Dear Friends,
The needs of foster children in Orange County are a year round concern for the members of the Children's Enrichment Committee. Our goal is to enhance their educational and social needs, provide special opportunities and supplies throughout the year and spread joy during the holiday season.
Our Emily Akers Scholarship program has provided many high school graduates with the extra assistance they need to make a college education more affordable. The letters we have received from our scholarship recipients communicate not only their academic success but also their gratitude for our support.
To continue these valuable services our all volunteer organization must rely on the generosity of our donors. Our yearly fund drive provides the majority of the money we need to continue our work on behalf of Orange County's foster children.
The Children Enrichment Committee members sincerely hope that you will support us by making a tax deductible contribution that will help us provide these valuable services.
Contributions can be sent to:
Children's Enrichment Committee
P.O. Box 297
Middletown, NY 10940
Thank you for supporting our mission of helping good children through bad times.
Sincerely yours,
Kathy Hufcut
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
It's A Wrap!
The Children's Enrichment Committee is always looking for new ways to bring in revenue. The more money we have, the more we're able to brighten the lives of Orange County children in foster care.
One method we're exploring is gift wrapping holiday presents. We have decades worth of experience. We've been giving holiday gifts since our founder, Anna Delano Hitch, first started collecting mittens for area orphans. But now our plan is to wrap other people's gifts with the hope that they'll donate money to us as a way of saying thank you.
Our next meeting is on Monday, November 13, 2:00 PM, at Middletown Thrall Library. If you have any spare gift wrap paper or pretty bows, please bring them to the meeting. For that matter, if you know someone interested in culling their own gift wrap and bows, bring them to the meeting as well. Gift wrap and visitors are gladly welcomed.
And when you're not assembling your gift wrap, remember to vote on November 7 and to honor veterans on November 11.
Then be sure to join us, gift wrap and all, on November 13!
One method we're exploring is gift wrapping holiday presents. We have decades worth of experience. We've been giving holiday gifts since our founder, Anna Delano Hitch, first started collecting mittens for area orphans. But now our plan is to wrap other people's gifts with the hope that they'll donate money to us as a way of saying thank you.
Our next meeting is on Monday, November 13, 2:00 PM, at Middletown Thrall Library. If you have any spare gift wrap paper or pretty bows, please bring them to the meeting. For that matter, if you know someone interested in culling their own gift wrap and bows, bring them to the meeting as well. Gift wrap and visitors are gladly welcomed.
And when you're not assembling your gift wrap, remember to vote on November 7 and to honor veterans on November 11.
Then be sure to join us, gift wrap and all, on November 13!
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Looking Back and Looking Forward
Summertime is always a busy season for the Children's Enrichment Committee, and this summer was no different.
The CEC paid for five "camperships," allowing children who might not otherwise have been able to go to summer camp to enjoy a time of companionship and fun.
We helped a student at our local community college with car expenses, enabling him to get to campus and to the two jobs he holds.
We covered the cost of a digital camera for a teen interested in photography and assisted another one with the fee for entering his school's football program.
Our three Emily Akers Scholarship Fund students are finding their senior years of college a little easier thanks to our continued help.
Autumn is a season to look forward, and the CEC anticipates another year of helping Orange County children through our annual Holiday Gift program, as well as by providing things like cameras and sports program memberships. We are continuing community outreach, informing local service clubs about all we do and what they can do to help us in our mission. And, of course, we welcome new members, people whose commitment to aiding children and teenagers matches ours.
When the members of the CEC have time to look back, we often think about the wonderful meals we've had at John's Harvest Inn, and the extraordinary generosity we've benefited from, thanks to its Dining To Make A Difference program. We wish John and Deb Botti all the success in the world as they move on. Their restaurant and hospitality will be missed.
The CEC paid for five "camperships," allowing children who might not otherwise have been able to go to summer camp to enjoy a time of companionship and fun.
We helped a student at our local community college with car expenses, enabling him to get to campus and to the two jobs he holds.
We covered the cost of a digital camera for a teen interested in photography and assisted another one with the fee for entering his school's football program.
Our three Emily Akers Scholarship Fund students are finding their senior years of college a little easier thanks to our continued help.
Autumn is a season to look forward, and the CEC anticipates another year of helping Orange County children through our annual Holiday Gift program, as well as by providing things like cameras and sports program memberships. We are continuing community outreach, informing local service clubs about all we do and what they can do to help us in our mission. And, of course, we welcome new members, people whose commitment to aiding children and teenagers matches ours.
When the members of the CEC have time to look back, we often think about the wonderful meals we've had at John's Harvest Inn, and the extraordinary generosity we've benefited from, thanks to its Dining To Make A Difference program. We wish John and Deb Botti all the success in the world as they move on. Their restaurant and hospitality will be missed.
Sunday, April 23, 2017
Thank You and Thanks To You
The Children's Enrichment Committee of Orange County wants to thank Stewart's Shops for their continuing support of our organization.
We also want to thank our membership for all they do. And we're hoping to see all of you at our upcoming meeting, Monday May 8 at 2 PM at Middletown Thrall Library, where we'll be discussing, among other things, future fundraising possibilities.
Also at that meeting, we'll be taking reservations for our very popular (and very delicious) annual fundraising luncheon at John's Harvest Inn. This year the luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6 at noon. Our guest speaker will be a member of the Middletown Lions Club. The CEC has a special connection with The Lions Club, since our founder, Anna Delano Hitch, was its first woman member.
Past, present and future, the CEC has a lot to be thankful for!
We also want to thank our membership for all they do. And we're hoping to see all of you at our upcoming meeting, Monday May 8 at 2 PM at Middletown Thrall Library, where we'll be discussing, among other things, future fundraising possibilities.
Also at that meeting, we'll be taking reservations for our very popular (and very delicious) annual fundraising luncheon at John's Harvest Inn. This year the luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6 at noon. Our guest speaker will be a member of the Middletown Lions Club. The CEC has a special connection with The Lions Club, since our founder, Anna Delano Hitch, was its first woman member.
Past, present and future, the CEC has a lot to be thankful for!
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
What Do 33% of the United States Presidents Have In Common?
We know that 100% of the Presidents of the United States have been men, and all but one of the forty five men who have served as president have been married.
But what many people don't know is one third of them, fifteen out of forty five, grew up without a father or a mother.
One president, Herbert Hoover, lost both his parents by the time he was 9.
Three others, Abraham Lincoln, John Tyler and Calvin Coolidge lost their mothers at young ages (9, 7 and 12 respectively).
Two presidents, Gerald Ford and Barack Obama, had parents who were divorced when the future presidents were very young, and both of them grew up without regular contact with their fathers.
Another six presidents were 16 or younger when their fathers died. George Washington was 11, Thomas Jefferson 14, James Monroe 16, Andrew Johnson 4, James Garfield 2, and Grover Cleveland 16.
Perhaps the most startling fact is that 3 presidents never had fathers at all, their fathers dying before they were born. Andrew Jackson's father died 3 weeks before Jackson was born, Rutherford B. Hayes' father died 10 weeks before Hayes was born, and Bill Clinton's father died 3 months before Clinton was born.
It could be this is a statistical fluke. It could be that growing up in a single parent household makes a boy either more ambitious or more accustomed to responsibility at a young age, and either of these possibilities could lead to an interest in politics and a willingness to serve.
But whatever the reasons behind that 33%, one thing is clear. Love and support and caring doesn't have to come from a traditional Mom and Dad family for a person to succeed.
The Children's Enrichment Committee was founded in 1911, when William Howard Taft was president. 18 presidential administrations later, the CEC is still offering the support and caring that helps children in Orange County succeed.
But what many people don't know is one third of them, fifteen out of forty five, grew up without a father or a mother.
One president, Herbert Hoover, lost both his parents by the time he was 9.
Three others, Abraham Lincoln, John Tyler and Calvin Coolidge lost their mothers at young ages (9, 7 and 12 respectively).
Two presidents, Gerald Ford and Barack Obama, had parents who were divorced when the future presidents were very young, and both of them grew up without regular contact with their fathers.
Another six presidents were 16 or younger when their fathers died. George Washington was 11, Thomas Jefferson 14, James Monroe 16, Andrew Johnson 4, James Garfield 2, and Grover Cleveland 16.
Perhaps the most startling fact is that 3 presidents never had fathers at all, their fathers dying before they were born. Andrew Jackson's father died 3 weeks before Jackson was born, Rutherford B. Hayes' father died 10 weeks before Hayes was born, and Bill Clinton's father died 3 months before Clinton was born.
It could be this is a statistical fluke. It could be that growing up in a single parent household makes a boy either more ambitious or more accustomed to responsibility at a young age, and either of these possibilities could lead to an interest in politics and a willingness to serve.
But whatever the reasons behind that 33%, one thing is clear. Love and support and caring doesn't have to come from a traditional Mom and Dad family for a person to succeed.
The Children's Enrichment Committee was founded in 1911, when William Howard Taft was president. 18 presidential administrations later, the CEC is still offering the support and caring that helps children in Orange County succeed.
Friday, January 13, 2017
They Weren't Handed Success On A Silver Blade
It's a familiar and gratifying story, the football or basketball or baseball player who grew up in a single parent household, making his way to athletic stardom with the help of his family or friends or mentors and coaches.
In honor of the upcoming United States Figure Skating Championships, here, compiled with the aid of Figure Skating Universe, is a list of some of the many American champion skaters who were either adopted or grew up in non-traditional families. Italicized names or titles indicate links to videos.
United States Champion Nicole Bobek, is known for her elegant spiral.
Adopted through the same agency, but not biologically related, brother and sister Peter and Kitty Carruthers won Olympic silver in pairs.
One half of the beloved World Champion pairs team, Babilonia and Gardner, Randy Gardner learned as an adult that he was adopted.
Multiple National and World Champion, as well as Olympic gold medalist, Scott Hamilton is an adoptee and with his wife the parent of two adopted children.
World Junior Champion Ann Patrice McDonough was adopted from Korea, as was pairs skater Erika Smith. Young and upcoming skater Brynne McIssac was adopted from China and pairs skater Max Settlage from Vietnam.
Along with pairs partner Marcy Hinzmann, Aaron Parchem was a U.S. bronze medalist and proud Olympian.
Reigning U.S. champion Adam Rippon's parents divorced when he was a young teenager.
World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist Debi Thomas left skating to become a doctor.
Brought up by a single mother, skater Rohene Ward has become best known for his work as a choreographer, including the iconic Riverdance freeskate performed by Jason Brown.
No one is born with the ability to land a triple axel. Figure skating is a sport based on the combination of strength, grace, hard work and helping hands, the very same qualities that growing up in any environment requires.
In honor of the upcoming United States Figure Skating Championships, here, compiled with the aid of Figure Skating Universe, is a list of some of the many American champion skaters who were either adopted or grew up in non-traditional families. Italicized names or titles indicate links to videos.
United States Champion Nicole Bobek, is known for her elegant spiral.
Adopted through the same agency, but not biologically related, brother and sister Peter and Kitty Carruthers won Olympic silver in pairs.
One half of the beloved World Champion pairs team, Babilonia and Gardner, Randy Gardner learned as an adult that he was adopted.
Multiple National and World Champion, as well as Olympic gold medalist, Scott Hamilton is an adoptee and with his wife the parent of two adopted children.
World Junior Champion Ann Patrice McDonough was adopted from Korea, as was pairs skater Erika Smith. Young and upcoming skater Brynne McIssac was adopted from China and pairs skater Max Settlage from Vietnam.
Along with pairs partner Marcy Hinzmann, Aaron Parchem was a U.S. bronze medalist and proud Olympian.
Reigning U.S. champion Adam Rippon's parents divorced when he was a young teenager.
World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist Debi Thomas left skating to become a doctor.
Brought up by a single mother, skater Rohene Ward has become best known for his work as a choreographer, including the iconic Riverdance freeskate performed by Jason Brown.
No one is born with the ability to land a triple axel. Figure skating is a sport based on the combination of strength, grace, hard work and helping hands, the very same qualities that growing up in any environment requires.
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