We’ll Always Have Paris – at the Healing Hearts Gala

[photo by Larry Bugen]

Escape to the Golden Age of France in the ’20s, and join us for “An Evening in Paris” on Saturday, February 23^rd. The 2^nd Annual Healing Hearts Gala benefits the children in residential treatment at Krause Children’s Center in Katy. The venue for the event is the beautifully restored Julia Ideson Building in downtown Houston. If Gatsby lived in present-day Houston, this is where he would throw his parties; the lost generation of writers and Left Bank artists would feel right at home here. If you saw Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, you get the picture!

At this sizzling soiree you can dine on haute cuisine, peruse the art gallery, and enjoy cocktails while bidding on over 80 dazzling auction items. We’ll have live music and if you feel like breaking into a Charleston,* well that’s okay too.

But the night is really about the children who reside at Krause, our long-term residential treatment center for abused and troubled boys and girls, ages 11 to 17. The kids are referred or placed at Krause by Child Protective Services and the Department of Juvenile Justice, and stay with us an average of six to nine months. At Krause, these troubled young lives begin to heal, through intensive clinical therapy, academics, personal development activities, and spiritual care. Hand-painted artwork by the Krause kids is included in the silent auction at the gala.

Please plan to join us – especially if you live in or near Houston – for “An Evening in Paris,” and support the deserving children who call Krause home. Click here to reserve your spot today. The price of an individual admission is $50.  If you cannot attend but still wish to donate, click here.

February 23^rd will be a night to remember. ‘Til then, adieu and au revoir!

* The basic Charleston goes something like this: toes-in, heels-out, pivot one foot and kick the other, then reverse it.

Important Message From Our CEO

Dear Friends of LSS,

You may have read or heard about a negative article regarding LSS’s foster care program that appeared in the Austin American-Statesman on August 14^th.

Please understand that we are very disappointed that it tells such a limited story. In a foster care program the size of ours data can be read and interpreted in various ways. Our foster care program serves the most challenging children, and we successfully provide quality Christian care to those with histories of the most severe abuse and neglect in Texas.

It has been known for some time that a child died in a horrific swimming pool accident in Laredo earlier this year at the home of one of our foster families. This family has been a great foster family for LSS for the past five years. There was no indication during their five-year tenure that something like this could happen. From what we know, this was a freak, tragic accident that sadly could occur in any family home.

As with any news article such as this one,  there is obviously more to the story, and we are in regular communication with the Commissioner of DFPS and others.

We have great confidence in our foster care program, and serving in the best interest of the children and families always comes first. We remain proud of our staff and families, as day-in and day-out we continue to serve the least of these. This is our mission that began in 1926 and will continue today, tomorrow, and for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kurt Senske, Chief Executive Officer

Mark Etheredge & Evan Moilan Join Lutheran Social Services Board

Mark Etheredge of Fort Worth and Evan Moilan of Bastrop have been elected to the Lutheran Social Services of the South (LSS) Board of Directors.

LSS provides foster care and adoption services through the agency’s 15 offices throughout Texas, and operates two children’s residential treatment centers, one emergency refugee children’s shelter, six senior living communities, emergency assistance in the Lubbock area, and help and support for hurricane and disaster victims.

Etheredge is a senior vice president at Nationstar Mortgage and focuses on business intelligence and data services. He is a finance and information technology professional with more than 18 years experience of financial, technology, and project management experience. He has worked extensively in the industrial products, high technology, financial services and consumer foods industries, and has held positions ranging from director of Consulting Services to chief financial officer.

Moilan is the Chief Executive Officer of the Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest, an organization that manages the financial assets of its Lutheran partnerships. His background includes serving as a Philanthropic Advisor for Lutheran World Relief, Executive Director of Lutherhill Ministries, and Vice President of the TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod.

Selection for the LSS Board is based on demonstrated interest, expertise, and involvement in serving LSS through its social ministries, and carrying out its mission of providing help, healing, and hope to those in need, regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender, or age.

Wii Bowlers are Top Dogs at VGF

The third annual “Wii Top Dog Bowling Tournament” at The Village at Gleannloch Farms (VGF) drew a crowd of more than 50. “More than 50” would describe (in an understated way) the age of the winning team, as the senior residents took on the staff and whupped them for the third year running.

The residents’ Wii bowling coach and leader is 94-year-old Dan Morford, who brought the game along with his enthusiasm to VGF in 2006. [That’s Morford pictured above on the right, with rival Tab Werner, head of health services at VGF.] Blindness in one eye hasn’t stopped Morford, who touts the benefits of the game as a way to sharpen skills such as balance and concentration.

“Once I got a few people interested, it spread like wildfire,” said Morford. “It’s like any other game of skill, it adds to your enthusiasm.” Each team had 16 members but 25 residents purchased team shirts, with the slogan “Very Good Friends” (VGF, get it?) printed on the front.

Morford has experience with “actual bowling,” having taken up the game playing on a team in El Paso after he retired from the education field. He was a teacher, a counselor, an assistant principal and a principal. Now he can add “Wii bowling coach” to his resume.

VGF residents and staff were in agreement that the bowling tourney is not entirely about the score … it’s for the fun of it. Morford and some of his teammates practice the game whenever they have time to spare. No doubt about it, Wii bowling is right up their alley!

ABOUT THE VILLAGE AT GLEANNLOCH FARMS
Sponsored and owned by LSS, The Village at Gleannloch Farms is a not-for-profit community offering 123 independent living apartments and cottages for active adults aged 62 and above. In addition, the community offers a continuum of care including 30 assisted living apartments, 18 memory support residences, and 35 private skilled nursing suites.

Are You Ready for some BASEBALL? Get Texas Rangers tickets at a discount and support LSS Foster In Texas!

Here’s a home-run of a deal for you: You can choose from over 20 home games, in any section, and receive up to a 50% discount on your tickets for games from April 27 through September 26 (see below for schedule)*. The Rangers will donate $5 from each ticket to our Foster In Texas program. What a great double-play … you’ll be helping children in need and having fun watching the American League Champions knock the cover off the ball.

Want to go to bat for the kids? Here’s how you do it:

1. Click HERE to visit our page on the Texas Rangers website.
2. Scroll toward the bottom and enter in our password: rangerslss
3. View the schedule and click on the “T” to purchase tickets
4. Select your seats and number of tickets.
5. Enter in your credit card information on their secure form and print your tickets!

Making a donation has never been easier… or more fun! See the schedule below for available games and be sure to get your tickets early. Contact Kristy Simpson at 800-938-5777 or Kristy.Simpson@LSSS.org if you have any questions.

* Game Schedule:

Friday, April 27th vs. Rays – 7:05
Post-Game Fireworks Show

Sunday, April 29th vs. Rays – 7:05
Snapple Napoli Red Jersey (First 10,000, 13 & under)

Friday, May 11th vs. Angels – 7:05
Post-Game Fireworks Show

Sunday, May 13th vs. Angels – 7:05
JCPenney Mother’s Day Pink Retro T-Shirt (First 25,000, 14 & older)

Wednesday, May 16th vs. A’s – 7:05
Dollar Hot Dog Night, Dr. Pepper Autograph Wednesday

Saturday, May 26th vs. Blue Jays – 2:05
Casting Crowns Post-Game Concert

Wednesday, May 30th vs. Mariners – 7:05
Dollar Hot Dog Night, Dr. Pepper Autograph Wednesday

Wednesday, June 13th vs. Diamondbacks – 7:05
Dollar Hot Dog Night, Dr. Pepper Autograph Wednesday (13 & under)

Sunday, June 17th vs. Astros – 2:05
Hamilton BBQ Apron (First 25,000, 14 & older)

Sunday, June 24th vs. Rockies – 6:05
Texas Beach Towel (First 10,000, 13 & under)

Sunday, July 1st vs. A’s – 6:05

Saturday, July 7th vs. Twins – 6:15
Coca-Cola Rangers 40th Anniversary Mug (First 30,000)

Friday, July 27th vs. White Sox – 7:05
Post-Game Fireworks Show

Saturday, July 28th vs. White Sox – 7:05

Wednesday, August 1st vs. Angels – 7:05
Dollar Hot Dog Night, Dr. Pepper Autograph Wednesday (13 & under)

Friday, August 10th vs. Tigers – 7:05
Post-Game Fireworks Show

Saturday, August 25th vs. Twins – 3:05
Washington Bobblehead (First 30,000)

Sunday, August 26th vs. Twins – 2:05

Wednesday, August 29th vs. Rays – 7:05
Dollar Hot Dog Night, Dr. Pepper Autograph Wednesday (13 & under)

Wednesday, September 12th vs. Indians – 7:05
Dollar Hot Dog Night, Dr. Pepper Autograph Wednesday

Saturday, September 15th vs. Mariners – 7:05

Wednesday, September 26th vs. A’s – 7:05
Dollar Hot Dog Night, Dr. Pepper Autograph Wednesday

Party With a Purpose: Celebrate MOMS & Help Children in Need

May 13^th is Mother’s Day.What a great excuse to get together for some fun and games while honoring our own mothers and the amazing women in our lives.

If you already gather with neighbors and friends for regular meet-ups such as book clubs, bunco groups, poker nights, tennis teams, Bible studies, or bridge groups, you are half-way there! These opportunities are custom-made to pay it forward and do some “fun-raising” for children in crisis, while honoring moms everywhere. The date of the event is entirely up to you; your get-together does not have to be held prior to Mother’s Day.

If the children of LSS are a cause you believe in, inspire your friends to join in and help out – by hosting a party or by taking a few moments at your regular monthly get-togethers to share the plight and hope of these children. We call them the “Children of Promise.” They are the abandoned, abused, and neglected children served by LSS – very few of whom had caring mothers of their own.

In 2011 alone they were:

· The 1,871 children provided foster care in 16 communities across Texas;

· 500 children who had been severely abused or neglected and received help at LSS residential treatment centers;

· 444 unaccompanied child refugees served at Bokenkamp Emergency Shelter in Corpus Christi, and 184 in foster homes in El Paso.

· 148 Texas children adopted through our domestic adoption program, and 52 children adopted through the international program; 

· 31 youth aging out of the foster care system in a pilot program in New Orleans.

Please encourage everyone you know to make a donation to support the “Children of Promise.” Collect the donations at your party or gathering and send them to:

Mother’s Day Celebration

c/o Lutheran Social Services

PO BOX 140767

Austin, TX 78714

You can also spread the love by sending an e-card or making a donation online.

Now let’s get this party started … Get your group inspired to help, raise a glass, and celebrate the spirit of Mother’s Day!

Contact Susan Rang if you have questions: susan.rang@lsss.org; 512-706-7512 or 800-938-5777 ext 7512

Volunteers: Thanks for all you do!

“Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience and just plain love for another.” – Erma Bombeck

This week of April 15-21 is National Volunteer Week 2012. In President Obama’s presidential proclamation to kick off the week, he cited the more than half a million hours of volunteer service that followed the devastating tornadoes in Joplin Missouri.

At LSS, our own volunteer stats are pretty impressive too: In 2011 alone, 9,430 volunteers made life better for the young victims of abuse and neglect residing at New Life, Krause, and Bokenkamp, our children’s treatment facilities. We know that volunteers will get involved when a cause is close to their hearts, and at LSS that often involves troubled children.

Our volunteers go above and beyond to help kids in crisis every day. Chicktime, we’re talking about you! Gala and golf committee members, this means you! Church and service-driven youth groups, three cheers for you!

The Central Texas wildfires last fall inspired so many in-the-trenches volunteers, who helped LSS Disaster Response during and following the fires in and around Bastrop. Haylift to Texas volunteers pitched in (and are still pitching in) to help the ranchers affected by these fires and the drought feed their livestock.

At this moment in time, this week, we want to celebrate and shine the spotlight on our volunteers. They are the ones who have quietly taken action to improve the lives of others through service.

Volunteers, know that we honor and appreciate you – not just this National Volunteer Week, but every day of the year.

LSS Adoption Story Close to Home

As a pioneer in international adoption and open adoption, “Lutheran Social Services” is synonymous with adoption to much of the general public. This is not surprising since our agency has found adoptive homes for well over 7,400 children over the years.

The following story is written by Dana Heine, who has been the LSS paralegal and executive assistant to CEO Dr. Kurt Senske since 2010. [Note: her adoption of MaKenna took place in August, 2006.]

Like most couples going through infertility, we went through years of agonizing fertility treatments. After many failed attempts we decided that God had other plans for us. We heard about Lutheran Social Services of the South (LSS) through family and doctors. We called and spoke to a social worker. She answered all of our questions and we actually felt as though she truly had our, as well as the birthparent’s, best interests at heart.

After six months we were presented with an opportunity to adopt but unfortunately, the adoption fell through. The social worker reassured us not to worry, that the right situation would come along. She was right. I remember the day we received the call from Andrea our social worker. It was a little girl and she weighed 8 lbs 1 oz. We named her MaKenna.

We were amazed how smooth the adoption went. Our experience with LSS was as stress-free as it could possibly be, which allowed us to enjoy the miracle of adoption.

We will always remember what MaKenna’s birthparents did for us. We cannot imagine how overwhelming it must have been for them to choose adoption. We realize that the decision that they made took so much courage. They entrusted us with the most precious gift…a child. We truly admire them and thank them from the bottom of our hearts for giving us the opportunity to fulfill our lifelong dreams of becoming a mom and a dad.

Thank you LSS, for the joy you helped bring into our lives. MaKenna is so full of life and remains the light of our world. Some say that MaKenna is lucky to have us as her parents, but the truth is we are the lucky ones.

Kevin Benz to Head LSS Board

Kevin Benz has been selected as Chairman of the Lutheran Social Services of the South (LSS)Board of Directors. Benz has served as a board member for LSS since 2005.

Currently, Kevin Benz is Editor-in-Chief of CultureMap Austin, a daily digital magazine covering issues of lifestyle and culture in Austin, Texas. Most of his career has been in broadcast journalism as an award-winning news photographer at KTBC-TV in Austin, then WRAL-TV  in Raleigh, North Carolina, and KPRC-TV in Houston. Benz returned to Austin and KTBC, where he became Assistant News Director. In 1999 he launched the 24-hour news channel, News 8 Austin, and was News Director there for more than 11 years. Under his guidance, News 8 Austin received national recognition and numerous awards.

Benz is the current Chairman of the Radio, Television, Digital News Association (formerly RTNDA) National Board, and recently served as Chairman of the Texas Associated Press Broadcaster’s Board of Directors.

 

The Hay Keeps Rollin’

A big thank you to those who supported the “Roll In The Hay” event at The Cotton Gin in Maxwell, TX, on February 12^th. The Haylift to Texas benefit raised money and awareness for the plight of ranchers struggling to feed their livestock after the drought and wildfires this past fall. The event successfully shined the national spotlight on this issue, giving it the widespread exposure it deserves. Even with the recent rain in Central Texas, the situation for these farmers and ranchers remains at a crisis level.

Fundraising efforts to mobilize donations and transport the hay are ongoing and include regular PSA announcements on country radio stations KASE 101 and KVET in Austin. Additional exposure has come through “Speaking of Horses,” a radio show out of Wisconsin hosted by renowned equine expert Wayne Williams.  Wayne attended the “Roll In the Hay” benefit and captured interviews of the participants, including World Champion bull rider Scott Mendes. Check out Wayne’s interviews and some of the bull-riding action here [Note: interviews start at about 1:45 minutes].

Please consider supporting Haylift to Texas by making a donation through www.lssdisasterresponse.org.

Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response (LSSDR) continues to help the wildfire victims rebuild their lives, and we recently received a $50,000 donation designated to address the ongoing unmet needs of the most vulnerable families and individuals whose homes were destroyed.