If you’ve visited one of our homes, you know how important it is for our kids to grow up as close to “normal” as possible while in foster care. That’s part of the charm and appeal for our children and supporters.

For years we’ve relied on a staffing model where staff are on duty for four days at a time to provide consistency to the kids. Our families are undergoing a transformation this summer as we begin to welcome full-time, live-in parents to our family.

The change is a test that we feel will reinforce consistency and stability - strengthening the family’s relationships as well as holding one person responsible for maintaining the home and overseeing the day to day care of the children.

For Marilyn, who is one of two SOS staff already adopting the new model, the change has made a difference in her relationship with the girls in her home. She is the “main” adult in their day to day life.

“I came (to SOS) believing I’m here to teach and elevate the girls,” says Marilyn. “They’re still adjusting, but are really opening up to me more now.”

They’re spending more one on one time together and the girls are sharing their thoughts and problems at home and at school. Even the staff room that the girls once felt unapproachable is a welcoming place to stop for a talk or with a question.

Summer 2013

Phone: 954-420-5030 Fax: 954-420-5034 www.sosflorida.com

Building a Stronger SOS Family

Why Do You Love SOS? Share your memories for our special

Anniversary Publication this fall.As we look ahead to a bright future full of exciting changes, we want to preserve our history for the generations of children and families to come. You are a big part of who we are and we want to include your memories thoughts and wishes in our fall publication.

• Share a special photo• Tell us a great story • Share how our kids touch your heart

See Page 5 for a Special Memory from SOS Staff.

Post to Facebook or e-mail vwalter@sosflorida.com before August 1st.

Class of 2013: Bright Futures Begin Now for New SOS Alumni

Barbara A.At SOS: 17 monthsGraduated: Bachelor ’s in Social Work from FAUAccomplishments:Florida’s Independent Living Services Advisory CouncilFuture Plans:Internship at ChildNet _______________

Pasqual B.At SOS: 7 yearsGraduated: Monarch High SchoolFuture Plans:Z o o l o g y M a j o r a t Jacksonville University_______________

Tyler C.At SOS: 5 monthsGraduated: High School GEDFuture Plans:Pre-Med Biology at Palm Beach State

Elijah G.At SOS: 5 monthsGraduated: Whiddon Rodgers HighFuture Plans:Fire-Science Academy at McFatter Tech_______________

Ashley H.At SOS: 9 monthsGraduated: Dolphin High School Future Plans:Join the Police Academy_______________

Portia J.At SOS: 1 yearGraduated: High School GEDFuture Plans:M e d i c a l A s s i s t i n g Program

Elena L.At SOS: 3 yearsGraduated: Hollywood Hills HighFuture Plans:Major in Health Science at Broward College

_______________

Elizabeth R.At SOS: 1 YearGraduated: PACE Center for GirlsAccomplishments:HANDY Youth BoardFuture Plans:College with a focus on Children’s Health Care

Shaikayla R.At SOS: 3 YearsGraduated: Monarch High SchoolAccomplishments:Vice-President Florida Youth Leadership Assoc. Future Plans:Major in criminal justice at Broward College.

_______________

Sarah T.At SOS: 7 yearsGraduated: Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, with an ESE emphasis from NSUAccomplishments:ChildNet Board MemberFuture Plans:Elementary School Teacher

The SOS Class of 2013 was our largest graduating class to date and celebrated eight high school diplomas and two college degrees. Each of these young adults are shining examples of what our foster kids can accomplish when empowered by those around them, including you. Please join us in congratulating...

Name(s) ______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

City/Zip _______________________________________________________

Phone ______________________ E-mail ___________________________

Checks may be made payable to: SOS Children’s Villages - Florida

Please charge my VISA MC Amex Discover

Card # _____________________________ CCV ________ Exp _________

Signature_____________________________________________________

My GiftI will get an SOS Child Back to School & Ready!

One Time Gift□ $250 □ $150 □ $75 □ $50

□ $25 □ $10 □ $ ______

You Can Be A School Pal For A Foster Child This Year

You can make a one time gift to help get the school year off to a good start or you can make an investment in a child for the entire school year by becoming a School Pal and pledging a monthly gift.

What can your monthly gift do?

; $10 a month will provide supplies for special class projects and reports all year long for a child.

; $25 a month wi l l cover costs of equipment/fees for a child’s extracurricular activities throughout the year.

; $50 a month will provide new clothes and shoes for a child as seasons change.

School Pals can choose to receive special updates about grades, school activities and programs their gifts help make happen throughout the year. Payments can be billed or deducted from an authorized credit card. Donations can be canceled at any time with one call or e-mail.

School Pal (Monthly Gift)□ $100 □ $75 □ $50

□ $25 □ $10 □ $ ______

Friends paying by check will be billed each month. Credit cards provided will be automatically charged unless otherwise instructed.

Make a gift at www.sosflorida.com\bts or 954-420-5033

The Kindness of Others Inspired Kathy’s Straight A’s Kathy’s school year started off on the wrong foot. Failing grades and suspensions were regular occurrences for the 13-year-old. But, by the end of the year, she was a brand new girl.

It wasn’t punishment, grounding or even extra tutoring that turned her around. It was the realization that she was surrounded by people who cared and believed in her and her desire not to let them down.

Her staff encouraged second chances and did her best to ensure that the adults around her recognized her efforts to change and do better. Her teacher and school administrator also lent their support by helping set and track little goals with her and giving her a Hollister gift card at the end of the year for reaching them.

Kathy realized that getting in trouble was stressful and she was always wondering who would give up on her or what she would lose.

“It’s nice to hear good things from everyone around me instead of seeing the disappointment and hearing ‘suspended again”, says Kathy. “Now I just stop and think about what they would say and I want to keep doing good.”

You can inspire success this year by supporting Back to School and Ready and showing our kids how many friends they have who care.

Pop Quiz: How Back to School Savvy Are You?Every summer our friends come through for our kids and donate hundreds of school supplies for the new year. After two decades, we have getting 75 kids “Back to School & Ready” down to a science. Can you pass our 2013 BACK TO SCHOOL POP WISHES POP QUIZ?

1. Which of these supplies are the most donated?2. Which do we need the most of?3. Which do our kids request the most?4. Which items are the hardest to come by?

Answers: 1. A2. C3. D4. F

A G

F

E

D

C

B H

• Mechanical & #2 Pencils• Crayons• Erasable &

Regular Pens• Colored Pencils• Highlighters• Markers• 1 & 5 Subject Spiral

Notebooks• Composition Notebooks• College & Wide

Ruled Paper• 2” Binders• Dividers• Pocket Folders w/Prongs• Tri-fold Project Boards• Poster Board• Construction Paper• Glue Sticks• Backpacks - Jansport

Preferred• Regular&Scientific

Calculators• Earphones• USB Flash Drives

Education & Peace of Mind In A Pencil

Collect, shop and deliver any of these school supplies to SOS by August 8th to help our kids get ready for their first day of class!

Where else can you find education and peace of mind in a pencil?

The Gift of Education

Accomplishing any goal starts with having the right tools. Ensuring a child’s education begins with school supplies.

Each of our kids were well prepared for school last year thanks in great part to friends who delivered school supplies to SOS last summer. What did they do with those supplies? They saw stellar success as grades increased, more of them hit the honor roll and, in Shawn’s case, GPA’s doubled!

But it wasn’t just grades that were affected.

The Zen Of The Pencil

We toss aside and lose pencils all the time. They’re cheap and disposable. But to a foster child, school supplies are more than meets the eye. Believe it or not they bring piece of mind and focus.

A pencil isn’t just something they write with. Having one means they won’t be embarrassed about not having basic school supplies. Not “sweating the small stuff” lets each child focus on their grades.

You can make next year another success for our seventy-five kids. So, pick up a few supplies from our wish list (to the right) next time you run to the store and ask friends and neighbors to do the same.

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY @ WWW. STEPSFORSOS.ORG

Lace Up Your Sneakers and Get Your Heart Pumping For SOS!The First Annual Steps for SOS Walk takes place October 12 and we’re looking for high energy teams who want to take steps for the future of our foster kids.

Our goal is to raise $30,000...and have fun. Each dollar continues the promise of healing, hope and home for the boys and girls and can help with everything from new winter clothes to football, cheerleading and celebrating the holidays.

Start Your Team Online registration is open now at stepsforsos.org and it’s so easy to invite your team to sign up and start fun-raising together with your own personal page. Tell your friends why you love SOS kids. Then send a message to all your friends by e-mail or on Facebook and Twitter.

Are You A Superstar?Beat our $100 fun-raising challenge this year to be one of our very special “Superstar” walkers. Not only will you get special recognition at the walk, but you also get to take pride in the fact that you “went the distance” for our kids.

Clay t o n j o y fu l l y returned home and rejoined our Alumni Programs to get back on track thanks to the care and support of SOS friends and family he had never met.

WhenIfirststartedworkingattheVillage9yearsago,Iobviouslydidn’tknowalot of the children residing here. Every month in our staff meeting we would sign a stackofcardsforchildrenthatwerenolongerlivingintheVillage–alittle“hello”tobrighten their day. Like everyone else, I signed my name to dozens of cards, and sometimes wrote a little note of encouragement. Months turned into years and I stilldutifullysigned,mosttochildrenandyoungadultsI’dneverevenmet,sendingthem out and wondering if they were ever actually read.

Two years ago at our annual Thanksgiving dinner, a young man approached me and asked if I knew who he was. I had to admit I had no idea! He introduced himself andtoldmethathehadlefttheVillagebeforeIstartedworkingthere,andhadunfortunately been incarcerated. However during that time he received a card from SOS every month. At that point he gave me the biggest, longest, tightest hug and toldmehowmuchmylittlemessagesand“hellos”meanttohim.We’dnevermet,buttheconnectionto“home”kepthisspiritsupandhelpedhimturnthingsaround.This“family”,withallofourupsanddowns,isalwaysthereforitschildren,andthat’soneofthereasonsIlovebeingapartofit.

An SOS Memory: How My Signature Changed A Life - Genevieve Areson, SOS Activities Coordinator

C O U N T R Y C L U B

Thursday,September 19, 2013

11am - 1pm

Tickets $65www.sosflorida.com

Contact Julie at 954-420-5030 x117 or jselvaggi@sosflorida.com for

sponsorship or ad journal opportunities.

It’s time to celebrate the “Spirit of Home” you give to us everyday. Home Truly Is The Nicest Word There Is

What’s the Spirit of Home?A house is just a place to live, but family makes a home. You’re a part of twelve wonderfully unique homes here at SOS. You’re a part of our family.

Your support - your time and generosity creates a warm feeling that’s contagious around the Village. This “Spirit of Home” enriches our children’s lives and is the foundation of their success and dreams.

We’ve seen it in many of our kids - Wanda, our first child, who feels she can care for her own three children because of the love and care she received at SOS; Freddy who didn’t know he had sisters and had never felt part of a family until coming to SOS; Natasha who was always grateful for the chance to grow up “normal.”

All of these stories bring to life the SOS “Spirit of Home” that you are a part of.

Catch the Spirit We invite you to join us Thursday, September 19th for our second annual Spirit of Home Luncheon to share some of our treasured memories and deepest gratitude for your ongoing generosity.

Honoring FriendsThis year’s luncheon will also recognize four extraordinary honorees for their long-time dedication to our kids.

Outstanding Individuals Mark & Patti Solomon have been tireless advocates for the village for over 15 years, spending countless hours with our kids as volunteers and Board members.

Outstanding Volunteers from the Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale literally helped build the Village and turned our buildings into family “homes.”

Outstanding Staff Member Jillian Smath has led our program department for sixteen years - shaping our homes and building our successful and growing services.

Outstanding Community Partner Jarden Consumer Services has been rallying its employees for our kids since 2000 with volunteer projects and funding for many vital programs.

“I have been in many foster care placements, and SOS is the first place where I put the word “HOME” in my cell phone address book.” - Stephanie, at age 17