spring 2012 news letter

Seminole County Friends of Abused Children, Inc., P.O. Box 161351, Altamonte Springs, FL 32716

Phone: 407-262-2141, E-mail: [email protected], Web: www.friendsofabusedchildren.org

The FRIENDS Board of

Directors attended the annual

Heathrow Women's Club Gala

event on March 31, 2012 at the

Heathrow Country Club. The

evening’s theme "Noche de

Flamenco" provided a fun

atmosphere of dinner and

dancing; entertainment was

provided by Flamenco del Sol

Dance Company.

The event raised funds via a

silent auction in support of

Seminole County Friends of

Abu s e d Ch i l d r en , I n c . ,

Boys and Girls Club - West

Sanford Branch, Safehouse of

Seminole, ThereAfter School/

Daycare Center, and Seminole

State College’s New Directions

Scholarship for Women.

Faith and Tim Shorthouse

Heathrow Women’s Club Gala

Friends Happenings A P R I L 2 0 1 2 S P R I N G 2 0 1 2 I S S U E

Guardian Ad Litem Director

Sharon Graham and Mark

Richard and Bobbi

Shorthouse

Frank and Karen Brandell

Shelton and Kari Fulsang

Yvonne Stimac and son Justin

Flamenco del Sol Dance Company

Serving the Community

Since 1990

President’s

Corner

New collaboration

with Bebe’s and Liz’s

of Winter Park

2

Superheroes in

Central Florida

Their powers amaze

2

Santa Came to

Town

Secret Santa strikes

again

3

Summer Camp

Fun[ding]

SPCA Summer Camp

fundraising

3

Donation Gives

Smiles

Community support

at work

4

YEA! Youth

Exploring the

Arts

A new Arts initiative

4

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :



P A G E 2

Your

support

makes a

difference.

Contact us

today to

find out how

you can

help

abused and

neglected

youth in

Seminole

County.

President’s Corner I am excited to share

the news abou t

F R I E N D S ’ s n e w

collaboration with Liz

Sheppard from Bebe’s

and Liz’s of Winter

Park. Liz donated some beautiful clothing and

shoes for the children

we serve, allowing us to

create a "My FRIENDS

Closet." This closet,

located in and managed

by the Seminole County

Guardian Ad Litem

office, houses outfits for

the children to wear for

special occasions or

for special school

functions. Although

FRIENDS provides for

basic clothing needs, the

clothing that Liz has

donated is unique and

special; clothing that the

c h i l d r e n c o u l d

previously only dream

of wearing. We look

forward to an ongoing

relationship. Please stop

in to visit Liz Sheppard

at Bebe’s and Liz’s on Park Avenue and tell

her thank you for her

generosity. I’d like to

thank Sarabecca Rosier

for her efforts in putting

us in contact with Liz

Sheppard.

- Faith Shorthouse

Superheroes in Central Florida The Super Hero Run, held on the 5th of November, 2011, at the University of

Central Florida (UCF) was a great success. Sponsored by the Alpha Thetas of

UCF, the Run served as a fundraiser to support the Seminole County Guardian

Ad Litem (GAL) program. As a result of the event and everyone’s hard work,

nine thousand dollars were donated to support the interests of the children

represented in court by the Seminole County GAL program. It was a beautiful

day, and the community showed its support with a great turnout. Thank you to Carly Griffo of the UCF Alpha Thetas and Beverly Rich of the Seminole County

GAL for organizing and chairing the event.



Santa Came to Town

P A G E 3 S P R I N G 2 0 1 2 I S S U E

FRIENDS completed its annual

Secret Santa in 2011. Thanks to

the generous donors in the

community, FRIENDS was able

to provide gifts for 350 children

this year. A huge “thank

you” is extended to the

following in-kind donors,

without whom these 350

children may not have had

as bright of a holiday season.

American Income Life; Arnie Nussbaum; Casa Park Villas

Homeowners Association; Dr.

Roy & Cynthia Rothman;

Georgetown Homeowners

Association; Girl Scouts Troop

916; Heathrow Women’s Club;

This year, FRIENDS is providing funding for summer camp for the children. To achieve this, FRIENDS is

partnering with the SPCA of Central Florida to send some of the FRIENDS children to the SPCA’s week-

long “Shelter Friends” summer camp at the Sanford, FL facility. Through participation in the “Shelter

Friends” camp, children will learn about the SPCA animals and how to care for pets. They will also learn

about the environment, wildlife, and how to live with nature. LinkedSouls, an organization that is

dedicated to supporting human-pet connections, is kindly providing fundraising support. Visit

www.linkedsouls.com/Charity.html or contact us for more information.

An

excellent

assortment

of gifts

were

donated.

Summer Camp Fund[ing]

Wagons

and

bicycles!

Jeanette Friend; Karen Brandell;

Kewley Family; L3; MACF;

Markham Woods Presbyterian

Church; Phyllis Currie; Rollins

College; St. Augustine Catholic

Church; St. Luke’s Lutheran

School; Toys for Tots.



a letter about the

experience to FRIENDS:

“Dear FRIENDS: I wanted

to share some true joy with

you today. This child has

been undergoing chemo and I was unable to take his bike

to him until this morning. It

brought tears to my eyes –

the look of disbelief and

happiness on his face is one

that I won’t forget. This is

his first bike and he could

not believe that he has a

bike of his very own. The

backpack contained some of

his most favorite treats and

he dug into that too!! It is

Goodyear held a team-

building event on February

25th at the Rosen Shingle

Creek Resort. As a result of

their efforts at the

t e a m b u i l d i n g e v e n t ,

Goodyear generous ly donated bicycles and

backpacks to FRIENDS. The

event was organized by

Hello Florida in Orlando.

Linda Clark, a Seminole

County Volunteer Guardian

Ad Litem, was able to

personally deliver a bike and

backpack to one of the

children she represents.

Ms. Clark sent a picture and

rare that this child smiles,

so I want you to see what

you and such generous

donations do for our kids.

Thank you, Thank you,

Thank you!!!”

FRIENDS is launching a new initiative to

support its children. Funds will be provided

for children who have either expressed an

interest or demonstrated talent in music,

dance, or theatre. These funds will assist

with the acquisition of musical instruments

and repair, as well as dance, voice, or drama lessons. Prior to the Cultural Development

Project, FRIENDS children would not

necessarily have the opportunity to pursue

these areas because of their current living

situation. FRIENDS believes there are many

untapped minds and talents that should

have the opportunity to be identified and

exercised. FRIENDS’ mission is to enable

these special children to have a normal

childhood. Contact us for more information

on how to support this initiative or to get

involved.

YEA! Youth Exploring the Arts

Donation Gives Smiles P A G E 4

Bicycles, backpacks,

and one happy

recipient.

spring 2012 news letter

Documents

n s i d e t h i s i

s p r i n g

safehouse of seminole

seminole county gal

d r e n c o u

friends closet

d r en

liz sheppard