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eConnection
July, 2014

Rainbow Days is pleased to announce a new campaign for the month of July.  It's as easy as clicking a button to help raise money for our programs!  Thanks to the generosity of Dallas entrepreneur, Sanjiv Patel, who owns the gourmet nut products company, Lord Nut Levington, Rainbow Days will receive a $1 donation for each NEW LIKE we get on Facebook from July 1 - July 31.  So, if you haven't LIKED us yet, NOW is the time!  And please be our ambassadors and SHARE this POST with your friends. 

Kids' University Starts the Summer Off with a Bang!

The Summer Camp season is officially in full gear with the completion of two successful Kids University (KU) camps. This year 351 homeless children, ages 4-16, participated in a variety of fun subjects at the University of Texas at Dallas which included classes on health, music, golf, educational computer classes by Cranium Kids, science classes by Perot Museum, engineering classes by Frito-Lay Partners in Education, dance with the Assistant Director for the Arts at UT Dallas, Michele Hanlon, law enforcement classes by the Dallas Police Department, a nurse from Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and one-on-one pre-algebra classes by UT Dallas students and interns.  

The Rainbow Days' Auxiliary  joined in the fun by helping to bring hands on building workshop taught by area Home Depot employees who taught the children how to build a "tool box" that could later be used to keep their belongings while living at their shelter.  Children were also taught the importance of earning and saving money with the help of Citi Bank employees.  Citi volunteers set-up a store full of goodies for the children to redeem money they earned during the week for positive behavior.  On the last day of camp, children proudly walked across the stage wearing brightly colored caps and gowns and listened to two very special commencement speakers who encouraged the children to follow their dreams.  For KU #1 Dr. Gather Williams,author, life coach and counseling professional encouraged the children to live out the Rainbow Days' major messages by making small steps to achieve big goals.  Dr. Williams reminded the children to always push forward by sharing, "The best way to get something done is to begin. 

 

For KU #2 Jeremy Calahan, Assistant Head of Middle School for Student Life at Parish Episcopal and former football player for the St. Louis Rams and Dallas Desperados, gave an encouraging commencement speech to the young graduates. Mr. Calahan shared, "Through Kids' University, you are given a wonderful opportunity to take a glimpse a campus like this and to stir within you a desire to get to college. It starts with you taking care of your business now. It starts with you being respectful, being well-behaved, and taking your education seriously and working hard.

Special thanks to the following generous supporters for helping Rainbow Days make this year's camp a reality: Anonymous, Citi Bank, Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dr. George Fair, Home Depot, The Auxiliary of Rainbow Days, Perot Museum, Mission Possible - Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Bank of America, National Charity League - Golden Corridor and Preston Bluebonnet Chapters, Young Men's Service League - Plano and Legacy Chapters and numerous individual volunteers and donors. 

Thank you Mission Possible Young Leaders from Prince of Peace Catholic Community

Thank you to the Mission Possible Young Leaders from Prince of Peace Catholic Community for an outstanding week of service.  At the end of June, hundreds of Mission Possible youth served over 14 non-profit agencies across the DFW area.  During the course of 4 days over 40+ students and adult leaders served Rainbow Days in the church gymnasium by creating inspirational and encouraging banners which will line the walls of Dallas Market Hall during the annual Back-to-school celebration.  The youth decorated gift bags for Kids' University, donated plastic bats, bubbles, balls and hula-hoops and even traveled to UT Dallas each afternoon to serve as  "Playtime Mentors" for campers at Kids' University.  As one of Rainbow Days' most generous and long-time supporters, Rainbow Days is truly grateful for Prince of Peace Catholic Community's dedication and partnership.  Thank you Mission Possible Youth, adult leaders and program coordinators for making a difference! 

Auxiliary Corner
Upcoming Events

Mark your calendar to join us TUESDAY, JULY 15th from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. at the TACO BUENO on Central Expressway between Caruth Haven and Southwestern (7940 N. Central Expressway, Dallas, Texas 75206) for a give-back day supporting RAINBOW DAYS!  Tell your server you are with Rainbow Days and 15% of the net sales for the day will be donated to Rainbow Days.  See you Tuesday, July 15! 

Summer Supply Needs

 

Summer is here and camps are in full swing. If you don't have the time to volunteer, but want to contribute in some way, here are some great opportunities for individuals and/or organizations and corporate groups.  

  • Pre-packaged healthy snacks (no nuts please). Individually wrapped crackers, chips, granola bars, fruit chips, fruit snacks, etc.  
  • Swimsuits, trunks, beach towels and flip flops for boys and girls - all sizes (serving children ages 4-15), girls suits must be ONE PIECE ONLY and boys must be swim trunks.  
  • Backpacks, school supplies, plain white socks (boys and girls, all shoe sizes for children ages 4-15) Download the  School Supply List 
Leadership Connection

Participant quote: Don't let no one put you down. Keep your head up no matter what.

 

clasped-hands-sky.jpg Rainbow Days gave a meaningful summer experience to 45 youth ages 14 to 17 at the Marzelle C. Hill Transition Center located at the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center Complex. Leadership Connection, a camp provided by Rainbow Days' Community Connection team, engages youth in educational presentations and activities designed to help them discover their own personal capacity and the value of personal responsibility toward school and success by learning that they each have the ability to lead themselves and to achieve personal success. Leadership topics included Leadership Strategies; The Value of Diversity; Empowerment through Education; Setting and Achieving Goals; and Focusing through Art. Our sincere appreciation and gratitude go to each of our presenters: Kyra Bradley and Jessica Chester from Parkland Hospital; Dr. Campinha-Bacote with Dallas County Juvenile Department; Janet Henson from Dallas County Juvenile Department; Tikeya Calhoun and Shatrice Grimes from DOORS; and Doug Duncan and LaKeisha Williams from Dallas Urban League.

Family Connection Intern
Stephanie Flores

The Family Connection team is excited to have intern, Stephanie Flores join Rainbow Days' family this summer!  Stephanie or "Ms. Skittles" as she is known to our children  is completing her hours for a B.A. in Counseling from East Central University in Oklahoma.   Stephanie will volunteer over 440 hours during our busiest time  to meet her internship hours.  Once she completes her hours and requirements she will graduate at the end of August.  Stephanie volunteered last year at Rainbow Days Outdoor Adventure Camp and enjoyed being a camp leader. She saw the impact the camp had on the children in the short amount of time she spent with them.  Stephanie shared,  "I wanted to do my internship with Rainbow Days because the agency  is willing to do so much for homeless kids and they give them an opportunity to forget about their circumstances and just have fun.  I saw the leaders, teachers and staff let the kids know they are special and loved in so many ways."  Stephanie offers not only her heart and love for making a difference with our children but she is a hard worker and her dedication shows in all she does.  After graduating, Stephanie hopes to continue working with children and gain experience before going to graduate school to work towards her LPC or LMFT.  We have enjoyed our time with Stephanie and her absence will not only be felt by the children whose lives she touched but by the impact and time she gave to the Family Connection team during her internship. Ms. Skittles is SWEET!!!

Parenting Tip
As adults, our work may be going to a job, taking care of our family, or going to school or classes. We may not have thought about the fact that a child's play is really their work for the day. Play helps children in their brain development, thinking and reasoning skills, emotional and social skills, communication skills and more. Playing with your children is time well spent and it doesn't have to cost a lot of money. The possibilities are endless and you're sure to net a high return on investment.
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