A LETTER WRITTEN TO SUPPORTERS IN FEBRUARY 2008
Once again, this year, we received profiles from Boys and Girls Club, Venice Family
Clinic, Agape, and St. Joseph's center. We based our choices on families that are not
only "needy" but WORTHY.....another words.......they are partnering with us to
improve the quality of their lives ....... really extraordinary people who have and are
facing extraordinary hardships.
On behalf of myself, and the "First Tuesday Circle of Giving" 2008 Steering Committee:
Patricial Sill, Rae Hippolito, Robin Berman, Mimi Martino, and Liria Mersini:.....we are
proud to introduce you all to
Once again, this year, we received profiles from Boys and Girls Club, Venice Family
Clinic, Agape, and St. Joseph's center. We based our choices on families that are not
only "needy" but WORTHY.....another words.......they are partnering with us to
improve the quality of their lives ....... really extraordinary people who have and are
facing extraordinary hardships.
On behalf of myself, and the "First Tuesday Circle of Giving" 2008 Steering Committee:
Patricial Sill, Rae Hippolito, Robin Berman, Mimi Martino, and Liria Mersini:.....we are
proud to introduce you all to
| or PLEASE MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: First Tuesday Circle of Giving L.A MAIL TO: First Tuesday Circle Of Giving 632 W. Deming, Coach House Chicago IL 60614 |
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| Copyright 2007. Marcy Cole |
| OUR 2008 FTCOG SPONSORED FAMILY: THE HIGGINS...... |
Purlene is a 69 year old Grandma of these two special young people:Kai and Brent,Their mother,
Purlene's only child, was anemic and given "bad blood" over a decade ago.She consequently
died from Aids, over 10 years ago, when the children were 5 years old.Purlene, working at the
Post office at the time, has done her best to raise these children by herself.Now retired, despite
having a stellar record of paying her rent regularly, she was evicted over a year ago when she did
not have the "move in" $600 debt she still owed the landlord. Ever since, she and these teenage
kids have been homeless, living in 3 different transitional housing situations in Compten, Inglewood
(where there was a lot of dangerous gang activity) and now Santa Monica. They are awaiting
section 8 housing any day now and she is praying that they be able to stay in Santa Monica where
the children are in school. Once placed, this family, like the Robbs last year, will need
EVERYTHING from Soup to Nuts........so we will be very busy purchasing what they will need with
moneys raised and collecting/delivering donations of goods. You would all just LOVE Purlene. She
is a woman of faith and the next time we visit, we are going to film our time because what she
shares is priceless. Brent is such an interesting kid.....the one "everyone loves" at school and the
Technology President at the Boys and Girls Club on Wilshire. Kai, as you can see below, is also full
of spirit and light. She goes to the Santa Monica Library every day after school and currently has
a 3.6 grade point average. These children have such heart...just look at their smiles! We have
connected with the case managers trying to place them in housing, had 2 home visits, and Robin
Berman sponsored a $200 grocery run to fill their fridge up with lots of good/healthy stuff
Purlene's only child, was anemic and given "bad blood" over a decade ago.She consequently
died from Aids, over 10 years ago, when the children were 5 years old.Purlene, working at the
Post office at the time, has done her best to raise these children by herself.Now retired, despite
having a stellar record of paying her rent regularly, she was evicted over a year ago when she did
not have the "move in" $600 debt she still owed the landlord. Ever since, she and these teenage
kids have been homeless, living in 3 different transitional housing situations in Compten, Inglewood
(where there was a lot of dangerous gang activity) and now Santa Monica. They are awaiting
section 8 housing any day now and she is praying that they be able to stay in Santa Monica where
the children are in school. Once placed, this family, like the Robbs last year, will need
EVERYTHING from Soup to Nuts........so we will be very busy purchasing what they will need with
moneys raised and collecting/delivering donations of goods. You would all just LOVE Purlene. She
is a woman of faith and the next time we visit, we are going to film our time because what she
shares is priceless. Brent is such an interesting kid.....the one "everyone loves" at school and the
Technology President at the Boys and Girls Club on Wilshire. Kai, as you can see below, is also full
of spirit and light. She goes to the Santa Monica Library every day after school and currently has
a 3.6 grade point average. These children have such heart...just look at their smiles! We have
connected with the case managers trying to place them in housing, had 2 home visits, and Robin
Berman sponsored a $200 grocery run to fill their fridge up with lots of good/healthy stuff
Beautiful inside and out Kai (9th grade)
Purlene:68 year old "Granny"
Brent (10th grade).....very
special young man
special young man
Cool Cats' Patricia and Brent.........
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OF TWO FAMILIES:
If you remember, last year we gave auxiliary support to the Graciella family. Generous Donations
from First Tuesday gals like Jennifer Frances,Diane Taub,cloths collected from many FT gals,
and employment of the parents by Carole Klinke really did bear their fruits for them.
This year is no exception, as we were introduced to 2 other families that we cannot help but try to
give as much peripheral help as we can......because......they are worth it!
The Rivera Family: from left: Ingrid (12), 35 year old mama Josephine,15 year old Richard, 26
year old "Papa" Richard and 2 year old delicious Elana.......
If you remember, last year we gave auxiliary support to the Graciella family. Generous Donations
from First Tuesday gals like Jennifer Frances,Diane Taub,cloths collected from many FT gals,
and employment of the parents by Carole Klinke really did bear their fruits for them.
This year is no exception, as we were introduced to 2 other families that we cannot help but try to
give as much peripheral help as we can......because......they are worth it!
The Rivera Family: from left: Ingrid (12), 35 year old mama Josephine,15 year old Richard, 26
year old "Papa" Richard and 2 year old delicious Elana.......
The Rivera Family was brought to our attention by St. Josephs where they go to the food pantry
and get other services. Josephine came to America at the age of 19 with her boyfriend. They
had 2 children together.....Richard and Ingrid......while he became increasingly physically abusive
to her. At 23 she said she went outside in the middle of the night and wanted to run but was "alone"
in this country and did not know where to go with her small children. At the age of 27, she finally
summoned the strength and courage to leave him and lived in a one bedroom place with anther
family. He was stalking her, so she finally found safety in a shelter for one year. Section 8
placement in Santa Monica then came Dru. She met Richard while working at Taco Bell and they
got married and had the little one in his arms: Elana. In 2005, the government deported Josephine
back to Mexico while her citizen papers were processed. She did so, with her baby, while husband
Richard (only 26 years old by the way)......took care of the two older kids. Due to bureaucracy, she
was detained and away from her family for over one year......finally reuniting just a few months ago.
Richard had a very tough upbringing in NY........with Father as a "junkie" and without a mother
upon whom he could totally rely. Somehow, he had the strength of spirit and good sense to search
another path and create another reality for himself. He came to LA a few years ago.....worked at
Taco Bell as the manager (where he met Josephine) and now is the manager of a photo lab, where
his income is stable but low. His passion is photography and he dreams of owning his own business
someday. Since they have been living on one income, things have been very tight, with literally an
empty refrigerator from what we could see. So.....first order of business was to do a grocery run,
which we did. And then......to help empower Josephine by helping her start to work again and
create a second income stream. She is quite bright and talented herself.......she put a lovely home
together with a $1 chairs she found in garage sales and other very tasteful bargains. She said she
would do anything to work again for her family........clean houses, child care, etc.......with dreams to
go to beauty school someday. Within 48 hours of Patricia Sill and I meeting her and her beautiful
family, Kristen Kilmer hired her to clean her home this week and described here as "Amazing".
She now has possibly 3 more "First Tuesday" homes to work with as a result. We will also be
exploring sponsoring martial arts for her 15 year old son and will help sell husband/father
Richard's art at our fundraiser.
and get other services. Josephine came to America at the age of 19 with her boyfriend. They
had 2 children together.....Richard and Ingrid......while he became increasingly physically abusive
to her. At 23 she said she went outside in the middle of the night and wanted to run but was "alone"
in this country and did not know where to go with her small children. At the age of 27, she finally
summoned the strength and courage to leave him and lived in a one bedroom place with anther
family. He was stalking her, so she finally found safety in a shelter for one year. Section 8
placement in Santa Monica then came Dru. She met Richard while working at Taco Bell and they
got married and had the little one in his arms: Elana. In 2005, the government deported Josephine
back to Mexico while her citizen papers were processed. She did so, with her baby, while husband
Richard (only 26 years old by the way)......took care of the two older kids. Due to bureaucracy, she
was detained and away from her family for over one year......finally reuniting just a few months ago.
Richard had a very tough upbringing in NY........with Father as a "junkie" and without a mother
upon whom he could totally rely. Somehow, he had the strength of spirit and good sense to search
another path and create another reality for himself. He came to LA a few years ago.....worked at
Taco Bell as the manager (where he met Josephine) and now is the manager of a photo lab, where
his income is stable but low. His passion is photography and he dreams of owning his own business
someday. Since they have been living on one income, things have been very tight, with literally an
empty refrigerator from what we could see. So.....first order of business was to do a grocery run,
which we did. And then......to help empower Josephine by helping her start to work again and
create a second income stream. She is quite bright and talented herself.......she put a lovely home
together with a $1 chairs she found in garage sales and other very tasteful bargains. She said she
would do anything to work again for her family........clean houses, child care, etc.......with dreams to
go to beauty school someday. Within 48 hours of Patricia Sill and I meeting her and her beautiful
family, Kristen Kilmer hired her to clean her home this week and described here as "Amazing".
She now has possibly 3 more "First Tuesday" homes to work with as a result. We will also be
exploring sponsoring martial arts for her 15 year old son and will help sell husband/father
Richard's art at our fundraiser.
The Muried family below was recommended by Agape International Spiritual Center, They were
so incredibly supportive of our family last year that we were so happy to pay it forward to their
family of choice this year. Nailah is a wonderful young woman doing the very best she can for
she and her 2 girls. Losing both her mother and their father a few years ago, Nailah saw an
Agape service on line and "packed up my kids and came to LA". She now carries 2 jobs and
looks forward to getting thru this challenging period to a place of greater financial security once
she finishes school. We sent out a specific donation request list a couple of weeks ago and
have gotten them several items. She still needs a Queen bed frame, a chest of draws for
herself and one daughter, and some pro-bono help from a mechanic who can gift repairs for her
car. If you can help with any of these needed items, please let us know!
so incredibly supportive of our family last year that we were so happy to pay it forward to their
family of choice this year. Nailah is a wonderful young woman doing the very best she can for
she and her 2 girls. Losing both her mother and their father a few years ago, Nailah saw an
Agape service on line and "packed up my kids and came to LA". She now carries 2 jobs and
looks forward to getting thru this challenging period to a place of greater financial security once
she finishes school. We sent out a specific donation request list a couple of weeks ago and
have gotten them several items. She still needs a Queen bed frame, a chest of draws for
herself and one daughter, and some pro-bono help from a mechanic who can gift repairs for her
car. If you can help with any of these needed items, please let us know!
| Mom: Nailah w/ 10year old Malikah and 6 year old Yaminah |
Now.....for the update of our 2007 chosen family the Robbs/Freemans: from left to right: back row:
Marcus, Mom Laura, Michael; Front row: Mariah, Mikayla, and Isaiah.
Marcus, Mom Laura, Michael; Front row: Mariah, Mikayla, and Isaiah.
With 6 people in a 2 bedroom apt., our "extreme makeover" has held up quite well! After losing
touch with them for a while, we reconnected in the Fall. Marcus who was the extrovert last year
started to get into trouble, while Michael the introvert held his head higher and seemed to have
matured quite a lot. He said he felt better over all because he "like coming home". We took them
out for New Year's brunch to re-connect. Marcus opened up to us about the problems he has
been having. We are still trying to connect him with pro-active mentorship with a male. Michael
is being tutored in Math by our Robin Berman's prince of a Husband Ed.........and Marcus came
last week too! Isaiah still enjoys going to the Writers Guild to see film with my husband Ben. While
the introduction to Agape International Spiritual Center was quite powerful for Laura last year,
she stopped going, due to a sense of inertia. We spoke a lot about this being soooo important
for weekly spiritual nourishment for all of them. She has been totally consistent ever since that
talk...going every Sunday with the kids. She always leaves uplifted and inspired and the children
now look forward to it every week. One week she hugged me after service, tearful and said
"Thank you and the ladies for giving me my life back". More great news is that Agape is sponsoring
all 6 of them for the Revelations weekend in April! Last week I spoke to Laura about our !st
Quarter second year campaign kick off to help families. She said....."Please.......I want to help....
i'll do anything.....carry boxes.......whatever......the kids want to help too!" So.......what goes
around comes around.....that's the beauty of it all.
SO.........NOW.......WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO DO FOR THESE FAMILIES
IN WHATEVER WE CAN. THE MORE WE RAISE, THE MORE WE ARE ABLE TO DO FOR
THEM IN THE PRESENT AND IN THE FUTURE:
THANK YOU......WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR CONNECTION TO THIS VISION......ONE FAMILY
AT A TIME.......GOD BLESS US ALL
touch with them for a while, we reconnected in the Fall. Marcus who was the extrovert last year
started to get into trouble, while Michael the introvert held his head higher and seemed to have
matured quite a lot. He said he felt better over all because he "like coming home". We took them
out for New Year's brunch to re-connect. Marcus opened up to us about the problems he has
been having. We are still trying to connect him with pro-active mentorship with a male. Michael
is being tutored in Math by our Robin Berman's prince of a Husband Ed.........and Marcus came
last week too! Isaiah still enjoys going to the Writers Guild to see film with my husband Ben. While
the introduction to Agape International Spiritual Center was quite powerful for Laura last year,
she stopped going, due to a sense of inertia. We spoke a lot about this being soooo important
for weekly spiritual nourishment for all of them. She has been totally consistent ever since that
talk...going every Sunday with the kids. She always leaves uplifted and inspired and the children
now look forward to it every week. One week she hugged me after service, tearful and said
"Thank you and the ladies for giving me my life back". More great news is that Agape is sponsoring
all 6 of them for the Revelations weekend in April! Last week I spoke to Laura about our !st
Quarter second year campaign kick off to help families. She said....."Please.......I want to help....
i'll do anything.....carry boxes.......whatever......the kids want to help too!" So.......what goes
around comes around.....that's the beauty of it all.
SO.........NOW.......WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO DO FOR THESE FAMILIES
IN WHATEVER WE CAN. THE MORE WE RAISE, THE MORE WE ARE ABLE TO DO FOR
THEM IN THE PRESENT AND IN THE FUTURE:
THANK YOU......WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR CONNECTION TO THIS VISION......ONE FAMILY
AT A TIME.......GOD BLESS US ALL