Letters from Santa

Every young child wants their own letter from Santa! Get your child or grandchild a unique and memorable gift this year (and support Ambassadors for Children in the process).

Click here and purchase a personalized letter from Santa for your special little one. Ambassadors for Children will receive 30% of proceeds from each letter that is purchased. This special gift will allow us to continue our work to ensure the needs of local foster children are met this holiday season. Thank you KringleTalk.com and Merry Christmas to all!!

Back to Work

My baby girl was born just 9 days after my last post! After 10 weeks of maternity leave, I'm back at work and getting caught up on many things. I have several Project Self-Esteem requests to process, as well as 3 new child referrals for our Tutoring Program! That is very exciting news. I will be spending the next weeks (and time into the new year) searching for more volunteer tutors to meet the growing needs of the Tutoring Program.

We also have quite a need for The Kid's Clothes Closet! In October alone, we had over 80 appointments and are struggling to keep the Closet stocked with clothing to meet the demand. It is difficult to see the foster children visit The Kid's Clothes Closet and leave with very little because we do not have their sizes. This is especially hard as they try to find a winter coat. We don't want any child to be cold this season. You can help by donating brand new children's clothing and coats of all sizes to The Kid's Clothes Closet, located at the Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks (949 E. Primrose, Springfield, MO 65807, 7 days/week from 9am-9pm). Thank You!!

Bump Watch

That's right! We are watching my growing baby bump each day now, waiting for my baby girl to finally arrive. This is a very exciting time for my family.

Ambassadors for Children is essentially a 1-person agency. As the Director, I do not have an Assistant or other staff to ensure our programs continue to run smoothly and efficiently while I am on maternity leave. Therefore, I will continue to monitor all programs and perform necessary functions from home for 10 weeks following the birth of my daughter (until I return to full-time work). All of the Ambassadors for Children programs will continue during this time, and we will continue to accept donations, referrals for Project Self-Esteem, referrals for our Tutoring program, and Volunteer Tutor applications. We will also continue to monitor data for all programs.

The great work we do must continue as we strive to ensure quality services and supports for local abused & neglected children!

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!!