Keeping Dreams
Alive
|
"The
Realities For Children’s Keeping Dreams Alive program encourages abused
children in the social services system to pursue their dreams – providing
an invitation and opportunity to dream fearlessly and inspire all children – especially
those who have endured the betrayal and atrocities of childhood abuse,
to keep their dreams alive and ultimately become triumphant over their
abusive pasts.
KEEPING DREAMS ALIVE
VIEW THE EVENT PHOTO GALLERY BY BECOMING A FAN OF REALITIES FOR CHILDREN ON FACEBOOK!
Realities For Children Honored Leaders in Child Protective Services During Child Abuse Prevention Month
Realities For Children invited community members to attend the 13th Annual Human Services and Keeping Dreams Alive Awards on Saturday, April 10 at the Fort Collins Hilton. This 340 person dinner awards banquet acknowledged the work and support community business leaders, local law enforcement, child protection case workers, affiliate youth agencies and supports the children that dare to dream. As April is the National Child Abuse Prevention Month, this special evening was unique in that it truly united our community.The Keeping Dreams Alive program encourages abused children, in Larimer County’s Social Services system to pursue their dreams – providing an invitation and opportunity to dream fearlessly and inspire all children – especially those who have endured the betrayal and atrocities of childhood abuse, to keep their dreams alive and ultimately become triumphant over their pasts and honors those dedicated in the fight against child abuse right here in Larimer County.
Awards were presented in the following categories:
CASEWORKER:
Kathay Rennels Award – Awarded to the best performing ongoing caseworker for the last 12 months – Sue Batey
Janna Klussman Award – Awarded to the best performing in-take caseworker – Jessica Link
Ginny Riley Award – Awarded for achieving outstanding outcomes for children –
David Mancuso, Deb DeLuca-Forzley , Gary Crist, Jennifer Lewis, Joanne Murphy, Kellie Curtis, Laura Matthews, Lois Winegarner, Mykel Brawley Penny Kidd, Pia Jansen, Ronna Davis and Susan Hendrickson
Realities For Children Award – Awarded to the best overall caseworker team performance -
Amanda Starr, Andrea Steinberg, Angie Hanson, Cathy Pierce, Jessica Link, Lacey Hodges, Paula Murray and Sarah Proctor
LAW ENFORCEMENT:
Superhero Award – Awarded to a law enforcement superhero who went above and beyond in the life of a child – Detective Scott Highland
COMMUNITY:
My Day I Survived Award – Awarded for outstanding contributions to children in our community – Kellie Holcomb
YOUTH:
Each of the children, that you will read about below, will have their dreams granted. We feel it is crucial for our business members and supporters to know where these children came from and understand how you are helping to truly make their dreams come true.
Little Matthew
BACKGROUND:
Matthew is 6 years old. He was removed from his parents when he was three months of age as he was exposed to high levels of methamphetamine through the pregnancy and in his first few months at home - causing him to have seizures and other strong, adverse reactions. His alternative family placement physically abused and severely neglected this challenged little boy. He was finally placed in the protective custody of foster care. With his medical and behavioral history, placement was difficult to maintain. He was bounced from foster home to foster home. Before he was 5 years old, he had suffered extreme physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
DREAM:
WHAT RFC PROVIDED:
Matthew was sworn in as a Honorary Deputy by Sheriff Jim Alderden and provided a set of customized Mickey Mouse ears to wear on his 5 Night Stay in Disney World - which were presented by Cinderella herself!
Leticia
BACKGROUND:
Leticia had to grow up fast to survive. She is the oldest of four children. Her family has been involved with the Department of Human Services for the past nine years due to sexual abuse, extreme neglect and all but absentee parents addicted to drugs and alcohol. To survive, she always put the needs of her younger siblings first - even as a child herself she would cook their meals, watch over them, clean the home and get them all ready for school.
DREAM:
WHAT RFC PROVIDED:
Leticia was given voice lessons and the opportunity to sing in front of 340 event attendees at this year's Keeping Dreams Alive event. RFC also purchased her first outfit for this debut appearance, provided her tickets to go see the Indigo Girls and meet the professional singers of E-Town.
LETICIA ALWAYS PUT THEIR NEEDS FIRST, BUT NOW
SHE HAS A DREAM ALL OF HER OWN.
Shanequa
BACKGROUND:
Shanequa has known defeat, distress and chaos. She has been subjected to extreme abuse, neglect trauma and abandonment that has led to depression and helplessness. When her developmentally disabled mother could not appropriately care for her, she became the family’s caregiver doing her best to raise her younger brothers and sisters as well as her mother.
When it was no longer safe at home she watched as the brothers and sisters, she was in charge of, were separated. She went into the custody of her alcoholic grandfather - where she endured physical abuse by his hand. With adoption and permanent placements for her 3 siblings, Shanequa now finds herself disappointed with her family’s inability to care for her and with no one left to care for as an only child in foster care.
DREAM:
WHAT RFC PROVIDED:
RFC transformed Shanequa's beautiful art work and placed it onto glass mugs - which were provided as member gifts to each of our business members this year. In addition, we provided one month of T-CAMP art lessons, a large art set, charcoal pencils and stipend to purchase more art supplies.
Ashley
BACKGROUND
Ashley only knew abuse and abandonment. She grew up with her mother living in cars and never knowing permanent placement before her mother’s parental rights were terminated - due to exposing Ashley to drugs and sex. Her father then gained custody of her life - where she was physically abused, and after four years, his parental rights were terminated as well. Since this second termination, she has lived in multiple foster homes, seeking adoption. With an IQ below 70, she is left academically delayed and has very limited experiences
knowing any sort of safety or stability.
DREAM:
WHAT RFC PROVIDED:
The Broncos Cheerleaders joined RFC on stage where they presented Ashley with the chance to participate in a one year cheerleading camp, perform at four Broncos home games this season, her very own Broncos Cheerleading uniform, pom-poms and an autographed poster.
Sydney
BACKGROUND
Sydney was in a state of crisis. She was removed from her mother’s care, barely passing her classes or even attending school. She was smoking, drinking and spiraling out of control as she was incapable of dealing or even processing her sexual abuse and violent rape. By 13 years old, she was in a dangerous place from where many never return.
DREAM:
WHAT RFC PROVIDED:
RFC provided Sydney with her very own Holy Cross sweatshirt and stipend for one year's worth of books, supplies and fees.
Dillon
BACKGROUND
Dillon is haunted by his past trauma and losses. At just 7 years old, he has a long history of sexual, physical and emotional abuse. To make matters more overwhelming, this little boy suffers from psycho social dwarfism as a result of his long term depression, anxiety, and encopresis.This kind-hearted 7 year old is left confused - feeling small, afraid, defeated and alone.
DREAM:
WHAT RFC PROVIDED:
RFC purchased a Tulo jersey for Dillon, and this young man will attend a game where he will receive Club Level tickets and chance to meet the Rockies players.
Tanner
BACKGROUND
Tanner is ten years old. His mother was a severe alcoholic for twenty years while raising Tanner’s two siblings and relapsed upon Tanner’s birth. This little boy endured extensive sexual abuse at the age of four – causing severe medical conditions for him. Tanner’s mother is terminally ill. The doctors have said she could die tomorrow or possibly live a few more years, but she will definitely not reach his eighteenth birthday. She had both her legs and right arm amputated as well as a finger amputated –which became infected and caused her to become incapacitated with a blood infection and lay dying of a stroke on the couch. Tanner saved his mother’s life by calling 9-1-1. Although this young man is a hero for preserving his mother’s life, he was told by a person in a position of trust, that he did the wrong thing saving his mother and should have let her die. Tanner saw his mother less than eight hours in the two months he was in placement, and during that time, his very good friend, his dog, was put to sleep due to a person in a position of trust, opting to go this route versus paying for heartworm medicine.
DREAM:
WHAT RFC PROVIDED:
RFC will provide a 5 Night Stay, airfare and passes to visit Sea World. In addition, Tanner was awarded as a Superhero with his very own trophy and given a digital camera to capture all the happy memories with Shamu and his other sea friends.
Meet 8 Year old Justin
BACKGROUND
Justin is a little boy who endured severe physical and sexual abuse throughout his young life and was witness to many “on the run criminals” staying at his home while his parents operated a meth-lab and allowed strangers to do things to this boy NO PERSON should ever have to go through. At the age of 3, his mother locked him out of the house multiple times during the middle of winter, leaving him in the bitter cold in only his pajamas and taunting him through the front window of the family’s living room. He endured many horrors in his very little time here on Earth. Justin is now an eight year old with severe behavioral issues. He is currently in the custody of Larimer County Child Protection and set to be adopted in the very near future.
DREAM
Justin wanted to meet the Mammoth players and hopes to play basketball at CSU and also attend Lacrosse Camp.
RFC Provided:
History:
The Keeping Dreams Alive program is one of our newest innovations - designed as a sister program to the Triumph Awards. Keeping Dreams Alive’ was designed to encourage abused and neglected children in the social services system to follow their dreams and inspire them to make their dreams a reality.
The Realities For Children Triumph Awards recognize and honor exceptional youth in our community who not only survived the adversities of childhood abuse but have also triumphed over them personally, socially and academically.Ongoing support is critical to help them continue progressing and achieve the goals that they have set for themselves. The Acknowledgment, Educational Opportunities and Post-emancipation Support that the Triumph Awards provides helps to empower these youth to break the cycle of abuse.
Over the years, Realities For Children came to question what allows one child to victoriously triumph over their abuse and others to be devastated and remain victims of their abusive past. Although there are many variables and factors that affect each child’s ability to overcome obstacles, one common denominator was apparent in all our Triumph Award recipients’ lives - they never gave up on their dreams.
We believe that if a child loses their dreams, they lose much more than the joy of pursuing them, they lose hope and the excitement that being a child should be all about. We want to encourage children to not only dream but to dream big and know that anything is possible. Children in placement may need their dreams more than anyone, and if we are to see children Triumph they must first dream that they can. In the ‘Keeping Dreams Alive’ program we are bringing excitement to what is generally a difficult time in child’s life by allowing children to express their dreams – dreams for bettering their life in the future and today’s dreams that can be granted and nourished.
Children ages 6 through 16 years of age are nominated by our Affiliate Youth Agencies that serve abused and at-risk children. These children must be cases currently open with the Larimer County Department of Human Services to have the chance for their dreams to become a reality. In April, National Child Abuse Awareness Month, we will be granting as many of the dreams shared in the submission essays as we are able. The granting of these dreams will happen at our 13th Annual Member and Agency Appreciation Dinner at the Hilton in Fort Collins.
The 2008 Keeping Dreams Alive program was a tremendous success and thanks to community support we were able to grant every dream shared. From all caseworker reports, the Keeping Dreams Alive program had a tremendous impact on the children they serve by showing them that people care and that dreams come true and should not be abandoned. We hope this invitation to dream fearlessly will inspire all children – especially those who have endured the betrayal and atrocities of childhood abuse to keep their dreams alive and ultimately become victors over their abusive past.
2010 Keeping Dreams Alive Nomination Information:
Nominees must have an open case with the Larimer County Department of Human Services and range in age from 6-16 years old as of April 10, 2012. All submissions must be received by Friday, March 19, 2012. Be sure to include the following: Nomination Form, Nominee Waiver Form and Nominee Essay Page. Submissions can be mailed or hand-delivered to: Realities For Children Charities at 1610 S. College Avenue in Fort Collins, CO. Submissions may also be faxed to: (970) 484-0726. Finalists will be notified, provided event information details and will receive a form invitation by mail.
To make a donation or for more information regarding Realities For Children’s Keeping Dreams Alive, click here, call (970) 484-9090 or make checks payable to Realities For Children Charities and mail to: Realities For Children Charities, 1610 South College Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80525.
Realities For Children Charities is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. All donations are tax deductible and directly serve the needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children in Larimer County.
