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Back to School Celebration a HUGE Success
Rainbow Days, in partnership with Captain Hope's Kids and Dallas Market Center, hosted 580 children and their parents at the 21st Annual Back-to-School Celebration. At the event over 400 backpacks and uniforms were given to school-aged children. Children and families came from one of 22 homeless, emergency, transitional and domestic violence shelter partners and Rainbow Days was pleased to expand the event to Permanent Supportive Housing sites this year. Families enjoyed a fun afternoon filled with games, refreshments, music and positive messages about the importance of education and doing well in school.
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Outdoor Adventure Camp  Rainbow Days' Outdoor Adventure Camp at Mt. Lebanon Retreat Center was full of laughter, swimming and team building as 156 children ages 8-17 attended this year's camp. Through the underwriting of a generous anonymous donor, Rainbow Days was able to provide a quality camp with a 1-7 adult to child ratio which led to special bonding with camp facilitators as mentors and unique life skills opportunities each day. All children attending camp this year were able to participate in Adventure Activities which included: a 35 foot outdoor climbing wall, a 4 story zip tower and a 55 foot Alpine Tower. Children were also able to test their skills at Archery; attended a class on Science that taught about the interesting properties of solids and liquids; went on a nature walk to learn about plants, insects and the surrounding terrain and participated in a challenge course to teach critical thinking and to learn from others and their own leadership skills.
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Catching Fish  Earlier this year, Plano West Senior High School students Louise and Henry Goacher, Kyle Hamilton, EB McCready and Kimmi Schonhorst selected Rainbow Days to create a documentary about an organization that reflected the "American Identity" in their combined Junior-level History and English class. After spending over 6 months attending Family Connection support groups, helping with weekend events, riding participant transportation buses, and filming 120 hours of footage - the group saw firsthand the difference Rainbow Days makes in the lives of children. Louise Goacher commented, "After participating in many Rainbow Days' events and interviewing numerous people regarding homeless children in Dallas, we realized this was more than just a class assignment: it was an experience that none of us will be able to forget." The students had a different image in their head of what "homelessness" looked like at the start of the project. By the end, they came to understand that homelessness is a person - a unique, special individual .... boy, a girl, a woman, a r man ... any member of any family. The experience also showed them that everyone can help, regardless of age or of where one lives. Through this experience, the students say they are committed to volunteering for a lifetime. Please check out their documentary, entitled "Catching Fish". It was inspired by this wise Chinese Proverb; "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." The student's stated, "This is what Rainbow Days is all about! Rainbow Days teaches the children the skills they need so they can succeed in life." |
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Team Connection
On July 20th, 40 children and 5 adults at Lake Highlands North Recreation Center participated in Rainbow Days' Team Connection summer activity.
Team Connection teaches children positive ways to express themselves through team-oriented events, field activities, and arts and crafts. The events were a celebration of healthy and fun alternatives to using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
Children and staff at Lake Highlands North enjoyed potato sack races, tug of war, bean bag toss, bowling, ring toss, and kickball together! There was an abundance of smiles and cheers throughout the day among both children and adults, and each child received their own Rainbow Days' T-shirt to color in with fabric markers. Pizza and cookies for lunch were real crowd pleasers!
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Wonderful BTS Volunteers
Special thanks to the 188 Back-to-School Volunteers who helped us to make the day such a special outing for children and families. In addition this outstanding group, we are also grateful for the dozens of volunteers who helped us sort, organize and inventory thousands of school supplies the past month. Specials thanks to both our wonderful individual volunteers and our outstanding corporate and community groups: AT&T, Bank of America, Citi, Dallas Market Hall, Holy Smokers Men's Ministry - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, National Charity League - Golden Corridor Chapter, National Charity League - Preston Bluebonnet Chapter, Northern Trust, PWC, Team Networking and Young Men's Service League of Plano.
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Thanks BTS Donors
 The Back-to-School Celebration would not have been a success without the AMAZING support of our GENEROUS DONORS!. Collectively, over $10,000 was donated to purchase supplies, uniforms and to help with this year's event. We also had over $95,000 in inkind donations of supplies, backpacks and services donated from individuals and corporations. Special thanks to: All Out Sports Training, Bank of America, Captain Hope's Kids,Credit Union of Texas and Jennifer Florence, Dallas County Schools, DISD Homeless Education Program, DMC (Dallas Market Center), Frito Lay, Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs, Holy Smokers, LT Wedding, Mosaic Family Services, Office Depot National Backpack Program, Prince of Peace Catholic Community and Starwalk of Dallas for their extremely generous inkind gifts that helped make the event possible. These gifts of generosity will help give a fresh start for the new school year to Rainbow Days' children!
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Harold Simmons
Rainbow Days is pleased to announce a $10,000 grant from the Harold Simmons Foundation for the overall program support of our Community Connection and Family Connection programs. Over 14,000 children in the Dallas area will receive life skills and support through support groups, classroom based education, camps and other activities throughout the year. Thank you Harold Simmons Foundation for your continued partnership and helping us support the children we serve.
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Donor Bridge
North Texas Giving Day
September 13th
Mark your calendars for North Texas Giving Day on September 13, 2012. Through a special partnership with Communities Foundation of Texas and Donor Bridge, on Thursday, September 13, 2012 from 7 am - midnight, a portion of every donation above $25 made to Rainbow Days will be MATCHED! Click Here to access our profile and to DONATE! Your support will mean more than ever, so Get Up and Give!
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