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Be sure to check the "eConnection" List |
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 We've had a fun filled summer and hope you have too. Check out what's been going on at Rainbow Days and what we have planned for the fall! |
| 4th Annual Texas Hold 'Em Tournament benefiting Rainbow Days |
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Sunday, November 9, 2008
 Register today to reserve your space for the 4th Annual Texas Hold Em Tournament benefiting Rainbow Days! Please join us on Sunday, November 9 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Mattito's Tex-Mex Restaurant in Uptown for the biggest and best Hold 'Em Tourney to-date. Players will once again compete for some outstanding prizes which include hotel stays, golf packages and fine dining from area restaurants. Sign up now to reserve your space, registration fee is only $125 with all proceeds going to Rainbow Days. Sponsorships ranging from $500 to $5,000 are also still available. For more details or to register, visit our website, contact Tiffany Beaudine or call 214.887.0726. |
| Volunteers |
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 Rainbow Days is grateful for the over 600 volunteers who give of their time and talent throughout the year to give the children we serve hope for a promising future. We have lots of exciting events going on this fall and winter that we would love to have your help with! If you are a new volunteer, please sign up for our next Volunteer Orientation. Our next volunteer orientation will be on Tuesday, November 11 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. at Rainbow Days' offices. During this session, potential volunteers will learn about the history of Rainbow Days, programs and services provided, and ways you can become involved. If you are interested in attending please contact Lynette Smith . |
| Donate: Make a Difference in the Life of a Child |
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We rely on the generosity of hundreds of supporters and friends like you to raise over $500,000 for our programs each year. Your individual donation to Rainbow Days will make a lasting difference in the lives of the children we serve and you can be assured that you gift will be used wisely and effectively. Please consider joining us in our efforts this year with your financial support. Whether a one-time gift or a monthly contribution, you can make a significant impact -
- $60 helps to purchase a brand new backpack filled with school supplies to start the new school year.
- $75 helps to purchase a unique Learning Tool Kit for a homeless child to have upon leaving the shelter.
- $150 helps a child to have an exciting day-long Art with a Heart mentored art retreat where they create something new and learn together with a caring adult mentor.
- $220 helps to provide a 10-session support group for a child in need, where he or she will learn how to resist negative peer pressure, cope with difficult situations and make healthy choices.
- $375 helps to provide a homeless child with the opportunity to attend one of three special summer day camps.
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| Board Spotlight: Jessica Thorne |
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 Jessica Thorne has been on the Rainbow Days Board of Directors for 5 years and now serves as the Board President. She was introduced to Rainbow Days by her life long friend and Rainbow Days Board Member Shelley Fuld Nasso. In addition to her busy role as Board President, Jessica is also a Litigation Attorney with Taber, Estes, Throne, and Carr PLLC and is a wife and a mother to 2 boys - 7 years and her newest who is only 6 weeks old!
When asked to reflect on a special memory of Rainbow Days, Jessica talked about her first Camp Broadway experience 4 years ago. There was one little girl who stood out; she was vibrant and joyful. The next year Jessica noticed the same girl on stage only now she was a graceful young lady. "If Rainbow Days wasn't there for her, what would the last year of her life have looked like - what would the rest of her life look like?" said Thorne.
Jessica feels privileged to be a part of Rainbow Days because she believes it is an organization that accomplishes its mission by providing a critically important service to the state and country. "Children don't have to be lost because of the decisions other people make for them. They [the children] don't have to get caught up in the choices their parents made," says Thorne, and she believes Rainbow Days is instrumental in showing children that they have the ability to make their own healthy choices.
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| United Way Reminder |
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 If your workplace is involved in a United Way giving campaign, don't forget to give to United Way! Rainbow Days is grateful to be one of the 9o+ selected United Way of Metropolitan Dallas partner agencies. Your support is greatly appreciated! Your gift can be designated to the community fund, to a specific United Way partner agency or to one of the special initiatives. By giving to United Way, you are helping to support and strengthen our community as we all "Live United". Thank you for your support! |
| Parent Tip - Preventing Teen Abuse of Prescription Drugs |
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 How can you protect your teenager from abusing prescription drugs? Think about your home. What prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs do you have? Where are they kept? Would you know if some were missing? The good news is that you can take steps immediately to limit access to these drugs and help keep your teen drug-free:
- Safeguard all drugs at home. Monitor quantities and control access. Take note of how many pills are in a bottle or pill packet, and keep track of refills. This goes for your own medication, as well as for your teen and other members of your household. If you find you have to refill medication more often than expected, there could be a real problem-someone may be taking your medication without your knowledge. If your teen has been prescribed a drug, be sure you control the medication, and monitor dosages and refills.
- Set clear rules for teens about all drug use, including not sharing medicine and always following the medical provider's advice and dosages. Make sure your teen uses prescription drugs only as directed by a medical provider and follows instructions for OTC products carefully. This includes taking the proper dosage and not using with other substances without a medical provider's approval. Teens should never take prescription or OTC drugs with street drugs or alcohol. If you have any questions about how to take a drug, call your family physician or pharmacist.
- Be a good role model by following these same rules with your own medicines. Examine your own behavior to ensure you set a good example. If you misuse your prescription drugs, such as share them with your kids, or abuse them, your teen will take notice. Avoid sharing your drugs and always follow your medical provider's instructions.
- Properly conceal and dispose of old or unused medicines in the trash. Unused prescription drugs should behidden and thrown away in the trash. So that teens or others don't take them out of the trash, you can mix them with an undesirable substance (like used coffee grounds or kitty litter) and put the mixture in an empty can or bag. Unless the directions say otherwise, do NOT flush medications down the drain or toilet because the chemicals can pollute the water supply. Also, remove any personal, identifiable information from prescription bottles or pill packages before you throw them away.
- Ask friends and family to safeguard their prescription drugs as well. Make sure your friends and relatives, especially grandparents, know about the risks, too, and encourage them to regularly monitor their own medicine cabinets. If there are other households your teen has access to, talk to those families as well about the importance of safeguarding medications. If you don't know the parents of your child's friends, then make an effort to get to know them, and get on the same page about rules and expectations for use of all drugs, including alcohol and illicit drugs. Follow up with your teen's school administration to find out what they are doing to address issues of prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse in schools.
- Talk to your teen about the dangers of abusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs. These are powerful drugs that, when abused, can be just as dangerous as street drugs. Tell your teen the risks far outweigh any "benefits.
Source: www.theantidrug.com
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eConnection is a monthly newsletter published by the staff of Rainbow Days, Inc. For more information on our programs, please contact us at:
8150 N. Central Expwy.
Suite 1600
Dallas, TX 75206
214-887-0726 / 214-887-0729 FAX
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