hephzibah annual report children’s association 2013-2014 “ ...places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike.” EvERYbODY NEEDS bEAUTY — J ohn Muir , naturalist and author (1838-1914) Dear Friend of Hephzibah, “THERE IS SOMETHING INFINITELY HEALING IN THE REPEATED REFRAIN OF these broken family bonds, Hephzibah founded 49 NATURE — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” an annual sibling camp that reunites brothers Number of neglected and These words were written half a century ago by naturalist Rachel Carson. Yet and sisters living in different group, foster or abused children who found they still resonate today, perhaps because so many of us are suffering from a “nature adoptive homes. In FY14, 56 children reunited a safe haven in our deficit.” Urbanization, the rise of technology and a fear of “stranger danger” have all with their siblings at this rustic overnight camp diagnostic treatment center conspired to drive us indoors and away from the natural world. in northern Illinois and created shared memories and residence Just breathing in the oxygen created by plants and trees or watching a butterfly that will last a lifetime. alight on a flower makes us feel more optimistic, alert and alive. Studies show that Meanwhile, teens from our Foster care program were having a different a connection with nature promotes physical and mental well-being — and makes us kind of camp experience at camp old navy. This partnership between Gap, Inc. kinder and more caring as our values shift from a focus on personal gain to a deeper and local youth organizations brings disadvantaged teens into Old Navy stores connection with the world around us. for a half-day vocational prep program that helps them develop job readiness LEFT: Executive Director Mary Anne brown, board President Eric Sorensen and some young Nature’s healing influences are especially important for the children living in skills and explore career opportunities. friends from Hephzibah’s Day Care program, surrounded by nature’s bounty in the new Alex our group homes — children who have been severely traumatized by neglect, abuse, We also nurtured and enriched more than 600 children from diverse Anderson Memorial Garden at Hephzibah Home. abandonment, disrupted adoptions and multiple failed foster care placements. socioeconomic backgrounds through hephzibah’s nationally recognized day 35 In FY14, these young survivors of neglect and abuse experienced the healing care program. Last year, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of this award- power of nature firsthand — thanks to a committed group of garden lovers who winning program, which began with 12 school-aged children in 1974. Since that Number of garden created the alex anderson Memorial Garden at Hephzibah Home. We hope you’ll time, generations have benefited from our innovative Day Care curriculum, lovers who gave turn to page four of our report to learn more about this living tribute to the gentle, including award-winning Chicago Tribune editorial cartoonist Joe Fournier and $262,000 for educational programming during the second year of their enhanced our presence in social media, added a Foster Fridays section to our generously of their nurturing nature of the late Alex Anderson, a beloved and sorely missed former time, energy and Faith Cole, who is continuing the tradition of helping children achieve their two-year commitment to Hephzibah and spent countless hours engaged in Facebook page to recruit more foster parents and launched an endowment member of our Day Care team. full potential as principal of Oak Park’s Horace Mann Elementary School. Our 47 service projects to enhance the lives of the children in our group homes. A campaign to sustain Hephzibah’s services for the children and families of talent to create As the children in our group homes were nurtured by nature in their new garden, the Alex Anderson waiting list for this critically important community resource, which provides Number of community team of volunteers from ecolab, a new corporate partner, deep cleaned the tomorrow. they also reaped the rewards of many other opportunities for growth, healing and Memorial Garden at high-quality day care services on a sliding scale after school and during the and corporate partners kitchen at Hephzibah Home during the winter holidays and returned in the We hope you will take a few moments to browse through this report to learn enrichment. We kicked off the second year of our one Book, one hephzibah summer Hephzibah Home. summer months, has grown so long that we could easily double our enrollment. that enhanced the lives of spring to inspire and amaze our children with a dazzling array of chemistry more about the many ways that our benefactors, boards, staff, corporate and reading program with the children’s book “Jack’s Garden,” a tale about a boy who We formed a special committee in FY14 to study the feasibility of finding Hephzibah’s children with experiments. the neighborhood Giving Project, a new community partner, community partners and volunteers helped children thrive and families flourish plants a garden and watches it grow. We expanded our technology Program, which additional day care space to accommodate more children of working parents. vital support and services inspired our children to be better citizens of the world with hands-on throughout the fiscal year. pairs our children with volunteer Technology Mentors who teach them the skills Once again in FY14, our community service projects such as making dog and cat toys and treats for Thank you for your generous support! they’ll need to become tech-savvy citizens of the digital age. corporate and community partners the homeless pets at the Animal Care League and Earth Day conservation It’s a heartbreaking reality that 75 percent of all neglected and abused children stepped forward to provide activities. are separated from one or more of their siblings when they enter the child welfare invaluable service and support for As the need for our services continues to grow, our staff has been system. The effects of this separation can be devastating for children who are already our mission. The members of the working diligently behind the scenes to raise awareness of Hephzibah’s Mary Anne brown Eric Sorensen mourning the loss of their parents, their peers and their communities. To help mend hinsdale Junior Woman’s club raised mission and generate critically needed support for our programs. We Executive Director Board President 2 | Hephzibah Children’s Association 2014 Annual Report | 3 Tomatoes harvested from our garden were donated to the Oak Root-Riot cofounder Seamus Ford Park River Forest Food (below) measured for a garden Pantry to feed people fence in April 2014. in need. healthier choices, happier lives at your peas. Drink your milk. brush your teeth. eMost of us remember the constant nudging from our parents to eat well and practice good habits and hygiene. but many of the children living in our group homes—who have changing lives been removed from unhealthy through music: A new home environments where they partnership with the endured neglect or abuse—do The Alex Anderson Memorial Garden School of Rock in Oak not have healthy lifestyle habits Park gives every child D A or healthy relationships with their a community unites to create a healing oasis at h ephzibah home v in our group homes ID K bodies. To empower them to make The Road to INDLER an opportunity to be a positive choices, the medical staff tudies havE shown that children’S stress The group spent several chilly spring weekends building fences rock star. Generosity Makes at the West suburban Medical levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces — and and preparing the garden beds under the guidance of Root-Riot our Garden Grow center conducted a healthy living that immersion in the natural world can be as effective as cofounders amy Beltemacchi and seamus Ford. Oak Park River Independence Oak Park-River Forest Program at Hephzibah, with medication or therapy in treating depression and anxiety. Yet Forest Food Pantry Executive Director Michele Zurakowski pitched hen teens “age out” of foster care, state services such as Inspiring Kids to ROCK Community Foundation sessions devoted to topics such as Smany of the traumatized children we serve have never taken a walk in with other food pantry volunteers, while Dominican University housing, food, medical care and caseworker support abruptly cease— Leadership Team members Getting to Know Your Body, Your in the woods, canoed down a quiet river or planted a garden and administrator Kathleen Mullaney and Oak Park-River Forest (above, l-r) Hephzibah and these vulnerable young people are left to fend for themselves on Stage and in Life Body and Exercise, Healthy Eating watched it grow. Community Foundation Donor and Grants Officer rhea Yapp dug Development Director in a complex and often confusing world. The road to self-reliance is and General Hygiene, as well as In September 2013, Hephzibah Development Director Molly in with an enthusiastic group of university students. Together, they Molly Philosophos, Oak Wriddled with challenges that range from filling out job applications to budgeting for ow do you make young survIvors of neglect and abuse feel like age-appropriate sex education. Philosophos decided that it was time to harness the healing power hauled in fresh soil and mulch, tucked young plants donated by Park River Forest Food daily necessities to navigating the college search and application process. rock stars? by sending them to Oak Park’s school of rock—a new community We’re grateful to West Suburban of nature for these traumatized children by building a community Root-Riot and hoy landscaping into their garden beds and taught Pantry Executive Director To help Hephzibah foster teens make a successful transition to adulthood, partner that is using music to inspire and empower the children living in our Medical Center for giving our garden at Hephzibah Home.