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History
Gift for a Child was founded in 2005 when our founder Rene Gunn with the
support of U.S. Bank Vice Chairman, Pamela Joseph decided they wanted
to improve the lives of children in foster care by creating a
sustainable network of businesses and individuals to connect youth to
caring adults, support their education needs and provide transitional
living life skills. These two women with a board represented by business
leaders, healthcare professionals and educators are mobilizing
volunteers to donate their time, talents and resources to make a
difference in the lives of foster youth.
Our Impact and Solutions
We
Mobilized the Business Community and Individuals to Help Foster Youth
- 2010 was the kickoff for Real Life
Prep. 25 businesses helped foster youth get prepared for life after
foster care. This event included career planning, medical checkups,
financial money management, how to purchase or rent a home, how to make
purchasing decisions and even included the launch of our first "Foster
Authors" event featuring a book written by a foster youth alumni.
- In 2009, we launched our first "Gift a
Difference House Party" to
bring together friends, families, neighbors and their
children to hear about the needs of teens without families.
Everyone
in attendance brought a gift to wrap and then selected a photo of a
teenager from a giving tree to receive their wrapped gift.
- From 2005 - 2010: Professional
photographers have had an invaluable impact on our work helping
children find
families. Over the last 5 years, over 100 professional
photographers have
donated their
time and talents to help photograph children in foster care.
Youth
Academic Achievements and Special Occasions Were Celebrated
- Annually
we partner with the state of Georgia and community partners to
celebrate
the achievements of youth in foster care graduating from college,
high
school or receiving their GED. During this event, we feature a
photographic exhibit and stories of the wonderful accomplishments
of
foster youth. Since 2006, we've featured 15 youth annually during
this
event. In 2010, the exhibit will be even bigger. Last year we gave
350
youth a Celebration of Excellence bag and a gift card to honor them
for
their achievements.
- Our
team and volunteers love to have fun so we are looking forward to
the
first "Party for a Child" event this year celebrating the Sweet
16 birthday of teens in foster care.
Youth
Were Provided With Opportunities to Learn and Experience Something New
- There
were lots of smiles and big eyes during "Adventures for a Child"
when we took foster your in Georgia to an adventure at the Albany
Aquarium.
- There
was more than just food during "Dine for a Child" for older
youth in Tennessee at the Nashville Aquarium Restaurant. This event
included a little style makeover and, of course, a photo
opportunity.
- During
"Portraits for a Child", foster youth in North Carolina
experienced a fun day of pizza and photos at Discovery Place
Charlotte.
The day ended with us handing out backpacks to every child in
attendance.
- In 2007, our "Golf for a Child" event
partnered foster youth with individuals
from the business community for a day to learn how to play golf.
Special Moments Were Captured and Memorialized
- With
the help of writers, videographers, photographers, publishing
companies
and printers, our "My Write Story" events are helping educate
communities about the true life experiences of children without
families.
- Some
older foster youth appreciated a personal makeover during "Style
for
a Child". During this event, hair stylists, makeup artists and
barbers donated their time.
We've Received Awards and Recognition for
Our Work
- Child
welfare agencies in both Georgia and North Carolina have honored
Gift for a
Child on numerous occasions for our work on behalf of children in
foster
care. Our proudest moment came last year when we received an award
from
older youth in foster care because of our presence in their lives
and
advocacy work.
Foster
Youth Connected to Forever Families
- Several
children now have a forever family because of the "Heart Gallery
Southeast/Picture Adoption" mobile exhibits and events we launched
in 2005. From
business
office complexes to museums and galleries, the story of children in
foster
care at these events have connected the youth we serve to their
forever
family.
- Gift
for a Child events are designed to raise awareness about the unique
needs
of these youth by informing the public that they didn’t ask to be
removed
from their families, they don't want to be homeless and they really
need a
family. We've had events at Imagine It Children’s Museum of
Atlanta,
Concourse Atlanta, Bank of America Plaza, Wachovia Building and the
Government Center in Charlotte.
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