Back-to-School 2009

   Our 16th Annual Back-to-School Program was a huge success! We were able to serve 147 children this year because of so many of you: community members giving of their time, talent and tender. Focus on the Children wishes to thank all of you who contributed to make it a wonderful event! There is complete list of supporters below, but there are a few standout people and groups that deserve special thanks.

    One of those people is Sara Dunn, a college senior from SUNY Brockport who spent the summer in our office and throughout the county as our intern. Sara played a big part in planning and implementing this year’s program. She kept track of all the children, families and donations, gathered donations and took care of 100+ other details that go into the BTS event. She extended her internship by several weeks so that she could be present at the big event. She was able to experience the children come in and get excited about going back to school, and was able to receive the gracious ‘thank yous’ of so many parents and caregivers. We want her to know that she did a wonderful job, and we are grateful to her for her contributions!

   Another big contributor this year was the Summer Youth Employment group with Office of Workforce Development. Nita Hawkins coordinated the 150+ youth in the program to collect school supplies for FOTC as they worked at various sites throughout the county. We to see which crew could collect the most items initiated a ‘challenge’. The winning crew won a pizza party donated in full by Pizza Hut in Geneseo! Although there were several sites with 8-10 youth on the crew, a crew of 4 from Nunda won the challenge and their picture appears below. Thank you to all the Summer Youth and their worksite coordinators who made our supply contribution the biggest yet!

   Coopervision in Scottsville also donated 50 backpacks, each already filled with supplies! Year after year, Loree Harrington coordinates 3 shifts of employees to give what they can, and every year they are always overly generous.

   In recent years, we found that many classrooms required flash drives as a matter of course, but due to the high cost, were unable to provide them. This year we had so many items donated that we were able to purchase and give each middle and high school student a flash drive in addition to the backpack, supplies and Payless gift cards.

   FOTC is blessed to be supported by so many giving people who highly value the education of children in our community. Each and every contribution made a difference, no matter how small.

   Thank You!

The winning crew from Dalton: Elizabeth A., Troy H., Clinton S. and Matthew S.
 pictured here with Supervisor Melissa Mehlenbacher and Nita Hawkins.

Did You Know?

• FOTC’s Case Manager continues to assist families with emergency/crisis needs of children throughout the year, even as our Special Programs are taking place.
• This summer, we have helped approximately 315 children throughout Livingston County with emergency and crisis needs. We have seen an increase in the number of families in crisis due to job loss/cuts.

Summer Activities

   We were fortunate enough to have an intern with us for the summer: Sara Dunn. She is attending SUNY Brockport, majoring in Health Administration, and has only one more semester before graduating. Sara was involved in many activities this summer at FOTC, in addition to Back-to-School. She and Case Manager, Crissa Gilbert, set up a booth at the Avon Corn Festival. A raffle was held with 10 different prizes, all donated by local businesses and individuals. (Raffle prizes and donors are listed on the website.) We also had several community volunteers help with manning the booth: Emily and Joanne, both students at Cal-Mum, and Judy Schweichler and Laura Canne, both Board Members with FOTC.

   Sara was able to help serve several families during her internship: actually going to homes to help families with children. Her travels took her to many parts of the county she has never been to before, and her warm, kind personality made the families feel quite at ease.

   WYSL’s Livingston Online, hosted by David Parish, featured FOTC for one of its interview segments. Crissa and Sara spoke of the history and mission of FOTC, and its recent and upcoming summer events such as the BTS Program and the Avon Corn Festival.

Looking Ahead

   Craft Fair at the Geneseo Armory on Thanksgiving weekend-volunteers needed to run concession stand Sat. and Sun.

   Christmas Program: sign up to sponsor child(ren) or family by calling office-538-4366.

Fundraising Efforts

   We had several small fundraisers this summer: one being the Avon Corn Festival and the other a Change Campaign in which collection jars were set out at area businesses to collect spare change. Thank you to the following for allowing us to place jars at your businesses:

Tom Wahl's in Avon, Miceli's Deli in Geneseo, Mobil/Dunkin'Donuts in Geneseo, CVS in Avon.

The Avon Corn Festival was another opportunity to raise money for Focus on the Children, and we thank the following people/businesses for donating the following raffle prizes:

Classic Touch Salon in Caledonia donated a free haircut plus a ½ hour massage from Sandra Nearhood, LMT.

Tops in Avon donated a $25.00 gift card.

The Montanye/Dunn Families donated a picnic package with sparkling juice, cheese and cutting board, glass wine stopper, wine glasses, ceramic plates and goodies to munch. *They also donated a Family Movie Night Kit, which included 3 movies, popcorn and bowl, and candy.

J&A Farm Market donated live mums.

All About Flowers in Avon donated a $20.00 gift certificate.

Minnehan's donated 12 Miniature Golf Games.

Vintage Drive-In in Avon donated 4 tickets.

Geneseo Hardware donated a tool carry bag, and the Montanye's donated new tools and first aid kit to go with it!

Caledonia Liquor donated Jack Daniel's glasses, J.D. shot glasses, and 2 other sets of glasses.

Last First Day Breakfast Benefits Focus!

   Cal-Mum Class of 2010 held a "Last First Day Breakfast" at the Cozy Kitchen in Caledonia to celebrate their last first day of high school. Students bought tickets for the breakfast and the proceeds came to Focus on the Children. Thank you all so much for thinking of others even as you embark on a monumental year! Good Luck and Best Wishes from all of us here at Focus.

Senior Moments-CMCS Class of 2010
(Last First Day Breakfast at Cozy Kitchen)

   Thank you very much for your past support of the BTS and other programs of Focus on the Children. FOTC continues to assist families with children in Livingston County. Some of our families face shut off notices or eviction while others may require something as simple as a pack of diapers. Each family / child we serve is treated with dignity and with the knowledge that they may be at the end of their rope and patience by the time we hear from them. Case Manager, Crissa Gilbert diffuses the situation and decides how best our resources may help this family. We also have had the pleasure of sending children on school trips this Spring and provide the a single mom with the necessary items to help give her daughter a memorable birthday. Once again, thank you for your support! You are the reason we are able to continue to do this work that we love so well.

   Sincerely,
   Betsy Sherwood / President

FOTC receives support in part from: Community Service Block Grant, The United Way, Ronald McDonald House Charities, The Presbytery of Genesee Valley, CooperVision, The John W. Randall Advised Fund, and many other clubs, individuals, churches, and businesses. 
THANK YOU!