January Newsletter 2015

The start of a new year is about new beginnings and a fresh start. For most people, this means getting back to the gym, eating healthier, etc. For foster youth it often means just staying in one place long enough to create a routine and obtain stability.

We all enjoy reading success stories about foster youth but, small successes are often great leaps for our youth. What kids from stable and healthy home environments may take for granted is; getting up each morning with someone to make them breakfast, getting to school on time and home safely at the end of the day, having a nutritious dinner, help with their homework and someone there to ensure they get a good night sleep in a safe environment.

These are the cornerstones of quality care Youth Homes has provided since 1965. In 2015 Youth Homes is proud to celebrate our 50th year of serving foster youth in the community!

This is mainly due to the strong partnership we have with community supporters like you , volunteers, board members and the continued commitment from the Youth Homes Auxiliary.

Thank you all and may 2015 be a very happy year.

Sincerely,

Stuart McCullough, Chief Executive Officer

stuartm@youthhomes.org

Tips for Change

What do Veal Scaloppine and foster children have in common? What happens when Handmade Ravioli with Goat Cheese or Carmel Tortino, a moist chocolate cake filled with dreamy creamy salted caramel, merges with Youth Homes? Imagine, if you will, the joy of eating for a praiseworthy cause.

On Monday, February 16th from 5:00 - 8:00 PM

DOWNLOAD EVENT FLYER

Gianni's Italian Bistro in San Ramon will host a fun and festive fundraising dinner. Youth Homes staff and volunteers will become your servers for a delightful evening. All tips plus 10% of the nights sales will go directly to Youth Homes!

Please support foster youth and come out to Gianni's Italian Bistro for dinner at: 2065 San Ramon Valley Blvd in San Ramon, Ca 94583.

Although the restaurant is open to the general public, we need a full house! To make your reservations, please call (925) 820-6969 or visit www.opentable.com

Thank you for your support!

In This Issue

A Safe Place

Tips for Change

Holiday Giving

Fostering Families in Need

Quick Links

Visit Our Website

Our Programs

Ways to Give

Email News Back Issues

"The girls had a wonderful Christmas, they were very surprised and excited about all the gifts and gift cards they received from such generous donors."

~ Donna Heimbruch, Andersen House Supervisor

"You made our Christmas a wonderland of excitement!"

~ The Girls at Andersen

Cindy Nigro and Olga Clark delivered 26 homemade gingerbread houses!

Holiday Giving

We are reminded around the holidays of the amazing generosity of the human spirit. It shines brightly in so many of our supporters and we see it in the outpouring of gifts received.

Youth Homes would like to thank all those that gave this past holiday season. Your holiday gifts and year end donations were greatly appreciated and warmly received.

Burr Pilger Mayer

Thank you to Brad Holsworth and the team at BPM for thoughtfully fulfilling the wish lists provided by the youth in our Aftercare Program.

Mt. Diablo Unified School District

Thank you to James Wogan and the wonderful staff at MDUSD for the holiday gifts and for always treating our foster youth with the utmost care and respect.

Pacific Service Credit Union

Thank you for the generous outpouring of Target gift cards! Our kids and staff were delighted.

The Youth Homes Auxiliary

Thank you to all the lovely ladies (and men too) at the Youth Homes Auxiliary for always being there for our kids! They provided gift cards for each and every youth in our care.

The Brownies!

These little elves (pictured below) from the Rancho Romero Brownie Troop visited East Bay Shelter delivering sunshine to all the youth residing there. They made gingerbread houses and brought gifts!

Tom and Libby Edwards

For your generous holiday giving. Our kids showed sheer joy when receiving their gifts!

Epic Insurance Services

Held a donations drive collecting items for the youth in our Aftercare Program. Youth Homes received two "Epic Sized" barrels full of all sorts of wonderful items!

HC Financial Advisors (pictured above)

Adopting Youth Homes annually as part of their company holiday giving, HC has been a tremendous blessing. Thank you for coming out to hand deliver all the wonderful gifts!

Burton Valley Elementary School

Thanks to Cathy Martinsen and her AIM Class for raising $1,411 for Youth Homes during their annual book bonanza fundraiser.

The Youth Homes Board of Directors

All kicked in over $900 so the youth in our shelters could participate in a Hornblower Cruise in S.F. The youth had a fantastic time and even re-enacted the "I'm Flying" scene from Titanic!

And so many more! Thank you to all those mentioned above and those not mentioned for your kindness and generosity throughout the years.

Foster Family Receives Help During the Holidays

Youth Homes Foster Family Agency was extremely fortunate to have a generous donor from our community provide for one of our foster families this holiday season.

The foster family has been a wonderful blessing to many foster youth placed through our agency, and currently have three boys living with them.

The generous donors contacted our agency around the holidays wanting to help a family in need. The foster family was an obvious choice due to their longstanding commitment to fostering youth, combined with the financial challenges that many parents currently face.

The donors wanted to know each child's specific wishes, including a pair of size 10.5 Nike Air Jordan's!

The sensitivity and generosity of these wonderful donors made this Christmas very merry for these boys and their foster parents.

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