Fall Dinner Auction

in step

Fall 2009

A Ministry Update Of Stepping Stones For Women Transforming The Lives Of Single Mothers And Their Children

Fall Dinner Auction

Special Thanks

You are Cordially Invited to: Stepping Stones for Women 7th Annual Fall Dinner Auction Fundraiser Friday, October 9th–6 p.m. Glendora Country Club Ticket - $65/ person; Table - $520 (table of 8)

Much thanks to Gabriel Pierce who chose SSFW as the recipient of his eagle scout project. To help beautify our environment, Gabriel built two planter boxes along with a new picnic table with benches. He raised the money for the supplies through a neighborhood car wash. Thanks, Gabriel, for your hard work and service towards SSFW! A hearty thanks also goes to Laura Tapia and her committee for making our Summer Tea such a great success. Over 100 women joined us for a lovely lunch, inspirational speaking by Dolley Carlson, and fun auction baskets. We want to say “thank you” to Staci Blomberg for serving as our Administrative Assistant for the past three years. She has been a blessing to Stepping Stones in helping to receipt donations, prepare our newsletters and all-around support. As of August 1st, this position is being filled with volunteer staff. Special thanks goes to Joy Evaro for her years of service to the Stepping Stones for Women Board of Directors. Joy is stepping down due to health reasons., but she will continue to be an aggressive supporter of the ministry.

Join us for an exciting evening of gourmet food, engaging music, exciting auction items and heartwarming stories of how Stepping Stones for Women is making a difference in the lives of single mothers and their children. Entertainer, Mr. Joe Monti will be returning to our event again this year to provide his “magical” slight of hand for your enjoyment. Joe was such a hit at our event last year that you won’t want to Friday, October 2nd/Saturday, October 3rd – SSFW miss this event. Rummage Sale at Christ Church of the Valley. SSFW is collaborating with CCV this fall with our semiStepping Stones for Women celebrates its 7th year of operation this year and its future is bright. Mark your annual rummage sale. Rummage donations can be dropped off at CCV on Friday, October 2nd after 7 calendar to attend this event. Seating is limited so a.m. A private sale will be held in the early afternoon reserve yours by calling (626)974-1162 today. for single mother families, then the public sale will begin at 4 p.m. The event will include food, music and other fun opportunities.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, November 21 – Annual Holiday Boutique – 9 am to 3 pm, Cornerstone Bible Church, Glendora. SSFW is hosting its annual holiday boutique with a wide selection of goods for your holiday shopping. We are looking for additional vendors.

We Are Launching Our Vision by Kathy Benton, Executive Director

Where We’ve Been

For the last seven years Stepping Stones for Women has provided housing, life skill development, counseling, education, employment development and resources for long-term affordable housing for many single mothers who were looking for a place to “come home.”

Where We Are Going

Stepping Stones for Women has never been satisfied to just “exist” but to strive to become a leading transformational program in the greater San Gabriel Valley. Over the last year, we have been blessed with the services of Senior Consultant, Shannon Barnes of The EDGEGroup. Shannon has assisted our Board of Directors in creating a mission statement that truly reflects what we do – “the mission of Stepping Stones for Women is the transformation of single mothers and their children from cycles of hopelessness to the joy of faith and stability.” Out of this mission is our vision and aggressive goal – that by 2014 we are annually graduating 10 residential families and serving another 250 women.

Over this next year we plan to begin operation out of a third home, along with launching a hub center in another city in San Gabriel Valley. We are very, very excited! Along with the residential expansion, we are looking for apartment property owners who would partner with us in sub-letting units for our “senior residents” as they move to the next step of selfsufficiency. In addition, we are moving towards opening a hub center in another local community where we can conduct “non-residential” services to single mothers in aiding their growth and development in providing for their family. This is tremendous growth opportunity for us.

How You Can Participate

In order for us to continue in our mission, we need the help of many. Stepping Stones for Women is privately funded (we do not receive any federal support), so we are depen-

participate: Give financially. A gift of $25, $50, $100, $200 or more a month helps to support the development of a single mother family and her children to move from welfare to work with a quality of life. Volunteer your time. We are looking for mentors, childcare providers, life skill teachers, family advocates, fundraising assistants, office help, etc. to help with our program as we expand. Be our “business agent”. Share with your friends, family, coworkers, etc. about our work. A representative will be happy to come and speak to your group about the exciting things happening at Stepping Stones. And don’t forget to attend the Dinner Auction on Oct. 9th.

As we continue to grow, we realize the importance of our partners in helping us continue the mission God has given us. Thank you for helping us realize this vision.

dant upon the generosity of passion individuals, churches, corporations and private foundations to keep us solvent. Here are a few ways you can

Family Updates

New Staff

Here are some highlights of just a few of the families that Stepping Stones has been able to help:

We are happy to announce the addition to the Stepping Stones for Women family, Heather Haywood as House Coordinator and Deb Thorimbert as our Family Advocate.

Lacretia & Jemeriah – Moved into her own apartment and has been hired as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Jemeriah will be attending pre-school in the fall. Aletha & Vincent – Moved into her own apartment and working as a Certified Nursing Assistant.Very involved in her church.

Heather graduated from Azusa Pacific University with her Masters in Clinical Psychology. She lives on-site with the families and coordinates their housing routines, along with overseeing the Community Resources Room (our gifts-in-kind inventory).

April & Zipporah – Moved into their own apartment in Granada Hills. Rochelle & Ashley – Completing her Medical Assisting program; Ashley is developing well and enjoys pre-school. Madelyn Trenkler & Frederick (age 4) - “Stepping Stones for Women has been a huge blessing for me, my son, and son-to-be (due in October). Me and my children are able to be in a safe, stable home, and I am able to finish school. Stepping Stones for Women is a great program. It gives us a chance to succeed, grow, and be independant. They offer us parenting claases which is great! I am very blessed to be able to be in aprogram like this. I don’t know what I would do without it.” Our new strategy plan contains a formal “non-residential” component that includes community outreach to other mothers in the area that do not need housing. We have been coaching 5-10 other mothers in our community, but with no formalized mechanism. We now will bring these mothers into a formalized group setting and provide the same great “support services” to them. We need volunteers to help be group facilitators, mentors, office help, childcare providers, etc. to provide the structure for this new launch. If you are interested in helping in one of these areas, please contact our office (626)974-1162. Training is provided and offered each 2nd Tuesday night of the month.

Deb comes to us with a background of coaching in human development and performs the case manager role. She assists the Homeless Ministry Coordinator at her church (LaVerne Heights Presbyterian Church) and has a passion to help mothers grow and develop in their independent performance plans. Our child care provider, Ginamarie McCarty gave birth to a new baby girl, Savannah Gloe, this past week on August 25th. She arrived at 8 pounds 8 ounces and 20.5 inches long! Ginamarie leads our childcare program when the mothers are in counseling and participating in skills class. Congratulations to dad Andrew and mom Ginamarie!

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Covina, CA Permit #408 PO Box 4873 Covina, California 91723 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Mission Statement

Our mission is the transformation of single mothers and their children from cycles of hopelessness to the joy of faith and stability. This is accomplished by residential and supportive services via life skill development classes, counseling, mentoring, formal education, job rehabilation and affordable permanent housing.

Board of Directors

Anne Sellers – Chairwoman Deborah St. George – Vice-chairwoman Ann Dresselhaus - Secretary Jamen Wurm - Treasurer Carr Oduro Bea Rodriguez

Advisory Council

Greg Benton, Attorney at Law Mark Peterson, Realtor – ReMax Realtors Shannon Barnes, Consultant – The EdgeGroup

Ways to Partner with Stepping Stones for Women Stepping Stones for Women depends entirely on the private donations of funds, goods and services from individuals, churches, businesses and charitable foundations. Financial dollars, gifts-in-kind donations and volunteer manpower help provide the resources and fuel that plant hope in the hearts of single mothers and their children. Volunteer your time and talents in the office, become a mentor, provide transportation or childcare, maintenance on our facility, help with fundraising, teach a • time. Vollife skill class or any other creative way you would like to give of your unteer orientations are held the second Tuesday night of each month at 7 pm at the SSFW office. Call 626/974-1162 or email [email protected] to sign up. Financial support on a regular basis. You can give safely give on-line through our website at www.ssfw.org or Facebook via credit card or simply mail a check in the enclosed envelope. Contact the SSFW office for more information (626/9741162). Spread the word – share with your civic group, church friends or family about the important work of SSFW. A SSFW representative will be happy to come and share in the privacy of your group setting. Gifts-in-Kind Donations – our homes need the same things your home needs, i.e. paper goods, cleaning supplies, toiletries, infant supplies (diapers/wipes, etc.), grocery store gift cards, etc. Contact us for a customized list. All gifts are promptly acknowledged and receipted through the mail.

Staff

Kathy Benton, Executive Director Miriam Cordero, Program Director Heath Haywood, House Coordinator Deb Thorimbert, Family Advocate Denise Barton, Financial Assistant

Mailing Address P.O. Box 4873, Covina, CA 91723 Website: www.ssfw.org Email: [email protected] Phone: 626/974-1162; Fax 626/974-1984 Tax ID #95-4823934

SSFW is a private, non-profit 501©3 organization.All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.SSFW is not affiliated with Stepping Stones Recovery Home located in Covina, CA.