Kumba Walker with daughter Faith

Smiles wreathed every face as volunteers and staff eagerly handed out large bags stuffed with colorfully-wrapped gifts and diapers to Florence Crittenton School students and their families on Friday, Dec. 17, just before this DPS “intensive pathways” school for pregnant and parenting teens closed for winter break. Nearby, Santa bounced babies on his lap in the midst of joyous Christmas chaos.

“I’m very happy and excited. I didn’t expect anyone to get me gifts and all this,” said a beaming Kumba Walker, 17, after picking up a bag of presents for her 9-month-old daughter Faith at the administrative offices of Florence Crittenton Services, the Denver nonprofit that operates the school. “I’m really happy they got me diapers! I want to thank Florence Crittenton so very much for this wonderful Christmas they have made for us.”

The agency collected hundreds of gifts through Giving Trees set up in offices and public spaces throughout metro Denver, and as a result each student received a large bag filled with presents and diapers. Babies gurgled, pulled whiskers or screamed in terror as each had an opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap and get their picture taken.

Santa with baby

The Giving Tree is one of three Holiday Helping Hands projects that Florence Crittenton Services, formerly Parent Pathways, conducts each year. Through Sponsor-a-Family, 50 of the school’s neediest teen families were adopted by companies, individuals and groups, which provided a student’s entire family with gifts and a holiday feast. In November, 70 students took home Thanksgiving feasts as a result of the successful Thanksgiving Baskets project.

About 90% of students who attend the Florence Crittenton School are eligible for the federal free and reduced lunch program. That means that for many of their families, there’s no extra money for a Christmas feast or presents from Santa. The holiday season can be a depressing time for these young women, who are struggling just to get by while working to finish high school and build cycles of success for their families. But thanks to the hundreds of individuals, businesses and groups that opened their hearts this holiday season, these students were able to experience the holidays with joy.

For Morel Rowe, who accompanied his girlfriend, Jolene Solis, and their 15-month-old daughter Jazmine, Holiday Helping Hands went far beyond receiving donated gifts for his little family. “It’s our first Christmas together as a family, and I get to be part of Jazmine’s life,” said the serious young man in the black baseball cap, who has been receiving mentoring and relationship support from Cruz Pedraza, a counselor in Florence Crittenton’s Family Engagement Center. “It means a lot.”

“Without Holiday Helping Hands, we would have nothing to put under the tree for her to open,” said Jolene with a smile.

A family Christmas

“If I didn’t have this, I wouldn’t be able to give him anything,” said Yesenia Barrientos, 16, who tenderly carried newborn son Angel, just 5 weeks old. “I feel happy, very emotional,” she added, blinking back tears.

Florence Crittenton Services is a Denver-based nonprofit that empowers struggling teen families to be productive members of the community. Using a holistic and proven approach, Florence Crittenton Services offers a spectrum of wraparound services for the entire teen family, including education, health/wellness services, career guidance and parenting training for pregnant and parenting teen mothers at the Florence Crittenton School; early childhood education for their infants and toddlers at the Qualistar-rated Early Learning Center; and counseling, education and parenting support for teen fathers and family members through the Family Engagement Center.

Florence Crittenton Services helps teen families create cycles of success. Learn more about the agency at www.FlorenceCrittentonCO.org.

Matches from Colorado Health and an Angel Donor Maximize Giving

Linda Armstrong Kelly with Evangaline Martinez, the student who introduced her at the luncheon, and Evangeline's son Jayden DENVER, COLORADO – Oct. 18, 2010 – Cycling superstar Lance Armstrong’s mother, Linda Armstrong Kelly, was keynote speaker as Florence Crittenton Services, formerly Parent Pathways, raised more than $90,000 at its “Cycles of Success” Luncheon on Oct. 12, 2010, at the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.  The event drew almost 400 people, compared to 300 last year. Over $20,000 of the money raised came from support pledged by individuals, most of which will be matched by the Colorado Health Foundation and an Angel Donor, compared to less than $9,000 raised last year with no match. The event attracted more than $71,000 in sponsorship and ticket sales, versus $43,000 last year. Kelly, a former teen mom and author of the book “No Mountain High Enough: Raising Lance, Raising Me,” met the pregnant and parenting teens who attend the Florence Crittenton School the day before speaking at the luncheon. Kelly was 17 when she gave birth to the son who later conquered cancer, established the Livestrong Foundation and won seven consecutive Tour de France bike races. Kelly delivered inspiring words about how a teen mom, thrown out of her home, living in poverty and mired in an abusive relationship, was able to overcome the odds and raise a champion. Novus Biologicals was speaker sponsor of the luncheon. Accenture produced a video unveiled at the luncheon. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2ikLeffNC0) Benefactor sponsors, at the $5,000 level, included Encana Oil & Gas, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Colorado, PCL Construction, Bank of the West and Qwest. Contributor sponsors, at the $2,500 level, included First Bank, Pure Brand, IMA of Colorado and Ellen Balaguer, managing director of Accenture Learning. Table sponsors, at the $1,500 level, included Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, DirecTV, EKS&H, Mile High United Way, KPMG, Quiznos, Bloom Certified Nurse Mid-Wives at St. Anthony Central Hospital, Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons and Aon Construction Services Group, in addition to a number of individuals.

]]> http://www.flocritco.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=209 152 http://www.flocritco.org/blog/?p=204 http://www.flocritco.org/blog/?p=204#comments Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:52:36 +0000 pathwaysadmin http://www.florencecrittentonco.org/blog/?p=204 ‎10-year-old Amanda Komoczi delivered 592 books to Florence Crittenton School today! She collected them during a book drive launched in August. Amanda, the daughter of a teen mom, was doing community service to earn her Black Belt in karate and wanted to help teen moms like her own. She presented the books to Joanna Vincenti’s . . . → Read More: Amanda Delivers 592 Books to Flo Crit]]> ‎10-year-old Amanda Komoczi delivered 592 books to Florence Crittenton School today! She collected them during a book drive launched in August. Amanda, the daughter of a teen mom, was doing community service to earn her Black Belt in karate and wanted to help teen moms like her own. She presented the books to Joanna Vincenti’s 9th grade Social Studies class, which had read about her effort and wanted to meet their young benefactor.

“She’s a really nice kid. I’m really proud of her,” said 16-year-old Tanya Hernandez.

“She sounds really mature,” agreed Jennifer Araiza, 17.  “She’s a really good role model for our kids.”

The books Amanda collected included board books for the little ones in the Early Learning Center and young adult books for the pregnant and parenting teens who attend the Florence Crittenton School.

Read more about the program here: http://www.groundfloormedia.com/meet_gfm/community_outreach/get_giving.