored by Panera Bread - and what an amazing day it was!
Children’s Friend supporters, clients, staff, families, and friends
- over 1,000 people in total - gathered to support the agency
and its important work with Rhode Island’s most vulnerable
children. It also happened to be an incredibly fun day!
Patrice Wood from NBC 10 WJAR, was the emcee for the
event, and Providence Councilman John Igliozzi was on hand
to announce the newly approved lease the city provided to
Children’s Friend for a site in the Silver Lake section of the city.
Panera Bread, sponsor of the Walk, presented the agency with
a check for over $49,000 in addition to providing breakfast
and lunch for all attendees. In total, the event raised over
$100,000! Panera Bread’s donation, contributions from
walkers and sponsors, and the over 1,000 participants were all
new records for the event.
Again, it was an amazing day!
Children enjoyed the kids’ race around the carousel and
the winner was presented a trophy by a special guest, Alan
Shawn Feinstein. Face painting and paint-your-own t-shirt
areas were offered by Children’s Friend staff and volunteers.
Event sponsor Panera Bread provided a decorate-your-own
cookie station for the kids. It was a huge hit! Under the tents
from Cat Country 98.1 WCTK, the children painted their own
visors, received temporary tattoos, and challenged each other
to make the largest bubble!
The RI Ninjitsu Center demonstrated their skill to music
provided by DJs Ramos and Vargas. Music One RI, a group
of students from the Met School in Providence, entertained
the crowd with a variety of diverse musical numbers. Mat the
Magician wowed children and adults alike with his tricks and
skill.
Children climbed on the YMCA’s “Y on the Move” inflatable
obstacle course, visited the smoke trailer from Providence Fire
Prevention, enjoyed visits with Snoopy (courtesy of MetLife
Auto & Home), Jake the Cat from Cat Country, Sparky the Fire
Dog, and Paws from the PawSox.
Panera Bread provided all participants with not only a
delicious breakfast of bagel sticks, cream cheese, and coffee,
but an amazing lunch of sandwiches, salads, chips, cookies,
and beverages. There was also delicious pizza from our
friends at Pizza Pie-er and tasty snacks from Whole Foods
Market. Beverages were donated by Target, Pepsi Bottling
Group, and Coca-Cola Bottling Company.
All the funds raised go directly to the programs that support
young children at risk and their families.
Save the Date!
Don’t forget about our 8th annual Investing In Our Children Luncheon
taking place on October 26, 2010 at the Rhode Island Convention
Center. For more information, or to purchase tickets, ads, and
sponsorships, visit us online at investinginourchildren.org.
10 KIDS/10 YEARS
This year, the law firm of Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP (PS&H)
is celebrating its 10th anniversary of supporting Children’s
Friend with the 10 KIDS/10 YEARS program. For the past
decade, Partridge Snow & Hahn has contributed to Children’s
Friend in numerous ways, including:
tailored to his or her age and interests. Each team has been
allotted a budget for their child, courtesy of PS&H, and may
seek to supplement their budgets with personal donations as
well as contributions from other firm members, friends, and
family.
· hosting spaghetti dinners at the Providence and Central
Falls Children’s Friend locations
The 10 KIDS/10 YEARS
program has presented
a great opportunity
for firm members to
get involved with
the wonderful work
of Children’s Friend
that PS&H has been
supporting for a
decade. Partridge
Snow & Hahn is
proud to support
such a worthwhile
organization in our
community, and
Children’s Friend is
honored to have their
support.
· contributing to the Spirit of Giving holiday drive
· providing infant car seats and diaper bags filled with
necessities, as needed, to new mothers upon leaving the
hospital
· participating in the Children’s Friend 175th Anniversary
Celebration, the Children’s Friend Walk, and the Investing In
Our Children Luncheon
In helping PS&H launch its anniversary celebration, Children’s
Friend has identified 10 kids for the program and has shared
profiles of each child with the firm. The profiles and artwork
contributed by each child are displayed in all three of
Partridge Snow & Hahn’s law offices located in Providence,
Warwick, and New Bedford.
Twenty volunteers at the firm, including paralegals, attorneys,
and administrative assistants, have teamed up to provide
each child in the program with toys and experiences that are
From David - President and Chief Executive Officer
In our 176th year of service to the
community, you continue to make a positive
difference for our most vulnerable children
and families.
As we all work tirelessly to give our young
children safe, nurturing environments and
strong, resilient families, violence in our
community continues to impact our work.
We have read recently about some extreme
cases of child abuse. Shootings, stabbings, and murders have
also become a too frequent news story, especially involving
teenagers and young adults. In fact two recent fatal shootings
have occurred just steps away from some of our sites.
The challenge to us is to continue making a positive difference.
The cases of child abuse and violence only further highlight the
need for our work.
We remain committed to providing high quality and effective
services to our most vulnerable children. Our sites and
classrooms are neighborhood based, safe, friendly, exciting, and
nurturing. Our staff is highly qualified and extremely dedicated
to doing what is best for our children.
We are working to teach our youngest children ways to express
their feelings in an appropriate and non-violent manner. At the
same time we are working with other agencies, local officials, and
2
police departments on the goal of keeping our kids safe at home
and in the community.
Working with others, we are trying to reduce the violence in
the community today, giving our kids a chance to grow up in
safe and nurturing community environments. Our direct work
with children and families is helping to provide them with skills
to handle conflict and stress without violence. As our children
grow, the skills they have learned as youngsters will help them
to break the cycle and lead to better outcomes for them and the
community.
Thanks to you Children’s Friend is making a difference one child
at time.
If service is the ren
existence on this ea
in your rent? - R
“Planned Giving” - What? Why? How? When?
What is “Planned Giving”? While this term is a bit stilted, its
meaning is fairly straightforward. “Planned giving” encompasses
a range of techniques designed to match your affinity, generosity,
and personal values with giving methods that best fit your family,
charitable, and financial goals.
Naming Children’s Friend in a will is a common technique, but
it’s only one of several available strategies. Others could include
revocable and irrevocable trusts, charitable trusts, and charitable
gift annuities, and, before sliding into technical jargon, I’ll pause
to make two quick observations. First, while these planning terms
evoke confusion or fear in most laypeople, the strategies are
routinely considered and employed by accountants, lawyers, and
other advisers as part of their client’s overall wealth management
plan. Effective comprehensive planning, with input from such
trusted advisors, should mesh charitable intentions with tax,
inheritance, and family issues. Second, an optimal strategy (or
strategies) will depend on each person’s unique circumstances.
One size does not fit all. Each donor’s objectives, assets, families,
and experiences with Children’s Friend are different. An integrated
wealth management plan will carefully weigh each factor before
deciding on a technique that best suits a donor.
Why?
While gifts of cash to Children’s Friend are always appreciated - and
vital to our mission- other gifting methods could also help you to
reach the three planned giving goals.
How?
Planned gifts can be made with cash, but also with stocks, business
interests and other assets. Donating appreciated property can
provide tax advantages, and stock valuations have generally
recovered well since the 2008-2009 bear market.
You should think broadly with your advisor on tax and estate
matters. Comprehensive planning often weighs alternatives for
strategic gifting (to charity and family members). Sophisticated
advisors consider the income and estate tax impacts of all aspects
of your financial life, and your advisor could match various planned
giving techniques to your particular circumstances and objectives.
Julie Casimiro and the Children’s Friend development team can also
help you and your advisor consider various alternatives to help you
to achieve your desired charitable and financial outcomes.
When?
It’s never too early to discuss planning issues with your advisor. Two
current factors make timely discussions particularly important: the
federal estate tax law is uncertain as of the date of this writing and
interest rates are near historical lows. Again, the Children’s Friend
team is pleased to join a discussion or to help you to start to think
about these issues. Please contact Julie Casimiro, Administrator,
Advancement at 276-4359 or [email protected] for more
information.
Peter J. Miniati, Esq. CFP®, Vice President, The Washington Trust Company, Spring 2010
Foster Care
We need your help! We’re trying to recruit more families to become foster
parents with Children’s Friend. There are many ways you can help us to get
the word out!
Here are some ways you can help:
Hand out or hang up flyers! Take some flyers to give to your family and
friends; hang up some posters in your local community; take flyers with you
while you run errands and ask businesses if they would like a flyer to post.
Facilitate relationships! Send us names and contact information for people
you know who want to learn more about foster parenting or want to help us
in our recruitment efforts.
Set up a presentation! Ask any group you may be involved with if they would
like to learn more about foster parenting with Children’s Friend. We’ll come
and do a presentation and answer questions.
Host a party! Invite a few friends or family members to your house who
might be interested in learning about foster parenting at Children’s Friend!
We’ll give an overview of foster care and how to apply. We provide the
refreshments!
Please contact Amanda Ball, Foster Parent Recruiter at (401) 276-4344 or
[email protected] if you’d like to participate in any of these outreach efforts. We
will set you up with all the supplies you need for successful recruitment!
nt you pay for your
arth, are you behind
Robert G Allen
Charitable Giving
During a Sluggish Economy
During a poor economy when most donors consider
reducing their giving, the need for charitable help
increases. Here’s how you can help in these difficult
economic times.
*Give only to charities that you know will put your gift to
good use. At Children’s Friend, all of the dollars we raise
go right into our programs and are not used to cover
administrative costs.
*If you don’t have extra cash, consider a bequest to
Children’s Friend in your will. Consider giving a portion
of your estate or a gift of real estate.
*Consider a gift of stock. If you own stock that has
lost value, you can still benefit by giving the stock to
Children’s Friend. Charitable giving of stock can result in
tax write-offs and a way to offset capital gains tax.
*If you’re lucky enough to own stock that has gone up in
value, consider donating it to Children’s Friend. You may
be able to avoid the capital gains tax on the profit by
donating the stock to charity.
If you are interested in hearing more about ways
you can help during tough economic times, please
contact Julie Casimiro, Administrator, Advancement
at [email protected], or 401-276-4359.
3
The
spons
ored
by Panera Bread
Children’s Friend President and Chief Executive Officer, David
Caprio poses with some of the children prior to the kids’ race
around the carousel. There were over 300 children in
attendance at this year’s Walk!
4
our good
visit, thanks to
Paws paid us a Pawtucket Red Sox!
friends at the
Providence City Councilman John J.
Igliozzi, Ward 7, was in attendance
with his sons, Gian and Nico.
Councilman Igliozzi announced that
a lease had been approved by the
city of Providence that would allow
Children’s Friend to bring services to
the Silver Lake section of the city.
In addition to arts & cra
free food thanks to Pane
enjoy free ca
Mistre
fro
mo
afts, live entertainment, tons of
era Bread, children were able to
arousel rides all day!
ught
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o
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a
r
c
&
s
m
at
art
the gre
ess of Ceremonies Patrice Wood of NBC 10 WJAR poses with the team
om the Panera Bread Café in North Attleboro, which raised the most
oney of all Panera Bread Cafes. Altogether, Panera Bread presented a
check of over $49,000 in support of Children’s Friend.
In addit
Sponso ion to being a
Auto & r for the event Silver
,
H
to ensu ome was kind MetLife
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Sno
by to sa
y hello opy stopped
to the k
ids!
“If you want to lift
yourself up, lift up
someone else.”
- Booker T. Washington
5
Commissioner Gist visit
Deborah Gist, Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary
Education, visited a few Children’s Friend classrooms recently. Commissioner Gist
enjoyed participating in circle time and her skills at the art table were closely
watched by her new friend. Ms. Gist is a perfect example of going right to the
source for the knowledge you need for change. Everyone enjoyed her
very special visit.
Jim Corbin - ABC 6
The children enjoyed a visit from meteorologist Jim Corbin of ABC 6 WLNE. Jim
read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs to Miss Qiana’s class and discussed
different kinds of weather. Many children had very interesting questions for the
meteorologist and plan to tune in to see him each day for the meatball forecast!
Drop Everything & Read
Dr. Seuss’ birthday was celebrated at Children’s Friend on March 2 and the
great children’s author was remembered as our little ones read, played,
rhymed and chimed in a very merry wonderful super Seuss-ified day. As each
child was taught, “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one
alive who is you-er than you.”
Bristol County Savings Bank
Bristol County Savings Bank’s Pawtucket Advisory Board continues to support
Children’s Friend with grants for childcare subsidies for children from Pawtucket
and Central Falls. This ongoing relationship has made it possible to keep
children in our childcare center in Central Falls when families are having trouble
making ends meet. At a check presentation on March 30 at Collette Vacations in
Pawtucket, Children’s Friend received a generous grant of $2,000.
Family Safety Day
April 22 was Family Safety Day at Children’s Friend. Children
from all over came to the Friendship site to have fun and learn
with guests from the Providence Fire Department, Providence
Police Department, RI State Fire Marshall’s Office, Lead Safe
Kids, and Prevent Child Abuse. Among other activities, the
children learned how to escape from a smoky house with
Fireman Ray and the smoke trailer, and had a blast getting to
know Sparky the Fire Dog! Special thanks to The Junior League
of Rhode Island for planning and organizing this event.
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Policy Council/Board Retreat
On May 12, the Children’s Friend Board of Directors, Management Staff, and
Policy Council held a retreat. This gave the diverse groups of volunteers, staff,
and parents the opportunity to get to know one another, understand roles,
discuss progress, and plan for the future. Representatives from each group made
presentations, answered questions, and all enjoyed a delicious meal together.
Mental Health Day
The National Center for Children in Poverty shows that one in five children
has a diagnosable mental health disorder. With this in mind, Children’s Friend
observed Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 6 with the help of
The Parent Support Network of RI and DCYF. After listening to the book Glad
Monster, Sad Monster: A Book About Feelings by Anne Miranda, the children
expressed their feelings by drawing pictures.
Everyone Loves A Parade
There is nothing quite like a parade and Children’s Friend had a
great one in celebration of the “Week of the Young Child”! Each
class embraced a different theme. Smiles and happy voices of
little ones filled the streets around Children’s Friend as they
marched holding their class banners, chanting, singing, and
playing instruments.
t
n
a
w
u
o
y
t
a
h
t
e
f
li
in
thing
at
h
w
t
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g
le
p
o
e
p
r
e
h
t
o
h
g
nou
t.” - Zig Ziglar
For the second year in
a row, Children’s Friend
has been voted one of
the Best Places To Work
In Rhode Island by the
Providence Business
News!
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Our Board of Directors...
Chairman
Kimberly I. McCarthy, Esq.
Vice Chairman
Maureen Gurghigian
Treasurer
Michael DiSandro
Assistant Treasurer
John D. Cregan
Secretary
Jo Ann Harry
President and Chief
Executive Officer
David Caprio
Allen A. Akinola
William J. Allen
Mary Cram
Doris Stearn Donovan
Michael Dooley
Eva C. Hulse-Avila
Leonard L. Lopes, Esq
Amudat O. Lawal
Joseph P. Moran III
Eduardo E. Naya
Carl R. Neal
Martha Newcomb, Esq.
Leeann Noonan-Watts
Alfred K. Potter II
Jennifer M. Sousa
s is
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an m.”
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st f meeti
r
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d
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“U he job o son
half t i E. Steven
- Adla
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT 1287
PROVIDENCE, RI