News from CHRIS Kids, Inc.
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Celebrating 30 Years & Changing 15,000 Lives
In this issue...
CHRIS Kids E-Newsletter
Staff Spotlights
Dear CHRIS Kids Family,
Kiwanis Club of Atlanta Volunteers
Did you know that May is FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH?
OUR PARTNERS
There are more than 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system. With the help of
dedicated people, many formerly abused or neglected children and teens will either reunite safely
with their parents, be cared for by relatives or be adopted by loving families.
April, 2011
Many children would not have to enter foster care at all if there were more organizations like
CHRIS Kids to provide support and services to help empower, strengthen and teach families to
cope with crises early.
We ask that you consider making a $20, $30 or $50 gift to support the children at CHRIS Kids
during FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH.
Sincerely,
Making Easter Baskets for
all Residents Georgia Institute of
Technology Pride Alliance
Kathy Colbenson, LMFT
Chief Executive Officer
Kickoff the Summer Social Season- June 11th
Premiere "White" Party at Mason Murer Fine Art
Presenting Sponsor Grey Goose Vodka
Music by DJay McCracken
TICKETS & SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE NOW
Kiwanis Club of Atlanta
Special thank you to Jim Anastos & David Adan for Hosting the VIP Appreciation Party.
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News from CHRIS Kids, Inc.
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Cherokee County Store
Volunteer Event
Official After-Party at Blake's on the Park
Volunteers Contact Robert Lewis for more information
Graham Circle Project Update
Phase II Construction
Many of you TRIPLED your donations last year during the Kresge Foundation Capital Campaign
Challenge. THANK YOU again for helping us reach our $12.1 million goal. We started
construction on the final building which is scheduled to be completed in August 2011.
Please stay tuned for details regarding the Grand Opening and our 30 Year Anniversary
Celebration.
Publix Store #01119 Atlanta Field Day
The building below is the new home of the CHRIS Counseling Center, which is ranked in the top
7% of Georgia's Mental Healthcare providers. It will also have a computer lab, training rooms and
other features available for the greater community.
Westminster Presbyterian
Church
THANK YOU!
Last month the following
organizations and individuals
served as
volunteers, provided resources
and/ hosted events to support
CHRIS Kids.
Cox Radio Group Atlanta
Deloitte Services LP
For The Kid In All of Us
Georgia Tech's
Pride Alliance
CHRIS Kids in the Media
Jon Bon Jovi White House Council for Community Solutions
Jungle Club
Outwrite Bookstore and Coffee
House
Stanford Alumni Club of Georgia
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Jon Bon Jovi listens during a White House Council
for Community Solutions session at the Goodwill
Career Center on Buford Highway. CHRIS Kids
CEO, Kathy Colbenson, was selected to facilitate the
discussion. CHRIS Kids, Giovan Bazan, 20, got a
handshake and hug from Jon Bon Jovi.
For more information click here.
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News from CHRIS Kids, Inc.
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@ BLAKE'S
Join us at Blake's on the Park this
Memorial Day weekend. Raffles,
prizes and drink specials to benefit
CHRIS Kids.
CHRIS Kids in the Media
Click here for the CBS Atlanta Story: Brandon Rudat
RUBY REDD BINGO
Join us at Mellow Mushroom
Midtown every Wednesday night at
8pm for Ruby Redd Bingo. Thank
you Ruby (Ray Matheson) and
Lara Milo.
ATLANTA FIELD DAY
I'm Back
Trinity Presbyterian Church: Trinity Serves Day 2011
Fishing wtih CHRIS Kids
Saturday, October 1st
Bring It.
www.atlantafieldday.org
Team Anniversaries
Shawna Arthurs - 1 year
The Men's Group at Trinity Presbyterian Church
hosted an awesome fishing outing for the male
JourneyZ Programs on Saturday, April 16, 2011.
Trinity Presbyterian Church selected CHRIS Kids as
a local charity to volunteer with during the
Presbyterian Church's Annual National Day of
Service for the fifth consecutive year. The group met
at Ed and Councilwomen Elly Dobbs home to eat,
fellowship and fish. The weather was fantastic and
the Men's Group were welcoming and remembered
some of the teenagers from previous years. Fish
were plentiful and the food prepared by Clark
Goodwin was tasty and fulfilling.
Conversations ranged from how to properly hook night crawlers, chicken parts and artificial bait to
catching 70 pound catfish in the caverns of Louisiana with your bare hands. Scot Calhoun,
Cynthia Lynch and Couch Reynolds organized this memorable event for the young men; we look
forward to partnering with Trinity Presbyterian Churches Mens Group in 2012 during Trinity Great
Day of Service.
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News from CHRIS Kids, Inc.
Dziko Emu - 30 years
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THANK YOU TO ALL Trinity Presbyterian Church Volunteers!
John Flatt - 1 year
Heather Gore - 1 year
LaShonda Martin - 1 year
David McCoy - 1 year
Jocelyn Reynolds - 1 year
Alexis Wilson - 1 year
Volunteers Wanted
Volunteer Orientations:
Mondays 4:30pm
3109 Clairmont Rd. Ste. B
Atlanta, GA 30329
Thursdays 6:30pm
Virtual via Phone/Online
Contact: 404-564-3407
Want more information on ways to
get involved?Contact Robert Lewis
Jr., Volunteer Manager.
DONATE TODAY
CHRIS Kids is a 501c3 nonprofit
organization. Our tax
identification number is 581430183.
Staff Spotlights
Hope Norris, Compliance Officer
Hope has worked in the child welfare welfare/nonprofit field for more
than 12 years. her primary responsibilities are to ensure that the
residential homes are meeting licensure requirements. She came to
CHRIS Kids because she wanted a position in the regulatory field that
helped children. The best part of her job is that she learns somthing new
every day; the most challenging part of her position is that she learns
something new every day. A little known fact about Hope is that she
lived in Greece for five years and her grandmothers name is
Pocahontas....really, her name is Pocahontas.
Suzanne Luker, Director of Training
Suzanne Luker is the new Director
of Training for CHRIS Kids.
Suzanne brings over 20 years
training and instruction experience
in the arenas of child welfare,
juvenile justice, mental health,
legislative advocacy, community
skill building and federal, state and
local grants management. Ms.
Luker attended Kennesaw State
University and Georgia State
University and holds a Master's
Degree in Public Administration, as well as numerous professional certifications. She is the
proud Mother of one fierce and intelligent daughter, who works as an Engineer for Hasbro Toys
and skates Roller Derby.
Kiwanis Club of Atlanta Volunteers
Beautifying the Community
The Kiwanis Club of Atlanta partnered with CHRIS Kids in Apirl to complete a beautification
project for a home in Lithonia. John Ottley Jr. and Fontaine Huey (Kiwanis Club of Atlanta
Members) created a flower bed along the trunk of a tree, trimmed oversized branches from trees
and hauled the debris to designated areas for several hours.
The Kiwanis Club of Atlanta is one of the oldest civic engagement groups in the United States that
strives to provide service to the community, and promote good fellowship as an inspiration to good
works for all Atlantans; these are some of their core principals. Mr. Ottley oversees the
environmental committee and plans to continue "Green Projects" with CHRIS Kids in the
foreseeable future.
We applaud the nearly 100 years of community service and leadership the Kiwanis Club of
Atlanta has provided in Metro-Atlanta as well as the efforts of the volunteers that invested their
time to enhance the curb appeal of the community house.
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News from CHRIS Kids, Inc.
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EveryChildUSA Foster Care Awareness Month Initiative
National Campaign to save teens from homelessness, despair and suicide
EveryChildUSA is an organization dedicated to raising
awareness and resources to help institutions and
organizations that serve America's children in areas of
poverty, health, education and opportunity.
EveryChildUSA is highlighting The Orange Duffel Bag
Foundation, an Atlanta based organization dedicated to
providing leadership, life-plan coaching and training for
youth aging out of foster care and homeless youth.
EveryChildUSA is also highlighting CHRIS Kids, Inc., a
partner organization of The Orange Duffel Bag
Foundation. CHRIS Kids' foster care and homeless
youth will benefit from the EveryChildUSA/Orange
Duffel Bag Foundation Campaign. EveryChildUSA celebrates CHRIS Kids' 30th Anniversary of
healing children, strengthening families and building community. We
also congratulate CHRIS Kids, on establishing their Summit Trail, a
fully staffed apartment complex for youth ages 18-24 who have
become homeless.
Text or click to donate and help save a teen from homelessness,
despair and/or suicide:
Text ORANGE to 85944 or Click EveryChildUSA to make a $10 donation.
Join the conversation. Become a friend on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and view testimonial
videos at YouTube.
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CHRIS Kids, Inc. | 3109 Clairmont Road, Suite B | Atlanta | GA | 30329
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