December 12, 2008
Dear Friends,
The December 2008 Silver Lining is at the printer and will mail late next week. You may preview this annual re-cap in PDF form by clicking here.
In this newsletter you will find a description of how, with your help, Dream House has made tremendous strides towards developing a very unique service delivery model that has, and will, continue to drastically improve the lives of Georgia’s medically fragile children and their families. It is critically important that we continue our progress and expand our geographic reach to those who so desperately need our services.
I am sure all of you are aware that private agencies, such as Dream House, are being greatly impacted by the current economic environment. State funding for health and human services is being drastically reduced. This is severely limiting necessary resources to Georgia’s most needy.
- According to Alan Essig, Executive Director for the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, "… due to funding limitations in Medicaid and PeachCare, the number of uninsured children in Georgia increased, and Georgia was unable to make adequate investments in such areas as … services for those with mental and physical disabilities. In fact, Georgia ranks 49th in state-spending per capita."
- According to Normer Adams, Executive Director of the Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children, "The impact of the recession, the cuts to services and increased needs of the state, are tracking the events of the economy. Numbers of children reported to child protected services are up 12.1 percent; number of children in foster care up by 5.5 percent; and Medicaid up by 2.8 percent. Cuts to vulnerable populations during this time will be counter productive. More resources are needed to address and mitigate these needs, not less."
In light of the fact that there are few, if any, other resources available for medically fragile children and their families, it is imperative that Dream House provide for the financial strength and longevity of our programs and services.
To this end, I ask that you prayerfully consider making a year-end contribution to support the following initiatives. When funded, these projects will provide tremendous support to the financial needs and stability of the Dream House organization:
- Publishing our Family for Keeps™ Resource Guide. (Total need: $50,000)
- Converting Family for Keeps™ classroom courses to eLearning Suites. (Total need: $500,000)
- Retiring the debt for the Lilburn Transition Care Home. (Total need: $220,000)
- Establishing an operating reserve fund. (Total need: $250,000)
Dream House needs your continued support to provide life-sustaining programs and services for the precious children we serve. With no family, no home, and no voice, these children are truly ‘the least of these.’ For many, Dream House is their only hope.
While other worthy organizations may be asking you to help provide toys for children this Christmas, please know that in every community throughout Georgia, there are children who would give up every toy they own to have a family and a home where they can belong.
I ask that you make a contribution to ensure that Dream House has the ability to provide the resources to make these children’s dreams come true — a home, a family and a future.
May this Christmas and New Year bring you a dream come true.
Blessings,
Laura O. Moore, Founder and CEO
