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From Our Home to Yours

The Newsletter of Rainbow Village
September 2011

37 Days and Counting!
2011 Gala - Puttin' on the Glitz!

Our Puttin' on the Glitz Gala is only 37 days away and now is the time to reserve your seats! On Saturday, October 22nd we will host a joyous celebration of Rainbow Village's 20th Anniversary at the Atlanta Athletic Club at 6:30 p.m. The evening, presented by Wilmington Trust, promises to be the "must-attend" gala this season!

Come enjoy dinner, dancing and great fellowship with friends as you bid on exciting silent and live auction items. Join us as we celebrate the many accomplishments we've achieved and the many lives we've touched through the years. We'll hear first-hand from Rainbow Village families about how Rainbow Village transformed their lives. Retired Falcons Coach Dan Reeves will serve as our Master of Ceremonies and Blue Sky Atlanta will entertain us with live music throughout the evening.

Our most-popular "Wine Wall" will return again this year allowing you a chance to win any number of outstanding local and international wines, including six magnum size bottles. Local artist Kathy Fincher, acclaimed to be the female Norman Rockwell of our generation, will paint a masterpiece onsite that will be sold during the live auction. Other live auction items will include a custom bookcase painted by the families of Rainbow Village, a day on a luxury houseboat for 20, a great vacation package and more!

Attendees will be given the opportunity to ensure a firm foundation for the future of Rainbow Village by purchasing engraved bricks that will be used to construct a wall of encouragement and support for our families on our new campus. All proceeds from the evening will be directly invested in the Rainbow Village programs and services to the families.

Make plans to join us in celebrating twenty years of breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence. Tickets are $125 per guest and reserved tables of ten are available for $1,000.

Reserve your seats and tables and explore great sponsorship opportunities and rewards today.

If you are not able to attend but would like to become an Angel to Rainbow Village by offering your support to our mission, click here.

See great photos from last year's Gala!

Meet Our Intern!

Kayla SmithKayla Smith is a senior at Georgia Southern University studying Child and Family Development. As Rainbow Village's fall intern, Kayla is getting hands-on experience working with our kids in the after-school program, offering tutorial support, playing games and encouraging them to be the best they can be. While the kids are at school, Kayla is working alongside Lynnette Ward coordinating volunteer efforts and planning for upcoming holiday programs for our families. As a native Gwinnettian and proud graduate of Peachtree Ridge High School, Kayla shares, "I'm excited to come back home and have the opportunity to give back to the community that has done so much for me. I am so impressed with the work of Rainbow Village and the impact they make on the lives of the families they serve. It's a privilege to work with and learn from this organization." Kayla's dream is to land a position after graduation that will allow her to work with middle and high school kids.

Memories to Cherish

Thank You!This month we want to send extra words of thanks to two special groups that offered our families some unique experiences recently that gave them precious moments together and left them with memories to cherish for a lifetime. The Gwinnett Mosaic Rotary Club hosted our families for a night at the Gwinnett Braves game and the City of Duluth took them to see Cirque Du Soleil's Dralion.

 

While these outings may seem everyday to some, they are not for our families. If you find you have extra tickets to special events that you want to share, please let us know. Helping our families gain new experiences and feel a part of the larger community around them makes all the difference in the world!

Dixie Huthmaker Gives the Gift
of Music and More

Dixie Huthmaker, Huthmaker ViolinsHuthmaker Violins has been a mainstay in downtown Duluth for over 18 years and Dixie Huthmaker believes fervently in sharing the gift of music with children. Through the years Dixie has been committed to ensuring that every middle and high school child at Rainbow Village is given the opportunity to learn to play the violin if they want it. She provides their instruments at no cost and scholarships their private lessons. Her daughter, Anna, shares, "Mom is passionate about kids learning to play and will do everything within her power to enable it if they want to embrace the challenge." Dixie recognizes that many of our families don't have the extra resources to purchase an instrument and to engage private teachers that can help them learn to play to their full potential, so she has broken down the barriers and brought the gift of music to their fingertips.

 

Additionally, Dixie wrote a juvenile fiction book called Trapped in Half Position and proceeds from her book benefit Rainbow Village. She continues to find new and exciting ways to give little pieces of herself and her talents to better the lives of others. Thank you Dixie for all you do!

 

Learn more about Dixie's book here.

New Faith Partners

We'd like to welcome Great Love Church in Duluth, Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church in Johns Creek, and New Zion Christian Church in Suwanee as our newest faith partners. Their support and involvement mean so much!

 

See a list of all Rainbow Village Faith Partners.

Board Spotlight: Joe Young

Joe YoungThis month we introduce you to Mr. Joe Young. Joe has served on our Board for many years and currently leads the charge on the construction of our new campus. His background and expertise in real estate and development is invaluable to us. No doubt he's our #1 champion in directing our growth and expansion here at Rainbow Village. Read more...

Did You Know...
  • The federal poverty level this year is $22,350 a year for a family of four.
  • 7.7 million children in the US are uninsured, along with their 12 million parents.
  • 42% of children here in Georgia live in low-income families.
  • 22% of Georgia children live in households that are food insecure.
  • 12% of Georgia children had at least one unemployed parent in 2010.
  • Children born to parents in the lowest fifth of the income scale are 42% likely to end up there as adults.

These facts are cited in a recent National Child Welfare Study that examined in detail the effects of the recession on our children. The facts and figures will astound you. 

 

Learn More...

Capital Campaign

Our campaign commitments continue to grow. Click here to see our latest Investor Honor Roll! 

Be A Rainbow Village Angel! Angel Logo

Pledge a recurring monthly gift to support our ongoing operations and be a guardian angel to our families.

Gwinnett Mosaic Rotary Club

Rainbow Village is one of the finalists for the Gwinnett Mosaic Rotary Club's 2011-2012 Charity Partnership Program and we need you to go online and vote for Rainbow Village.

 

Today's the last day to vote!
Cast Your Vote Now! 

 

Duluth Fall Festival

Come by and visit our booth (#103) at the Duluth Fall Festival!

September 24 & 25

Duluth Town Green 

Poker ChipsSave the Date! Monster Mash Charity Poker Tournament & Bingo October 26th!
Read More...

Swine and Dandy Charity CookoffSwine and Dandy Charity Cook-Off
October 21-22, 2011
Read more... 

Please help us spread the good news about Rainbow Village and our vision for the future. Share this email and encourage those in your circles to become personally vested in helping us break the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence.

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Rainbow Village, Inc. � 3160 Main Street, Suite 100 � Duluth, Georgia 30096 � (770) 497-1888 � rainbowvillage.org