2014 ANNUAL report - Kids First Law Center

2014 ANNUAL report
Letter from the
Executive Director
I can hardly believe that January 24,
2015 marked our 10 year anniversary as an organization. What
started out as “a girl with a dream”
has grown into a thriving law center
that has proudly given thousands of
children a voice in custody and
divorce conflicts.
I can’t say enough how grateful I am
to all of you who support Kids First.
Whether you’ve been with us from
the very beginning or have joined in
our efforts in all the years since,
thank you for making children’s
voices heard.
We have again seen huge growth:
three more employees have joined
the team and we’ve doubled program offerings. We now serve over
800 kids and their families a year.
You are putting kids first. We at Kids
First are grateful for the privilege of
seeing the power of your support,
one child at a time.
Joint parenting sessions help parents reduce conflict
Kids First’s “Putting Kids First with your Ex” program offers joint parenting
sessions to separated parents. With guidance from a Kids First mediator,
parents find common ground and resolve parenting or custody concerns. Kids
First may also meet separately with the kids to make their voices heard.
Sessions have helped parents reach agreement about visitation and custody
issues, as well as improve communication and develop parenting plans.
Here are a few examples of the program’s many successes:
 A father who hadn’t seen his kids for 6 years had contact with them restored.
 Conflict was lessened between a couple and their grandchildren’s mother,
allowing the kids to speak to their mother again: “They were a lifesaver,” the
grandma said. “We were at our wits’ ends, and we just thought that nothing
could be worked out.”
 A private attorney representing the wife in a divorce case reported, “The
parents were fighting about everything. Then they had two sessions at Kids
First and now they are getting along and want to make an agreement.”
Joint parenting sessions have made Kids First’s services available to families
who do not have a court case pending.
The program is funded by a two-year grant, so the services are free of charge for
families. Director Jenny Schulz says, “When families are already experiencing so
much turmoil, we are grateful for the opportunity to offer this service free of
charge. It’s one less thing they have to worry about.”
“[Kids First] was
a lifesaver. We
were at our wits’
ends, and we just
thought that
nothing could be
worked out.”
- M ediation
participant
Republished with permission © 2015 SourceMedia Group, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Kids First Helps Family Move Forward
Parents at Odds…
Kids First attorney Laura Ebinger was appointed to represent two middle-school brothers, “Matthew and Michael,” in their
parents’ divorce. Their parents’ marriage was tumultuous with several separations and physical violence. The parents had
refused to consider settling the case and threatened each other with mounting court actions.
Kids in the Middle…
As Matthew and Michael opened up to Laura, they said that more than anything, they wanted the divorce to be over as
quickly as possible. Their parents were talking to the boys constantly about what would happen at court and made them
worry they would testify. They wanted their parents to know how they felt and to escape from escalating parental pressure.
A Lasting Peace…
Laura helped both parents understand how much stress the boys were under and how to keep the boys out of the middle.
She drafted a settlement proposal that focused on the kids’ needs, reflected the parents’ concerns, and provided a quick end
to the conflict; both parents and their lawyers agreed and the case concluded. Kids First helped the family avoid trial—and
the extra expenses that go with it—as well as come to an agreement that fostered buy-in from the parents.
MEET KIDS FIRST
Kids First has expanded to seven
employees. Meet our talented staff!
MEN AND WOMEN WHO
CARE SUPPORT KIDS FIRST
Kids First was honored over the past year to be
Children’s Attorneys:
selected as a recipient of funds raised by local
Laura Ebinger, Jenny Schulz,
Meredith Rich-Chappell, Elizabeth Weyer Men and Women Who Care groups.
Both groups meet quarterly, and at each meeting,
every member donates $100. Charities are nominated by members and then one organization is
selected by a vote of the members.
100+ Men Who Care Cedar Rapids Metro Chapter
raised $15,200 for Kids First. The 100+ Corridor
Women Who Care Chapter raised $8,805.
Thank you to these amazing organizations for giving kids a voice and spreading the word about
Kids First!
Office Manager: Kandy Sands
Mediators:
Jennifer Koester, Mary Wilcynski
Neutral Exchanges Take Place at Kids First
Did you know that many separated parents exchange their children at the police station? Although parents are looking for a
safe place, the police station is a setting that causes anxiety for
kids, as they worry whether a parent is or will be in trouble.
Since August, Kids First has served as a neutral exchange point
for parents who need help picking up and dropping off their
children peacefully. The exchanges are safe, on neutral ground,
and in a child-friendly setting.
Parents park on opposite sides of the building and enter
through separate doors. Our staff can also accompany the child from one parent to the other. Kids
First also looks to coach parents so they can take steps toward having unassisted, peaceful exchanges.
Sands Receives Excellence Award from Foundation
Kids First Office Manager Kandy Sands was honored as a 2014 recipient of the
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation’s Staff Excellence Award.
Kandy Sands joined Kids First in 2007, and she has transformed the organization.
Kandy coordinates all of the divorce workshops, thanks donors, manages volunteers, tracks case outcomes, and maintains our case and donor databases—and
much, much more. Kids First runs smoothly thanks to Kandy’s work and skills. Executive Director Jenny Schulz says Kandy is “the best frontline person an organization could dream of.”
Congratulations, Kandy, on this much deserved recognition!
$100,000 Goal for Endowment Set for Kids First’s 10th Year
In honor of Kids First’s 10 year anniversary, we set a goal to raise $100,000 in 2015 for
Kids First’s endowment at the Community Foundation. The endowment will help
ensure that Kids First is here for future generations of children who need our services.
Gifts to the endowment are being matched 1:3, thanks to receiving one of the first
Endowment Challenge grants from the Community Foundation. The Foundation will
give $25,000 to match the first $75,000 raised.
As an added bonus, Iowa donors to
Kids First’s endowment receive tax
incentives. For each gift, donors are
eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa tax CREDIT in addition to the federal charitable income tax deduction.
The matching grant combined with
the Endow Iowa tax credit allows
Kids First to receive over three
times the donor’s out-of-pocket
gift!
Kids First Endowment
at the Community Foundation
Your Gift:
Multiply Your Impact!
Gift Amount
Grant Match
Total
$10,000
$ 3,333
$13,333
Gift Amount
Federal Tax Deduction*
Total
$10,000
(3,400)
$6,600
Spendable
@ 4.5%
Endow Iowa Credit
(2,500)
Total Out of Pocket
* at 34% tax bracket
$4,100
= $600 per year
for Kids First in perpetuity
Thank you
to the following individuals, organizations and
foundations that supported Kids First in 2014!
Leaders $1,000 - $1,999
Ryan & Katie Buresh
Greg & Ellen Chaimov
Tom & Sarah Anderson
AEGON Transamerica Foundation
Scott Corporon & Josie Porras
Bradley & Riley PC
Greater Cedar Rapids Community
Corporon
Foundation Program Grant
Matt & Jeanne Brandes
Fund
Natalie Ditmars
Kevin Collins & Sally Stephenson
United Way of East Central Iowa
Greg Epping & Connie Kokontis
Christine Conover & David Cmelik
Dave & Kathryn Ernst
Brian Fagan
Al & Sue Fletcher
Investors $10,000 - $19,999 May G. Gortner Charitable Trust
Chris & Kathy Frerichs
Gerald T. Knox Fund, #2 of the
Greater Cedar Rapids Community
Greater Cedar Rapids
Lynn & Carl Hartman
Foundation President's Fund
Community Foundation
Pat Kenney & Tina Joy
Marc & Cathy Gullickson
Iowa DHS Access grant
Emily Meyer
George & Beth Hanna
Linn County Bar Association
Bob Michael & Catherine Zaharis
Allison & Mike Heffern
Linn County Fund of the Greater
Laura Mueller
Iowa City AM Rotary
Cedar Rapids Community
Jim & Kristin Novak
David Johnson
Foundation
Darla & Randy Parks
Clay & Debbie Jones
Jeff & Kris Nielsen
Ralph Plagman & Mary Wilcynski
Wayne & Kari Kempf
Bill Prowell
Lil' Drug Store Products, Inc.
Heroes $4,000 - $9,999
Corporate Donor-Advised Fund Joan Radovich & Don Babwin
Daybreak Rotary of Cedar Rapids
of the Greater Cedar Rapids
John & Diane Riccolo
Diamond V Mills Corporate Fund of
Community Foundation
Neal & Kathleen Scharmer
the Greater Cedar Rapids
Bill & Mary Lou McCartan
Community Foundation
Jonathan & Jenifer Schmidt
Dean & Donadee Nicholson
William & Virginia Jones
Elizabeth Schott
Matt Novak & JoAnne Lilledahl
Raining Rose, Inc.
Tim & Jenni Semelroth
Randy & Lisa Ramlo
Bill & Rocki Shepard
Mindy & David Sorg
Robert Rodriguez & Christina Cuva
Gordon & Jean Stelling
Rodriguez
Builders $2,000 - $3,999
Scott Schenkelberg & Susan Gilles- Gary & Susan Streit
Joan Thaler
Suzanne Bish & J. Bryan Wood
pie
Dan & Carolyn Thies
Community Foundation of Johnson Jenny Schulz & John Chaimov
County
Ian & Paula Thornhill
Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, PLC
First Lutheran Church
Mike & Sue Tiernan
Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman
Iowa Lawyer Trust Account
PLC
Carley & Jason Umstead
Commission
Kay Slocum & Paul Dillon
Thomas & Suzi Wolle
Joseph & Carolyn Kirby
John-Mark & Nancy Stensvaag
Ryan & Jennifer Koester
Thrivent Financial
Mentors $250 - $499
McGrath Automotive Group
Thursday Noon Optimist Club
A Healing Approach Inc.
Corporate Donor-Advised Fund
Tuesday
Noon
Optimist
Club
Alliant Energy Foundation
of the Greater Cedar Rapids
United Fire Group
Molly Altorfer
Community Foundation
Elizabeth
Wilson
&
Steve
Maher
Jim & Sally Anderson
Roadhaven Church, Apache
Junction, AZ
Lars & Dawn Anderson
Jim & Janice Russell
Advocates $500 - $999
Kelly & Rachelle Baier
Walt & Jan Schulz
Jon & Debbie Bancks
Aron Aji & Joyce Janca-Aji
The Jim Spaight Memorial Fund of
Doris Bareis
Anonymous
the Greater Cedar Rapids
Todd Barker
Lynda Barrow
Community Foundation
Greg & Teresa Barnett
Nancy Baumgartner
Jenny & Michael Becker
Scott & Jerri Bennett
Champions $20,000+
Kate & Aden Beihl
Laura & Nicholas Bergus
Jace & Jenny Bisgard
Rob & Kim Bowen
Mary Brandes
Valerie & Dave Bruce
Chris & Ginny Buresh
Bill & Barby Buss
Alan & Anne Chaimov
Meredith Rich-Chappell & Andy
Chappell
Alisa Diehl & Mo Payne
Dan & Wende Douglas
Landon Dufoe
Susan Dulek
Bill & Kim Ebinger
Jeff & Carol Ebinger
Mike & Kate Ebinger
John & Dana Ehrhart
Tony & Eileen Foxhoven
Les & Katrina Garner
Dave & Kathy Good
Gray, Stefani & Mitvalsky, PLC
Sarah Halbrook
Allan & Sally Harms
Gina Hausknecht & Matt Brown
Arlo Hoberman
Bill & Rosie Hochstetler
James & Barbara Klein
Jake Koller & Brooke Strahn-Koller
Matthew Kriegel
Brad & Tamra Lang
Dick & Avona Lehmann
Jason Madden
Dennis & Jean McMenimen
Mercy Medical Center
Jim Mohni & Nancy Metier Mohni
Brian Moore
Mary Kaye Nath & Lee Belfield
Colin & Jennifer O'Brien
Melanie O'Donnell & Doug Olson
Mark Ogden & Iris Muchmore
Chuck & Mary Ann Peters
Janey Jill & Matt Piersall
David & Elizabeth Remley
Dale & Diane Repass
Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Leslee & Michael Sandberg
Kandy & Chad Sands
Kristen Shaffer
Richard Shaffer & Cheryl Conrad
Melvin Shaw
Jane Spande & David Field
Melanie & Ron Stahlberg in honor of
Roger & Carla Schulz and
Jenny Schulz & John Chaimov
Transamerica
Joe & Joan Traylor
University of Iowa Community
Credit Union
Van Meter Donor Advised Fund of
the Greater Cedar Rapids
Community Foundation
Gerry & Kay Westhoff
Susan Willey
Ken & Kris Wright
Friends $100 - $249
Johanna & Terry Abernathy
Matt Adam
John Anderson
Anonymous
David & Ruth Assmus
Mike & Linda Aubey
Dave & Janet Baker
Larry & Catherine Basile
Molly Baynes
Marsha & John Beckelman
Michelle & Craig Beisker
Timothy Berg
Nicole Bingham
Jannell Bloomhall
Sandy & Susan Boyd
Maurine Braddock
Jim & Mary Bradley
Mary Jane Brandes
Bray & Klockau, PLC
Katharine Brown
Juergen & Ellen Bruckner
Shannon & Chris Bruns
Aaron Brunscheen & Stephanie
Downing
Bob & Lois Buntz
Joshua Burger
Matt & Kim Burlage
Janice & Scott Byers
Ryan & Maureen Carey
Frank & Marilyn Carroll
Carson Reporting
Aimee Carter
Cedar Memorial Funeral Homes
Lijun & David Chadima
Tom & Holly Chaimov
Lee Clancey
Climate Engineers
Dave & Barb Coates
Everett & Ellen Collins
Craig & Jean Conover in honor of
Franklin & Graham Conover
Kari Cooling
Jim & Debbie Craig
Matthew & Liz Croco
Dave Crumley
Rene Crumley
Tami & Todd Culver
Kristin & Jason Davis
Pete & Liz Deegan
Pat & Carol Deignan
Dave & Jeanie DeWolf
Lindsay Dick
Kathleen Donnelly
Bob & Barbara Drexler
David Droessler
Cindy Dunn
Kate Dunning
Dorothy Easton
Julie & David Ekland
Janette Eichstadt
Rex & Kathy Eno
Essential Montessori, LLC
Nancy & Jack Evans
F&M Bank Employees
Family Psychology Associates
Brian & Sara Farrell
Roger & Marian Flink
Ro Foege
Brent & Dawn Foss
Gloria Frost
Dick & Nancy Garberson
Lisa Gavin
Karla Goettel
Judy Goldberg & Gordon Parker
Julie & Benjamin Golding
Leigh Goodmark & Doug Nierle
Lauren Grady
Suzanne Griggs
Anne & Doug Gruenewald
Larry Gutz
Mel & Sue Gutz
Jackie & Joe Haan
Walter Hall
Laurie & William Hamen
Sally Harms in memory of Allan
Harms
Kimm Harris
Maureen & Randy Harris
Brad & Jade Hart
Lisa & Jeff Henderson
Linda Henecke
Jim & Linda Herman
Hewlett-Packard
Kimberly Hillyard
Norma Hohensee
Bill & Mary Howard
IBEW Local 1634
Liz Jacobi & Terry Bergen
Kimberly Jacobsen
Jim & Anne Jahnke
Bridget & Glenn Janus
Duane Jasper & Anne HenderJasper
Michelle & Mark Jensen
John C. Wagner Law Offices
Dave & Janiese Karpa
Robin & Judy Kash
Nichole & Richard Kettelkamp
Kathy & Bill Kilbourn
Eun Kim
JoAnn Kintzel
Bob & Kathy Koenig
Dan & Nova Kolander
Matthew & Amy Krigbaum
Jeff & Mary Krivit
Gerald & Patricia Kucera
Jody Kurtt
Marilyn & Gary Langhurst
Lederer Weston Craig PLC
Pete Leehey
Andrew Lennette
David & Inez Lensch
Dolph & Mary Beth Leytze
Hilery Livengood
Lynch Ford Chevrolet Employees
Cindy & James Lyness
Sherie & Jerry Magner
Marissa Manos
Harold & Doris Mantz
Lura & Ryan McBride
Michael McKinley
Tracy & Sean McPartland
Sharon Mellon
Virginia Michalicek
Vincent Mills & Rachel Crawford
Mills
Kate Minette
Joe & Kate Moreland
Dan & Peg Musil
Joe & Lori Musil
Doug & Jen Neumann
Mindy Olson & Ethan Domke
Ron & Sue Olson
David & Anne Parmley
Megan Parsons
Tom & Sharon Peters
Jay & Shelly Peters-Schaler
Stephanie Pickens & Rob Berntsen
Fred & Janet Manatt Pilcher
Amanda Potterfield
Tamera & Matt Preston
Tom & Nancy Pugh
Michelle & Brian Pulvermacher
Anne Ramsey
Dorice Ramsey
Christie Reynolds
Betty & Steve Rich
Anne Rierson
Randy & Danielle Rings
Kristin & Mark Roberts
Richard & Kate Rose
Bob Rush
Cindy & Paul Sale
Kellie Sauter
Greg Scholtz
Roger & Carla Schulz
Sue Scott
Pat & Doug Sedlacek
Gerald & Phyllis Seidl
Seidl & Seidl, PLC
Stephanie Severin
Joan Shaffer
Jim Shipman
Jorie Shire
Brad Simanek & Tricia HoffmanSimanek
Jim & Sherry Sines
Libby Slappey & Charles Crawley
Colin & Lauren Smith
Scott & Carla Smith
Sashi Solomon & Kevin Eck
Steve & Bonnie Sovern
St. Pius X Parish
Marcia Stahl
Diane Stefani
Matt & Amy Stoner
Rachel Suhrbier & Matt Hanley
Karen Swanson
Steve Swift
Lisa & Gregory Thirnbeck
Carrie & Bob Thompson
Todd & Jeanne Thorn
Jeff & Kandice Tjebkes
Karen Tousey
Larry & Lois Trachte
Hollie & Nicholas Trenary
Tammy Tronvold
Alison Urbina
Robert & Sara Vancura
Heather & Jason Vestweber
Karen Volz & Lance Heeren
Bruce & Marlys Walker
John & Alice Wasson
John & Carmen Wasta
Jan Watson
Guy & Theresa Hoyland Wendler
John W. & Cindi Weyer
Judith K. Weyer
Michelle & Jason Williams-Jones
Doug & Angie Wilson
Margy & Tom Winkler
Mickey & Jasmine Wu
Daniel Zepeda
NancyLee Ziese
Tracy & Mark Zimmerman
Contributors $20 - $99
Zafar Ahmad
Amazon Smile Foundation
Pattra Amos
Douglas Anderson
Anonymous
John & Ann Bader
Anna Baker
Gene & Rebecca Baker
Rollin Banderob
Lorna Barnes
Erik Barnhill
Chris Bruns
Dallas & Jacqueline Bryant
Charles & Bonnie Buntz
Lisa Burch
Melissa Burnhill
Anne Busha
Gabrielle Cain
Care Pro
Al Carr & Sylvia Lewis
Mary & Tony Chicchelly
Laura Clark
Stephen Clark
Tamy Cortez
Tandi Dausener
Marcella David
Pat & Nici Davis
Joe & Melanie DiBernardo
Megan Dimitt
Mark & Kristi Dimke
Jessica Doro & Chris Peterson
Patrice Dows
Brian & Laura Draeger
Michael Duffy
Jean Dunn
Laura & Tom Ebinger
Deanna Edmonds
Mark Edwards
Michelle Edwards
Lew & Elizabeth Eells
Ruth Ehrhardt
Listi Elskamp
Ann & James Estin
Marc & Ana Falk
Marjorie Fletcher
Katie Frank
Rick Fry
Matt Gannon
Matt & Katie Giorgio
Bill & Lynette Halder
Trenton Halvorson
Melissa Hammersland
Larry Hart
Maria Hein
William & Jean Hines
Nancy Hinrichs
Jessica & Gail Hlubek
Jeremiah Hopkins
Jason & Linda Hunt
Les & June Huth
Patrick Ingram
Stephanie Irvin
Doug & Anita Johnson
Kathy & Jeff Kaiden
Amy Kaut
Mary Ellen Kenney
Nick & Desirée Kilburg
Amy Kilpatrick & Richard Bales
Amy Kish
David Kleist
Steve & Becky Knudson
Regina Langhurst
John & Mary Locher
Ron & Bonnie Locker
Curtis & Jennifer Lukes
McGladrey LLP Employees
Linda McGuire
Nicole Mingo
Dylan & Melody Moore
Barbara Morrissey
Matthew Moses
Jeffrey & Veronica Moyle
Molly Murphy
Daniel Myers
Abhay Nadipuram
Vicki Nath
Erin & Christopher Nathan
Ed & Susan Nehring
James & Linda Nelson
Bill & Diane Neppl
David Novak
Sue Olmstead
Rebekah Opperman
Monica Packard
Rich & Marion Patterson
Bob & Margie Pence
Tom Podzimek
Crystal Raiber
James Randall
Mark & Diana Rettig
Nancy Riley
Sara Riley
Maria Rojas
Mary Roseberry
Josie Rowe
Joel & Sandra Schmidt
Joann Sebetka
Phillip Seebeck
Mark & Anne Seidl
Phill & Lauri Seidl
Greg Seyfer
Shafer Law Office
David Siefer
Erik Sjobakken
Steve & Karolyn Smith
Amy Smith-Mees
Julie Stewart
Roger & Laurie Stone
Anne Stull
Michael & Connie Stusak
Bill & Cynthia Sueppel
Boe & Marie Svatek
Sara Tamayo
Andrea Lisa Taylor
Maxine Tessier
Colleen Tobiason
Dale & Sara Todd
Thomas Turner
Kirk Ulveling
David Vercande
Rhonda Wagner
Brenda & David Wallrichs
Marcie Watson
Pat Weir & William Davies
Kenneth & Lori Wescott
Vera Weyer
Al & Lori Willett
Natalie & John Woerdehoff
Brett & Marita Wolgast
Erica Yoder
Daniel Zeno
2014 In-kind donors
1st Avenue Wine House
Airfx
Allegra Print & Imaging
Dave Baker
BankIowa
BENZ
Deana Berg
Brady Preston Brown, PC
Budget
Casey's General Stores
Pam & Kevin Caster
Cedar Rapids Kernels
Cedar Rapids Metro YMCA
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Cedar Rapids Titans
Cedar Run Pet Boarding & Daycare
Cobble Hill
Coffeesmiths
Jeannie Collins, DDS
Christine Conover & David Cmelik
Coral Ridge Mall
Campbell Steele Gallery
Crawford Sullivan Read &
Roemerman PC
Culver’s Garden Center
Joe & Melanie DiBernardo
Jessica Doro
Downtown Tire/Goodyear
Tom & Laura Ebinger
Eden Lounge
Ely Outfitting Company
Englert Theatre
Far Above Rubies Spa
First Lutheran Church
Ro Foege
Franklin Street Brewing Company
Fusion Studio
Graze
Great Plains Sauce & Dough Co.
Greenbriar Riding Academy
Heat Yoga Studio & Spa
Allison & Mike Heffern
hotelVetro
Innovative Aesthetics
Iowa Children's Museum
ISU Athletics
Brian Johnson
Doug & Anita Johnson
Jules Bakery
Lisa Lammey Kinzenbaw
Linn County Fair
Dina & John Linge
Lion Bridge Brewing Co.
Charles Litow
{made}Community
Sean & Tracy McPartland
Mercy Medical Center
Millstream
Evelyn Moore
Moxie
Nadia's Salon & Spa
Abhay Nadipuram
Mukund & Nagarathna Nadipuram
Kory Nanke
NewBo Books
Matt Novak & Jo Lilledahl
Melanie O'Donnell & Doug Olson
Mike & Tiffany O'Donnell
Mark Ogden
Orchestra Iowa
Palace Barbershop
Ralph Palmer
Andrea Parks
Tom Peffer & Carol Reasoner
Pancheros
PartyCR
Janey Jill Piersall
Popoli Ristorante
Quaker Oats Company
REACT Center
John Riccolo
Nan Riley in memory of her
husband, Tom Riley
Alyssa & Seth Rosendahl
Share Wine Lounge
Jen Smith, Sri Boutique
Shores Event Center
Sparkling Image Car Wash
Starbucks
Andy Stoll & Amanda Styron West
Julie Stow
Sutliff Cider Company
The Wedge Pizzeria
Theatre Cedar Rapids
Twisters Gymnastics
Verbena Massage Spa
Veronica's House
Peter Welch
Angie Wilkinson
Wilson Business Services
Thomas, Anna & Ella Wolle
Zins
Judge William Thomas Memorial
Judge William Thomas (1945-2014) and his wife, Dr.
Julianne Thomas, began supporting Kids First when it
opened in 2005. When Judge Thomas called Kids First
with a case to refer, he sometimes quipped, “The parents
in this case have a dysfunctional relationship, and the lawyers’ relationship is really dysfunctional.” Judge Thomas’
humor often disarmed parties and attorneys and eased
tensions in the most contentious of cases.
Forever Gifts (Endowment) Judge Thomas had high expectations that Kids First could
resolve the most contentious family disputes and bring
Lynda Barrow
cases to amicable resolution. We were honored and humRyan & Katie Buresh
bled to be named in his obituary and to receive gifts in his
Brian Fagan
memory. We continue to work hard to live up to his expecLes & Katrina Garner
tations.
Dave & Kathy Good
Marc & Cathy Gullickson
Sarah Halbrook
George & Beth Hanna
Clay & Debbie Jones
Ryan & Jennifer Koester
Marilyn & Gary Langhurst
Bill & Mary Lou McCartan
Rich & Loretta Mitvalsky
Jeff & Kris Nielsen
Jim & Kristin Novak
Tyler Olson
Randy & Lisa Ramlo
John & Diane Riccolo
Ryan Companies
Chad & Kandy Sands
Neal & Kathleen Scharmer
Walt & Jan Schulz
Jenny Schulz & John Chaimov
Mike & Sue Tiernan
Jason & Carley Umstead
Thomas & Suzi Wolle
2014 Volunteers
Suzanne Barker
Jenny Becker
Jace Bisgard
Chris Bruns
Clari Bruns
Ryan Buresh
Laurel Burkett
Katie Coates Selburg
Memorials totaling $3,750 were given in Judge Thomas’
honor and placed in our endowed fund. They give Judge
Thomas a lasting legacy as a forever supporter of Kids
First.
Nate Converse
Abbie Covenah
Jennifer Day
Dorothy de Souza Guedes
Natalie Ditmars
Maddie Ebert
Robert Fitzgerald
Lisa Gavin
Katie Geiken
Bill Graham
Cathy Gullickson
Sha Hall
Allie Harder
Susan Haverkamp
Alli Inglebright
Janey Jill Piersall
Ellen Kaiser
Ryan Koester
Jen Kovach
Patti Lucas
Mikaila Matt
Abby Maxwell
Tracy McPartland
Danyelle Murphy/Suhl
Abhay Nadipuram
Matt Novak
Chris O'Brien
Pam Olson
Ralph Palmer
Tim Semelroth
Jen Smith
Ellen Teller
Joan Thaler
Kimberly Topel
Karen Tousey
Christina Updegraff
Rebecca Wang
Carly Weber
Angie Wilkinson
Joy Yamato
2014 Board Members
Lydia Brown
Brian Fagan
Beth Hanna
Allison Heffern
Bill McCartan
Sarah Halbrook
Mindy Sorg
Mike Tiernan
Carley Umstead
Kids First Celebrates 10 Years!
On January 24, 2015,
Kids First marked 10
years of service to
the community.
Dozens of you have
given to Kids First
every year for the last
decade! This steady
support leads to big
results for kids. Thank
you.
We asked some loyal
donors why they
support Kids First.
Here are some of
their responses.
420 6th St. SE Ste. 160
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Address Service Requested
“We are always impressed by the growing programs and the emphasis on
what is best for the children. We are happy to hear that some families are
able to become whole again and that each situation is handled in a sensitive way that works for the best interests of each child. We feel too that
Kids First has an excellent budget and that the funds are used wisely.”
- 10 year donor, Ginny Jones
“Kids First serves children who experience sadness, anger, and confusion due to unfortunate family circumstances. Kids First lifts these kids
up, gives them a voice, and helps them to just feel better about themselves and their situations. That's a great thing, and it's why I admire the
work Kids First does.”
- 10 year donor and former board member, Thomas Wolle
“I admire the very fact that kids are defended so they can have some say
in their life that was disrupted through no fault of their own. As a teacher,
I saw children of divorced parents get pushed around from one parent to
the other. ”
- 10 year donor, Norma Hohensee