FAMILY MATTERS

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER

SUMMER 2016

E OF HOMELESSNESS
BREAKING THE CYCL
REN
FAMILIES AND CHILD
AND POVERTY FOR

ForKids
The Finch Center
4200 Colley Avenue, Suite A
PO Box 6044
Norfolk, VA 23508
(757) 622-6400
www.ForKidsVA.org

KAI KICK STARTED at ForKids!

Kais favorite part of morning circle was the weather report. If we

forgot it, she would remind us. A good weather report for the day
was great news for Kai.

When Kai first came to ForKids, she struggled with letters and couldnt write. She
and her sister Kelsey were being home schooled. As part of our supportive housing
program, Kai was assessed by our team using the PALS Phonological Literacy
screening and scored a two (compared to a benchmark of 28).
Concerned, ForKids Education Advocate Rico Robinson encouraged Kais mom to
enroll her in Kick Start, ForKids' Kindergarten Readiness Program, over the summer and
in a Norfolk Public Schools kindergarten class in the fall.
Kai blossomed with the structure and enriched learning environment. By the time Kick
Start was over, she could name five colors, two shapes, start counting and write K-A-I
flawlessly.
(Continued on page 2 )

FAMILY MATTERS

KAI KICKSTARTED AT FORKIDS

(Continued from front page )

Thanks to Community Leadership Partners of

Hampton Roads Community Foundation and the
generosity of four field-of-interest funds: the
Brenda and Alan Stein Fund for Homeless and
Indigent, the Mary Jane Kunhardt Fund for the Benefit
of the Homeless of Tidewater, the Taylor Sisters
Library Fund, and the Community Fund for Health and
Human Services, Kick Start ForKids education staff
will also conduct pre and post assessments in order
to provide program evaluations necessary to raise
funding from other community partners and expand
to other areas in summers to come.

Volunteer tutors, hot lunches & camp

supplies needed this summer!
Kick Start Kindergarten tutors needed July 5 28, Monday - Wednesday, 10am 1pm
Jump Start Remediation tutors needed Aug. 1 18, Monday - Thursday, 10am 1pm
Locations in Norfolk, Suffolk and Chesapeake. We request a minimum of one day per week
commitment. Sign up for an orientation at www.forkidsva.org or contact our volunteer
coordinators at volunteer@forkidsva.org or (757) 622-6400x137 today!

Hot lunches needed for 10-15 students at our various Jump Start locations Aug. 1 18
New summer camp supplies needed for kids going to overnight camps for the first time
o Sleeping bags
o Pillows/pillow cases
o Duffle bags
o Swimsuits (all sizes)
o Towels/washcloths
Contact Rachel at RNewnam@forkidsva.org or (757) 622-6400 x 113 to sign up today!

FAMILY MATTERS

ur kids need your help to get ready for the 2016-2017 school year!
Please help provide much needed school supplies by Monday, August 22.
Donations can be delivered to our client distribution area at:
Good Mojo, 2411 Granby St., Norfolk, VA 23517
anytime 11am-5pm, Monday - Saturday

School Supplies Needed:

Bookbags (most needed!)

Glue Sticks

Scissors

Loose Leaf Paper

Highlighters

Combination Locks

3-ring Binders

Index Cards

1/3/5 Subject Notebooks

Pens & Pencils

3-prong Folders

Dictionaries & Thesauruses

Colored Pencils

Tissues & Hand Sanitizer

Scientific Calculators

Markers

Crayons

Jump Drives

Order supplies online through Smile.Amazon.com, choose

ForKids, Inc., & 0.5% of your total cart will be donated to us!

Contact Rachel at (757) 622-6400 x113 or e-mail RNewnam@forkidsva.org for more information.

WE NEED
YOUR STUFF!

50%

Make your next hour Happy Hour

off

your entire
purchase!
*excluding furniture
& specialty items

Mon-Sat 10am-6pm
Sunday 12pm-5pm
2411 Granby St
Norfolk, VA
(757) 622-1194

FAMILY MATTERS

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS:
INIT - Innovations in Transportation, Inc.
Thank you INIT Innovations in Transportation, Inc. for donating
the proceeds of your "Bizarre Holiday Bazaar" to ForKids!

LoanCare
LoanCare really cares! Not only have they been hosting supply
drives for us and volunteering on different projects, they also
selected ForKids as the recipient of their dress down funds!

Operation Christmas List

Thanks to our generous community and Operation Christmas
List presented by WTKR NewsChannel 3 and Southern Bank, the
ForKids Holiday Shop made the holiday season much brighter for
1,759 children in need!

Heart of Ghent 10K

Race Against Homelessness! The 2015 Heart of Ghent 10K was an
amazing success. Mark your calendars for September 24, 2016 to
support ForKids again at the 5th Annual Heart of Ghent 10K!

Calvary Chapel Newport News

Mini-Good Mojo Thrift Day in Suffolk! Calvary Chapel Newport
News hosted an amazing special event at Suffolk House that
included field games, tons of grilled food, and an unimaginable
amount of donations. ForKids families came out to play, eat, and
shop. Many thanks to Pastor Reggie and the entire congregation!

FAMILY MATTERS

Help ForKids by June 30!

Homelessness doesnt
take a summer
vacation.
Last summer, Julie's family was homeless.
This year, they found ForKids.
ForKids and so many other children like
Julie need your help this summer. For
most of us, summer is a time to relax and
have fun, but at ForKids the warm weather
brings with it serious challenges. There has
been a 54% increase in the number of
unsheltered homeless people locally, and
nationally, we know that one child in every
30 will have to wonder where they will sleep
and what will happen to their families.
Last year our services touched the lives of

35,000 local

residents who were threatened by homelessness. ForKids

is proud of what weve accomplished, but we need your support as homelessness
is on the rise along with the heat. When school lets out, parents already struggling to pay rent are faced with
the added costs of childcare. Temporary shelters are only available during the winter and Hampton Roads
economy, which relies heavily on tourism, puts hotel space at a premium during the summer.

Will you help us end homelessness for more families and children like
Julie this summer with a gift by June 30? Here are just some of the
life-changing things your support can do:

FAMILY MATTERS

VOLUNTEER
SPOTLIGHT
Cedric
Myles&&
Cedric Myles
Hampton
Roads Church
Church
Hampton Roads

Everyone has that one friend they can call anytime for help... in the
world of ForKids volunteers, that person is Cedric Myles. Cedric
has been a ForKids volunteer for a relatively short amount of time,
but in that time, he has made a huge impact. Beyond the dozens
of volunteer hours he and his wife, Rachel put in personally, Cedric
is the first person we turn to when we have special or last minute
volunteer needs. One prime example of that was how he took
the initiative to help secure a location for ForKids' new Volunteer
Luncheon (see below) at his church.

Cedric Myles receives a ForKids "Outstanding Partner

Volunteer" certificate for his assistance with ForKids.

When Cedric is unavailable he even makes sure to send fellow

service members to help meet our needs. Cedric has become a huge asset to ForKids' volunteer
program and we can't thank him enough!

Volunteer Awards Luncheon

ForKids is excited to announce that we are now a certifying
organization for the Presidential Volunteer Service Awards!
For the first time, this years awards luncheon included eight
honorees who volunteered over 100 hours of their time to
ForKids in 2015. They received a nationally recognized award
as well as a letter from President Obama. The ceremony also
included a catered lunch from Chick-fil-A of Ghent, some special
guest speakers, and fun superlatives for other volunteers as
well! A special thanks to Cedric & Rachel Myles and the entire
congregation of Hampton Roads Church again for hosting this
exciting new event!

FAMILY MATTERS

GIVE EVERY MONTH

Carmen Barnes
Stuart Birkel & Nathalie Cassis
Shirley Brackett
Brent-Lox Baptist Church
Pete & Pam Ciula
Jennifer Clements
Carey & Cliff Clow
Mary & Adam Crosby
Aysha Davis
Melissa Day
Sarah & James Dilley
Charles & Juanita Dowdy
J. Robert & Vicky Doxey
Lisa Ellsworth
Dean Everton
Jodee Flint & Stephen Fuller
Robert & Alice Frady
Tom & Bug Gallagher
Marie Garrenton
Hank Ghittino

Latoya Harrison
Marge House
Elizabeth Jackson
Jacque Jacques
Delia Johnson
Sarah & Erik Johnson
Jay & Adrian Keirle
Loraine & Bill Kelly
Felicia Kennedy
Maria Lankford-Johnson
Jane Lego
Tammy Long
Becky Lyle Pinkard
Marshall Advisory Group, Inc
Thaler & Nat McCormick
Alice McCoy
Jessi McFadden
Rachel Newnam
Marietta Nichols
Kriston Nixon

Tiffany Palmer
Ayden Petrone
Prince of Peace Catholic Church
Tracie & Jon Pruden
Emma Reilly
Jane & Win Short
Danielle Smith
Sharon Smith
Alexandria & James Snyder
Janet Stokley
Page Stooks
Tania Taloute
Annette & Gary Van Derveer
Mary Veraldi
Neil & Patricia Walsh
Jim Wardell
Westminster Reformed
Presbyterian Church
Deborah & John Wyld

Are you ready to be a ForKids GEM? Contact Jess at

(757) 622-6400 x132 or JOrvis@forkidsva.org to start today!

VOLUNTEER
POWER HOUSE!
Thank you to the following volunteers whove
given ForKids 100+ hours of their time
since July 1, 2015:
Gay Adams
Lindsey Crawford
Angel Cruz
Shanatra Green

Rebecca Hanrahan
Daniel Lamar Morris
Katie Nutting
Shanah Rieara

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING?
Email volunteer@forkidsva.org or visit ForKidsVA.org to find out how!
FAMILY MATTERS

STORY SLAM
On February 13, 2016 ForKids held its 5th Annual Story
Slam, a ForKids fundraiser fashioned after NPRs The
Moth Hour. Story Slam featured twelve carefully selected
individuals: Jesse Wareing, Vickie Bright, Mike Easmeil,
Becky Peterson, Lee & Harry Cross, Ronald Young,
Tenacious Vee, WooWoo, Esmere Litz, Robert Ciara, and
Ayden Petrone who all had incredible stories to share
about who their heroes were. After the event, videos of
each slammer were posted online and the community
had two weeks to vote for their favorite Slammer.
The results:

1st Place: Jesse Wareing

2nd Place: Vickie Bright
3rd Place: Mike Easmeil
Thanks to the community we raised
over $36,000 to help break the cycle of
homelessness and poverty in Hampton Roads!

FAMILY MATTERS

ForKids 15th ANNUAL CHILDRENS ART AUCTION

Raised over $800,000 to help Break the Cycle of
Homelessness and Poverty in Hampton Roads!
On Saturday, April 9, The Dragas Companies presented ForKids' 15th Annual Childrens Art Auction and Casino
Night at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. This years theme was Calling All Superheroes. Dressed in black tie
and superhero attire, attendees came together and raised over $800,000. While ForKids still needs your help
reaching our $6.4 million budget by June 30 to provide much needed services for homeless families this
summer, we're excited to announce that this year's Art Auction broke records as ForKids highest grossing
fundraiser to date!
Vince Pilato of Robert W. Hayes Company, Inc. served as the evenings emcee. ForKids kids kicked the night
off with a creative skit to remind attendees of a true Superheros duty. Guests bid on unique packages and
trips donated by local business including a trip to Italy and a 2016 Toyota RAV4. But the heart of the event, as
it is each year, was the auction of art by ForKids kids, framed beautifully by local framers. This years hottest
artwork was done by 13-year-old Tyecil in collaboration with Robin and Julia Rogers of The Chrysler Museum
Glass Studio, and was entitled Molly the Funny Ferret. It was purchased for $13,500 after a fierce bidding war.
Other local professional artists and art programs pitched in to work with ForKids kids on unique collaborative
pieces that were sold at the Auction. These included Jean Peacock, Matt Fine, The Governors School for the
Arts, and The Williams School.

Thalers thoughts:
Our community continues to amaze me in its steadfast support for our
mission. This record breaking Art Auction helps ensure that our families
continue to receive the services and support they need as we work
together to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.

FAMILY MATTERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2016-2017

Kim Simon Fink

Chairman
Community Leader

Nicole J. Harrell, Esq.

Partner
Kaufman & Canoles

Jane Short
Vice Chairman
Senior Vice President/
Private Client Advisor
U.S. Trust

Trish Jones
Community Leader

Chuck T. Saunders, CPA

Treasurer
Managing Member
Saunders, Matthews &
Pfitzner, PLLC, Certified Public
Accountants
Thaler McCormick
Corporate Secretary
Chief Executive Officer
ForKids, Inc.
Laura Calvert
Senior Vice President
Old Point National Bank

Rozalyn B. Klein
Proprietor
Baa Baa Sheep, LLC
Duff McDuffie
Associate
Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc
William Milsap
Verizon Wireless
Charlene A. Morring, Esq.
Partner & Attorney
Montagna Klein Camden, LLP

Marty Einhorn, CPA

Managing Shareholder
Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer, P.C.

Lloyd Taliaferro
Chief Financial Officer
U.S. Waterways Transportation

Howard E. Gordon, Esq.

Partner
Williams Mullen

Dr. Christine Tina Truman

Psychiatrist
Finney-Zimmerman Psychiatric
Associates

Owen Griffin
Partner
Madison Hill Partners
Anne-Randolph B. Harrell
President
Without a Hitch

10

FAMILY MATTERS

KIM FINK

Ed Kimple
Senior Vice President
Cushman & Wakefield |
Thalhimer

Vincent A. Pilato, P.E.

Lisa F. Chandler
Owner
Executive Vice President
Robert W. Hayes Company, Inc.
Nancy Chandler Associates, Inc.
Rob Poellnitz
Rick Clarke
President B2B
President
SteelMaster Buildings
Management Consulting, Inc.
Elaine Smith
MANCON
Community Leader
Lee Cross
Kelly Sokol
Associate Broker
Writer
Cross Realty

Keith P. Grant
Owner
C2K Properties

BOARD SPOTLIGHT

Michael J. Veraldi
Owner & President
HM Equity Management, LLC
Tom Walker
President
WebTeks
G. Randolph Webb, Jr.
President & CEO
Signature

Voted "Most Likely to Accost a Complete Stranger In Support of

ForKids" at this years Volunteer Awards!

ForKids Board member since:

2010
Lives in: Norfolk
Family: "Finks Five"
Husband- Andrew Fink
Children- Simon, 26
Dustin, 24
Erica, 21
Pets- Ginger-the-dog, 133 (but doesn't
look a day over 16).
Alma mater(s): Brandeis University, BS & BA
Boston University, MA
Hobbies: Anything outdoors - long
distance biking, skiing, kayaking, hiking...
community involvement, of course.
Favorite ForKids memory? My first and
one of my favorite ForKids memory
was actually day one with my daughter
seeking community service at ForKids. The
volunteer coordinator was infectiously
engaging. We both fell in love with her and
then ForKids. Seems she communicated
the FK brand I've come to love, respect and
share with pride.
What drives your passion for giving back
to the community & for ForKids? As I've
been heard to "crow" time and again,
ForKids, from staff to board, is the most
effective and efficient organization I've ever
had the pleasure to work with. Their model
and brand of execution, their "hand-up not
hand-out" approach to helping families get
the stable footing they need to move up
and out of homelessness is incomparable.

HONORS & MEMORIALS

In Honor of Mark & Katherine
Achtemeier
Marie Finch
In Memory of Drs. Paul & Betty
Achtemeier
Eric & Jane Alden

In Honor of Mark Dreyfus' 60th

Birthday
Todd Copeland
Wayne Goodman
Matthew Hurni
Ed Reed

In Honor of the Ashby's

Wedding
Denise & Corran Ashby
Francisco Dominguez
James Renfro
Michelle Bach

In Honor of Marty Einhorn

Wendy & Ron Brodsky

In Honor of Bob Aston

Susan & Vince Pilato

In Honor of Marie A. Finch

Gino & Grace Colombara
Mary & Warren Finch

In Honor of Karen Balint &

Katherine (Cookie) Boyd's
Marriage
Suzanne & Jonathan Allen
In Honor of Amie, Barrett, & MJ
Blaschke
Edward & Janis Weisberg
In Honor of Annette & Jerry
Blaschke
Edward & Janis Weisberg
In Honor of Aaron Brittian
Faye Pierce Sims
In Honor of Joan Brock
Robert & Janice Dardenne
Ann Davis
Elizabeth Farley
Betty L. Moritz
Cathryn Parker
In Honor of Lisa Chandler
Sally Hartman
In Honor of My Family
Jose Chocono
In Memory of Peter Coe
John & Julia Curtis
In Honor of Lisa, Joel, Ayden &
Brian Cohn
Edward & Janis Weisberg
In Honor of Shirley Cook
Katie Cook
In Honor of Samantha
Coleman & Scott Slaven
Joyce & Dale Mallory
In Memory of James Dally
Jane Lego
In Honor of Mr. & Mrs. Ricky
Dobbins' Vow Renewal
Penny Dickson
Joan Wilson
In Memory of Janet F. Dexter
Stephen & Deborah Dexter

In Honor of Ann Fallon

Kevin Pyle
In Honor of Mary D. Finch
Marie Finch

In Honor of Kim Fink

Frederick Napolitano
Kathi Paul
Lorraine Fink
In Honor of The Honorable &
Mrs. Fraim
Edward & Janis Weisberg
In Memory of Rowena
Fullinwider
Peter Fullinwider
In Memory of Mom
Beth Garrett

Linda & Larry Roesen

Ilene & Mark Snyder
In Honor of Dianna L'Heureux
Delia Johnson
In Honor of Penny Lewis
Jennifer Morris
In Honor of Douglas McClure
Stephen & Deborah Dexter
In Honor of Thaler McCormick
Richard & Elizabeth Gray

In Honor of Dad & Bonnie

Daniel Sammons

In Honor of Alley Moore

Helen Moore

In Honor of Jane Short

Katherine Rivers

In Honor of Emma Moore

Sheilah Norwood

In Honor of Tom Shadrick

David & Christine Beatty

In Honor of Betty Moritz's

Birthday
Joan & Macon Brock
Robert & Janice Dardenne
Ann Davis
Elizabaeth Farley
Cathryn Parker
Sam & Priscilla Roady

In Honor of Millie Snider

M Ruth Snider

In Honor of Nancy Nale

Sally Riley

In Memory of Chuck & Joan

Gifford
Francine Deir

In Honor of Mr. & Mrs Jereme

Nemeth's Wedding
Anonymous

In Honor of Sandra Gomez

Michael & Rosemary Gomez

In Honor of Rachel Newnam

Scott Crissman

In Honor of Ruby Greninger

Mindy Greninger

In Honor of Ann Paluda

Philip & Ann Stephens

In Honor of Barbara Hall

John & Sharon Newhard
Trustee Mary K. Reynolds
Alan Sonner

In Honor of Coworkers at PC&A

Business Environments
Tom & Mary Swanson

In Memory of
Jean Robert Kendall
Marjorie Feldman
Rita Frank
Judith & Martin Freedman
Bob & Meryl Kessler
Sherry & Steve Liberman
Richard Massey
Mark & Marilyn Nataupsky
Judy Oppenheim
Rochelle Portnoy

In Honor of Evan & Julia Robb

Bevin Padden

In Honor of Valerie Shaw's 60th

Birthday
Tammy Lindquist

In Memory of Violet Nale

Brian Keubler
Nancy Nale

In Honor of Manuco Hidalgo's

80th birthday
Ethel-Raye Greenspan
Michael & Natalie Steiner

In Honor of Kit Reynolds

Barbara Hall

In Honor of Michelle McRae

Lane Brown

In Memory of Carlisle Gatje

Peggy Gatje

In Honor of Kelsey Hannifin

Pat Hannifin

In Honor of Poquoson High

School Basketball Team
Anonymous

In Memory of Kathleen Pearce

Jim Wardell
In Honor of David &
Bonnie Peters
Dee Peters
In Honor of Larry & Marion
Philbrick
Tracy & Edwin Truman
In Honor of Sam Pilato
Donna Counts
In Honor of Vince Pilato
John Barrett
In Honor of Gerald Pributsky's
90th Birthday
Lorraine Fink

In Memory of Mollie Snow

Susan Burnett
In Honor of Alan Sonner
Al Frioni
Barbara Hall
In Memory of Fred Stern
John & Karen Hollinger
In Honor of Cecelia & Peter
Sturm
Tracy & Edwin Truman
In Honor of Lisa Suhay
Michael & Andria McClellan
Linda Kaufman
In Honor of Alma Taylor
Sharon McGlone
In Honor of Mark Tarin
Kari Stuart
In Honor of Sloane Usdan
Michelle Rosenthal
Roberta Schwartz
In Honor of Sabitha Venkatesh
Kimberley Thompson
In Honor of LeOtis Williams
Lee Cross
In Honor of Chuck & Andrea
Wistar
Nancy Maloy
In Honor of Bill Young
Molly Mabe
In Honor of Family & Friends
Neil & Patricia Walsh

*Donations made
12/2015 - 05/2016

FAMILY MATTERS

11

NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PO Box 6044
The Finch Center
4200 Colley Ave., Suite A
Norfolk, VA 23508
TEL: (757) 622-6400 | FAX: (757) 622-3837
WEB: ForKidsVA.org

2016 Summer
Newsletter!
+ Good Mojo
Coupon inside!

NORFOLK, VA
PERMIT NO.2036