Help End Hunger in Idaho

The U.S. Postal Service is having its annual food drive to help the Idaho Foodbank on May 8, 2010, and they are looking for some help in carrying the food donations! Would you like to help make a difference? Help get food to our neighbors? 

To help the USPS with their food drive, contact Cindy Hale at chale@idahofoodbank.org or call 336-9643 x. 236.

Angel Cakes – A Sweet Way to Give Back!

What item seems to be a constant ingredient for any special celebration?  The cake!  Whether it is for a birthday, a wedding or a retirement, a party just does not seem like a real celebration without some form of cake. 

For those facing hardship, having someone arrive with a beautiful cake just for them can make a world of difference.  An amazing team of bakers at Angel Cakes Charity volunteer their time and time-tested recipes in making cakes for hospice patients, children in foster care, veterans, and many others to brighten their life celebrations. It is such an easy way to demonstrate to our neighbors that they are loved and far from forgotten.

Recently, Angel Cakes decided to make Valentine’s Day extra-special for our veterans by baking scrumptious heart-shaped cookies for them. Each cookie will be paired with a Valentine card made by students at Mrs. Austin’s class at Owyhee Elementary or Troop 203 of Girl Scouts Silver Sage Council.  This terrific partnership is sure to bring smiles to many of the brave men and women who have defended our nation.

If you would like to bring some happiness to someone in need and to show our neighbors that we care by being a volunteer baker for Angel Cakes, contact Tina Ellis at 631-4946 or visit www.angelcakescharity.org. 

American Red Cross – Truly Giving of Yourself

It only takes about thirty minutes of your time but you can make the ultimate difference in someone else’s life.  Better yet, it will not cost you anything.  By giving a pint of blood even once a year, you can help ensure that a father who has in a car accident can return home for his child’s birthday, or that a child with a rare disease has blood available for the necessary surgeries to cure her.

This is truly giving back to our community and protecting our community’s health.  Blood components have a fairly short shelf life, and there is only a one-week supply of blood in our nation’s collection centers at any given time. 

The availability of donated blood makes make possible the medical innovations we have experienced over the last several decades.  Through the generosity of blood donors in our community, our doctors can perform the life-saving surgical treatments, cancer treatments, organ transplants and thousands of other cures that give our loved ones renewed life.

With each pint you donate, you are able to help many people and ensure a better tomorrow for their future.  Who knows? That person you just walked by on the street could be with us because you took just a short portion out of one day to donate.

 Not a fan of needles or get a little squeamish giving blood? You can still help the American Red Cross in a variety of ways such as greeting donors at the donor centers, as a courier to transport blood to local hospitals or as an office assistant.

To find a blood donation center near you or to make an appointment to donate blood, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.  For more information about volunteer opportunities, visit lewisandclark.redcross.org/volunteers  or call 429-5837.

National Day of Service – Renewing America Together

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love, 1963

During a time when people are strapped and scared, the new administration is asking us to do something.  They are asking us to show up, to step forward.  They are reminding us that America was built not only by industry but also by labor, by love and by action.  Our is a country built by ordinary people who stood together to accomplish the extraordinary.

In 1994, Congress transformed the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday into a national day of community service to further commemorate a man who lived his life in service to others. 

As a tribute to that legacy and the very real needs of our nation, the new administration has launched a national organizing effort to engage Americans in service.  Called “Renewing America Together” the Obama administration is calling on Americans to do what we can for our communities and fellow citizens.

Thousands of events are being held across the country today.  In Washington, DC, the President-elect and Michelle Obama will participate in local events to serve their new home. 

A national website, www.usaservice.org , has been set up to help host and find service events.  Volunteer opportunities can be searched for by zip code. 

Treasure Valley nonprofits have responded by posting their volunteer opportunities on the site.  Opportunities vary from the Idaho Food Bank’s “Fill the Shelves” initiative to the Boise Bicycle Project’s call to learn how to fix up bikes for local children, incoming refugees, homeless people and others who need transportation.

But it’s not just today.  According to USA Service, “Unlike past calls to service, President-elect Obama is calling on all Americans to do more than just offer a single day of service to their cities, towns and neighborhoods.  He is asking all of us to make an ongoing commitment to our communities. Never has it been more important to come together in shared purpose to tackle the common challenges we face.”

The USA Service website will remain an ongoing resource to help organizations promote service events and for Americans to find opportunities to serve and to share their results.

If you do not have money to give this year, please find time to give.  It is indeed during these times of adversity that opportunity presents itself.  Stand up. Show up. Step forward. This is your chance to help the organizations that are vital to the welfare of our country and our community.

More Ways You Can Help the Idaho Epilepsy Foundation

Missed this year's St. Valentine's Day Massacre, but you'd like to help the Idaho Epilepsy Foundation continue to provide needed services and medications to the thousands of Idahoans affected by epilepsy?  Here are some volunteer opportunities for you, and their donation "wish list"!!

Volunteer Opportunities

• Love kids? Enjoy telling stories?  Become a puppeteer for their Kids on the Block puppet shows - these life-size puppets go to school classrooms to teach children about epilepsy and to "be a friend" to their classmate with a seizure disorder.  Time commitment is usually during school hours, and training is provided.
• Help clean the storage areas (might be a little messy - items from the Mud Volleyball Tournament are stored there :) ).
• Help with media/public relations and with special events is always needed.
• Very special opportunity - they are looking for someone with ties to the local Hispanic community to join the Board of Directors to guide outreach and services programs

To volunteer or get more information, contact efid@epilepsyidaho.org.

Wish List

Have some items you no longer need and you'd like to donate?  These are some things that would be a huge help for the Idaho Epilepsy Foundation!

• DVD player
• Fairly new computer
• Copy machine
• Fax machine
• Printing (such as for event brochures)
• Two swivel desk chairs
• Two sofas
• Office supplies (copy and printer paper, other paper, printer cartridges)
• Fresh paint (and volunteers to help apply)

To donate, contact efid@epilepsyidaho.org.

Our Guest: TrICA

Jon Swarthout, Executive Director of TrICA (Treasure Valley Institute of Children's Art) and Leta Neusaedter, Teaching Artist of Children's Dance Institute (CDI), joined the Divas on radio show on November 24, 2007 to talk about the organization and their recently launched Campaign Campaign.

About TrICA:
TrICA is a brand new expansion of CDI which is 10 years old.  Created distinctly for children, TrICA provides experienced-based programs with caring, relationship-based teachers to foster better humanity and community through the arts.

TrICA was formed as a home to the Children’s Dance Institute and Open Door Children’s Theatre.  As renovations continue, additional programs will become available such as the Heart Song Music Studio, an outdoor children’s garden, a library brimming with the best in children’s literature, studio space for visual arts, puppet shows, storytelling, cooking, and more!  TrICA will offer visual arts, music, bands, concerts, classes, choir, museum and gallery, a garden, story times, puppet shows, lectures, forums, speakers, presenters, shows, workshops, and many other programs.

TrICA recently purchased the Immanuel Methodist Episcopal Church aka "the old stone church on the corner" in historic Hyde Park at 1406 Eastman Street.  It was built in 1907 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Within this building, TrICA will offer a place for children to grow artistically and share their experiences through performances and outreach to the community at large.

Capital Campaign:
TrICA's goal in our capital campaign is to raise over $2 million in the next 2 years.  The JA and Kathryn Albertson Foundation kickstarted the campaign with a $100,000 donation; $250,000 has been raised already, including over 500 volunteer hours.  A series of community barn raising events have resulted the church being cleaned up enough to have started holding some events and to house the TrICA offices.  "It has been a true labor of love from the beginning" according to Jon.

Recognition levels for donations include everything from a 16th century French church relic for a $5,000 donation to the co-design of a custom stained-glass window for $50,000 to the Main Hall being named in your honor for $500,000.  Children can also participate: it only costs $5 to buy a shingle for the roof!

Get Involved:
Volunteers are welcome and will be needed throughout the renovation.  Cleaners, painters, gardeners, roofers, painters, electricians, anyone who wants to lend a helping hand... if you want to help in any way, there is a place for you in TrICA.   Supporters are also needed to solicit others to get involved, to speak on TrICA's behalf to people they know, and to serve as board members and committee members. 

In addition, from December to February, Hayden Beverages will donate a portion of the profits from wine sales from participating businesses and restaurants. Participating businesses include: the Boise Co-Op Wine Shop, Bungalow Restaurant, 8th Street Wine Co and Cafe Vicino.  You can help TrICA when you purchase your holiday wine and wine gifts from these businesses and when you have a glass of wine at these great establishments.

A Thought from Jon:
When asked why should people get involved, "It is a chance in history to have a huge impact.  The kids who will walk through those doors will have changed lives; it will connect them to something that is true within themselves that they will remember for the rest of their lives and will affect their choices as they grow up."

We thank Jon and Leta for sharing their vision with us and for the difference that they are making in our community and in the lives of so many children!

Our Guest: St Alphonsus Foundation

Jill Aldape, Director of Major Gifts and Events for the Saint Alphonsus Foundation and Sondra Juetten, Chair of the 2007 Festival of Trees, joined the Divas on November 17, 2007 to talk about the organization and their upcoming Festival of Trees.

Upcoming Events:
The Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees "The Brightest Event of the Season" opens with the Gala on Tuesday, November 20 and closes with a Fashion Show on Monday, November 26.  The Festival of Trees It is open to the public from November 21-25 from 10am - 9pm W, F, Sa, Su; 2p - 9pm on Thanksgiving Day at the Boise Centre on the Grove.  Tickets are $6 adult; $3 children; $4 seniors and can be purchased at the entrance.  For a complete schedule, please see the Festival of Trees website.

According to Sondra, "the Festival of Trees is unique because of the 100 beautifully decorated trees to view and the festival atmosphere.  For families across the Treasure Valley it has become a traditional kick-off to their holiday season."

Funds raised from the Festival of Trees supports the new Center for Advanced Healing at the Curtis Campus of the hospital.

Volunteers:
If you are interested in volunteering either with the Festival or throughout the year with Saint Alphonsus, please contact Debbie at 367-3997.  They need help during the Festival of Trees for everything from unloading boxes to welcoming guests. Saint Alphonsus encourages people to also consider volunteering within the hospital, volunteering with other events, or joining one of their "clubs" like the Women's Healthcare Fund, Project Haiti, etc.

A Word from Jill:
I would like to thank all past (and current!) Chairs of the Festival of Trees. They are the honorary Chairs for next year's 25th Anniversary and have continued to support the event, the Foundation, and the hospital through the years. They have created a legacy of which the Saint Alphonsus and Treasure Valley community can be very proud.

A Conversation with Sondra:
How did you first get involved with the Saint Alphonsus Foundation and Festival of Trees?
The Festival of Trees was the first gala we attended in Boise after moving here from Dallas in 2001. We thought the event was magical. A short time later, we met Roy and Frances Ellsworth through the Humane Society, and they convinced us we would enjoy being part of the St Al's family.

What has touched you about the organization?
When we attended a dinner for Saint Alphonsus' Haiti Project and heard Father Rick speak about what the hospital was supporting in Haiti, we saw a completely different side of the hospital's caring, and we were deeply touched by what we saw and heard. The hospital is making a difference in the lives of people in a Country that is truly needy.

What inspires you?
Opportunities to make a difference in our community.

Who has made a great impact on your life?
My husband George. He is intelligent, wise, caring, and humble. I stand close to him in the hope that some of it will rub off on me.

Would you like to share some of your favorite holiday memories?
As it got close to the holiday season, mother would take me to the fabric store, and we would select the material for her to sew a new outfit for me.  My favorite was a dress with a black velvet top and a red, green, and black satin skirt – she even made a matching hat which I loved. See, I’ve always been a diva at heart!

Christmas was celebrated on Christmas Eve by attending a service at our church, when we returned home Santa had been there and each child received only one gift from Santa. On Christmas Day the extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered at grandma’s house for a meal. We only bought gifts for grandma and grandpa.

New Year’s Eve was a favorite because we gathered at our church for a soup supper which was a fundraiser for the church.  It was a favorite because I got to stay up late, and at midnight each person in attendance got to ring the church’s bell!

The Story of Mako, the Dog Who Licked Too Much
Mako became a pet therapy dog in the rehabilitation unit of Saint Alphonsus 5 years ago.  As a pet therapy dog he is supposed to lift patients’ spirits and help encourage those who have lost hand eye coordination to pet him and give him treats.  Since Mako is only 18 lbs he could get on the bed or on laps and cuddle with the patients as well. 

Mako definitely loved his job but perhaps he loved it too much. He loved getting scratches and treats; he also loved performing his tricks for patients and their families. To show his gratitude for all of this attention Mako loved to lick. That wasn’t a problem for some of the people who were there for knee replacements and other such rehabilitation but it was a problem for those patients who had lost mobility and the ability to defend themselves against his licks and bad breath.

After several different onslaughts of his enthusiastic liking and my constant reprimand, the fun had been taken out of his visits for the patients, myself and Mako who constantly was upset and would literally pout because he was no longer allowed to lick. This led to his retirement as a pet therapy dog at Saint Alphonsus. 

We are pleased to announce that Mako has found a new calling as a model at the Saint Alphonsus Fashion Show this year!

About St Alphonsus Foundation:
Saint Alphonsus Foundation was established in 1980 to coordinate and enhance the medical center’s partnership with the community. Its aim was to ensure medical excellence by inspiring and securing continued community support for the medical center. The Foundation began with ambitious goals: to create and maintain a full complement of fund development programs, including an endowment fund to support the growth and stability of the hospital.

Years later, the Foundation is now working as a department of the hospital, managing programs for annual and planned giving, memorials, bequests, special events, employee giving, grants, in-kind gifts and donor recognition. The Foundation board is comprised of 40 active community leaders who offer guidance, support, and service on special program committees.

Since 1980, hundreds of thousands of gifts have been made for Foundation programs throughout the medical center. This support made it possible the purchase of vital equipment, the expansion of services, needed construction, the continuing education of professionals and much more.

Its programs include: Festival of Trees, Children's Capitol Classic Race, Women's Healthcare Fund, Life Flight, Project Haiti, and Musician Physicians.

Our Guest: Family Advocate Program

Nicole Sirak, Executive Director of Family Advocate Program joined the Divas on our debut radio show on November 10, 2007 to talk about the organization and their upcoming Gingerbread Gala.

About Family Advocate Program:
For almost 30 years, Family Advocate Program has had two important programs designed to keep kids safe and families strong

1.  Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program pairs volunteer advocates with children in foster care who investigate their case and make recommendations to the court.   Last year, CASA protected 720 children in foster care; almost half of these children were under the age of six.

2.  Their Families First Parent Education Program helps parents develop the skills to give their children the best possible start through in life.  Last year, Families First mentored 258 parents creating stronger families by serving more than 250 children. Of the parents served by the Families First program, 96% of them feel more confident about their parenting skills and 75% now regularly read to their children.  Early education programs like Families First provide a great return on investment as research shows that every $1 spent on saves $7 in reduced special education, crime and welfare assistance by the time participants reach their twenties.

Upcoming Event:
The Gingerbread Gala is being held on Friday, November 16th at 6pm at the Boise Centre on the Grove. Tickets are $100/person or a table of 8 for $700.

The theme of this year's Gingerbread Holiday Village event is 'Treasures of the Treasure Valley' as, according to Nicole, "we feel this event is a gem in the community's calender."

"It's become a holiday tradition over the last 8 years and has something for everyone. For example, we have kids who make gingerbread houses as a class project that are fun to auction off and business people who bid on the private suite for a Steelheads game.  All of this raises essential revenue for our programs" says Nicole.

Volunteers:
They are seeking volunteers for their event and throughout the year.  Event-related tasks include helping decorate the venue, helping process transactions or delivering Gingerbread houses the next day. They also continually recruit volunteers Guardians as part of their Court Appointed Special Advocates program.

If you have just one hour a month to give, according to Nicole, "most likely we have a job that will interest you!"

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Melanie Nelson at 345-3700 ext 1001.

History:
In 1978, Family Advocate Program was developed by two foster families, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Hogin and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Murphy. Both families had provided shelter home and long-term foster care for over twenty-five children. As foster parents, they provided unique foster care services in that they encouraged natural parent contact for the benefit of the child and advocated for supportive services for the parents. With help from the Junior League of Boise, a parent education program called Families First was developed to serve struggling families in their own homes with supportive, voluntary home visitor services.

In 1977, a Seattle Superior Court Judge named David Soukup was concerned about trying to make decisions on behalf of abused and neglected children without enough information. He conceived the idea of appointing community volunteers to speak up for the best interests of these children in court which became the start of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) movement. In 1980, with the help of the Boise Junior League and the Boise Bar Association, Family Advocate Program launched the CASA program in Ada County.

A Thought from Nicole:
Asked from where she draws her strength: "There is a wide variety of people I draw strength from and it rolls into a force that continually motivates.  This includes my Dad who has devoted his life to community service, my Mom who is a quiet hero that helps people without them knowing or some of my colleagues overseas that risked their lives to build peace in the Balkans."

Thank you Nicole Sirak of Family Advocate Program for being a Diva who is making a difference!