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August 2008 - Hello Everyone!

We bet you have been as busy as our boys here at Generations as we have gone from one activity to the other this summer. Thank you so much to those who helped fill-up their summer free time with really interesting and fun things to do!

I apologize for the length of this update. It's been a while since our last update, but Amber and I will make sure news goes out on a regular basis once again so while this is a long one future updates will be much shorter.

If there is anything particular you would like to hear about in our updates, please return e-mail with your suggestions.

Contents of this update -

§       PAST HAPPENINGS

§       Current needs

§      UpCoMiNg EvEnTs

§       Meet Our Residents

PAST HAPPENINGS

Our summer really was kicked off by our May 15^th Luncheon for Second Chances. It was amazing to see so many of you there. Thank you so much for supporting our mission as we work toward no more victims!

Our traditional Memorial Day Cookout was great, and made possible by so many Greenville Breakfast Rotary members (Thank you Paul and Steve!!), Jill Ellwanger, Don McBride with US FoodService, and so many more.   It is activities like this that build, many for the first time, real childhood memories.

We want to say a special thanks to Jill Ellwanger and her Brookwood church group for coordinating and donating the waterslide and the Greenville Rotary Club AGAIN for their Cooker and time cooking and serving up the delicious food donated by US FoodService for July 4^th.

Chris T graduation - 7/7/08.

Chris is the amazing young man who was our testimonial speaker at the 2008 Luncheon for Second Chances. His testimony was extremely powerful, as was his graduation. Thank you to all who attended to send him off into his very bright future.

Sincere appreciation goes out to Vicki Davis for manning our sign in table at the graduation AND the Summer Showcase!

Our 2008 Summer Showcase, written, produced, sets created by, etc, etc, our wonderful Educational Staff and super talented residents.

The Showcase this year was based on the residents' favorite Dr. Seuss Vignettes.    As always, our GGH guys really showed their talents during this program. Some of them have potential to be comedians, actors, or artists; but all of them have the potential to be a hero!

Thank You employees of Baldor for creating a "Picnic" lunch for our boys at the end of July. They LOVED the sub sandwiches and the cookies, but most of all your time to be here with them.

Willie wrote to our Baldor friends, I just wanted to tell you all how much we all appreciate all of your time on making those delicious subs and I also want to say thanks for coming to see the joy you all have brought to our faces. Thanks, Willie.

Thank You Grazianos for the Desserts!

mmm mmm good was all I could say when I tasted your fantastic cake, Josh wrote.  I gotta be honest, I haven't tasted cheesecake like that in ages. Such an ingredient like this should be in a secret vault like Area 51 or in the depths of the Bermuda Triangle. Thanks to you Graziano's Italian Eatery. Sincerely Yours, Josh.

Martin wrote, Thanks for the best cheese cake ever. It should have its own food group. I almost didnt brush my teeth so I could savor the taste. . . . . .But I did. Thanks again! Martin

If you havent been to Graziano's on Main in Simpsonville.   Treat yourself!

Some of the other summer activities have include baseball games, swimming, hiking, roller skating, and a fantastic hands on trip to the Greenville Art Museum and an amazing week long tennis clinic in Belton, SC.

THANK YOUS ARE IN ORDER ...

To our volunteers who make our Star Parties truly special events.

We have 2 Friday Nights a Month that need sponsorship. Call if your group would like to learn more.

Current Point Store Needs:

¥     Any merchandise that has a sports logo (college or pro).

¥     Wii games, controllers, and attachments.

¥     Batteries (AA, AAA, 9 Volt)

¥     Crochet Needles

¥     Yarn

¥     Jigsaw Puzzles

¥     Playing Cards

¥     Personal CD Players w/headphones

Labor Day Celebration needs:

1)     Volunteers!

2)     Dye for Tie-dye shirts

3)     60 white t-shirts for tie-dye

Be a Bi-Lo Booster for GGH.   Each year you have to renew your support by taking a slip of paper with a bar code representing GGH and having it scanned in at your next shopping trip to Bi-Lo.   PLEASE if you shop at Bi-Lo, let us know and we can get that scan sheet to you ASAP.

Be Part of our Fall Home Improvement!

We have Five Houses that need sprucing up for the Fall. We are in need of Five Groups of Volunteers who can help with ideas and resources for this Project. Give Roseanne a call at 243-5557 ext 269 or Amber at ext 274.

Words from a recent Graduate:

While finishing up high school I want to play football and basketball, and hopefully be able to go on further in sports.

After I finish my education I plan to go into the Brick Masonry business.

My biggest lesson learned at GGH is how badly someone can be hurt by another's actions.

The Staff here at GGH have been the most influential people in my life. Particularly my Tx Coordinators Nicole and Joey, and counselors Mr. Richard, Chris L. and Sherwood!

The hardest thing about GGH is being away from my family because they live so far away.

The turning point for me here at GGH was when I moved to the moderate house. The change and harder goals made me realize I had to stop being so self-centered. I wanted my family to be proud of me, and to know that I have made changes and am not the same young man who first came to GGH.

Everyone here at GGH is proud of him and we can't wait to see what he accomplishes as the hero that he is!

Tours

Success Express Tours Coming Up:

Call Amber at 864-243-5557, ext. 274 for dates and time.

Fall Festival

October 31^st:

11am until 2 pm on GGH Bridges Campus

There will be food, fun, and...you guessed it...MORE FUN!

Let us know if you want to be part of the Fun as a Volunteer for this Friday Event!

Meet our Residents

(For confidentiality reasons the names have been changed.)

Adam is 14 years old. His favorite school subjects are science and keyboarding. Why? Because he likes to type and find out how things work. His favorite color is red and his favorite sport to play is baseball

Bob is 16, or how he put it "almost 17" years old. His favorite school subject is math because he loves to count (particularly money), and he loves numbers! His favorite color is red because it stands out from all the other colors. His favorite sport is basketball.

Cory is 13 years old. His favorite school subject is social studies because he likes to learn about other countries. His favorite color is red, too (see a trend here. . . ) and his favorite sport is football.

12-07-2007

Santa is definitely coming to GGH this year! Literally. ?Santa? will be here soon to visit with our boys. While you would think some of our residents may be too old for a visit from Santa, at heart they are still those little boys anxiously awaiting their turn to talk with him. They take very seriously the time they have with Santa, and make genuine and heartwarming requests. Our ?Santa? comes back year after year to personally visit our boys because he sees what a difference he makes.   We sincerely appreciate his dedication to this annual tradition.

We also have been blessed to have so many Christmas Angels out there helping make this a truly special Christmas for our boys.   Our friends at the Simpsonville Five Forks Publix called to say all their Angels were chosen and asked for another set. So if you have been there to pick an Angel and found the tree bare, it will have more Christmas Wishes on it by early this afternoon.

Our friends at Stein Mart at Verdae and Laurens Rd. report that over half of their Angels have been chosen, but there are still some there if you find yourself shopping at their store this weekend and want to pick one.

Reminder ? our Holiday Program, A Christmas Carol, is next Friday, December 14^th at 11 a.m. with a Tour beginning at 10 a.m.   If you can come and haven?t already RSVP?d, please do so to me by return e-mail, or call me at 243-5557, ext. 269 or Karen at ext. 274.

The wonderful Staff from the Greenville Federal Credit Union will be at the Program on the 14^th with their Holiday Ornaments. They have five to chose from, including Clemson, USC, and an original Liberty Bridge design. If you are interested in information on these quality ornaments, call Karen Henry at 404-3109. The proceeds from the Ornament sales will benefit GGH.

THANK YOU to our Miss Andrea and Miss Sara Jo, our Garden Club leaders, for working so hard with our boys the past several weeks as they made Christmas gifts for their families out of Gourds. They are amazing and will be on display at the Holiday Program.

Also ? your help is needed during the Program. Each House (all five of them) will be creating Gingerbread Houses. These houses will be on display during the program. We need you as you are coming into the gym, to vote on the one you like the most. The winning house will get a prize!   We cannot thank Jill Ellwanger of BB&T enough for making this Holiday activity possible for our boys once again this year!!

We are still looking for sponsors for side dishes and desserts for our Christmas Buffet. If you can help, please call Karen at 243-5557, ext. 274, or return e-mail to me.

Thank you all. Have a wonderful weekend!

Roseanne

NOTE: If you have been a Bi-Lo Booster for Generations in the past you now have to re-enroll to continue supporting us. If you would like to continue or become a Booster for Generations through Bi-Lo, please pick up an enrollment form while you are here for our program tomorrow. They will be on the table next to the Christmas Ornaments that Karen Henry with the Greenville Federal Credit Union will have on display. If you are unable to come to the program tomorrow but would like to be a Bi-Lo Booster, please return e-mail and I will get one to you.

I hope you had a nice and safe 4th of July. Our boys had a hot dog cook out - and the weather here was beautiful. Warm and sunny, but not too hot.

Our Troop #821 had a camp out this past weekend. Our Scoutmaster, Don Vick, wanted to share their experience with you:

"I would like to tell you all about our weekend. It was GREAT. Eleven Horizon Scouts camped out. I divided them up into two Patrols so it would be easier to cook and on Friday they elected two Patrol Leaders to lead them for the weekend. For Moderate it was John and for ?A? and ?B? it was Kenneth. They did a great job as leaders. A couple of our boys have not been camping ever, and told me that they did not know how to set up a tent. When we arrived to set up camp I did not have to help them because the boys on their own helped those who did not know how. It was like that for the whole campout. John and Kenneth made a duty roster for getting water, cooking, and dish washing and I did not have to step in once when it came time to get any of the chores done. They handled it all on their own. All the food that they cooked was excellently prepared and even Staff came and ate with us and said it was good.

The boys were great - without a curse word, degrading statement, or an argument out of any of them the whole time we camped. When they were asked by their Patrol Leader to do something they just went and did it without a second thought. They all were willing to help each other and work together. I am very proud of them. No one would have known that they not just any other kid enjoying the Scouting experience."

I also want to send the reminder of our up coming event on Tuesday, July 17th here at Generations - our Quest for Knighthood. Thanks to Ellen Westkaemper, the Peace Center's Vice President of Education and Outreach, we received a grant she wrote and submitted to The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc. - just for our boys here at Generations. It included tickets to the Broadway play Camelot, dinner at Soby's, time with a teaching actor, and now - our Summer Showcase program -Quest for Knighthood. The Quest is all about King Arthur's Court. Boys at GGH who have reached their goals will be Knighted in this program they have written and will perform. You will be AMAZED at how talented our boys and staff are. The sets and costumes are being designed and created right here at GGH. Following the program will be a banquet - just as you would expect in King Arthur's time. Napkins will be provided!! Please check your calendars. The program begins at 6 p.m. that Tuesday night (July 17th). It and the banquet should last about 90 minutes.

I will also be conducting a Tour of GGH beginning at 5 p.m. Please let me know via e-mail or phone if you would like to attend the Tour and/or the Program, and who you will be bringing with you. The sooner you let me know the better as we want to be sure we have enough food for all!!

Hope to see you on the 17th!!

Thank you!

Roseanne

============

April 25, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

jslack@carolinasfoundation.org

Greenville?s Generations Group Home Gets Funding for Career Week

Generations Group Home, a nationally-accredited residential group home for at-risk boys, received a $10,000 Micro Community grant from the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation (CCUF). The funds will enable Generations to hold a career week in August called, ?On Your Mark, Get Set, Goals for Career Success?, as well as providing additional basic needs for the boys.

Generations Group Home, founded in 1991 by Kathleen Reynolds, houses up to 58 boys ages 10-19 who are caught in a cycle of abuse and who are exhibiting inappropriate behaviors. Generations believes that every person deserves to be treated with care, respect, and fairness; and that one should be held responsible for personal choices and behaviors through a model of trustworthiness and good citizenship. Generations has treated more than 600 boys since it opened, and reports a 98% success rate during that time.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Goals for Career Success will allow the young men an opportunity to learn more about a large variety of potential career paths and provide a fuller understanding of how to set realistic goals and reach them.

The Micro Community grant will also provide funds for ongoing needs such as school and clothing supplies. ?The Foundation is pleased to provide the support necessary to help this outstanding program,? said CCUF Executive Director John Slack. ?As credit unions, it is in our nature to care about our communities. These are wonderful young men who just need a chance. So working with Generations Group Home to help them hold career week is a wonderful opportunity for credit unions to be true to the values that make us different and help these young men thrive and become productive members of society.?

Micro Community Grants allow credit unions in North and South Carolina to partner with local non profit agencies to bring community benefit. The Generations grant proposal was put together with the help and cooperation of the Piedmont Chapter of the SC Credit Union League and Greenville Federal Credit Union. The Piedmont Chapter is made up of more than 30 Upstate credit unions. Since it began in late 2005, the Micro Community Grant program has awarded more than $200,000 to agencies throughout the Carolinas.

The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation represents the many credit unions in North and South Carolina with our mission to improve the economic and social conditions of credit unions, credit union members, their families and their communities by providing educational opportunities, enhancing childhood development, offering credit union assistance and by providing aid in times of natural and man-made disasters. For more, visit http://www.carolinasfoundation.org.

The apple bobbing was a BIG hit and sponsored by Dill's Farm and Garden (Honea Path) and Bi-Lo (Honea Path).

Sincere appreciation goes to our wonderful volunteers from the Golden Strip Breakfast Rotary, Integrated Benefits, popupsoccer.com, Clouds of Thunder Christian Motorcycle Group, Ware Shoals' Mayor Rush and Greg Harrell with their helpers, individuals Marisa Marshall and Stacey Shutte, and of course, the dedicated GGH staff who all ensured "our" boys had a wonderful time. A Big Thank You goes out to those who helped sponsor this event - Eurokera, Fairview Rd. Publix, Mr. and Mrs. Laster, Coca Cola, Dill's Farm and Garden, Bi-Lo, and Pepsi.

One resident said, "All the fun things here today have helped me put all my problems out of my mind - at least for these couple of hours. I just didn't know I could have so much fun!"

Wow ? time has FLOWN by. The Holidays are upon us! I know you have wondered what our boys have been up to the past few months. Thanks to many of YOU, they have been busy, busy, busy with some wonderful opportunities you gave them!

E. said, "All the things here today have helped me put all my problems out of my mind - at least for these couple of hours. I just didn't know I could have so much fun!" - - - - That pretty much says it all.

GGH Scout Troop #821 Rocketry Event

As reported by Scoutmaster Don Vick

This summer our boys built and launched rockets. They spent an entire month building them from kits. Our Scouts had to decide how many fins they wanted to use and then use a lot of patience in attaching them to the rocket body. The color schemes were very colorful as the paint jobs were ?customized? by each ?Rocketeer?.

On the day of the launch the weather was threatening and the boys were afraid it would have to be canceled. After checking with the Weather Channel we found that we had a three-hour window, and, like NASA, we proceeded with the launch!

Our ?Cape GGH? had four launching pads and a final assembly area set up. In the final assembly area the boys were given their rocket motors and instructed on putting the motors in their rockets and how to place their rockets on the launching pad. After a dramatic count down, the launch button was pushed and they were off!

The rocket motors were designed to go about one thousand feet up. While most landed safely on the Softball Field between the Bridges Moderate House and the Gazebo, there were a few that lost one or more fins, but were repairable. We had three get lost in the trees, but all were finally recovered. Volunteer, Mr. Mike, had brought some stronger rocket motors, and some of our Scouts were able to launch their rockets using them. These motors flew the rockets all the way to our Football Field!

All our Scouts felt excitement, enjoyment, and a sense of accomplishment through this event. In addition, some worked toward their Space Exploration Merit Badge with this project, and others worked on their Woodworking Merit Badge by making rocket stands for all Scouts to display their rockets safely in their dorms.

If you have been to our Campus this Summer or Fall ? you saw the results of the hard work of our GGH Garden Club, led by tireless Master Gardener Sara Jo Moore, and help from dedicated volunteers. Among other projects, our Garden Club boys enjoyed creating a garden spot, planting vegetables and sunflowers, and enjoying meals with fresh tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers picked daily from their garden.

Boys who earn a weekly STAR Certificate and meet reach a Target are eligible to attend a special Friday Party event each week. Some of our most popular parties have been adult tricycle races, a movie and popcorn evening, karaoke, rock climbing wall, and the ever popular ?make your own? pizza or taco party.

* Holiday Decoration Sponsors ? Groups and/or Individuals to adopt a house to make or provide supplies and work with the boys on decorating their ?Home for the Holidays?.

* House Santa Sponsors ? House Sponsors to provide board and card games, puzzles, inside activity supplies, and G rated PS2 Games for ?Santa Gifts? to be left under the tree for the boys of each house for Christmas Morning.

Our GGH Website is new and improved. You can now make your donations and pledge payments on-line using your credit or check card! It is secure and easy to use.

Thank you for your continued interest in Generations. YOU help us make the difference.