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SPECIAL THANKS! |
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Heartfelt thanks to our 2009 Luncheon sponsors:
Leadership Sponsors
Perkins Coie
Lakeside Industries
Nintendo
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Benefactor Sponsor
Sprague Israel Giles Inc.
Community Sponsor
Seattle Children's
Additional support from
Banner Bank | |
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Dear Friends,
We're just past the halfway mark of 2009 and it's been an exciting, gratifying year for Amara and the families we serve. Since January, we have found loving adoptive homes for 35 children in foster care, a 46% increase in children served compared to the same time last year. This means more children who have suffered abuse and/or neglect have found a family and home of their very own.
These results could not have been achieved without the support of our generous donors and committed volunteers. Thank you for enabling Amara to make progress toward our vision of "A Home for Every Child."
Best regards,
John Morse, Executive Director |
| Event Raises $136,000 for Vulnerable Children |
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A full room of more than 300 supporters attended Amara's annual luncheon in May, donating more than $136,000 to fund Amara's work to find lifelong homes for children in foster care.
Luncheon highlights included a warm welcome from emcee Jean Enersen of KING 5 and remarks from Evergreen School student Emily Hall, who shared her inspiring experience of raising and donating $1,000 to Amara by collecting pennies with her classmates.
 Amara adoptee Danielle Ableman, standing by her mother Brenda, shared her experience in foster care and her adoption at age seven: "I'm glad my mom adopted me because I would never be who I am today if I didn't have her. We have overcome so much over the years and she has changed my life."
Two additional Amara families shared their stories of adopting children from foster care in a short video. View the video.
Thank you to the many generous donors, community partners and volunteers that made this luncheon such a success. A special thanks to our Honorary Co-Chairs Tom and Cheryl Hansen and Jack and Karen Faris, and to our sponsors and table captains for their invaluable support and leadership. |
Honoring an Exceptional Foster Family
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 Amara presented the second annual Stella Mae Carmichael Award at our luncheon to John and Rhonda James, and their daughter Lindsay. In the past 2½ years, this extraordinary family has provided temporary care to 12 young children, many of whom were medically fragile infants. The family has worked hard to gain special knowledge and skills necessary to care for each child's individual needs while providing them with a safe, loving home.
After nearly a year of providing foster care for Anthony, the family adopted one-year-old Anthony from foster care in May. Because of his rare immunity disorder, Anthony requires a feeding tube, regular chemotherapy and constant care and support. Someone from the family has been with him around the clock since the day they met. Today, Anthony has a loving, supportive forever family in his corner, cheering him every step of the way.
Amara established the award in 2008 in honor of its namesake, Ms. Stella Mae Carmichael of Bellingham, who served as foster parent to hundreds of children of all ages during her lifetime. Each year we recognize a parent or family who exemplify her unconditional love; her vision for and encouragement of children's futures; her blend of realism and hope; her spunk; and her superb parenting. |
| Recent Grads Support Amara |
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 Allie Mack and Laurel Stomans, 2009 graduates of Olympia High School, hosted a charity garage sale this spring, selling goods donated by their family and friends to benefit Amara. As part of a civics project for school, these young women gathered donations and prepared them for sale, then contributed all proceeds, over $750!, to Amara's foster-adoption program at Amara's luncheon.
"When we went to the luncheon," said Allie, "we felt very excited to donate the money. We both felt humbled by the presentations. Although we were donating a lot of money, it was only a small gift in comparison to those who had impacted lives by adopting children."
Amara is grateful to Laurel and to Allie, who made her first gift to Amara in 2003, for their compassionate, generous contribution. Thank you!
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Amara: Building Strong Families since 1921
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