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Fall Holidays reACH Magazine 2020

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You re Sharing Hope this Holiday Season reACH holiday 2020 issue

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Our Mission Board of Directors PROTECTING CHILDREN PRESERVING FAMILIES SINCE 1915 So much to be thankful for Because of your unwavering support ACH has been a leader in meeting the needs of our community for over a century As you ll read ACH continues to build on this proven history of creating expanding and adapting programs to better meet the needs of children and families struggling with life s challenges Last spring our counseling staff quickly adjusted from offering only inperson family sessions to phone and video visits so they could continue to help families navigate the issues that brought them to us You all made this possible with your generous support The need for qualified foster and adoptive parents is never ending and we re grateful to you for enabling us to not only continue recruitment and training virtually but to also help provide emergency financial support for the unexpected crises our foster families experienced due to the pandemic For those youth suffering from severe trauma who are not yet ready for a family setting we re pleased to announce that we have completed page 2 funding for what is now The Robert and Jane Ferguson Residential Treatment Center Thank you to all who invested in making this possible In the following pages you ll read some amazing success stories These successes are only possible because of your generosity in providing financial support your advocacy on behalf of those in need and your impact through volunteerism Thank you for sharing your blessings in so many ways We wish we could say thank you in person but for now we hope to see your smiling faces soon as all of us await more open safer times Until then I wish you and yours all the best this holiday season ure TO COME Wayne Carson Ph D Chief Executive Officer Anna Alvarado Sarah Bennett Angela Caddell Katie Ciccarino Ted Crofford MD Tom Harris Tim Harvard Brad Hickman Kelly Keller Chair Barry Kromann Cheryl Moore Lynn Newman Mattie Parker Peter Philpott Alan Shipman Dowell Stackpole Kyle Whitaker ACH Foundation Board Members Frank Anderson Linda Christie Melinda Johnston Fred Moore Chair Peter Philpott Kelly Keller Community Ambassador Advisory Council Margaret Augustat Karen Barlow Alysa Dennett Lindy Eubank Missy Johns Cindy Level Suzanne Tucker You Helped MOM FIND COUR AGE TO CHANGE understand that my kids are what matter first and making sure they have all they need in life Now Brenda says she s enjoying a closer relationship with her children and still takes part in classes through ACH to further her efforts to make a better life for her and her family She s grateful for your support that made it possible A big thank you As a single mother of two children Brenda recalls the moment she knew her life needed to change and how you helped her find the courage to make it happen Brenda says she first moved to North Texas with her young children with hopes of a better life But when a romantic relationship turned abusive her sister urged her to seek help That s when she found the Families Together program at ACH The residential program for mothers who have been victims of domestic abuse allowed Brenda to learn critical life skills and work on best relationship practices I learned so much that I should ve learned earlier in my life she says but happy I m learning it now Her new skills help her to LIFE PHILOSOPHY FUELS COUPLE S If you appreciate a cause you should support it any way you can Larry says That background Larry and Elaine Klos explain helped to shape their life philosophy into adulthood if there is a need help any way you can in big ways or small Not only do Larry and Elaine support ACH s work but they say they re also happy their giving provides an example of philanthropy for their children and grandchildren And it s that viewpoint coupled with a passion for child welfare that inspired the couple to help support children and families in need through volunteerism and giving to ACH It comes back to what you believe is important in life to do what you can with everything you can Elaine says Now retired the couple has chosen to support ACH financially as well as with their time Each year they decide together how much they can contribute to organizations they believe in You re making sure help is there when parents and caregivers courageously step out to better the lives of their children ensuring that more kids remain in loving safe homes Names have been changed to protect identity Support We are fortunate to come from working class families They do what very few orgainizations are able to do Elaine says ACH really looks at the systemic issues and they work on those issues long term I really appreciate everything you have donated to ACH she says noting she won t take for granted the situation I was in and remembering the blessing of those who recognize and support the needs of families suffering from domestic abuse especially while we were in that situation A big thank you Thank you Elaine and Larry for your faithful support of ACH and your commitment to child and family welfare in our community Do what you can with everything you can page 3

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Our Mission Board of Directors PROTECTING CHILDREN PRESERVING FAMILIES SINCE 1915 So much to be thankful for Because of your unwavering support ACH has been a leader in meeting the needs of our community for over a century As you ll read ACH continues to build on this proven history of creating expanding and adapting programs to better meet the needs of children and families struggling with life s challenges Last spring our counseling staff quickly adjusted from offering only inperson family sessions to phone and video visits so they could continue to help families navigate the issues that brought them to us You all made this possible with your generous support The need for qualified foster and adoptive parents is never ending and we re grateful to you for enabling us to not only continue recruitment and training virtually but to also help provide emergency financial support for the unexpected crises our foster families experienced due to the pandemic For those youth suffering from severe trauma who are not yet ready for a family setting we re pleased to announce that we have completed page 2 funding for what is now The Robert and Jane Ferguson Residential Treatment Center Thank you to all who invested in making this possible In the following pages you ll read some amazing success stories These successes are only possible because of your generosity in providing financial support your advocacy on behalf of those in need and your impact through volunteerism Thank you for sharing your blessings in so many ways We wish we could say thank you in person but for now we hope to see your smiling faces soon as all of us await more open safer times Until then I wish you and yours all the best this holiday season ure TO COME Wayne Carson Ph D Chief Executive Officer Anna Alvarado Sarah Bennett Angela Caddell Katie Ciccarino Ted Crofford MD Tom Harris Tim Harvard Brad Hickman Kelly Keller Chair Barry Kromann Cheryl Moore Lynn Newman Mattie Parker Peter Philpott Alan Shipman Dowell Stackpole Kyle Whitaker ACH Foundation Board Members Frank Anderson Linda Christie Melinda Johnston Fred Moore Chair Peter Philpott Kelly Keller Community Ambassador Advisory Council Margaret Augustat Karen Barlow Alysa Dennett Lindy Eubank Missy Johns Cindy Level Suzanne Tucker You Helped MOM FIND COUR AGE TO CHANGE understand that my kids are what matter first and making sure they have all they need in life Now Brenda says she s enjoying a closer relationship with her children and still takes part in classes through ACH to further her efforts to make a better life for her and her family She s grateful for your support that made it possible A big thank you As a single mother of two children Brenda recalls the moment she knew her life needed to change and how you helped her find the courage to make it happen Brenda says she first moved to North Texas with her young children with hopes of a better life But when a romantic relationship turned abusive her sister urged her to seek help That s when she found the Families Together program at ACH The residential program for mothers who have been victims of domestic abuse allowed Brenda to learn critical life skills and work on best relationship practices I learned so much that I should ve learned earlier in my life she says but happy I m learning it now Her new skills help her to LIFE PHILOSOPHY FUELS COUPLE S If you appreciate a cause you should support it any way you can Larry says That background Larry and Elaine Klos explain helped to shape their life philosophy into adulthood if there is a need help any way you can in big ways or small Not only do Larry and Elaine support ACH s work but they say they re also happy their giving provides an example of philanthropy for their children and grandchildren And it s that viewpoint coupled with a passion for child welfare that inspired the couple to help support children and families in need through volunteerism and giving to ACH It comes back to what you believe is important in life to do what you can with everything you can Elaine says Now retired the couple has chosen to support ACH financially as well as with their time Each year they decide together how much they can contribute to organizations they believe in You re making sure help is there when parents and caregivers courageously step out to better the lives of their children ensuring that more kids remain in loving safe homes Names have been changed to protect identity Support We are fortunate to come from working class families They do what very few orgainizations are able to do Elaine says ACH really looks at the systemic issues and they work on those issues long term I really appreciate everything you have donated to ACH she says noting she won t take for granted the situation I was in and remembering the blessing of those who recognize and support the needs of families suffering from domestic abuse especially while we were in that situation A big thank you Thank you Elaine and Larry for your faithful support of ACH and your commitment to child and family welfare in our community Do what you can with everything you can page 3

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DOUBLE Your Impact this Holiday Season You Gave Family Hope From now through the end of the year your gift will go TWICE as far An anonymous donor will generously match your gifts dollar for dollar up to 50 000 when received by December 31 Don t miss this opportunity to DOUBLE your impact so more children can experience safety hope and love during this season of giving and all year long AND A WAY FORWARD When one local father felt he had nowhere to turn for help for his daughter your support was there to offer the hope his family needed Jeff says his daughter Jennifer was 17 when she began suffering from severe anxiety While Jennifer especially struggled with new activities and even going to school each day her family struggled to know how to help What brought me to ACH was desperation Jeff says I needed to help my daughter Jennifer began free counseling through ACH and Jeff recalls how the counselor was the perfect fit for his daughter from the start They had sessions where they cried and sessions where they laughed Jeff says The counselor provided reports every time she met with Jennifer that gave us things we could do with our daughter Today Jennifer continues to practice the tools she learned through counseling at ACH She graduated high school and is attending Texas A M University It was looking so bad and it just completely turned around for us Jeff says I feel like this was a lifesaver This holiday season your support continues to help protect children and preserve families across our community Thank you for the valuable role you ve played in countless lives Did You Know If you are 70 or older you can use your IRA to make a tax free gift to ACH Current law allows you to transfer any amount up to 100 000 per year directly to a qualified charitable organization without paying income tax on the distribution Best yet your gift will be put to use today allowing you to see the difference you re making for those we serve You pay no income taxes on the gift The transfer doesn t generate taxable income or a tax deduction so you benefit even if you do not itemize your tax deductions In order for your gift to qualify this year we must receive it by December 31 For more information about how your IRA gift will benefit your family and those we serve contact Dixie Mullins at 817 886 7115 or Dixie Mullins ACHservices org Note This material has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for tax legal or accounting advice Names have been changed to protect identity ACHchildandfamily ACHchildfamily achchildandfamily ACHservices org