recordrecordTheThe GrahamGraham WindhamWindham VolumeVolume 3941 Spring/SummerSeptember 20112012 TTheHE GGrahamRAHAM WWindhamINDHAM recordrecordServing Children, Supporting Families, and Strengthening Communities Since 1806 A Promise to Keyveon www.graham-windham.org facebook.com/graham.windham Twitter handle: @grahamwindham LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT A Commitment to the Journey A message from Jess Dannhauser, GRAHAM WINDHAM PRESIDENT ommitment to something bigger start in life experience the consistent Cthan ourselves is at the root of love of a permanent, nurturing family what happens every day at Graham and the joyful accomplishment of Windham. Examples abound: a success in school and life. parent, despite past mistakes, decides As an organization, our that generational cycles of abuse will commitment is to build solutions with stop with her; a young person decides children and families that endure. to spend his time intensively learning To do so, we believe it is essential how to put his leadership skills to not only to work with rigor and productive use rather than having heart, but also to routinely measure We are honored by this recognition. his freedom curtailed for using them our effectiveness, learn from our Still, sometimes what we learn from the wrong way; a staff person works performance, and act on that learning evaluating ourselves is hard to hear: tirelessly to find a young man’s family to continue to increase the likelihood we don’t get it right every time. We from whom he was separated years that we can make a critical and life keep at it though, taking our lumps ago in a remote village half way across altering difference for children and because we know that’s what it takes the globe so that he again knows his families. Graham Windham’s self- to improve our practices and get even family’s loving embrace. The list goes evaluation practices were recently stronger as an organization. But we on, I assure you. also take a hard look at ourselves We have seen the same "Beyond helping because that is what we ask young commitment from friends like you in children, youth and people and parents who have endured the community, who have generously incredible stress and trauma to do dedicated time and resources to families through when they work with us to create the children and families we serve. needed change, we new habits that promote safe, healthy Many of you attended our Leadership must facilitate or family lives and success in school and Council Celebration Dinner at the beyond. Museum of Modern Art this spring, create access to It would be a mistake to stop there. helping us raise over $1.3 million real opportunity for Beyond helping children, youth and toward vitally needed services. them to capitalize families through needed change, we Employees of companies like Viacom must facilitate or create access to real and Penguin Books volunteered on these inspiring opportunity for them to capitalize this summer to paint a mural at individual and family on these inspiring individual and our Harlem after-school center and transformations." family transformations. Young people give books to children at our Bronx who are in the midst of overcoming and Brooklyn sites. And, over 100 massive obstacles are most deserving people supported a 100-mile bike highlighted in an article by the well- and in need of access to excellent race through Texas that my brother known non-profit consulting group, schools, employment opportunities and I undertook, helping us raise over Bridgespan, as a leading example of and career preparation, college $50,000 in August for our kids and excellent performance measurement support, and leadership training. families. We are grateful to everyone and accountability practices. (To see They also need to be surrounded by who has supported our work through the report, please visit our website positive peers and dependable adults these initiatives and many others. and, under "About Us", click on who teach them well, expect much of Through your contributions you are "Performance Culture/Outcomes".) them, and believe they can succeed. helping children who’ve had a tough At the end of December, CEO Poul Jensen, whose visionary leadership over the past 15 years transformed Graham Windham, will retire, passing the baton to President Jess Dannhauser to lead our team in achieving even greater outcomes for children and families. The coming months provide an opportunity for both leaders to reflect on our vision for the future, as well as the achievements and lessons of the past. Stayed tuned for words from both Poul and Jess in upcoming issues. 2 THE GRAHAM WINDHAM RECORD SEPTEMBER 2012 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT We intend over the next few financial support, they will become an 1806 FOUNDERS years, through our own program essential part of the Graham Windham Joanna Bethune Elizabeth Hamilton development and community community, impacting the lives of Isabella Graham Sarah Hoffman partnerships, to ensure that each of individual children, young people and the thousands of children and young families through a host of volunteer HONORARY TRUSTEES people with whom we work has access events and programs. Arthur Ashe † Wynton Marsalis to these essential opportunities and If you are interested in having Joan Ganz Cooney Jim Henson † support systems. We know how to do your organization become a Corporate Oscar de la Renta it well; we are doing it now in Bedford- Champion for Kids, please contact Harry Stuyvesant, Hunts Point, Harlem, and Berberian at 212-529-6445 ext. 353 or BOARD OF DIRECTORS Hastings-on-Hudson. Still, informed at [email protected]. Georgia Wall by our careful measurement of our You can also learn more at our website, ChairmaN effectiveness, we know we need to go www.graham-windham.org (click on R. Kenneth Bryant Jennifer Mackesy further to deepen and broaden our "Get Involved" and then "Be a Corporate Henry J. Carnage Andrew Makk attention to positive peer networks Champion for Kids"). John L. Cecil Barbara Marcus and opportunities for life preparation Thank you to each of you for Gail Cohen Heather McVeigh throughout all of our programs, living your support of the children and Sally E. Durdan Pamela C. Minetti out that part of our mission which families of Graham Windham. If you Fran Eigendorff Carmen Paolercio forever commits us to seeing to it are considering joining us on this Eric Gerster Salim Ramji that every child with whom we work important journey, know that it will Michael Golden Richard Rothman, Esq. succeeds in school and life. have an enormous impact. I am also Dr. Tom Haines Mark Rufeh As you know, it will take all of us sure that you will find as much joy in Jessica Hunt John Sargent as a community, lifting together, to it as I do. André Koester Dr. Eyal Shemesh realize this dream in full. To that end, Shamika Lee Melissa M. Thomson we are excited to announce a new way Gratefully, Poul Jensen for businesses in our community to CHIEF EXECUTIVE Officer become a part of the Graham Windham Jess Dannhauser family. This fall, we are launching presideNT our new Corporate Champions for Kids program. Corporate Champions TRUSTEES EMERITI will not only help fuel the realization Jess Michael Ainslie Elizabeth Sargent of our common dreams through Suzanne Ainslie Harriet Savage Suzy Bales Diane Schlinkert Barbara Carr Leo Schlinkert Richard DeMartini Richard Stewart Robert Ferrari Sandra Trim-DaCosta James Gorman H. M. Baird Voorhis John C. Hanson HONOREES Michael Ainslie Marian Sulzberger Heiskell Arthur Ashe † Jim Henson † Mrs. Vincent Astor † Charlayne Hunter-Gault Suzy Bales Judith Jamison Dr. T. Berry Brazelton Chancellor Joel I. Klein Ruby Bridges Kenneth Lewis Joan Ganz Cooney Wynton Marsalis Oscar de la Renta Cokie Roberts Michael Golden John Sargent James Gorman Maurice Sendak † Donna Hanover VOLUME 41 THE GRAHAM WINDHAM RECORD 3 HOMECOMINGS A Promise to Keyveon How one child found his forever family isa and Kent were looking for a child to call their own, while Keyveon, who had been in foster care with Graham LWindham, was looking for the right family. The day they met is one they will always remember. “The first time Lisa saw Keyveon, she had tears in her eyes,” said Amrita Raju, our Adoption Expeditor, recalling how Lisa took off her sunglasses to wipe her eyes. Lisa, who had come with Kent to Central Park to spend some time getting to know Keyveon, remembers, “I bent down to meet him and he said, ‘I’m kind of shy.’ I told him, ‘That’s ok – I’m shy too.’ I took his hand and by the time we got to the bottom of the park, I was convinced that he was my child.” Lisa and Kent had first learned of Keyveon through the New York Council on Adoptable Children (COAC), an adoption service agency that helps to place children in the foster care system with permanent, loving families. Amrita Raju, our Adoption Expeditor, had come to COAC as an outreach effort to find families for children in foster care with Graham Windham, for whom we had determined that adoption was the best option. As Amrita began to tell the group of prospective parents about a six-year-old boy named Keyveon, Lisa and Kent told her – even before she could finish the narrative – “We’d like to talk with you.” “They were so ready to be parents,” said Amrita. Lisa and Kent had been longing for a child, and immediately felt that Keyveon would be the one. Amrita carefully read the home study that had been put together, providing more background on the type of environment and upbringing Lisa and Kent might be able to give a child.