Village VoiceEarly Summer 2015 Newsletter

Healing, Hope and Home for Every Child

954-420-5030 • www.sosflorida.com

ProjectRenovate Update• Our Administration Office moved out of the Village and is now

located at 1383 Lyons Road in Coconut Creek.• Renovations on the Weicholz Family Administrative Building

are complete and our Program Staff has moved in. • Renovations have begun on our newest SOS family home.

Stay tuned this winter for our grand opening.• Please remember to call first before dropping off donated

items as space is limited.

With Your Support, One Teen Makes a Journey of Self DiscoveryVictoria, age 19, spent much of her childhood worrying over her parents and two younger brothers. Ultimately taking on the role of “parent” to make sure her family was taken care of. It wasn’t just because she cares so deeply for her family though. She was under pressure to try to prevent another knock on the door like the one she experienced when she was little.

You see, Victoria had already been in foster care when she was four-years-old. That short time left a bitter mark in her mind as she was separated from those she loved. “It wasn’t a good experience,” she shares.

Inevitably that dreaded knock did come when she was fifteen. But this time, the experience would help her thrive.

Finding Herself at SOS

Victoria and her two brothers were reunited when they came to live at SOS. Secure in their well-being and able to maintain the close family connection she cherished, Victoria began a journey of self discovery.

“Before, I was just smart,” tells Victoria. Tests and scores were how she proved herself and defined her worth. Expressing her quirky and flamboyant personality had only gotten her criticized and bullied at school.

“Now I’d describe myself as more. I’m caring, kind, inquisitive and creative,” she energetically states.

Her time in the Village has truly let her personality shine. At the Village there are what she calls “layers” of family and staff always available to discuss and address her personal problems. And, living with five other girls was definitely a challenge until she learned to be respectful and thoughtful in both actions and words.

Moving beyond book learning, she finally had the opportunity and resources to be a “free spirit” and explore her creative side. Writing, art and sewing have all become passions as she finds new ways to express herself.

And, express herself she does. Whether she’s showing her art, cosplaying with friends for fun or working on a five page letter to the state

championing group foster homes like SOS, Victoria doesn’t hold back her thoughts.

Building the Future

The hurdles she had to overcome and her own journey of self-discovery at SOS have shaped the kind, caring young woman she is today.

Perhaps that’s why she recently felt so much empathy for a gay friend struggling to discover their own identity. Being part of his support structure and helping see him through trying times was important to Victoria.

Recalling the support she received from our staff and her therapist Miss Hallie and seeing the difference she could make in her own friend’s life has inspired her greatly.

This past spring, Victoria graduated high school and is heading to the University of North Florida to study Psychology in the hopes of becoming a psychiatrist or therapist particularly focused on helping teens like her.

Victoria may have arrived shy and a little lost five years ago, but there’s little doubt she’s come into her own and is ready to confidently take on the challenges of college and beyond. And, it’s all possible because of the Village that became home.

“I would not be considering my future if not for SOS,” Victoria

believes.

Victoria’s starting at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville this summer.

Top 3 Reasons to Go To Summer CampAccording to SOS Kids

Name(s) ______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

City/Zip _______________________________________________________

Phone ______________________ E-mail ___________________________

Checks may be made payable to: SOS Children’s Villages - FloridaPlease charge my VISA MC Amex DiscoverCard # _____________________________ CCV ________ Exp _________Signature_____________________________________________________

My Gift

I Want To Help Send A Child To Camp

□ $250 □ $150 □ $75 □ $50

□ $25 □ $10 □ $ ______

□ Make my gift a monthly donation

□ Make my gift a quarterly donation

YES!

MAKE A GIFT TO AN SOS CHILD THIS SUMMER TO HELP SEND THEM TO CAMP. Call 954-420-5030 or visit www.sosflorida.com to make a donation.

The Lazy Days of Summer aren’t so lazy at SOS. Did you think our kids would prefer to sleep in and hang out watching TV now that’s there’s no school and homework? Not so. They’re all heading to summer camp programs.

So what are our boys and girls looking forward to the most?

#3 FunYou can’t have summer without fun! Being bored at camp is just as bad as going to school. Over the course of the summer our 72 kids will attend 9 different summer programs and 3 sleep-away camps. Each camp has been meticulously chosen by our staff to meet their personal needs while guaranteeing their enjoyment.

Fun is everywhere from Brie’s four weeks at the Broward Performing Arts Camp to Ryan’s time at Atlantis Academy where he’ll have both a recreation and academic program to help him keep up in school.

#2 Learn Something NewIt may not be algebra, but learning this summer is actually still on our kids’ minds. Whether it’s learning about people, a new skill or game, a new job or just experiencing something different, they’re ready to absorb every moment.

Miss Antoinette loves summer time at SOS because her teen girls come home excited and full of stories to tell. Dinner time is a race as they all talk at once trying to share the wonderful things they learned how to do and new experiences they discovered that day.

“The girls don’t want to be bored,” she shares. This year they’re excited about their camps and look forward to every activity. Last summer, Jenny learned to be a better swimmer and brought home lots of camp songs and stories.

#1 Making New FriendsNearly, 100% of our kids mentioned meeting new people and making lots of friends as what they’re looking forward to most this summer. 15 year old Tammy sums it up best - “ I get to interact with people who are not in the same situations as me. I don’t feel like I am in foster care.” Making lots of new friends means having fun and making memories without worrying about being different.

What Did You Do Last Summer?10-year-old Neely didn’t really have an answer. Arriving at SOS at the end of summer last year, her school break before that was kind of boring. Stuck at home with her brother. Not much to do but hang out and waste time. There were no bright smiles or wistful memories to share.

But ask her what she is looking forward to this year and there’s a mischievous grin on her face while a million activities and ideas come tumbling out at breakneck speed...Ziplining. Computers. Dance Class. Horseback riding. Skating. New York. Wewa.

Neely and her brother didn’t arrive at the Village until the end of last summer, so they missed out on the activities. But the foster sisters whom Neely shares her SOS home with have already filled her in on the absolute best activities to look forward to this summer.

Even more impressively, this energetic pre-teen was selected to attend two different sleep-away camps this summer. Flying all the way to New York will be her first time out of state. And she’s excited by the activities she was a l lowed to personally choose. Her selections reflect not just her enthusiasm, but her ambitious desire to try new things. She’ll experience her first dance class while in New York, something that just sounded like loads of fun. She’ll be on horseback and roller skates for the first time too.

But the best part of summer for Neely isn’t necessarily the going away from home part. The girls in her home gushed over the trips and activities at

the day camps all of our kids attend each summer. Gone are the boring days of summer. Now she looks forward to the trips, skills, camps stories and most especially the people she’ll meet and friends she’ll make.

You can help our kids stay healthy, safe and happy this summer by picking up a few of these summer essentials next time your at the store:

• Sun screen

• Lip Balm

• Water Bottles

• Beach Towels

• Kids & Teens Bike Helmets

S ince You’ re A l ready Heading to the Store....

Choosing the right camp programs both excite and challenge our kids to soar to new heights.

Lace Up Your Sneakers...

5K Run / Walk for Foster KidsFriday, Sept 18, 2015

Come Celebrate Family...

At the heart of our mission is giving our boys and girls a childhood filled with happy memories. Big or small, each moment we give them becomes part of a foundation for a brighter future.

Since 2012, the Boca West Foundation has brought their residents together to grant one very big moment to our boys and girls - the chance to go to sleep-away camp. This now annual opportunity sends excitement through the Village as every child eagerly waits with baited breath to find out if they’ve earned the opportunity for this amazing experience.

“Our goal was to make the overnight camp experience available to hundreds of children who otherwise would have never had such a chance. This is truly a blessing for everyone involved in the program.” says Arthur Adler, Board President, Boca West Foundation.

Working with Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education (SCOPE) and its affiliate, SCOPE Southeast, Boca West has sent 125 underprivileged children including

more than 60 children from SOS to YMCA Camp Wewa in Apopka, Florida over the past three years.

While our kids most definitely have the time of their life, sleep-away camp is more than a vacation. Being away from home and taking part in the planned activities of a camp like Wewa reinforces many of the personal skills SOS teaches every day.

Challenges like swimming all the way out to the raft, refining their skills in a craft or leading a song before lunch give them opportunities to stretch out and succeed in new ways. They learn to take on a challenge and to keep at it until they succeed giving them a positive, “can do” attitude - and the willingness to try new things that goes with it.

That’s being confident and independent! And, connecting, contributing and developing confidence and independently making decisions and learning are at the very heart of what it takes to be successful in life.

“We could have a experience we will never

forget.” Zuri, age 10

Making Campfire Memories Thanks to Friends

On Saturday, April 25th, our amazing Gala Committee Co-Chaired by Max Tucci & Kristina Stein transformed Boca West Country Club into the African Serengeti for our 18th Annual Hope and Home Gala celebration.

Altogether, the fabulous event raised $330,000 to support the daily needs of the 72 boys and girls growing up in the Village and assure them the home, family and childhood they deserve.

The festivities featured a special performance by the SOS Rootz of Music students and a rousing address by SOS Alumnus and guest speaker Melina Paul–Persaud.

Melina, age 24, is pursuing her degree in Elementary Education while balancing the demands of a job and her roles as both wife and mother.

“My challenges were not ideal, however, they have made me the person I am today,” shared Melina. “I am a better person, mother, and wife due to my experiences and support of SOS Children’s Village.”

Special thanks to this year's Celebrity Host, Eva LaRue of All My Children and CSI: Miami and top Sponsors: Presenting Sponsor the Club Managers Association of America Seminole Region Charity Golf Tournament Committee; Jarden Consumer Solutions; Wheelabrator Technologies; Seminole Casino – Coconut Creek; ADT; Republic National Distributing; JM Family Enterprises / JM Lexus; Ultimate Software; and The Boca Raton Observer.

Pictures Below (top to bottom, right to left): SOS Alumnus Melina Paul Persaud, Eva La Rue; Gala Co-Chair Max Tucci, SOS Alumni Rosanna Disla, Melina Paul and Sheaundra Bauitsta, Ashley Garza, Shaikayla Rowen, SOS Staff LaShonda Cross and Alumnus Deja Cross; Gina Tucci, Farah Angsana; Mary Ann Fried, Stacy Berman Acker; Debbie Belford, Lucy Colston, Katie Colston; Gala Co-Chairs Max Tucci & Kristina Stein; Ralph Behmoiras, Linda Behmoiras, Eva LaRue, Jay DiPietro; Larry Kashdin, Mark Solomon, Harold Solomon; Rocki Rockingham, Gail Holl

Sharing One Night,Giving Another Year of Hope