Kringle Talk is Back!

It's time to order your personalized letters from Santa for the special children in your life. Great for your children, grandchildren nieces & nephews. Create Christmas memories and support local foster children at the same time!

The best part is 30% of the proceeds for each letter benefit Ambassadors for Children as we continue our ministry to serve local foster children. Create Christmas memories and support abused & neglected children at the same time!

Click Here to order!

Project Self-Esteem grant app

Just finished a grant draft for Project Self-Esteem! We have already served 40 foster children through this program in 2010 and will likely serve up to 10 more through December.

We have provided self-esteem enhancing items & activities to over 170 local foster children since 2005!

Learn more---visit our Project Self-Esteem web page!

You can Help!

With over 900 kids in foster care, sometimes it seems the problem of child abuse & neglect in Springfield & Greene County is overwhelming, but there are ways you can help. One of the biggest obstacles is finding a place to "jump in" and serve where your talents and resources can be used to make the biggest difference. With so many non profits in our area, even the task of finding an agency to call can be overwhelming!

That's where we come in. We mobilize community members to support local abused & neglected children and their Caseworkers and it's all very EASY! You have a few options:

• Adopt-a-Caseworker: you, your family unit, Sunday school class, Church, coworkers, book club or any other group you participate in can do this. We match you with a Greene County foster care Caseworker. They tell you what the kids/families on their caseload need and you help if you can. It's flexible, informal and builds relationships!
  

• Be a Volunteer Tutor: you meet with a foster child 1 hour/week in a public setting and help them with homework, studies and building confidence. No teaching experience is necessary but you will need to pass a couple background checks.
  

• Donate Clothing or Coats: we always need Brand New children's clothing and new winter coats of all sizes. We give these away to foster children through our Kid's Clothes Closet. We distribute only new items on purpose--this is to enhance the self-esteem of children who have often never worn a new clothing garment before:-)
  

• Donate Money: we are a charity, so we always need money to help cover operating costs so our 1 staff person can implement programs. Our services can't exist without an administrator:-) We also need money to purchase new children's clothing and help kids with eye glasses, contacts, school trips, summer camps and much more through Project Self-Esteem. Your tax-deductible gift can be mailed to Ambassadors for Children @ 627 N. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802 (payable to CCO-AFC or Ambassadors for Children).
  

• Donate Gently Used Items: You can put a description and photos of any item you would like to donate on our online Web Exchange. It's exclusively for our charity and child protective services workers in Greene County, MO. You list your item and a Caseworker will contact you if they have a client family that needs it.
  

We need foster & adoptive parents in Greene County! Find out how you can make a difference for abused & neglected children by opening your heart and home.

Our programs relieve the financial strain upon foster parents and the state provides compensation as well. This is a free event!


November 2, 2010 from 6-8pm
Schweitzer United Methodist Church
2747 E. Sunshine, Springfield, MO

Serving More Kids

We are serving 11% more foster children through our Kid's Clothes Closet than last year (which was a record setting year for us)! This makes sense, considering the number of foster children from Greene County has risen to over 900 this month.

Anyone can help & here are 2 main ways:

• Support our local Caseworkers by adopting one of them through our Adopt-a-Caseworker program. Your support helps ease their stress as they work with a very large caseload. Remember...these Caseworkers help the families, they don't "take" kids away. Children's Division does not have the legal authority to place a child in foster care, they simply manage the child's case after they are placed.
  

• Donate brand new children's winter clothing and new winter coats of all sizes to help keep our Kid's Clothes Closet restocked.
  

Although Greene County does have high rates of child abuse & neglect, we are not the highest in Missouri. According to 2009 data, Greene County ranks 4th in the state for the number of children in foster care (source: Missouri Department of Social Services Children's Division 2009 Annual Report).

More 180 Film Fest Pics

Kelly Ennis, Leslie Boughton & Sondra Uzzell pose while cleaning up after the event









Volunteer Kelly Ennis strikes a pose with the table centerpieces!









The Child Care Resource & Referral staff are all smiles!






A couple volunteers help Richard Virnig (center) load the John Deere riding mower that was purchased at the Live Auction

180 Film Fest Photos!!

We had a blast putting on the 1st Annual 180 Film Festival!
Check out these photos of staff & volunteers:-)

(Sondra Uzzell & Anne Schubert at the Ambassadors for Children Reverse Auction Display)

Halloween Fun

Check out our dedicated Advisory Committee members (Connie Condict, Mary Casada & Karenanne Miller) putting together Halloween Goody bags for Greene County child protective caseworkers!

We included a "goulish" note to remind them of our programs & show some appreciation! This type of creative marketing will take place quarterly with the seasons/holidays. We are excited & the Caseworkers LOVE them!

Breaking Service Records!!

We are breaking service records again for the 2nd straight year!

• Over 350 foster children served through the Kid's Clothes Closet in 2010
  Winter Coats needed (brand new only)
  

• Over 110 Project Self-Esteem requests for foster children in 2010

180 Film Festival & Auction THIS Saturday!!

THIS Saturday, October 9th 5-8pm @ Remington's on Republic Road

Come one, come all to this fundraiser to benefit Ambassadors for Children and 7 other operating agencies of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks!

Featuring:

• Film Premieres (180 seconds each)
• People's Choice film award (you get to vote!)
  
• Food catered by HuHot Mongolian Grill (also including hot dogs, popcorn, cookies & drinks)
  
• Live Auction (John Deere riding mower, David Yurman bracelet, Puerta Vallarta Getaway & More!)
• Reverse Auction (you get to purchase items WE need to provide our services)
• Door Prizes
• Prizes for those who make Donations through the Reverse Auction
• Kid's Zone (crafts, face painting, childrens donation area)

4 Easy Ways to get tickets

1. Council of Churches office (Glenstone & Chestnut Expressway, behind El Maguey restaurant)
2. Lifeway Christian Store (by Shoe Carnival in the Primrose Marketplace)
3. Online at www.ccozarks.org
4. Purchase tickets at the door!
   

Foster Parents Needed!

Greene County placed approximately 25 children into foster care last week alone! We're seeing a spike in the number of kids coming into care recently and we don't have enough foster homes for all the kids.

It's completely FREE to become a foster parent and the rewards are priceless. It only takes about 5 months to complete the process & the state (in addition to our programs) offer lots of assistance and support.

Check this out for more information today! These special kids need you desperately.

Thank You IPC Foundation!!

We want to shout a "Howdy" Thank You to the IPC Foundation for donating 250 kid's cowboy hats for the Kid's Zone at the upcoming Council of Churches 180 Film Festival & Reverse Auction! These fun hats will keep the kids entertained while the adults bid on live auction items and reverse auction items to benefit our agency and 8 others (who are all part of the Council of Churches in Springfield, MO).

Want one? Well, you'll have to get your ticket for the 180 Film Festival:-) OR, you could visit Springfield's Incredible Pizza Company game room to play and cash in your tickets for one of these. Happy Trails:-)

Thank you to our lovely model, Christine Moses, Special Events Coordinator at the Council of Churches!

180 Film Festival

It's been 41 years in the making and now it's HERE!! A fundraiser event that benefits the operating agencies of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks (including Ambassadors for Children).

Check out the 180 Film Festival & Reverse Auction, October 9th from 5-8pm at Remington's in Springfield, MO. We'll have film premieres, awards, live and reverse auction, food and kid's activities.

Enter your 3 minute film and you could WIN $2,000!!! Films are due 9/18/10--so HURRY! This is great for individuals, Churches, Youth Groups and much more. Be part of an innovative community event that supports charity for children, seniors and people with disabilities:-)

Project Self-Esteem Gets Support

We are very proud to have received a $2,000 grant award from the Ozarks Health Advocacy Foundation to provide physical and medical self-esteem enhancing items for foster children through our Project Self-Esteem program!

Potential items we can fund include: eye glasses, contact lenses, eye exams, partial braces down payments, dental costs not covered by Medicaid, infant circumcision costs not covered by Medicaid and developmental disability equipment. All items are for children placed into foster care from Greene County, MO and must be requested by the child's foster care Caseworker.

For more info: Sondra Uzzell, Ambassadors for Children Director
862-3586 ext. 236

Winning Ticket!

Yes, you saw that correctly. Ambassadors for Children sold the winning ticket for the 2010 Mustang given away through the Price Cutter Charity Championship on August 15th!

Congratulations to Mr. Jerry Hatfield! We sold approximately 252 tickets this year, raising $6,300 unrestricted dollars for our organization. We are so grateful for the Price Cutter Charity Championship and the opportunity it provides us to raise money and strengthen relationships with other children's charities.


This is me after learning we sold the ticket. It was about 100 degrees on the golf course. To my knowledge, this is the first time Ambassadors for Children has sold a grand prize winning ticket since we joined the tournament about 7 years ago:-)

Sweepstakes Tickets Going Fast!

Get your ticket today to win a 2010 Mustang or $10,000 cash. All proceeds go to charity and Ambassadors for Children gets proceeds for tickets we sell. With only 4,000 tickets sold, they are sure to sell out again this year--don't miss your chance to win big!

The drawing is August 15th at Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield. Sondra Uzzell, Agency Director for Ambassadors for Children, will be present at the drawing to claim a prize on your behalf if you win and cannot be present yourself. Please help us reach our sales goal of 280 tickets!!

Ticket Order Form--click here

Order by mail (above order form) or come see us tonight (7/13/10) at Hammons Field Gate #1 from 5:30-7:30pm or this Saturday (7/17/10) at the Branson Landing to get your tickets!

Thank you Old Missouri Bank!

We partnered with Old Missouri Bank for a Facebook/Twitter fundraiser in May and June. They gained 100 new fans during that time and donated $1 for each to our charity! We are so appreciative of their support and creativity when it comes to supporting our work for abused children.

Check them out at www.bankwiseonline.com

Summer is Spectacular!

We are always busy during the summertime!

• Last weekend we sold over 32 sweepstakes tickets at the Branson Landing! At $25 per ticket, we made $800 for our organization! Thank you to the volunteers who helped. We'll be at it again on Saturday, July 17th--so come see us and the 2010 Mustang we are selling tickets for.

• Last Friday we joined 95 supporters for Ambassadors for Children Night at the Springfield Cardinals game! It was a fantastic game and we enjoyed some spectacular fireworks afterward. Since the Springfield Cardinals matched our ticket sales, we now have 95 game tickets to give away to the children & families we serve! That distribution is also under way.

• We are actively seeking donations for the "Party on the Green" charity auction on August 5th from 6-9pm at University Plaza in Springfield. We get proceeds from each item we contribute--so please help if you can! Tickets to the auction are $25 and will be sold at the door.

Springfield Cardinals Game

Tomorrow is the last day to get your tickets to the Springfield Cardinals Game on June 25th. Each ticket is $9 and Ambassadors for Children gets the proceeds. Tickets are seated together and are in the Purple sections A-C or N-M.

The Springfield Cardinals will also donate 1 ticket for each one we sell--which will be distributed to local abused and neglected children who otherwise might never see a professional baseball game!

Get yours now by paying securely online with credit card. Click Donate, register, click One Time Gift, Ambassadors for Children and Springfield Cardinals Game 6/25.

Your purchased tickets will be mailed to you the week of June 14th. THANK YOU!!

Concert ticket winner!

Congratulations to Christine Giddings! She won 2 tickets to the sold out Carrie Underwood concert in Springfield, MO next week. We are all so excited!!

Thank you Christine for your support of our programs for this very special fundraiser Giveaway!

Carrie Underwood Concert Ticket Giveaway

Want tickets to the SOLD OUT Carrie Underwood concert in Springfield, MO on June 15th?

Your $20 donation to Ambassadors for Children in May will get you 1 Official Entry to win a pair of tickets!! Make donations online (click Donate, register, One Time Gift, Ambassadors for Children & Carrie Underwood Ticket Giveaway).

Or, make checks payable to Ambassadors for Children and mail to 627 N. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802. Your Official Entry Form Receipt will be mailed to you. Check out the Official Rules.

Enter NOW and support our Charity!

Special Thank You to Clear Channel Radio and 105.9 KGBX with Woody and Janet in the Morning!

Busy Times are Coming!

May is gearing up to be our busiest month of the year! Stay tuned for 4 different FUN-draisers we are starting in May. A few of them will extend through the summer.

We need everyone's help to make these a success:-)

We currently have 7 local children waiting for a Volunteer Tutor. Can you help? They are girls and boys ages 11-19 and need help with things like Math, Reading, Study Skills and preparing for a GED.

If you want to make a real difference and tutor/mentor a local abused or neglected child 1 on 1, scroll down to my previous post for Volunteer Tutor information and application forms.

Thank you~!

Volunteer Opportunities

Saw it in our E-Newsletter? Here's a bit more information for you about our current & upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer Tutors

• tutor a local child who has experienced some level of abuse or neglect
• 1 tutoring session per week (approximately 1-2 volunteer hours/week including session, prep & travel time)
• must be 21 years old
• must pass Child Abuse/Neglect & MO Highway Patrol background checks
• All tutor sessions occur in a public location
  
• No experience required & training is available
  
• Volunteer Tutor Job Description, Tutor Application, Child Abuse background check form, Highway Patrol background check form
  

Clothing Drive Coordinators

• Help organize a clothing drive at your school, work or church
• Deliver collected clothing to The Kid's Clothes Closet
  
• We need to collect brand new children's clothing size infant-teenager for boys & girls to keep our Kid's Clothes Closet restocked
• The Kid's Clothes Closet provides brand new clothing, socks, underwear, pajamas and coats for local foster children

Groups to Adopt-a-Caseworker

• Perfect for a Church, small faith group, business, group of work colleagues or a family
• We match you with a local Child Protective Caseworker
• The Caseworker tells you the needs of the 20-25 children on his/her caseload
• You try to fulfill the needs when you are able (with used or new items)
• Adopt-a-Caseworker Frequently Asked Questions (page 1, page 2)
  

Raffle Ticket Sellers

• Saturday, June 26th at the Branson Landing
• Saturday, July 17th at the Branson Landing
• Help us sell raffle tickets for a new Mustang (as part of the Price Cutter Charity Championship)
• We need volunteers from 9am-10pm both dates (volunteer shifts are 2 hours)
  

Golf Tournament Volunteers

• Price Cutter Charity Championship August 5th-August 15th
• Many volunteer jobs available based on your preferences
  
• No golf experience necessary for most volunteer jobs

Are you our next Sponsor?

We are still trying to get 1 or more local businesses to sponsor Ambassadors for Children at the 21st Annual Price Cutter Charity Championship this summer.

The sponsorships start at $500 and include a great ticket package and business promotion at one of the top sporting events in our area. Plus, Ambassadors for Children receives a portion of the sponsorship amount when charity funds are distributed after the tournament.

If you want to learn more, please contact Sondra Uzzell at suzzell@ccozarks.org or 417-862-3586

Thanks!

Say What?

Yes! We are finally on Facebook and Twitter! It took me several months, but I'm so glad we are now using social media. I thought it was going to be a lot of extra work, but it's actually quite fun to keep everyone updated daily about the great things we are doing. I love to get comments and hear what everyone else is saying. If you haven't become our Fan or Follower yet, you are missing out!

I can't believe we have 171 Facebook fans in our 1st Facebook week!

• Follow us on Facebook

• Tweet with us on Twitter (search: Amb4Children)

Become a Facebook Fan

We are now on Facebook!

Follow our link and become our fan today!

Critical Need

We are in desperate need of donations to support our Kid's Clothes Closet program. We served 427 local foster children in 2009 through The Kid's Clothes Closet by providing them with FREE brand new clothing (6 shirts, 6 pants), socks (6 pr.), underwear (6 pr.), pajamas (2), winter coats (1), shoe gift cards (2-4 cards) and haircut coupons (2). Last year we received $35,000 for this program and we spent less than $100 for each child.

We have received just over $14,000 in program grants this fiscal year and we need at least $21,000 to keep pace with current needs.

Donations can be made several ways:

• Make a secure online donation HERE (follow the link, click the Paypal donate button and put Kid's Closet in the description box)

• Mail a check to Ambassadors for Children, P.O. Box 3947, Springfield, Missouri 65808. Make check payable to Council of Churches and put Ambassadors for Children-KC in the check memo line

• Purchase brand new children's clothing items yourself and deliver them to The Kid's Clothes Closet (located inside the Ronald McDonald House) at 949 E. Primrose, Springfield, Missouri from 9am-9pm, 7 days/week

We partner with the Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks for this program and the free haircut coupons are donated by The System, A Paul Mitchell Partner School.