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CAMPAIGN UPDATE!

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7/17/99

Big Turnout for Annual Alumni Picnic

Over a hundred guests attended the Home's Annual Alumni Picnic today. Alumni from 1923 to 1965 browsed through old photos, toured the campus, talked about old times and had a great cookout.
For more on this story including Photos, please click here: 1999 Alumni Picnic


6/26/99

Campaign Exceeds Goal!

The Presbyterian Home for Children's mission and vision of serving children will continue into the next century thanks to the overwhelming response to the "Building a Future for Their Dreams" campaign.

Since the mailing of the spring newsletter, the campaign has received over $50,000 in individual and church donations. These last minute gifts helped push the campaign over the goal. Reaching $3 million satisfied the Kate B. Reynolds and Kresge Foundation matching grant requirements, turning conditional grants totaling $600,000 into cash.

Over the course of the campaign, 563 individuals pledged $1,484,873. Churches, foundations and corporations pledged $1,546,709 bringing the total over the $3 million goal. Presbyterians and their churches have pledged 50% of this money.

Campaign Timeline
Spring 1996 - Board approves campaign to raise $3 million for new facilities
Summer 1996 - Jim Samsel contracted to provide
architectural services for project Fall 1996 - Surveying and planning
Winter 1997 - Sims and Steele Consulting begins work on campaign
Summer 1997- Home receives $ 1 million bequest, half goes to campaign, bringing total donations to $ 614,000 - Construction of Watkins House begins
Spring 1998 - Children move into Watkins House
Summer 1998 - Construction of Parks House begins
Winter 1999 - Children move into Parks House, construction begins on Rainbow House
Spring 1999 - Construction begins on final house
Summer 1999 - Campaign reaches $ 3 million goal

Peggy Hart Honored as Cancer Survivor
The Home's Director of Social Work was honored June 8th during a fund raising event for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, which helps pay for cancer research. Peggy is a survivor of the disease and the cancer has been in remission for six years. She was recognized as part of BMW car dealers' nationwide fund raising effort for the Komen foundation.

Cardinal Open Golf Tournament Raises Money for New Van
Laverne Laney has done it again. Laverne is the driving force behind the Annual Cardinal Open Golf Tournament, a charity event that raises money for the Home and its children. Over the last three years, the tournament has raised over $75,000. The last two years the money went toward the building campaign. This year it was used to buy a much needed 15 passenger van for transporting kids. The 1999 Open featured 36 three man teams from around the country including a team of staffers from the Home. Once again, our guest was Brad Daugherty, a former star with the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.

Summer Activities Begin
The campus is abuzz with the sounds of children helping in work crews, riding bikes, playing games and enjoying the warm weather. Many of the children have landed summer jobs in our local community here in the Swannanoa Valley. Summer vacation trips are being planned for groups of children at the Home. Past trips have taken children and staff as far as Cincinnati and Washington, D.C.

Home Hosts Public Relations Event
Professionals from children's homes around the state attended a 1 day conference at the Home on June 18th. The focus was on dealing with tragic events at children's homes. The informal gathering was part of the ongoing ad hoc conference series developed by Norman Jameson of Baptist Children's Homes.

Rosa Parks Honored with House Naming
The Board of Directors approved a motion at their spring meeting to share the name of the second new house with Rosa Parks, the famous civil rights pioneer. The decision was made with the blessings of Dr. David Parks, for whom the house was named at the winter board meeting.
Honoring these two individuals tells the children and all the friends of the Home how much we appreciate the spirit of diversity, courage and hope that these two individuals embody.

Spotlight on the Kids
The Improved grades of many of the children at the Home has led to fewer of them having to attend summer school, freeing them up to enjoy summer activities and job opportunities. Thirteen of the thirty kids living here are working summer jobs in a variety of environments including a conference center, restaurants, grocery stores, a clothing store and the Home itself. Activities include Girl Scout and other summer camps, swimming lessons, independent living workshops, retirement village community service, area river clean up and much more.

One of our many stars at the Home is a young lady named Jada. She is carrying a 4.0 average into her senior year, has a full time job and a part time job, and was recently chosen by her teachers to represent the school at the annual Girls State Conference in Greensboro North Carolina. Jada is the editor for her school newspaper and literary magazine and has been nominated for Who's Who of American High School Students. After putting the word out recently that Jada needed a car to get to work, a kind soul donated a 1986 Cadillac to the Home for Jada's use. Not only will this deserving resident have a ride to work, she'll be riding in style! Please feel free to congratulate Jada on her success.

Duke Endowment Funds New Social Work Position
The Home received good news from the Duke Endowment this June when it was learned that a grant proposal for a new Social Worker had been approved. The ongoing expansion of facilities and the increase in the number of children the Home can serve, made the creation of this new position a necessity. The grant covers the first 3/4 year for the position including salary, benefits, office equipment and a computer.
Amy Allen, of Black Mountain was hired to fill the position after the administration staff interviewed nineteen candidates. The Home welcomes Amy into our growing family of dedicated care givers.

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4/1/99
Eckerd Family Foundation Announces $25,000 Challenge Grant

Current balance at $49,800

The Home received news from Joe Clark of the Eckerd Family Foundation today that its Board had awarded the Home $25,000 toward completion of the Home's $3 million building campaign. The grant comes with the requirement that an additional $25,000 is to pledged before the Eckerd grant turns to cash. This grant brings the balance of the campaign down to $49,800 which must be pledged by June to fulfill the requirements of two other challenge grants totaling $600,000

3/8/99

West Asheville Presbyterian Makes $1000 Challenge
The Home's building campaign was blessed with a $1000 gift from the West Asheville Presbyterian Church.
Rick Huntsinger, the church's Clerk of the Session, also asked that we issue a challenge to all the churches in the Presbytery who have not yet invested in the campaign.

3/5/99

Campaign Still Needs $75,000

$600,000 in challenge grants at stake


The Presbyterian Home for Children's historic building campaign is closing in on its goal of $3 million. The campaign only needs to raise $75,000 in pledges to meet two challenge grant requirements. The Kresge Foundation and the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust have each pledged $300,000, to be paid if the campaign reaches its goal by June of 1999.

As a result of this campaign, the Home is undergoing an amazing change. Houses are being built and occupied, the children are positively excited and hopeful, and the staff, administration, board and community are invigorated.

Beneath the sounds of construction and the moving of furniture lies the real change. The Home now has the resources to give children in need a family environment in their own houses. The positive change in the children's lives is remarkable.

Each of the four new houses is, or will be, the home for nine children and their houseparent couples. In these houses the children live as a family with mixed gender, age and race. Here they can learn the peaceful and cooperative skills of life that will hopefully carry them into adulthood with all of our prayers.

The success of this campaign is a testament to the Christian tradition of care the Home and its supporters have provided for almost a century. Over the last twenty months an outpouring of love for children has churches, foundations and corporations.

The older children that understand that are grateful. The children that donšt are just happy to be living in a nice houses in an environment of structure and love.

Annual Meeting

For the first time in memory, over 100 people visited the gymnasium for PHFC,s annual meeting January 28th in an atmosphere of worship and celebration. Guests, who included board members past and present, were treated to a sumptuous dinner catered by house parent Chris Dearman.

The Home's President, Rev. Earl Kreisa, Jr., conducted an inspiring worship service followed by the taking of Communion. The crowd was also treated to singing by staff and children.

The evenings highlight was an awards ceremony for past board officers Ted Patton and Dr. David Parks, and former employee "Miss Louise" Jones.

Ted, who was the outgoing Treasurer was "roasted" by incoming Treasurer David Duncan to the delight of Ted and the crowd. Ted had served as the Home's Treasurer since 1988 and has been involved with the home since he was a child.

The meeting's business included the election and installation of new Board members and officers and the naming of the second new house after David Parks.

David, a past President of the Board, has served the Home for many years and is known as its historian thanks to his research and publishing of the Home's history.



2/23/99

One of Our High School Girls Needs a Car!

The Home is announcing a unique opportunity to help an outstanding student. Jada is holding a 4.0 grade average in school and is working two part time jobs. She has been saving her money and can afford her own auto insurance, fuel and maintenance. She does not however have enough to buy a car. She asked the staff to see if one of our local supporters would be willing to donate an older car. We are passing that request along to you, the visitors to this site. If you are interested in helping this delightful young lady, please call the Home or drop us an e-mail.


2/19/99
Children move into the Parks House!
At 11:45 am today, the final regulatory hurdle was crossed with a phone call from Raleigh, giving children and houseparent couples permission to move into the new quarters.Tonight will be their first night in the Parks House, named for Dr. David Parks, a long time supporter and past board President.


1/29/99
Home Holds Rare Public Annual Meeting

For the first time in memory, over 100 people visited the gymnasium for PHFC's annual meeting January 28th in an atmosphere of worship and celebration. Guests, who included board members past and present were treated to a sumptuous dinner catered by house parent Chris Dearman. President Earl Kreisa Jr., held an inspiring worship service followed by the taking of Communion. The crowd was also treated to singing by staff and children.
The evenings highlight was an awards ceremony for past board members Ted Patton and David Parks and former employee Miss Louise. New Board members were elected and officers were installed.


1/25/99
House Parents Plus One Return

The staff and kids welcomed house parents Natalie and Chris Dearman,... and the Home's youngest resident, Morrigan Ashley Dearman, back to the Home today. The Dearmans had been away for several weeks on Maternity leave. Morrigan was born on December 17, 1998 at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces, and was 20 inches long.


1/15/99
Happy New Year!

The Home starts 1999 with hope and excitement as we witness the third of four new houses being built at the campus. The second house is rapidly nearing completion and occupancy is expected in February.
The children and house parents that will get to move from the dormitory into the new house have been selected and the anticipation is building for the big move.
Speaking of moves, Peggy Hart, the Director of Social Work has recently moved from her house off campus into living quarters in the main building. Having Peggy on campus will give the Home extra administrative support during emergencies and will turn Peggy's drive to work into a walk.









Annual Thanksgiving Open House

PHFC recently celebrated its annual Open House on November 22nd. It was attended by more than 100 guests who enjoyed a reception with food and beverages, a tour of the campus and new facilities and musical performances by the staff.
The Gymnasium was decorated with pictures of the children, 3D models of the building plan, and flowers and balloons. All of this was made possible thanks to the loving assistance of Ann Fritchner, a long time friend of the Home.




For another great poem about the Home and a great collection of other poetry, visit this link.

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News Archives November 2000-November 1999