Christian Homes for Children is an organization dedicated to the mission of giving hope healing, and...
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Christian Homes for Children is an organization dedicated to the mission of giving hope healing, and comfort to abused and neglected children by providing
Christian Homes for Children is an organization dedicated to
the mission of giving hope healing, and comfort to abused and
neglected children by providing them with safe permanent homes of
love led by caring, compassionate parents. Christian Homes for
Children is a foster family support network of volunteers that
reaches out to elders and congregations from churches of Christ all
over the United States, individual members of the community, local
and national businesses as well as volunteer groups and asks them
to help erect and support homes dedicated solely to the relief of
suffering children.
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Our initial model erected homes of love for Christian foster
parents on church property. Then, as the need for additional homes
for abused children exceeded available CHFC funding, we began
direct fiscal support of community homes via a stipend that could
be used to supplement rent or mortgage obligations.
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A safe home of love, direct support by way of modest monthly
stipends, supplemental food and clothing, school supplies,
educational assistance, allowances for home repairs and some
furnishings, other direct monetary support for daily living
expenses as well as ongoing spiritual guidance demonstrates CHFCs
commitment to bolstering the success of each family unit. This
comprehensive and innovative approach to the care of abused
children ensures the longevity of our families, helps to prevent
parental burnout and offers our children a chance to experience
what often turns out to be a permanent placement.
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Annette B. Lee Annette B. Lee was a devoted Christian, wife,
mother, grandmother and aunt. A native Floridian, born in Saint
Petersburg, she spent her childhood in Saint Petersburg and
Blakely, Georgia. As a young adult, she married Greagus (Bubba)
Lee, Jr. and the couple moved to Boston, Massachusetts. After
spending several years in Boston, the young couple and their three
children moved to Florida. After relocating to South Florida Sister
Lee received her LPN license and subsequently worked as an LPN/Unit
Treatment and Rehabilitation Supervisor for the State of Florida
for thirty years prior to retiring in 1997. Words cannot express
the love and affection Sister Lee consistently demonstrated at
work, at home, in her community and to the members of her church
family. She was a spiritual, outgoing and fervent woman who
consistently and unselfishly gave of her time, talent and
resources. She was a faithful member of the Miami Gardens Church of
Christ who demonstrated her love for God by giving to others. She
worked tirelessly to visit the sick, cook for everyone and helped
others as needed. Sister Lee was a dedicated worker for the
Christian Homes for Children. She participated in the Annual
Walkathon and was among the highest fundraisers for this event.
Sister Lee will always be remembered for her art of giving and
sharing with others. Her motto, If I can help somebody as I travel
along, then my living will not be in vain is alive and well in this
years award recipients.
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Jessie Hilson From the very beginning, Jessie Hilson supported
our efforts to care for abused children in our care. Though cancer
had ravaged her body, she never complained. She was always the
first to offer encouraging words for a sermon preached in her
presence. She backed her words with deeds of kindness on behalf of
our children. She worked at every Yard Sale from the very first
one. On those days she would literally turn blue in the face and
would accept only a glass of water and an old straw hat to keep her
from passing out. While others might not be there, this widow of
limited means would give her best. One day, she quietly fell asleep
in her chair, which she had already agreed to donate to our
children along with her other of her treasures. She joins the list
of inspirational figures like those we read about in Gods word. See
the story of Dorcas in Acts 9:36-43.
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Lorine Hood If you ever visited the home of Lorine Hood, you
see the flowers and other plants that covered her entire yard.
Though legally blind for many years, Sister Hood raised her plants
by feeling them. When she learned of our program to provide same
homes for abused children in our community, she began to conduct
plant sales and donate all the proceeds to our children. At first,
she would have only have one plant sale each year. Then, because
the need was so great and the cause so worthy she began having two
plants sales each year. At the age of 92 and after hip replacement
surgeries, she finally had to quit doing the plant sales. However,
she did not cease to support and to encourage others to support our
labor of love. One of her sons, Larry served as an elder at the
Midway Road Church of Christ where we have a branch of the program.
Another of her sons, has provided matching funds (matching plant
sale proceeds) o build homes of love for our children. Not only are
children, but also those who knew her can rise up and call her
blessed. Truly she epitomizes the virtuous woman described in
Proverbs 31 for her price is far above rubies.
Slide 9
Year after year Paula Brown and the West Broward COC organize a
spectacular holiday party complete with a full course meal, arts
and crafts, gifts (specific to the wish of each child) as well as a
personal visit from a favorite childrens character.
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Earlier this year, Dian Adjamah spearheaded a VBS One Day
Summer Fun Camp cohosted by the Sunset COC complete with Bible
classes and a clothing and toy room where children could fill their
Bags of Blessings after enjoying aquatic adventures in the water
park.
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CHFC leadership reaches out to community partners and urges
them to share their resources with our families. Though holding
firmly to Christian principles, we encourage those around us to
join the fight to save abused children. Board Member, Joe Fernandez
and (CHFC) Administrative Assistant, Andrea Stanislas rejoice with
Partner, Andrew Kruppa and top staff of the prestigious law firm of
Squire Patton Boggs. The firm adopted one CHFC family for the 2013
holidays.
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Students from The Light Bible Club of the Henry H. Filer Middle
Community School in Hialeah, FL offer CHFC children an opportunity
to develop and nurture relationships outside the traditional
setting of the Sunday morning Bible study class. CHFC children
experience the love of Christ made manifest in the actions of
individuals with whom they can easily relate.
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Ms. Moss, Dade County Public School Teacher and leader of the
The Light Bible Club at Henry H. Filer Middle School, encourages
students from the Bible Club to form lasting relationships with
CHFC children via the spontaneous exchange of contact information.
We pray that as the children begin to interact with each other on a
regular basis, lasting bonds are formed that can endure through
adulthood.
Slide 14
CHFC along with its community partners hope to inspire a new
generation of volunteers and supporters through dedication and
perseverance.
Slide 15
Community partners (like the University of Miami Butler Center
for Service and Leadership & The Miami Foundation) have teamed
up with CHFC to help spread the message of the limitless spiritual
rewards available in a life of service to others.
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This young lady came to CHFC as a baby and is honored to bear
the name of Barbara as she is named for the spouse of Christian
Homes for Children founder, Dr. George Brown. She offers this video
in memory of her mother, Mrs. Doris Ramos. When I want to hear my
mothers voice, I listen to this.
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Yes, that is me, Luzecette. My extreme sensitivity to light,
sound, touch and color prompted my pediatrician to recommend the
use of a Tupperware dish at bath time rather than the sparkle and
splash infant bather my mother and father had purchased for me at
the time. My mother started crying at this picture of me, though
she says it is her favorite. It is my first pic free of all the
delicate respiratory equipment and wires needed for me to live. I
urged my mother not to cry. I assured her that this was the only
nude photo she was ever going to see of me in her lifetime. She
turned around, looked me right in the eyes, arched her eyebrows in
disbelief and kissed me! Can you believe that?
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Berta Torres (33 years), Rolando Ramos (20 years even after
losing his wife to cancer), Julia Wilcox (25 years, who adopted six
children, three of whom had biological parents who died of AIDS,
Leon & Ronda Engram (18 years) and Vonrick & Hazel Jack (
12 years). All of these wonderful parents have adopted at least one
child. Two of them have adopted six children including James &
Nellie Dassaw (25 years).
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1. Provide financial support Our work is supported entirely by
the generous support of caring individuals, churches and community
groups. We receive no state funding. Please take a brief moment to
write your check and mail it to CHFC at 12001 SW 72 nd Street
Miami, FL, 33183. Visit us online at
www.christianhomeforchildren.com or www.justgive.org. 2. Volunteer
Conscientious volunteers are responsible for much of the work at
Christian Homes for Children. Volunteers are need to serve on the
Advisory Council committee and represent Christian Homes for
Children at their respective congregations, help distribute event
flyers and other information about Christian Homes for Children,
sort and organize in- kind donations, participate in fundraising
events as volunteer cooks, servers, and attendants. We offer
community service hours for responsible high school students and
college students as well. 3. Become a foster parent The greatest
need abuse and children have is for a safe home with caring
compassionate parents. 4. Make in-kind donations You can donate
such items as gently worn childrens clothing, shoes and accessories
as well as computers, software, books or other household items that
are in good shape. 5. Spread the word Share your experiences
Christian Homes for Children and visit us online at
www.christianhomeforchildren.com or join us at
www.facebook.com/hope.tohurtingchildren. 6. Learn more For more
information about our program or to find out how you can get
involved, please call our office at 305-825-0517 or
386-615-4552.
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Extra Mile Walkathon Golf Classic Cookout for Kids Appreciation
Dinner
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To my dearest friends on earth, On behalf of Gods children in
the watch-care of Christian Homes for Children, please allow me to
express my deep appreciation for your faithfulness in giving hope
to hurting children for the past 40 years. Thank each of you for
giving life to a dream the Lord God placed in my heart to undertake
this mission to provide for His children. Two factors played an
essential part in making that dream a reality: First, my service
without charge to anyone as a volunteer Christian counselor
witnessed such wonderful results that only the Lord God could have
achieved. In my own life, the Lord God had blessed me with the only
promotion ever given to a member of the faculty at Miami-Dade
College, that of Distinguished Service Professor. Moreover, He
blessed with a special Angel (AKA Barbara) would allow me to be
away from home while she assumed most of the responsibility for
raising our own children and foster children as well. She would
also work more than 16 years as the administrator of our child-care
programs. And so, it was important for me to give back to the Lord
God as a way of thanking Him for His blessings. Perhaps, the best
way, it seemed, was to brag on God by means of a book entitled
Prayer Power. The book would serve two purposes: ~ Encourage fellow
Christians to learn to pray so as to achieve their own results and
brag on God. ~ Donate every dollar raised paying my own expenses
along the way to give hope to hurting children. This labor of love
would take the form of a 501-c-3 charitable, non-profit
organization: Christian Homes for Children, Inc. The result has
been good in that we have raised more than $14,000,000 and provided
truly safe homes for more than 1100 otherwise homeless children.
Second, the elders at the Hialeah church of Christ advised me that
they had set aside acreage to build permanent homes to house abused
and neglected children. They allowed me to raise funds to build
five homes there we called Loveland Villas. Along the way, we built
homes on church of Christ property in Hollywood Hills, in Fort
Pierce (Midway Road), and in Driftwood all in Florida. In addition,
we provided educational services by way of our Extra Mile Learning
Center as well as supportive Christian counseling services. It has
been my honor to have met so many wonderfully compassionate friends
along the way. Gods children will forever be in your debt. When the
Lord calls each of you home, may you hear Him say, well done, good
and faithful servant and children they praise your name for
kindness to them you gave. As Nehemiah once prayed, Remember me for
good. A friend of the fatherless and yours, George and his Angel
Executive Director, Mary Menzies, MBA Founder, Director of
Operations & Editor of Lovelines, George M. Brown, Ph.D.
Volunteer Administrative Assistant, Andrea Stanislas Volunteer
Administrative Assistant, Kimberly Figueroa Leadership Team Michael
Hursey, President Charles Gatton, Vice President David Capiro, Vice
President Wayne Adams Joe Fernandez Steve Hogan Jeff Judd Tony
Mijares Robert Nichols Jack Smith, President Emeritus John Hood,
Jr. President Emeritus Board of Directors Christian Homes for
Children, Inc. 12001 SW 72nd Street Miami, Florida 33183 OFC:
(786)762-4377 OFC: (305)825-0517 FAX: (305)740-1310