Tidbits
tit·bit: noun
a choice or pleasing bit (as of information)
These items are intended for you to be able to cut and paste to your own agency's newsletter. All articles are listed by most recent listing. Each of these may be reproduced and edited to fit your needs.
Key Dates, Feature Stories, What's New, Your CFC Donations at Work, Why CFC, Coming Soon
Key CFC Dates: (For More Dates or Current Events- Click Here )
March 10, 2008- 2008 CFC Eligibility Process Begins *
April 11, 2008- 2008 CFC Eligibility Process Ends *
April 19, 2008 Federal Employee Appreciation Night at the Kansas City Brigade
June 7, 2008 2008 Day of Caring
A New Record Amount Raised in the Heartland
THANK YOU!! Thanks to your donations, hundreds of thousands of people will be able to receive help from local non-profits this next year. You helped the Heartland CFC to surpass it’s 2007 goal of $3.4 million and raise a new record of $3,562,452.
The
CFC co-chairs, Rodger Matthews and Sandra Champion Jones announced the
record-breaking campaign January 16th during a ceremony at the Embassy Suites
in Kansas City and on January 30th in Topeka, KS.
Over 300 federal agency campaign leaders and team members attended these
events to celebrate the success of the campaign
These breakfasts were once again sponsored by GEHA.
Awards were given
out for Highest Growth, Highest Dollar Growth, as well as the coveted JFK Award
for Higher Per Capita Gift. See Page Two for these award winners.
The New ACE Awards (Achieving Campaign Excellence) were also introduced. These
winners can be found on the
www.heartlandcfc.org
website.
CFC Charities Need Your Help
As the CFC Campaign enters it’s final days,
we need your help.
Charities depend on your kindness and
generosity to serve the many needs of their clients.
Your contributions do make a huge difference in individual lives everyday
of the year.
Please take a moment and complete your pledge
card and turn it in TODAY.
There are also many CFC events that you can
participate in. These events help
raise additional money that also supports the campaign.
Take the time to have some fun, while
supporting CFC, but remember to turn in your pledge card as well.
Your support is critical, act today.
You might think "I can only give a few dollars a week, what
difference that with make.”
Remember, when you “Give a
Little… You help a Lot”. Just a $1 a week will provide 68 meals,
or $5 would provide 25 nights
of emergency shelter for someone displaced a by fire, flood or tornado.
You have the power to make a big difference with your gift today.
Give a Little…Help a Lot
The Combined Federal Campaign is
the largest workplace fundraising model in the world.
This year’s campaign theme is “Give a Little, Help a Lot."
CFC has the ability to transform your dollars into support for vital
programs and services that can – as this year’s slogan reminds us. It
doesn't take a lot of money to make a difference. Any donation, large or small,
is appreciated and put to good use. Somewhere in the CFC catalog is a charity
that’s near and dear to your heart.
If you have not committed to payroll deduction – take the plunge.
If you’re a regular giver, step up your pledge this year, and consider
joining the elite group of Eagle donors, or those of the Pillar Club and
Commander Club who give more than 1 percent of their salary.
Time and again, federal employees
in the Kansas City metro area have given hope to others by donating to a number
of charities through the CFC. Your 2007 gifts will improve lives in our
community and beyond throughout this year. Each
and every one of you has the power to help. And, every little bit counts.
Five
Years of CFC City-Wide Kick-off
Don’t Miss Out!
More than 1,500 federal employees are expected
to attend the 5th annual Combined
Federal Campaign (CFC) City-Wide Kick-off on Sept. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00
p.m. at Illus Davis Park in downtown Kansas City.
To launch the CFC annual campaign and help
raise awareness about local charities, the kick-off party will provide food and
festivities for federal employees. Complete with games, t-shirts, the largest
charity fair in the city, and a variety of entertainment, the kick-off is sure
to offer fun for all. Emceeing the event will be Al Wallace from Fox 4 Sports.
Tickets will be
available for $6.00 and include a 2007 CFC t-shirt and lunch from Fritz’s
Barbeque.
The
Sherwood Center expanded their staff on June 23rd, to include
employees of the Social Security Administration who selected Sherwood
as their Day of Caring project this year.
They painted, removed bushes, deep-cleaned classrooms, pulled weeds from
the playground, installed Plexiglas in the doors and even painted a mural in
their hallway.
Similar
efforts were happening all over the metro area as 4,885 Day of Caring volunteers
tackled
187 projects throughout the community.
While many involved fixing and cleaning, others involved spending time
with children, seniors and disabled clients of Kansas City area nonprofit
agencies.
In
another part of town, GSA employees were having a blast doing hair styling,
makeup and manicures for female residents of two United Cerebral Palsy
group homes.
For some of the girls, it was the first time they’d ever had a manicure
and they loved it.
Mother
Nature cooperated to make the 13th annual
Day of Caring a huge success.
Dry weather and temperatures in the mid 80’s were perfect for painting,
landscaping, pouring concrete, picnics, fishing trips and just getting outdoors.
In the end, nearly 5,000 Day of Caring volunteers got a chance to make
new friends, learn a little more about their community and walk away with the
satisfaction of knowing they made a difference in someone’s life by
volunteering for a day.
See
the complete story at: www.heartlandcfc.org (Under CFC News)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A
New Record Amount Raised
YOU
did it! Because of you, the Heartland CFC was able to surpass it’s 2006 goal
of $2.9 million and set a new record of $3,048,025.
Thank You!
The
CFC co-chairs, Rob Cowan, director of the Department of National Benefits
Center, and Sharon Al-Uqdah of the APWU announced the record-breaking campaign
Jan. 17th
during a ceremony at Finnegan’s Hall in North Kansas City.
Approximately 300 federal employees attended the Academy
Awards
themed-breakfast to celebrate the success of this year’s campaign.
Awards were given out for Highest Growth, Highest Average Gift, Best Use of
Marketing,
Best/Most Unique & Most Lucrative Special Events as well as the
coveted JFK Award for Higher Per Capita Gift.
See Page Two for Awards.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day of Caring—You Made a Difference
Federal
Employees came together in an effort to improve their community
on both sides of the state line. People
used their skills in painting, gardening, landscaping, carpentry and many other
trades while having a great time. Although
summer temperatures were at a peak that day, work continued.
It
was another example of what good can happen when people come together and care.
Thank you to all those who were able to participate and we look forward
to even more hands to help next year.
Every
year there are opportunities for Federal Employees to join in on Day of Caring
activities. Perhaps you can join in
on the fun next year!
See
the complete story at: www.heartlandcfc.org (Under CFC News)
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Over
1500 Federal Employees are expected to participate in this year’s annual CFC
City-Wide Kick-off.
The last 3 year’s have been a wonderful experience for those who have
participated and this year should not be any different.
Show your true colors by participating this year.
This is another opportunity for federal employees to show their
support for our community and have some fun doing it.
Who knows, you might even see yourself on the local TV News that same
afternoon.
For
$5.00 you will receive a special 2006 CFC T-shirt and a box lunch from Mr.
Goodcents and a chance for door prizes.
Enjoy the city’s largest Non-Profit Fair, US Postal Choir, 2006 Hero
Games, Chiefs Cheerleaders and possibly Sky Divers and many more surprises. If
you have not purchased your tickets, check out the CFC website for locations
near you to purchase tickets
Remember, the cost is just $5.00 pre-sale before September 15th and $7.00 at the door. We hope to see you there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CFC
KICK-OFF A HUGE SUCCESS
More
than 1200 federal employees participated in the third annual CFC kick-off on
September 20th at
The
kick-off received good media coverage through the Kansas City Business Journal,
KHSB-Channel 41 and the Kansas City Star.
The
kick-off is the start of what we hope with be a very successful CFC campaign.
Please encourage your colleagues to complete their pledge cards because:
HOPE LIVES WHEN YOU GIVE.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOPE LIVES... WHEN YOU GIVE
The
Combined Federal Campaign is the largest workplace fundraising model in the
world. This year’s campaign theme
is “Hope Live… When You Give”. CFC
has the ability to transform your dollars into support for vital programs and
services that can – as this year’s slogan reminds – Hope Lives… When You
Give”. Be prepared --- you will
hear this numerous times during this entire campaign.
Somewhere
in the CFC catalog is a charity that’s near and dear to your heart.
If you have not committed to payroll deduction – take the plunge.
If you’re a regular giver, step up your pledge this go round, and
consider joining the elite group of Eagle donors, or those of the Pillar Club
and Commander Club who give more than 1% of their salary.
Let your pledge card do the talking for you this campaign season.
Don’t give until it hurts; just give until it feels good.
Time and again, federal employees in the Kansas City metro area have given hope to others by donating to a number of charities through the CFC. Your 2006 gifts will improve lives in our community and beyond throughout this year. Each and every one of you does have the power to help. And, you have more power than you probably think you do!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CFC Charities Need Your Help
As the CFC Campaign enters is final days, we
need your help.
Charities depend on your kindness and
generosity to serve the many needs of their clients.
Your contributions do make an huge difference in individual lives
everyday of the year.
Please take a moment and complete your pledge
card and turn it in TODAY.
There are also many CFC events that you can
participate in. These events help
raise additional money that also supports the campaign.
Take the time to have some fun, while
supporting CFC, but remember to turn in your pledge card as well.
Charities depend on those monthly checks though out the year.
Your support is critical, act today.
Remember, Hope Lives....When
YOU Give.
CFC ACE Awards
The
Heartland Combined Federal Campaign is implementing
a new Awards Criteria this year-
the “ACE Awards”
(Achieving Campaign Excellence)
This award
recognizes those federal agencies and departments which excel in employee
participation and per capita giving. There
is no limit to the number of winners of these awards, the more winners the
larger the impact to the community.
Tools to win:
“Ask Everyone” & maintain the average per capita giving to
Heartland CFC ($111.47 average in 2006)
Gold Certificates for EXCELLENCE
Will be given to
organizations achieving a per capita gift of $120 with 80% of their employees
participating.
Silver
Certificates
for LEADERSHIP
Will be given to
organizations achieving a per capita gift of $100 with 66% of their employees
participating.
Bronze
Certificates
for ACHIEVEMENT
Will be given to
organizations achieving a per capita gift of $80 with 50% of their employees
participating.
What’s New in
2007? - Caribbean Cruise Giveaway
The
Heartland Combined Federal Campaign will be giving away a Caribbean Cruise again
this year. This giveaway is
sponsored and provided by GEICO Insurance and Prairie Ridge Travel.
Three finalists will be picked by random draw at the end of the campaign.
The finalists will be invited to participate in the final drawing at the
CFC Awards Breakfast in January, 2008. You
are automatically entered by making a donation through your Pledge Card.
The
purpose of the contest is to generate excitement and increase participation in
the CFC for the benefit of the local, national, and international charities
listed in the CFC Catalog for Caring. Therefore
your contributions to the campaign are requested and appreciated.
For
more details, go to the Heartland CFC Website.
Enter today for your chance to
sail the high seas!
Where’s Waldo?
Well, we don’t have Waldo, but the Heartland CFC does
have Flat Stanley. What’s a Flat
Stanley? A Flat Stanley is a
life-size paper doll image of a person, animal or thing that travels to various
places experiencing life, somewhat like the traveling gnome.
How does this relate to CFC? Our
Flat Stanleys aren’t traveling the world, just to the agencies and federal
buildings within the Heartland CFC area. Our
Flat Stanleys share their personal stories in relation to CFC Charities
impacting their lives. They are,
basically, a 24 hour a day/ 7 days a week reminder of all those charities which
serve us in the same fashion. If you
think about it, most of us have been affected by at least one of the over two
thousand CFC Charities eligible this year to receive your donation.
Where’s Flat Stanley? Watch for the CFC Flat Stanleys as they travel
around the Heartland CFC area, maybe even to your building.
Read their stories on the Heartland CFC website: www.heartlandcfc.org.
Donate to the charity of your choice.
Give a little: Help a lot.
The Fall 2007 campaign marks
the introduction of the new five-digit coding system to the
Combined Federal Campaign.
(continued)
Beginning with the 2007 Combined Federal
Campaign, each participating charity will now use a new five-digit CFC code
assigned by OPM. Pledges made using the former four-digit codes cannot be
honored. OPM is assigning a new code to each participating charity in order to
improve administrative efficiencies in the campaign and simplify charity
marketing.
Future Benefits of Recoding
The assignment of unique CFC codes to each charity and the storage of that
charity data in the CFC National Charity Registry will enable OPM to improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of the CFC through the use of electronic giving
technologies that can enable:
1. out of area giving in the event of
emergencies or disasters;
2. automation of the campaign;
3. donors to make designations to the
charities of their choosing, even those that are located outside their
duty-station
4. enhanced regulatory oversight of
campaign and charity activity.
The
Fall 2007 campaign marks the introduction of the new five-digit coding system to
the
Combined Federal Campaign.
Beginning
with the 2007 Combined Federal Campaign, each participating charity will now use
a new five-digit CFC code assigned by OPM. Pledges made using the former
four-digit codes cannot be honored. OPM is assigning a new code to each
participating charity in order to improve administrative efficiencies in the
campaign and simplify charity marketing.
More information in future newsletters
General Recoding
Process Facts
The
following statements are facts that every donor should know.
· Every charity will have only one five-digit,
numeric CFC code.
· The new five-digit code is assigned to the
charity for the life of that charity. Another code will not be assigned to the
charity nor will that code be assigned to a different charity.
A
five-digit code assignment does not mean that the charity is eligible to
participate in the campaign. Charities must be reviewed annually by their
campaigns for eligibility.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed
changes to CFC regulations:
The
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing proposed changes to several
parts of the regulations, for the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).
These proposed changes are intended to streamline the significant
eligibility requirements and public accountability standards and other
administrative areas to reduce the burden on applicant charitable organizations
seeking to qualify for the CFC, simplify the
administrative
process of determining whether charitable organizations are eligible to
participate in the CFC and facilitate modernization of the CFC program.
Please
read about these changes and how the CFC may be affected at www.heartlandcfc.org.
Some of the changes proposed will put more responsibility on the donor to
perform research on charitable organizations and to utilize industry oversight
groups to ensure that their donations are being used
effectively
and efficiently by these organizations.
Interested
persons are invited to submit written comments concerning this proposal.
You
may submit comments, identified by RIN number through the
following methods:
Federal
eRulemaking Portal: http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail:
cfc@opm.gov.
Include
‘‘RIN 3206–AL05’’ in the subject line of the message.
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CFC GiveSmart Card
We are pleased to introduce the Heartland CFC GiveSmart Card Program to our donor recognition program. The GiveSmart Card Program was developed to recognize those who contribute $50 cash gift or $2 per pay period for civilian personnel through the CFC. The objective is to provide a thank you from the community while attracting new donors, and recognizing existing donors. This is the first year for implementation of the GiveSmart Card Program and it is anticipated to continue this annual program indefinitely.
Selected merchants are asked to participate in this donor recognition program by providing a fixed discount for merchandise/service to the GiveSmart Card Program memberscard-carrying patron. A credit card size GiveSmart Program membership card will be provided to all contributors to the CFC which will be presented to merchants to receive the discount. The discount card will be effective through December 31, 2007.
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Hope Lives … When You Give
Did you ever wonder who comes up with the annual theme for the Heartland
CFC? Well, it is quite the democratic process. The CFC Cabinet Committee,
comprised of management and labor representative, get together and actually vote
on the theme from a long list of suggested themes. This year’s theme has been
chosen: Hope Lives … When You Give.
Simple. Direct. Factual. Optimistic. Please consider giving through the CFC.
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GiveSmart Card Program yields a WIN-WIN situation
for our Community
Heartland CFC developed a donor recognition program called the GiveSmart Card
Program to recognize those who contribute through the Combined Federal Campaign.
The objective is to provide a thank you from the community while attracting new
donors, and recognizing existing donors. Selected merchants are asked to
participate in this donor recognition program by providing a fixed discount for
merchandise/service to the GiveSmart Card Program members.
By design, this program is a WIN-WIN situation. Help spread the word! Tell your family and friends that it is not too late to get their business involved! The local businesses WIN for they receive no cost marketing and publicity when they offer a discount to Federal Employees who support the Combined Federal Campaign! The non-for-profit agencies WIN as over 28,000 Federal & Postal employees at 435 locations throughout a twenty-five county area are asked to donate through the CFC!
For more information contact the CFC Office:
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Carribean Cruise Give-away
The
Heartland Combined Federal Campaign will be giving away a Caribbean Cruise again
this year. This giveaway is
sponsored and provided by GEICO Insurance and Prairie Ridge Travel.
Three finalists will be picked by random draw at the end of the campaign.
The finalists will be invited to participate in the final drawing at the
CFC Awards Breakfast in January, 2007. You
are automatically entered by making a donation through your Pledge Card.
The
purpose of the contest is to generate excitement and increase participation in
the CFC for the benefit of the local, national, and international charities
listed in the CFC Catalog for Caring. Therefore
your contributions to the campaign are requested and appreciated.
For
more details, go to the Heartland CFC Website.
Enter today for your
chance to sail the high seas!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CFC Achievement
Awards
The Heartland Combined Federal Campaign is
implementing three new CFC
Achievement Awards this year.
Each year we recognize the campaigns with the
highest percentage growth, average gift and per capita giving. To make sure
agencies of all sizes have an opportunity to be recognized,
we will present these awards to agencies in varying office size.
500 employees up
50 to 499 employee count
10 to 49 employees
2 to 9 employees
This year, we will reward agencies for
“Best Use of
Marketing”
“Best/Unique
Special Event”
“Most Lucrative Special Event”
To
nominate your federal agency for one of these awards, please email up to two
powerpoint slides detailing your event to larry.hisle@gsa.gov.
Show off your
creativity with the rest of the federal agencies and win
Your
CFC Donations
CFC Helping Overseas
Monica Waswan (65) is a caregiver from Sege
centre in Siaya district. She is a part of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
program from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Inc. (NCMI). This program helps children that have
been partially or totally orphaned due to the death of one or both of their
parents from HIV/AIDS. In this program there are those like Monica that
volunteer to be caregivers taking in children and caring for them as if they
were their own. She takes care of her five grand children whose parents died of
HIV/AIDS four years ago. Monica’s husband had also died many years ago before
the death of her son and daughter-in-law. She started weaving baskets last year
to have a means of feeding her five grand children.
“I never used to do anything before my only
son died, he was the one who was feeding me. After he died with his wife, life
became very difficult for me. I had to start motherhood again to my
grandchildren. This is the reason why I started weaving baskets.”
She also does small scale farming near home.
She appreciates the OVC program because her older grandchildren received
training on “Agriculture and Nutrition” and they assist her in household
chores and on the farm without being told. Before that they used to stay away
from home with their friends and only come home to ask for food. She also
appreciates the support she gets from the church by way of visits and
accompaniment of food during such visits. Groups like the church that supports
Monica, also contribute to the OVC program through projects like maize and bean
resale with the proceeds going to help the orphans to go to school or have
clothes, etc. Many communities participate in programs such as the maize and
bean resale. In doing so they are recognizing the need to support their local
orphans as well as the importance of education and sending their children to
school. Thank you for donating
through CFC.
Your CFC Donations - I
Want to Learn, The Andres Fonseca Story
Andres Fonseca has a thyroid condition that
makes concentration difficult for him. When Andres’ teacher told his mother
that Andres was failing sixth grade, Liz started looking for help. Andres is now
receiving treatment for his thyroid condition through Children’s Mercy
Hospital, and free tutoring help through Mattie Rhodes. Liz says, "Slowly
but surely I’ve seen improvement in his grades. He doesn’t get as frustrated
and he’s trying a lot harder."
One of the reasons for Andres’ improvement
is the fact he and his volunteer tutor have hit it off really well. His tutor,
Matt Hernandez, is a junior at Bishop Miege High School. Matt is an honors
student who has a 4.1 average on a 4.0 scale. He lives in the neighborhood,
about four blocks from Mattie Rhodes. Matt used to attend Our Lady of Angels
School, which is where Andres now goes.
Unfortunately, the
number of Westside students receiving tutoring is limited by a lack of
volunteers. There is a waiting list of students seeking help. Matt and two other
students are their only regular volunteers. The staff of Mattie Rhodes
Counseling Center is working to recruit additional tutors. In the meantime, Liz
Fonseca and Sylvia Smith are thankful the Westside Tutoring program is there. As
Liz says, "It gives us a sense of security as parents to know our children
are receiving one-on-one help from someone who cares. We’re blessed to live in
a country that has resources to help and organizations like Mattie Rhodes and
people that care."
John Taylor is a man on a mission. You can see
the determination in his eyes as he pushes himself a little bit further each
day. The 32-year-old father of two dreams of the day he’ll be able to toss
aside his wheelchair, dress himself and walk down the street on his own. John
has been a quadriplegic due to a
gang shooting since 1991.
John decided to move into a nursing home. He chose Swope Ridge Geriatric Center,
a CFC agency. John spent 1½ years at Swope Ridge. His sense of humor and big
smile made him a favorite of the staff and fellow residents. He loved Swope
Ridge and they loved him. It was like therapy and John began to improve. By
1993, he had improved enough to start living with his family.
Finally, in 1999, a doctor noted John’s
progress and asked him if he wanted to try therapy again. John quickly said yes
and returned to the Rehabilitation Institute determined to walk. Whenever he
feels weak and tired, John concentrates and thinks about positive, can-do Bible
verses that motivate him.
He’s using his newfound strength to help others. Twice a week John goes to the
Jackson County jail to visit inmates. He’s sharing the gospel and encouraging
them to chart a new course in life. His determination is infectious. The
message, coming from a partial quadriplegic in a wheelchair, is a powerful one.
When John isn’t visiting the jail, he’s talking with men and women on
probation…but not on Fridays. On Fridays, John spends six hours or so visiting
his old friends at Swope Ridge Geriatric Center. He feels it’s the least he
can do after the staff and residents were so nice to him. Besides, he enjoys it.
John says, "I think the day I was shot the old me died and now I’m here
on a mission to help people. That’s what I’m supposed to do, help people
until it’s my time to go. Sort of like CFC."
As
a child, LaurieAnn’s life was filled with fear, anger and pain.
At the age of 13, she decided that she couldn’t take it anymore, so she
ran away from home. As a homeless teenage runaway, her life went from bad to
worse. For 10 years LaurieAnn moved from state to state, doing whatever she had
to do to survive. Finally, after much soul-searching, LaurieAnn decided she
needed to get off the streets and find a better life.
As LaurieAnn pondered her future, she spotted a classified ad in the “help
wanted” section of the newspaper. It wasn’t a job listing, but an ad from
the Women’s Employment Network, WEN (a CFC agency), inviting unemployed and
under-employed women to sign up for their Job Readiness Program. Through testing
it was discovered that LaurieAnn has learning disabilities, but also that she is
intelligent and has great potential. She enrolled in the ABLE (Academic Bridges
to Learning Effectiveness) Program at Longview College, a structured curriculum
for adults with head injuries and/or learning disabilities. She graduated Suma
Cum Laude in 1995 with an Associate Degree. Next, she enrolled at Central
Missouri State, where she earned a degree in social work, graduating with honors
in 1997. After graduation, LaurieAnn landed a job as a Women’s Advocate at
Hope House (another CFC agency), a domestic violence shelter in Independence.
Today,
LaurieAnn works as the Community Drug Treatment Services Compliance Monitor for
the COMBAT Commission (Jackson County Community Backed Anti-Drug Tax),
overseeing contract compliance for 23 COMBAT-funded drug treatment agencies.
LaurieAnn has applied to graduate school at UMKC and plans to begin pursuing a
master’s degree in social work this spring. In the meantime, she is
volunteering with WEN and the ABLE program and working with a number of CFC
agencies every day in her role as Compliance Monitor for the COMBAT Commission.
LaurieAnn states, “I’m really impressed with the way these agencies are
effectively using their CFC dollars to change people’s lives.”
As
LaurieAnn thinks about how her life has changed she declares, “WEN gave me a
wonderful gift…they boosted my self-esteem, encouraged me to believe in myself
and helped me realize I had other options available. They gave me the courage to
take the next step, which has obviously changed my life.” She adds, “The
staff believes in every woman who goes through the program, recognizing that we
all have potential and the ability to change. Their faith and support were
invaluable and was clearly one of the best gifts I ever received.”
A
Smiling Face-
Little
in life brings more joy to a mother than seeing her children smile, laugh and
have fun. It was certainly true for Meka Oliver who loved watching her
son, Tabor, play with other children and compete in gymnastics. He was
constantly smiling and was clearly having a good time. But in July of 2005
things suddenly changed.
Tabor started becoming easily fatigued and having stomachs aches.
She took Tabor to Children’s Mercy Hospital, a CFC Agency, where he was
immediately admitted. By the next day Tabor couldn’t walk. He
couldn’t scratch his head, or even raise his arm. After a series of tests
doctors determined that Tabor was suffering from Guillain-Barre disease, a rare
disorder that attacks the central nervous system.
He spent five weeks in the hospital working to regain his strength. At
first, progress was slow, but doctors kept assuring Meka that her son was going
to get better. With the help of daily therapy, Tabor began using a
wheelchair. He was still in a wheelchair when he was discharged from the
hospital, but doctors were convinced that with the right therapy Tabor would
eventually be able to run and play, just like he did before.
They sent him to the Pediatric Outpatient program at the Rehabilitation
Institute, another CFC Agency.
Working with a physical therapist five days a week, Tabor made remarkable
progress. After a month, he got up out of his wheelchair and started using
a walker. Then in December, he put aside his walker and began walking with
leg braces. Today, Tabor is nearly back to normal. He no
longer wears braces and is running, jumping and playing with his friends.
He took swimming lessons this summer and is looking forward to playing soccer.
He’s enjoying life and that wonderful, ever-present smile is back…not only
on his face…but on his mother’s face as well.
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Defeating
the Odds-
The Laurie Ann Jean-Klapproth’s Story
When
LaurieAnn Jean-Klapproth read the Women’s Employment Network newspaper
advertisement nearly 10 years ago, her life drastically changed.
The Women’s Employment Network taught LaurieAnn valuable job-seeking
skills and encouraged her to reconsider completing high school.
The Women’s Employment Network’s unwavering faith and tremendous
support in LaurieAnn boosted her self-esteem and helped her believe in herself,
despite her past years of physical and sexual abuse, drugs, and promiscuity.
The Women’s Employment Network believes in every woman and recognizes
that they all have potential and the ability to change.
With
that belief and love, LaurieAnn definitely defeated the odds.
She graduated Suma Cum Laude with an Associate’s Degree from Longview
College. Next, she earned a degree
in social work. Prior to working as
a Community Drug Monitor for the COMBAT (Jackson County Community Backed
Anti-Drug Tax), she worked as a Women’s Advocate at Hope House, a domestic
violence shelter in Independence, Missouri.
Also, she makes time to volunteer at Academic Bridges to Learning Effectiveness and Women’s Employment Network. LaurieAnn works with a number of CFC agencies daily in her role as compliance monitor for the COMBAT Commission. “I’m impressed with the way these agencies are effectively using their CFC dollars to change people’s lives,” said LaurieAnn, “Their faith and support were clearly one of the best gifts I ever received.” Please donate to a charity through CFC because hope lives and lives change when you give.
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Christine Schmaltz’s Story
My son, Cy, was diagnosed with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy at the age of six,
and at that time we had no health insurance.
He was first seen by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) clinic at
KU Med Center, and they covered Cy's muscle biopsy and blood test to identify
which disease he had. The MDA also
paid for blood tests for me and my sister to identify whether or not we were
carriers.