 "Jill's House Saved Our Lives"Family Spotlight: The Schmehls
"Before Jill's House, my husband Dick and I came very close to giving up on our marriage. To the outside world, we probably seemed to manage our lives well, but the reality is we were dying inside. We lived in a cocoon, exhausted, with no one to turn to.
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Tricia Schmehl shares how respite provided by Jill's House is a lifeline for her family.
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Our oldest daughter, Katie, has a rare brain defect. As is common with people like Katie, she doesn't sleep. On a typical night she goes to bed around 9 p.m., then she is up and ready for the day around 1:30 a.m. She sits at the kitchen table, looking for the school bus for hours until it comes. During the summer it is especially difficult, as Katie cannot speak, and there is no way to tell her the bus isn't coming. She is heartbroken every day. Managing her and our full time jobs is unbelievably difficult. We basically save our sleep for weekends. Read more.
 Many families and marriages like the Schmehls' need your support. Help us by being their lifeline today!
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Open House, Golf Tournament and Marine Corps Marathon
October is an eventful month at Jill's House
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Open House guests learned the story of disability, the history of Jill's House and how respite transforms lives.
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October was a busy month at Jill's House! On Sunday, October 13, we opened our doors to the public and celebrated three years of serving special children and renewing their families. More than 500 people toured Jill's House and learned how the 279,204 hours of respite we've provided since 2010 have transformed lives. Visitors also enjoyed an interactive display explaining how families raising children with special needs experience higher divorce rates, get less sleep, and are more stressed than the rest of us.
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Beautiful weather was the perfect backdrop for a day of fun and inspiration to benefit Jill's House.
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The following day, nearly 100 friends of Jill's House participated in the 13th Annual Links for Little Ones Golf Tournament at the 1757 Golf Club in Dulles, Virginia. The event was led by committee Chairperson Joe Livingood of Billy Casper Golf. Special thanks to Joe and all of the event sponsors including Jill's House Annual Partner Acuity, Inc., Ace Sponsor ETS, Eagle Sponsors Cardinal Bank, Phase One Consulting, Sovereign Insurance, Wells Fargo Insurance and Jill's House Board of Directors for making the day possible. Read more.
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The Jill's House Kids' Variety Show
Children share their amazing gifts and talents through song, dance and creativity
The first-ever Jill's House Variety Show on Sunday, October 27, was a huge success! The evening started out with a pizza party, followed by a talent show and lots of fun.
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Jack, with a little help from his mom, danced while Rusty played the guitar.
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The children we serve have many talents, including singing, painting, playing musical instruments, magic tricks, comedy and dancing.
The mother of a child who sang a beautiful song shared this was the first time her son ever stood up in front of a group.
We are so blessed to celebrate these special children and help them experience typical activities through events like the Jill's House Variety Show and Joy Prom. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Visit our Facebook album to see more photos from this special night.
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Congratulations to Winner of Private Suite for Redskins vs. Cowboys Game
Thanks to Acuity, Inc. for generous donation of luxury box at FedEx Field
Jill's House's corporate partner Acuity, Inc. generously donated a private luxury box at FedEx Field for the December 22 Redskins vs. Cowboys game. The package, which included 12 tickets to a private Loge Suite, along with buffet and parking, was auctioned on eBay.
Congratulations to Brad and Martha Taishoff for winning the auction! One hundred percent of their contribution benefits Jill's House! Thank you to Acuity and all of the bidders who came together to help us serve our families.
If your corporation or organization would like to discuss creative ways to help Jill's House save marriages and reconnect families raising children with special needs, please contact Sheila Joy at sheila.joy@jillshouse.org or 703.639.5673.
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Serving Christ Through Jill's House
Volunteer Spotlight: Sean Lacy
JH: How did you learn about Jill's House?
SL: I attend McLean Bible Church and learned about it before it was built. But I really heard a calling to Jill's House through my best friend who socializes with people who have special needs. I heard him tell what a blessing it is to serve Christ by taking the time and effort to be available to those who may require a little bit more care, and it really got my attention. I believe God puts people in our lives that can see something within ourselves that we cannot or may not be willing to see. For years my friend encouraged me to volunteer at Jill's House and actively live out my faith. He was right. It is a blessing to be part of such a great cause.
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Sean lives out his faith by volunteering at Jill's House.
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JH: What do you do at Jill's House?
SL: I support the childcare specialists as they care for the kids. Each shift requires adaptation and a little patience, but it never feels like work. When I walk into Jill's House I always have two goals in mind: 1. Be useful and supportive of the staff, and 2. Be there for the kids.
JH: What do you like best about volunteering at Jill's House?
SL: When I spend time at Jill's House I know I am putting God first. The kids are amazing, and I have discovered so much about myself and my faith that I would not have known if I had not walked through the doors of Jill's House. Getting kids to laugh and knowing that I made a positive impact on their lives is all that I need to come back again. A cool thing about Jill's House is that you get to see grace and what true patience looks like. We smile and laugh a lot at Jill's House. Read more.
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Fall Fun at Jill's House Blue Ridge
Photo of the Month: Hope
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Hope was all smiles at Jill's House Blue Ridge with Ellen Meyer, a Jill's House Fellow (left), and Elizabeth Ward, an OXYGEN3 missionary from Norfolk Baptist Church.
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October 31, 2013
Since opening in October 2010, Jill's House has provided 279,204 hours of respite care.
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Just Announced!
A Celebration of Special
Children Benefit
May 30, 2014
A Celebration of Special Children, a benefit for Jill's House, will be held on Friday, May 30, 2014 at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner. Stay tuned for more details!
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Save the Date!
April 26, 2014: The Big Band Dance to Benefit Jill's House
June 7, 2014: The Ride for Jill's House: 100-mile motorcycle ride through Northern Virginia
October 13, 2014: Annual Links for Little Ones Golf Tournament
October 26, 2014: Team Jill's House Marine Corps Marathon and 10K
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Give to Jill's House at Work!
Make a lasting difference in the lives of families raising children with special needs when you participate in your employer's Combined Federal Campaign, United Way, or employee giving program.
Your gift gives hundreds of families desperately needed rest and renewal through Jill's House.
There are three easy ways to give to Jill's House from your workplace:
1. Combined Federal Campaign #22742;
2. United Way #8244; or
3. Your own company's employee giving campaign. Many employers will match your gift, please check to see if your company does.
For more information, contact your employer or Claire Waldrop at 703.639.5699 or claire.waldrop@jillshouse.org.
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What Our Families Are Saying
"I am so grateful that our son has this opportunity for independence and that the rest of us get a little break. To know that he is not only safe but having fun and developing new interests is invaluable. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you do!"
"Our entire family loves Jill's House! Our son was so excited on Friday when he found out he was going there!"
"I am very thankful my daughter was with you this weekend. I've been sick and it was so good to rest all day Saturday. I don't know what I would have done without Jill's House!"
"I so appreciate the feedback you provide. It gives us a glimpse of how our son spent his weekend, especially since he is nonverbal and cannot communicate himself. Thank you!"
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Be a Part of Our Team
As Jill's House serves more children, we continue to need great people.
We are currently hiring for the following position:
-PT Childcare Specialists
View complete listing and job descriptions here.
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