 Hearts and Home Wide Open for Special ChildrenFamily Spotlight: The Clarks
Knowing you are expecting a child with an intellectual disability can turn your world upside down. Having that child and facing the constant care the new baby requires can be exhausting. Choosing to adopt more children with special needs, when you already have four biological children of your own, is a true, living example of God's goodness and grace. Meet the Clarks, a remarkable Jill's House family.
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Members of the ever-growing Clark family renew their energy while the girls visit Jill's House. |
"We started our family with three healthy boys," shared Nina Clark. "Our home was filled with lots of rambunctious activity common to any home like ours. We were blessed to have a strong marriage, a wonderful family, and a home to raise many children in a comfortable, safe, and loving environment. In 2003 we were thrilled to finally welcome our little girl, Emma, who was born with Down syndrome. Read more.
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Sponsor a Child for a Night
Make a difference in the life of a child.
To serve families like the Clarks, we need your help. Give the gift of Jill's House to children with special needs and the gift of renewal to those who love them. When you sponsor a child's monthly overnight stays at Jill's House, you give families a steady stream of breaks and their inspiring children a place to call their own, where they are loved and accepted for who they are.
 One hundred percent of your monthly gift covers the direct-care costs of serving a child at Jill's House, including food, activities, nurses, and specially trained childcare specialists.
 Watch this video to learn how the Sponsor-a-Child-for-a-Night program helps families, like Emily McGinn's.
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Join Us for a Special Evening with Amy Grant
Tables are selling fast; get yours today!
Wayne and Catherine Reynolds and the Jill's House Board of Directors invite you to
A Celebration of Special Children
An Inaugural Benefit for Jill's House
Saturday, May 4, 2013
6 to 9 pm
The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner
Black-tie
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Featured guest Amy Grant will perform with the McLean Bible Church Orchestra. |
Enjoy an elegant evening of music, exquisite dinner and inspirational stories of hope. The evening features a special performance by Grammy and Dove Award winner Amy Grant with guest emcees Leon Harris and Alison Starling of WJLA-TV/ABC 7.
The deadline to be included as a sponsor in our invitation is March 5, so reserve your sponsorship and table or download your pledge form today. For more information, please contact Kat Vinson at 703.639.5670 or kat.vinson@jillshouse.org.
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Friday Night Food and Fun
Jill's House brings families together.
One way we minister to families is by building a stronger community among the families we serve. While our community is diverse, it is also unified by one very important thread: All the families we serve are busy raising a child with an intellectual disability.
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Families enjoyed getting to know each other better during this intimate dinner at Jill's House.
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On Friday, February 22, the parents who had children staying with us that weekend joined us in the Grand Forks room at Jill's House for an evening of great food, fun conversation, and comfort. We shared Jesus' love with families as they talked with others who face the same challenges and joys as they do. The warm, inviting atmosphere included elegant music and a crackling fireplace. Attendance by Brenda Solomon, Jill's mom, made the evening even more special. Read more.
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Volunteer Spotlight: Oakcrest School
Students give their time and talents to create beautiful Valentines for Jill's House guests.
Students from Oakcrest School in McLean, Virginia, asked how they could give back by helping the children Jill's House serves. Since they are too young to volunteer to serve the children directly, we could not think of a better project for these talented young women than to create special Valentines to let our children and families know how much they mean to us.
"Some of the children we serve are not always the ones who get Valentines at school," explained Sara Potter, volunteer program coordinator at Jill's House. "So we wanted to make sure they knew how much they are loved by God, and by us."
To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Jill's House contact Sara Potter at sara.potter@jillshouse.org or 703.639.5671.
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Thank You, Safeway!
Safeway becomes a Jill's House partner.
We are so grateful to Safeway Foundation for their recent gift to Jill's House. Our corporate partners understand the powerful difference they can make when we come together to serve children with special needs and provide rest to their families.
"Safeway salutes the valuable contributions that Jill's House provides to our community, and so we are delighted to be able to support your efforts," shared Gregory A. TenEyck, director of public affairs for the Safeway Foundation.
To learn more about becoming an annual corporate partner, contact Sheila Joy at sheila.joy@jillshouse.org or 703.639.5673.
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February 28, 2013
Since opening in October 2010, Jill's House has provided 185,391 hours of respite care. |
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April 13, 2013: Big Band Dance to benefit Jill's House
April 19-20, 2013: Accessibility Summit, National Conference for the Disability Community
May 4, 2013: A Celebration of Special Children, an inaugural benefit for Jill's House, at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, featuring Amy Grant
June 15, 2013: Ride for Jill's House, a 100-mile motorcycle ride
October 14, 2013: Links for Little Ones Golf Tournament, 1757 Golf Club
October 27, 2013: Team Jill's House - Marine Corps Marathon
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Help Jill's House Grow
A gracious donor has challenged all of us, together, to match a $1 million gift by March 31, 2013!
Will you help us match this generous gift and serve even more children and their families in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C. and beyond?
Donate now and indicate "20 by 2020 Matching Challenge" in the comment field. Together, we can help meet the need for respite. Thank you! |
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What Our Families Are Saying
"My son continues to be inconsolable about missing his Jill's House weekend because he is sick. He keeps crying about how much he misses Jill's House. You don't know how much he depends on you all. He counts down from one weekend to the next. Fingers crossed he'll be healthy for his next visit!"
"My son made me a very special Valentines card. In it he wrote 'You are the coolest mom I've ever had. Except for the moms at Jill's House that care for me.' Thank you for the loving care you provide my son."
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Be a Part of Our Team
As Jill's House serves more and more children, we continue to need great people.
We are currently hiring for the following positions:
-PT Childcare Specialist Fellows
-PT Custodian
-PT Contract CDL Bus Driver
-PT Childcare Specialists
-PT Water Safety Instructors
-PT & FT Registered Nurses (RNs)
-PT & FT Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
View complete listing and job descriptions here.
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