- Scholarships to Ozarks Technical Community
College.
Some of the funds raised
by the Council are used to provide academic scholarships for our group
home residents. We are very proud of our residents' academic
achievements and are eager to encourage their advancement at
Ozarks
Community Technical College (OTC).
- The annual Christmas Dinner.
Each year the Council
co-sponsors an annual dinner for the group home boys and the girls
from Delmina Woods. Live entertainment and gifts for the boys and
girls complete the evening. Sadly, many of the boys and girls have spent
holidays alone or without celebration. Conceived of and co-sponsored by the congregation of Hamlin Memorial Baptist Church (829
West Atlantic Street, Springfield, MO 65803), this event has become an
integral part of what we do - bringing at-risk youth into a loving, caring
environment and shower them with attention.
- A Lincoln for a Birthday.
Not
a car, but a crisp, new five-dollar bill! The Council gifts each young
man with a $5 bill on his birthday. Without exception, each
recipient has
been stunned by this gift. Their letters of thanks to us
include such comments as "I'm so glad that someone cares about
me," and "I haven't had a birthday gift for a long time. Thank you!"
- Annual Visit to Silver Dollar City.
The good people at Silver Dollar City have been gracious enough to
provide discounted tickets to the Council so that all the group home
residents and their staff can spend a day enjoying good times at the
City. Funds from the Council are used to purchase the discounted
tickets. We are very grateful to Silver
Dollar City
for their generosity and obvious concern for our at-risk youth..
- Baseball Tournament.
The year 2001 marked the first annual baseball
tournament among all our group home residents as well as teams that
challenge them from the community. Funds for this event pay for
refreshments, leasing sporting equipment, and for necklace medallions
for each player.
- The 3-On-3 Basketball
Tournament.
Competitive
sports are a meaningful way in which to learn how to work and play with
others without resorting to conflict .. and it helps burn off all the
energy our Group Home boys have!
- We're Goin'
to the Ducks!
For this event we
take everyone to watch the Ducks baseball team play at Price Cutter
field in Ozark, Missouri. It's great fun for everyone and another
opportunity to do something that the boys would otherwise not be able to
do.
- Softball Tournament.
A local church has
provided the playing field for our group home boys to use as they
enter into competitive softball. Cheers, refreshments, trophies, and
awards abound and a good time is had by all.
- Blues Festival Cleanup.
Yep,
you read that correctly. The Downtown Dining and Entertainment
Commission offered our Group Home boys an opportunity to make a little money by
cleaning up downtown Springfield at the end of the festival.
The group home residents did such a good job that they
have asked to come back year after year and do the same thing! The Council
decided to give the money they earn back to the boys, each one equally,
as spending money when they visit Silver Dollar City. It is a win-win
proposition!
- College/Career Day.
We are in the planning stages of our first College and Career Day. The
Group Home boys will be taken to Missouri State University (Missouri State) and
Ozarks
Community Technical College (OTC) for a day so that they may
tour the campuses, take a little indoor swim, observe certain classes
and become familiar with college life.
It's positive exposure and, we hope, combined
with our College Scholarship Program, an incentive to think about
attending college when they finish their G.E.D. or High School degree.
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