1. How to Help FALL 2012
oice
YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE!
YOUR SUPPORT WILL CREATE CHRISTMAS
JOY FOR OVER 200 KIDS!
Christmas is meant to be a happy
time of year celebrated with family
and friends. For our youth it is
another reminder they are not with
their family, sometimes recently
BACK TO SCHOOL NEEDS
Back to school time is here and we currently have
30 youth in our Independent Living Program. School
supplies can add up quickly for youth ages 17-21, and
you can help alleviate the strain on their already small
budget. They will be grateful for your help!
VCHOICES
of
placed with foster parents they
barely know and removed from a
TOP 10 ITEMS NEEDED
network of friends they just got
to meet. 1. 3 ring binders 1 inch and 2 inch.
2. College ruled filler paper
You can help create a magical
3. Mechanical pencils (with .5 and .7 lead filler)
evening for kids, a night their minds will not be
thinking about any heartache but rather enjoying a meal 4. Black, blue ball point pens
with other families and playing carnival games for prizes. No 5. 3 subject spiral notebooks
Christmas event would be complete unless Santa showed up
6. 5 subject spiral notebooks
with a special gift for each and every one.
7. Single subject spiral notebooks
Each youth receives a gift from their wish list valued at 8. Highlighters
around $25 dollars. We will provide you with their name
and several gift choices on an ornament and you return the
unwrapped gift to us.
Now is the time to get in on the fun:
1. Donate gift(s) for youth
9. Pocket folders (various colors)
10. Dividers for 3 ring binders
Your donation can be dropped off at our Dayton Office.
Thanks to You
During the summer it is important
A QUARTERLY STORY
to provide activities that allow for
2. Monetary donation to help cover the cost of dinner and
Our address: learning experiences while school is out of session. Each summer we
carnival prizes
1785 Big Hill Road
3. Volunteer at the party on December 14. offer a variety of activities to keep kids on the right path; made possible
Dayton, OH 45439
4. Donate baked goods for the Sweets Walk (a favorite
carnival game) (937) 264-0084 by donations and our fund raising initiatives.
We are serving more kids now than ever, YOUR support Activities are different from year to year. However, our independent
this holiday season will create the magic in the air and YOU CAN DONATE ONLINE! living youth all attend Camp Kern and a select few attend the National
put a smile on their face! Please contact Ashley Schiffer at
(937) 264-0084 ext. 122 or www.choicesfostercare.com Independent Living Conference every year.
aschiffer@choicesfostercare.com
Your support means that four youth are able to go to the conference
YES! I want to create opportunities for kids to succeed! and return to share their experience with their peers. This often
motivates others to step up to the plate and make the most out
“
Name(s) Phone
of the independent living program. Kody has been Being here and listening to other people’s
Address in the program for a year and had a fantastic stories, you realize how good you have it.
City, State, Zip Email
”
learning experience; the generosity of our There are some kids who paid for themselves
I want to make a gift of: donors extends far beyond the activity itself and to come here, and I’m glad CHOICES
$25 $50 $100 $250 $500 $1,000 Surprise Us! $ creates a solid foundation in the lives of current and supported us. -Kody, Independent Living
Payment Options: former foster youth. Thank you!
Check, payable to CHOICES, Inc.
Please charge my: VISA MC Amex
Card #
Please do not publish my name in donor lists
Exp. Date / Security code:
What ’s in
THIS ISSUE
Thanks to You...1
Survivor Camp...2
Foster Parent Spotlight...3
VOICE OF CHOICES is the quarterly
publication of CHOICES, Inc.
4 CHOICES, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charity. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent the law allows. Our Tax I.D. number is 31-1180182
1

2. You are a key piece in creating success. Your support made these stories possible. Thank-you!
Journey to a Family A foster parent adopts
When our youth report to us what they like about CHOICES, it is a simple list many of us take for
granted. They tell us they are happy that someone asks them how school was, helps them with their
homework, pays attention to them and shares a family meal together.
Ms. Poole became a foster parent in 1998 because she loves children, they keep her going and
she has fun doing activities with the little ones. The older youth can be a challenge, at times it is
exhausting to keep their attitude in check, but she has the drive to help young people succeed.
Self Discovery at Survivor Camp Her greatest joy is knowing that several of the children she fostered have moved on and are leading
wonderful lives and are productive citizens. These kids are overcoming the odds; by the ages 23-24
A Life-changing Experience Created by You
the statistics are grim. 77% of former foster youth females have been pregnant and 81% of males
have been arrested at least once.
Megan and Theo, two foster youth, were able By the end of the week she was really sore from all the
to attend Camp Kern Survivor Camp thanks to a activity and spent 2 days recovering, a sure sign that In May, Ms. Poole adopted 4 year old Amiya that
generous private donor, CHOICES foster parent, she had a lot of fun! she has cared for since she was just 17 months
their county worker and CHOICES summer program old. When asked why she was adopting she said,
Teamwork is a HUGE part of attending camp and we
funds. Together you all made this opportunity “I am her Mom, and I have been the constant in
would like to thank the team of people who helped to
possible. her life. If not me then who? And most importantly
create experiences like this. You too can join our
I love her”. We have many dedicated foster
Megan considers herself a klutz, and she fell down team of supporters.
parents, like Ms. Poole, that have such a love for
a lot through the week but she maintained a positive
the kids in their home.
spirit. Despite what she believed, she discovered
“
Your support enables us to provide activities for
“
that she is a good dancer on dance night.
My favorite thing about camp was the
If not me then, who? And our foster parents to bond with foster youth. Ms.
The Hierarchy Challenge was her favorite part Hierarchy Challenge, our team had to Poole said that this past year she enjoyed the trip
of camp, where teams had to complete various complete a series of challenges and race most importantly, I love to Kings Island and she hopes that next year she
” ”
challenges that included shelter building, knot tying,
to beat the opposing team... her... can take the kids to Coney Island for a day of fun.
fire building, hiking and scavenger hunt in the dark.
-Megan, age 14
Rayshawn Starts His First Job Made Possible by Community Connections
A SPECIAL THANK-YOU to these donors
the kids
Vectren Foundation • Dippin’ Dots
We are so happy to announce that one of our
independent living males has gained full time
employment, with overtime pay. This is an
extremely amazing opportunity that Rayshawn will
is up to him. Our staff offered encouragement and
emphasized accountability when Rayshawn shared
he was EMPLOYED with a big smile.
Our community partners in the Dayton region are so
Wh atsaying...
are
Franco’s Ristorante • Prime Time Party Rental
FIND US ONLINE
have to put forth a considerable amount of hard
very important to us, and this is just another illustration
work to keep, as he is on a 30 day probationary www.choicesfostercare.com
“
of how together we can all make a difference. We
period. A job is so much more than a paycheck, it What I like about CHOICES
thank Bart Nye and Prime Time Party Rental for @CHOICESIncOhio
teaches responsibility, decision making, goal setting
helping to create this opportunity. If your place of is that they try to make
and the value of a hard day’s work.
”
employment has any opportunities available for our facebook.com/CHOICESInc
The CHOICES family wishes him the best as he youth please contact Ashley Schiffer at (937) 264-0084 your life feel normal...
youtube.com/CHOICESFosterCare
3
begins this new path, but ultimately his success ext. 122 or aschiffer@choicesfostercare.com.
2
-Foster Youth, age 15