Annual Report

ChildServ puts kids and their families first in Cook, Lake, DuPage and Kane
counties. We serve clients from the following locations, as well as through
home-based services.
ChildServ - Chicago North, Administrative
Office
8765 W. Higgins, Suite 450, Chicago, IL 60631
773.693.0300
ChildServ - Chicago West
743 N. Pulaski Ave., Chicago, IL 60624
773.867.7319
ChildServ - Elgin
651 Lillie Street, Elgin, IL 60120
773.693.0300
ChildServ - Lake County
2424 Washington St., Suite 101
Waukegan, IL 60087
847.263.2200
ChildServ - Chicago South
5401 S. Wentworth, Suite 2N
Chicago, IL 60609
773.239.8094
ChildServ - DuPage, Group Home
Administration
1240 Iroquois Drive, Ste. 102
Naperville, IL 60523
630.778.7250
Note: ChildServ operates group homes in Downers Grove, Lisle and Naperville.
*For our clients’ privacy and protection, those addresses are not listed.
@Copyright, ChildServ, 2016. Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this document. If you note an error or omission, please
accept our sincere apology and contact ChildServ’s Marketing Department at 773.867.7350. Affiliations: ChildServ is a United Way agency affiliated with
the United Methodist Church, registered with the Presbyterian Children’s Home and Related Ministries, and accredited by the Council on Accreditation of
Services for Children and Families. ChildServ is a member of the Alliance for Children and Families and the Child Welfare League of America.
STEPPING TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Annual
Report 2014
Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Report
Leadership
A Letter from Our Leadership
Board of Trustees
Dear Partners in Our Mission:
Fiscal Year 2015 marked ChildServ’s 121st year of helping Chicagoland’s atrisk children and their families to build better lives and reach their potential. Our
programs improved the lives of more than 2,800 vulnerable children and
families in need of our comprehensive services and support throughout Cook,
DuPage, Kane and Lake counties.
In Fiscal Year 2016, ChildServ continues to prioritize the quality of our
programs, including early intervention, adoption and foster care and counseling,
and emphasize client-outcomes to determine our effectiveness.
We will maintain our commitment to early intervention programs as studies
published by the Harvard Center for the Developing Child cite programs like our
Parent Empowerment and Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool
Youngsters as the most effective ways to jumpstart a child’s development and
education. The White House Council of Economic Advisers also estimates that
early learning initiatives provide benefits to society of approximately $8.60 for
every $1 spent.
ChildServ remains dedicated to matching children who have experienced
trauma with stable, welcoming families or group homes — and finding every
child in our care permanent, nurturing living situations.
Christopher L. Angelica
Tandreia Bellamy
Donald Brackey
Michael Bromiley
Rodney D. Brown
Joyce Carrasco
Phil Costello
Nancy Duel (Secretary)
Christopher Engleman
William D. (Dal) Frost
John Gotschall
Gregory W. Hummel
Tom Hutchinson
Beckitsha L. Johnson-Lowe
Charles Krugel
Rev. Duk Kyu Kwon
Stephen C. Mack (Treasurer)
Rev. Myron McCoy
Tina Pickell
Elliot Richardson (Chair)
Edward J. Riley, Jr.
Bernard Sterner
Arlene Zielke
Finally, our Armour Counseling Services provides nearly 400 clients, including
military and veteran families, with the necessary support and therapy to ensure
healing from trauma, personal growth and improved emotional, social and
family function.
Best regards,
Elliot Richardson, Esq.
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Auxiliary Board
Mat Joiner, Chair
Stephanie Burks
Carrie Cox
Somil Ghelani
Stephanie Hedquist
Ashanti Madlock Henderson
Marvin Hill
Zach Hunsinger
Annette Robinson
Katherine Sams
Kesha Burch Sims
Elizabeth Teague
Ty Williams
Management Staff
We are grateful for the generosity of our Board of Directors, church and
corporate partners, donors, foster parents, staff and volunteers who join us in
our mission, and look forward to another exciting year as we strive to build
better lives for those in our care.
Dan Kotowski
President and CEO
ChildServ Staff Ex Officio
James C. Jones
President and CEO, ChildServ
Ex Officio Members
Bishop Sally Dyck
Northern Illinois Conference, UMC
Rev. Dr. Zaki L. Zaki
District Superintendent, UMC
Drawing by Ismael, a child in our early
childhood programs.
Dan Kotowski, President and CEO
Jeri Laureano, Chief Operating Officer
April Redzic, Vice President,
Resource Development
Elizabeth Heneks, Vice President,
Programs
Sonja Anthony, Director, Quality
Improvement
Kim Coffing, Director, Advocacy and
Church Relations
Catherine Enright, Director, Early
Childhood Programs
Ken Hundrieser, Director, Evaluations
Lynsey Sloan, Director, Foster Care
and Clinical Programs
Shenekia Stimage, Director,
Residential Programs
Andrew Dohan, Director, Marketing
and Communications
Ways you can help build better lives for
at-risk children and families:
DONATE
MAKE A CASH GIFT
Contribute online - Make a secure online donation using your credit card at
www.childserv.org or mail a gift to ChildServ, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 450,
Chicago, IL 60631.
GET YOUR EMPLOYER INVOLVED
Encourage your business or employer to give to ChildServ.
INCLUDE CHILDSERV IN YOUR ESTATE PLANS
Designate ChildServ as a beneficiary in your will or life insurance policy.
SPONSOR AN EVENT OR AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITY
Support our clients—either through individual or corporate sponsorship—by
hosting events and activities throughout the year.
MAKE AN IN-KIND GIFT
Donate new furniture, mattresses, diapers, baby and children’s clothing, coats,
pajamas, bath products and shower curtains.
VOLUNTEER
TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN BUILDING BETTER LIVES
Join our Auxiliary Board, Board of Directors, Founder’s Circle or President’s
Council.
MENTOR A YOUTH
Provide support to a teen in our group homes or foster care program and
promote academic achievement and service in the next generation.
BECOME A FOSTER PARENT
Open your heart and home to a child who has experienced trauma and abuse.
CREATE A TEAM-BUILDING EXPERIENCE THAT HELPS KIDS AND
FAMILIES
Encourage your company to volunteer to beautify a home or lend their business
acumen to help our programs.
If you have questions or would like more information about how to impact
the lives of Chicagoland’s at-risk children and their families, please
contact us at (773) 693-0300 or [email protected].
How we built better lives in 2015
LEARNING: 616 children were ready to succeed in kindergarten due to our
early childhood programs.
HEALTH: 100% of the children in our early childhood programs are
up-to-date on their immunizations.
STABILITY: 80 children found permanent supportive homes through our
Foster Care and Adoption programs.
INDEPENDENCE: 39 young adults moved from homelessness to having
safe apartments of their own. More than half achieved employment, and all
found insurance and a medical provider.
EDUCATION: 100% of the youth in our group homes who were eligible
received a high school diploma.
RESILIENCE: 90% of the teen moms in our foster care program were able
to retain custody of their own child.
Who we helped:



2,807 children and their families
490 children who have experience trauma and
abuse
263 foster parents
Where:




2,071 in Chicago
441 in Lake County
214 in the Elgin area
81 in the DuPage area
Services received:
First United Methodist Church,
Palatine
First United Methodist Church,
Park Ridge
First United Methodist Church,
Waukegan
First United Methodist Church,
West Chicago
Glenview UMC United
Methodist Women
Grace United Methodist
Church, Elgin
Grace United Methodist
Church, Lake Bluff
Grace United Protestant
Church
Women's Christian
Association, Park Forest
Grace United Protestant
Church, Park Forest
Hanover United Methodist
Church
Hartzell Memorial United
Methodist Church
Hinsdale UMC United
Methodist Women
Hinsdale United Methodist
Church
Irving Park UMC United
Methodist Women
Kaneville UMC United
Methodist Women
Marengo UMC United
Methodist Women
Mount Hope United Methodist
Church, McHenry
Mt. Hope United Methodist
Church
NIC Aurora/Elgin UMCRegional
Office
Northern Illinois Annual
Conference
Northern Illinois Conference
United Methodist Women
Our Redeemer's United
Methodist Church,
Schaumburg
Prince of Peace United
Methodist Church, Elk
Grove
Village
River Forest United Methodist
Church
St. Andrew UMC United
Methodist Women
Trinity United Methodist
Church, Mt. Prospect
Trinity United Methodist
Church, Wilmette
United Methodist Church of
Mt. Greenwood, Inc.
United Methodist Church of
Steward
United Methodist Foundation,
Northern Illinois
Conference
United Voices for Children
Walnut United Methodist
Church
Wilton Center Federated
United
Methodist Church
Winnetka Congregational
Church/Woman's Society
Zion United Methodist Church
In-Kind Gifts—Individuals
Aldersgate United Methodist
Church
Antioch United Methodist
Church
Ms. Tandreia Q. Bellamy
Mrs. Joyce S. Carrasco
Christ United Methodist
Church, Deerfield
Church of the Incarnation
Mrs. Diane L. and Mr. James
Danbury
United Methodist Church
First Baptist Church, Florence
First UMC United Methodist
Women, Park Ridge
First United Methodist Church,
Arlington Heights
First United Methodist Church,
Downers Grove
First United Methodist Church,
La Grange
General Board of Pension and
Health Benefits of UMC
Gerald Businaro
Grazianos
Ms. Lynn Grossman
HERE Chicago
Highlands Middle School
The Langham Hotel
Jeff Lee
Barbara Miner
Ms. Mary K. O'Shea
Kendall Partridge
Thomas Partridge
Prince of Peace United
Methodist Church, Elk Grove
Village
April and Gordan Redzic
Sasser Family Holdings
Mr. Brian Schauer
Ms. Sue Simek
Ms. Leeann Wille
Ms. Jessica Zamudio
Mrs. Beth and Mr. Randall
Wagner
Mandi Woronowicz
We are grateful to our supporters who
make our 121-year mission possible.
Stacy R. Levin
Kathryn E. Leech
Linda Z's Sewing Center
Deon Lucas
David O. MacKenzie
Monahan Law Group, LLC
Naperville Office Equities
Jonathan Nelson
Jeffrey Newcorn
Richard W. Oleson
April and Gordan Redzic
Jack Riley
Warner A. Rosenthal
Edward M. Rounds
Patricia E. Sklar
Jeff N. Strack
United Methodist Women St.
Andrew United Methodist
Church
Marilyn J. Wadington
Beth Wagner
Gayle M. Webber
Joyce Wildman
Avery W. Williams
Todd Wilcox
Ray E. Willis
Edith S. Zahn
Arlene Zielke
Civic and Nonprofit
Organization Support
American Legion Post 335
Exchange Club of Naperville
Grayslake Exchange Club
Palatine Jaycees
Rhea of Hope Foundation
United Way of Greater
Philadelphia & Southern
New Jersey
United Way of Livingston
United Way of Metropolitan
Chicago
YWCA of Lake Forest
Public Agencies and
Organizations
City of Chicago Department of
Family and Support Services
Chicago Alliance to End
Homelessness
Chicago Public Schools
DuPage Community
Development Block Grant
Illinois Department of Children
and Family Services
Illinois Department of Human
Services
Illinois State Board of
Education
Lake County Department of
Planning, Building &
Development
Maternal Infant and Early
Childhood Home Visiting
Program (MIECHV)
U.S. Department of Housing
and
Urban Development
Christ United Methodist
Church, Deerfield
Community United Methodist
Church, Winfield
Community United Methodist
Church, Naperville
Court Street United Methodist
Church
Disciples UMC United
Methodist Women, Mt.
Morris
El Redentor del Calvario/The
Redeemer of Calvary,
Chicago
Euclid Avenue United
Methodist Church
Euclid Avenue UMC United
Methodist Women, Oak
Trusts and Estates
Park
D & R Fund
First Presbyterian Church
Ellen B. Fox Fund
Presbyterian Women,
Michael Reese Health Trust
Deerfield
Norman W. Harris Reserve
First UMC United Methodist
Fund
Women, West Chicago
Octavus N. Hutchinson
First UMC United Methodist
Charitable Trust
Women, Downers Grove
Prince Charitable Trusts
First UMC United Methodist
Robert and Jeanette McMurdy
Women, Franklin Park
Trust
First UMC United Methodist
Virginia Little Charitable Trust
Women, Oak Park
First UMC United Methodist
Faith Communities
Women, Palatine
Antioch United Methodist
First UMC United Methodist
Church
Women, Waukegan
Antioch UMC United
First United Methodist Church,
Methodist Women
DesPlaines
Barrington United Methodist
First United Methodist Church
Church
at The Chicago Temple
Barrington UMC United
First United Methodist Church,
Methodist Women
Arlington Heights
Batavia United Methodist
First United Methodist Church,
Church
Arlington Heights, United
Beth Eden United Methodist
Methodist Women
Church
First United Methodist Church,
Calvary United Methodist
DeKalb
Church, Davis
First United Methodist Church,
Central United Methodist
Evanston
Church, Skokie
First United Methodist Church,
Central UMC of Skokie United
La Grange
Methodist Women
First United Methodist Church,
Morris
Star’s story:
Star entered ChildServ’s Emerge Program, which aids homeless young adults,
on May 5, 2015. Despite struggling with financial resources and finding a place to
live, Star strived to attend a four-year university.
With assistance from Kimberly, her caseworker, Star enrolled at Chicago State
University, with a concentration in Early Child Care Education. “The
encouragement and support I received from Kimberly really helped me take that
first step toward my goal,” said Star. She also connected with Operation Push’s
summer mentorship program, which encourages youth to realize their dreams.
In addition to her studies, Star took advantage of Emerge’s other supportive
services, including life skills training, to create greater stability in her life; Star and
her Operation Push mentor also found a grant that would pay for her tuition.
This past August, Star received a phone call informing her of her acceptance into
Maryland State University, where she plans on majoring in Early Childhood
Education, with a minor in Pre-School Education.
We could not be more proud of Star’s hard work and determination.
Eva’s story:
The first time Eva walked into ChildServ’s Lake County location, she had a black
eye, and looked at the ground when she spoke. She was interested in learning
more about the Family Childcare Homes Program (FCCH), but more important,
she was looking for hope.
During that first visit, Eva met Angel O., ChildServ’s Bilingual Coordinator. “She
was determined,” Angel remembers, “but she had no plan.” But Eva opened up
to him about her past and goal to support herself and her children:
Eva came from Mexico to the Chicagoland area with her boyfriend and their little
girl. She did not speak English, and her family depended on her boyfriend for
support. In time, however, he lost his job, and left Eva and their daughter.
In need of housing, they stayed with a friend, and Eva took cleaning jobs to
support them.
She then met Diego, whom she married after a time. They had a baby together
and things were looking up—except for Diego’s temper. When he became angry,
he would hit her, and at times, the children.
After hearing Eva’s story, Angel went to work—explaining how Eva could earn
money for her family by getting involved in ChildServ’s FCCH Program. Eva
signed up and started certification classes. Within four months, she received her
license as a state-certified daycare provider.
Eva and her kids have since moved into a place of their own, and she operates a
daycare with regular clients who now depend on her.
In her spare time, Eva leads a support group of moms who strive to achieve
independence and self-sufficiency, and tells them, “If I can make a living and
provide a better life for my kids, so can you.”
*For our client’s protection, her name and image have been changed.
Grand Boulevard Plaza,
Matanky Realty Group, Inc.
Highlands Middle School
William D. Himmelstein
La Pasta Ria Ristorante, Inc.
The Langham Hotel
Mardie P. MacKimm
Palatine Jaycees
Prince of Peace United
Methodist Church, Elk Grove
Village
Marta R. Rodriguez
Richard W. Schoenke
Silver Peak REIT, Inc.
Matthew Simpson
Lori A. Steele
John T. Waldron
Winnetka Congregational
Church/Woman's Society
$500 +
Anonymous
Antioch United Methodist
Church
John Anderson
BMO Harris Bank N.A.
Eric Carlson
Church of the Incarnation
United Methodist Church
Vincent E. Clemente
Joyce E. Cochran
Rosalie M. Eiler
Elmhurst Choral Society
First UMC United Methodist
Women, Waukegan
Glenview UMC United
Methodist Women
Mark Hanna
Marguerite D. Hark
Norman W. Harris Reserve
Fund
John Heller
Marvin Hill
Hinsdale UMC United
Methodist Women
Lina Khalil
Charles A. Krugel
Ozinga Bros., Inc.
Edward Riley
Robert L. Samuels
Jeff Shea
Silicon Valley Community
Foundation/Pepsico
Foundation
Benjamin Socie
Thomas Tyndorf
UMC NIC Aurora/Elgin
Regional Office
R. Richard Wieland
St. Xavier University
$250 +
Patti Anderson
Steven J. Banke
Bearcat Leasing Corporation
Biagi Plumbing Corporation
David Bibbs
Call One Inc.
Joyce S. Carrasco
Rich Cicciu
James Clements
Community United Methodist
Church, Naperville
Steven Dahnert
Farhana M. Kazi
First UMC United Methodist
Women, Park Ridge
William D. Frost
Greater ILL Title Company
Devjeet Haldar
Ronald G. Hecht
Hinsdale United Methodist
Church
Duk K. Kwon
MB Real Estate
Matthew Joiner
James C. Jones
Lawrence Lisack
Scott Mayhew
Richard H. Morehead
Brian J. Rubin
Brian Schauer
Jim Scordo
Elizabeth M. Williams
Tyrone Williams
United Methodist Women of
Park Ridge
$100 +
Association Forum Foundation
Associated Solutions
Patricia M. Aylward
Igor L. Arouca
Phillip Baker
Linda M. Bergstrom
Carey Boratto
Cary A. Broussard
J.D. Brown
Bette Jane Camit
Michael A. Cavanaugh
Sally K. Clancy
Kenneth Creech
Mike Dalton
Deutsche Bank Americas
Foundation
James R. Doyle
Lawrence E. Doyle
Martha A. Edwards
Faith United Methodist Church
First Baptist Church, Florence
First United Methodist Church
First United Methodist Church,
Franklin Park
First United Methodist Church,
West Chicago
First United Methodist Church,
Woodstock
Rachel E. Fowler
Gary United Methodist Church
-Wheaton
Emmett S. Goff
Grace United Protestant
Church, Park Forest
Lynn Grossman
Russell L. Guilford
Robert W. Hamilton
David A. Hanes
Peter W. Hanes
Alfred T. Hansen
Thomas V. Heather
Jason Hedien
Richard L. Heiss
Robert E. Janes
Janice M. Jeffery
Dale Jones
Kingswood United Methodist
Church, Buffalo Grove
Paul LaBriola
We are grateful to our supporters, who
make our 121-year mission possible.
Fostering a future
ChildServ continues to seek loving foster families in the
100,000 +
United Way of Metropolitan
Chicago
$7,500 +
George A. Bates Memorial
Foundation
McMaster-Carr Supply
Company
Elliot Richardson
Christ United Methodist
Church, Deerfield
Nancy Duel
First Midwest Charitable
Foundation
$75,000 +
General Board of Pension and
Michael Reese Health Trust
Health Benefits of UMC
Octavus N. Hutchinson
$5,000 +
Charitable Trust
$25,000 +
Michael Bromiley
Thomas D. Hutchinson
Crown Family Philanthropies
Calvary Episcopal Church
David Johnson
G.A. Ackermann Memorial
The Chang Family Foundation Wesley S. Jones
Fund
Donald G. Brackey
Virginia Little Charitable Trust
Healthcare Foundation of
First United Methodist Church, Shad Peterson
Northern Lake County
Arlington Heights
Plante Moran, PLLC
Lake County Planning, Building Fox Valley United Way
Joyce Saxon
and Development
Gemini Foundation
Bernard D. Sterner
MDRC
John Gotschall
The United Methodist Church
VNA Foundation
Hospira Foundation, Inc.
of Mt. Greenwood
Gregory W. Hummel
UMCMG, Inc.
Pat Partridge
UPS
$20,000 +
Tina L. Pickell
Vanguard Charitable
D & R Fund
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Endowment Program
Prince Charitable Trusts
Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice
YWCA of Lake Forest
Foundation
Dr. Scholl Foundation
$15,000 +
United Voices for Children
$1,000 +
Wesley E. Luehring Foundation
3 Points, LLC
Northern Illinois Conference
AbbVie Foundation Employee
United Methodist Church
$2,000 +
Engagement Fund
Thomas Partridge
Jessica Anderson
Donna L. Atkinson
Christopher Angelica
Barrington United Methodist
Aldersgate United Methodist
Church
$10,000 +
Church
Charles Morgan Carraway and
Ellen B. Fox Fund
First United Methodist Church, Joanne M. Carraway
Hometown America
Downers Grove
Charitable Foundation
Foundation
First United Methodist Church, CME Group Foundation
Stephen C. Mack
La Grange
Phil Costello
Robert and Jeanette McMurdy William C. Bannerman
Chris I. Engelman
Trust
Foundation
Exchange Club of Naperville
The Northern Trust Company
Tandreia Q. Bellamy
First United Methodist Church,
The Siragusa Foundation
Charles S. Brown
Evanston
Glenview United Methodist
Church
Chicagoland area. For more information on how to change a
child’s life by becoming a foster parent, please call
773.867.7323 or visit www.childserv.org/foster.
ChildServ’s Fiscal Year 2015 Events
Former
ChildServ
President and CEO
James C. Jones (left)
and Board of Trustees
Chair Elliot Richardson
(right) award the Lucy
R i d e r
M e ye r
Humanitarian Award to
United
Way
of
Metropolitan Chicago
CEO Wendy DuBoe for
the
United
W ay's
s up p ort
of
ear l y
childhood education at
ChildServ’s
120th
Gala.
ChildServ’s “Night at
Ravinia” co-chair Tina
Pickell,
with
her
husband,
Orren
Pickell, at the soldout summer event,
featuring Train.
ChildServ's Johanna Buwalda
with Congresswoman Tammy
Duckworth at the Jesse Brown
VA Mental Health Summit on
August
5.
Duckworth
especially thanked The Center
for Veterans and Their
Families at Rush and
ChildServ for their work with
military families and children.
Deedee & Lonny’s story:
Fiscal Year 2015 Financial
Information
Current Assets
Non Current Assets
Fixed Assets—Net
Total Assets
FY 2015
$2,200,896
$584,457
$1,529,258
$4,334,611
FY 2014
$1,977,806
$612,590
$1,126,912
$3,717,308
Current Liabilities
Other Liabilities
Net Assets
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
$1,285,870
$1,889,533
$1,719,208
$4,894,611
$1,192,535
$951,792
$1,572,981
$3,717,308
Comparative Statement of Activities for years ending
June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2015
Deedee and her young family live in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood—
known for its high rates of crime, poverty and unemployment. In addition to
raising her children, Deedee supports her mother and little sister, who lives with
special needs.
Shortly after giving birth to Lonny, her third child, Deedee met Tracie, a parent
educator with ChildServ’s Parent Empowerment Program (PEP), at a
community fair. The two women formed a bond as Deedee shared her concerns
about her ability to manage family and work.
Tracie enrolled Deedee and Lonny in PEP, ChildServ’s home-based early
intervention and education program featuring bi-weekly visits from parent
educators. Tracie’s time with Deedee and Lonny focused on educational and
developmental activities, which Deedee used daily with each of her young
children. As Lonny progressed through the program, Deedee saw Lonny’s brain
“wake up”. “Not only did Lonny learn to speak earlier and with a higher
vocabulary than his siblings,” she observed, “but he started walking and was
potty-trained sooner as well.”
Deedee credits Tracie for Lonny’s success but most of the recognition belongs
to Deedee herself. Since entering the program, she has dedicated her time to
reading and practicing the PEP activities with her children, which has made a
difference in their development.
INCOME
Government
Private
Other
TOTAL INCOME
$9,120,811
$1,212,961
$1,363,063
$11,696,835
$8,603,000
$861,004
$1,435,868
$10,899,878
FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES
Cost of Care
Staffing
Cost of Operations
TOTAL EXPENSES
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS
BEGINNING NET ASSETS
ENDING NET ASSETS
$2,538,981
$6,659,482
$2,352,145
$11,550,608
$146,227
$1,572,981
$1,719,208
$2,514,754
$6,429,125
$1,914,864
$10,858,743
$41,135
$1,531,846
$1,572,981
Tracie also helped jumpstart Deedee’s career. They worked together to update
Deedee’s resume and find employment opportunities suitable for her skills and
experience. Deedee now works part-time at a local daycare and after-school
program and still has time to pick up her kids from school, prepare a healthy
dinner and help with homework.
This past year, Deedee worked with a ChildServ Health Coordinator to build
and plant a family garden in her front yard. Lonny helps his mother tend the
garden every day and loves eating fresh peas right off the vine.
Deedee’s determination and perseverance are an inspiration to parents in PEP,
and we applaud her success.
(Left) Two children in ChildServ’s Healthy Fit Program learn about gardening
vegetables and how they can eat healthy to help their brains and bodies grow
up strong.