Big Thanks to Many!

We would like to thank Ozarks Health Advocacy Foundation for a $6,000 grant award in support of our Project Self-Esteem program. This gift was desperately needed, as Project Self-Esteem has experienced an explosion of growth in 2009. This is already a record-breaking year for this program and we are excited to be serving more foster children!

A huge Thank You as well to James River Assembly Cherish Kid's Ministry, who donated $1,500 in gift cards to Walmart and Target for our Kid's Clothes Closet program. This is a great blessing, as the Kid's Clothes Closet is also heading toward a record-breaking year and we are struggling to stretch our funding to meet the increased need.

Price Cutter Charity Championship 2009

This year was a great success for Ambassadors for Children as we participated in the 20th annual Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr. Pepper! We sold over 260 raffle tickets this year and smashed our record of 108 set in 2008. As the Ambassadors for Children Director, I once again joined the Charity Auction Committee and am happy to report that we estimate the Auction made about $10,000 more than it did in 2008.

Times are difficult, but the local giving spirit lives on to ensure the most vulnerable folks in our area continue to receive the services they need.

Thank you to everyone who helped sell raffle tickets, purchased raffle tickets, volunteered at the Auction, and donated items for the Auction. You are appreciated so much!

"Smiles for Saving" Fundraising Event

"Smiles for Saving"
Free Food & Fun for a Good Cause

What: Ambassadors for Children Fundraiser & Old Missouri Bank 10th Anniversary Celebration

OMB will donate $1 to Ambassadors for Children for
every person that attends

Featuring: Food, Bounce Houses, Face Painting, Drawings, Coloring/Drawing Contest with Prizes, Chance to Purchase Raffle Tickets for 2010 Camaro

When: Friday, July 24, 2009 2pm-6pm

Where: Old Missouri Bank 3570 S. National (National & Primrose) 1535 W. Sunshine (Sunshine & Kansas Expwy)

Cost: ABSOLUTELY FREE !!!

visit http://www.bankwiseonline.com/smilesforsaving.asp for coloring/drawing contest forms and more information

Raffle Ticket Mania!!

We are currently selling raffle tickets for the Marlin Network Charitable Fund Charity Sweepstakes as part of our participation in the 20th Annual Price Cutter Charity Championship golf tournament this year.

Each ticket is only $25 and includes a 4 day tournament pass and enters you to win a 2010 Camaro or $10,000 cash and one of four hundred gift certificates valued at $25. We are one of forty-three other local charities trying to sell a maximum of 4,000 tickets, so competition is steep! Each ticket has a 1 in 10 chance of winning a prize. Ambassadors for Children receives 100% of all proceeds for every ticket we sell. Please help us continue our mission of serving local abused & neglected children.

To purchase a ticket, click here and complete the order form and listed instructions. Or simply mail your check (payable to PCCC) to Ambassadors for Children at 627 N. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802.

Thank you for your support!!

Ronald McDonald House Volunteer Dinner

'Tis the season for annual banquets!! The Ronald McDonald House annual Volunteer Dinner will be held Thursday, May 7th. Ambassadors for Children operates The Kid's Clothes Closet program in collaboration with the Ronald McDonald House to provide free brand new clothing items and shoe gift cards for children in state custody in Greene County jurisdiction.

This event provides an opportunity for Ambassadors for Children to acknowledge the efforts of Ronald McDonald House volunteers throughout the year to help organize The Kid's Clothes Closet and facilitate appointments with foster parents and foster children. I will also be sharing some exciting upcoming changes to the program to allow appointments to run more smoothly and be more time efficient.

The Ronald McDonald House has a special place in my heart, as I worked there from 2001-2004 and have continued to volunteer 3 hours/week since. My son was also born 4 weeks premature and spent nearly 1 week in the Intensive Care Nursery a couple years ago, so I more than appreciate the special services they offer in addition to being a partner with Ambassadors for Children.

Thank You Ronald McDonald House Staff & Volunteers!!!

Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner

The annual Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner will be held on Thursday, May 7th at First Baptist Church in Springfield. This event honors foster parents from Greene County and their willingness to open their hearts and homes to local abused & neglected children.

This event is organized by a variety of area agencies, including Ambassadors for Children. The event will feature free food, entertainment, guest speakers, and child activities for the kids. Area agencies also donate "theme" baskets for giveaways to each foster family. This year, Ambassadors for Children is pleased to donate a "Game Night" theme basket. I hope the receiving foster family has as much fun playing with these games as I had picking them out!

Sweet Success!

We had nearly 80 attendees at our Adopt-a-Caseworker orientation luncheon on March 31st. This event provided community members the opportunity to interact with Caseworkers served by this program and to hear from several guest speakers. So far, we have 4 new confirmed Partner groups who have "adopted" a Caseworker after attending the event. We have at least an additional 6 potential Partner groups pending following the event.

We also now have 22 active Adopt-a-Caseworker matches in Greene County! This is spectacular success considering we just started making matches 1 month ago and our goal for the entire year was 25!!

Caseworkers have already been making requests and lives are already being changed by this tremendous program. We are so thrilled and recognize this success would not be possible without the dedication of each Partner group and the teamwork established with their "adopted" Caseworker.

"The Adopt-a-Caseworker program is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice."