Individual Success

			Therapeutic After School Program (TASP)
			Brianne "Bri" is achieving 80's and 90's in BOCES high school and plans to get a certificate in Cosmetology upon graduation. But her real dream is to use cosmetology to help her earn money to get a degree in Genetic Sciences. "I think it is so cool to know how we get the color of our eyes and hair and understand how we are put together." Brianne frankly states that she was having lots of problems when she was referred to TASP at the age of 14. Counseling through several local agencies was not solving her need to relate with her peers through drugs, risky behavior and failing grades. "I hated it at first. It felt like a waste of time. I was older than the other kids." In the summer, TASP spends a lot of time in Chenango Valley State Park with guided sports, incentive programs, and time with staff. That's where Bri made a connection that turned her around. Kim Stratton, the director and Samantha Tefft, her social worker, guided and encouraged Bri through rough times. She began to excel. During the school year the after school schedule was a challenge, getting her home around 7:00 p.m. But homework was accomplished, failing grades became high grades, she no longer needed outside counseling. Through the TASP work program she got experience at Binghamton Mets Stadium, the Humane Society, and a hair salon, Tina's Tangles, that led her to set her sights on cosmetology. Bri's mom, Viki, highly recommends this program. They both feel that they are on track for a better life.

			Family Support Program (FSP)
			Samantha started in the Family Support Program (FSP) at the age of eight. In her words, "I hated it. I was confused as to why I had to go and spend my hours after school with such 'strange' people - strange only because I did not know them. Once I became familiar with the staff and my peers, though, I could not wait to get out of school and go to the program. We used a point system at FSP and goals to work on every week. My goals were usually to stop bragging, to dress appropriately, and to be respectful. Among other things, I learned how to eat properly with utensils (I had previously used the "shovel method") and they taught me how to mature and be a young lady. My peers in the program were always changing, but the staff there became my family. I remember during a share group that I mentioned not having or really knowing my real father, but Terry Potter and Bill Trass (FSP Staff) were, in a sense, my fathers. They taught me so many life lessons. To this day, both of them mean the world to me. I currently go to school at SUNY Oneonta, but there are times when I visit my hometown and the first thing I think of is to go and visit them. I did not have the best childhood. I did not have the greatest mother or family or friends. The thing is, though, everything - everything - that has ever happened in my life has brought me to where I am and who I am today, and so I have to be grateful for my past. I want so badly for other children and other families to know and believe that.>br> That is my strongest motive behind wanting to be a child and family therapist. Sometimes, all children need in a world full of chaos is one - just one - stable environment in which they can learn and grow. For me, it was the Family Support Program. My life would not be the same amazing and successful life without them.

Program Success

			Close-To-Home
			Three girls and a boy were successfully adopted into a loving home in Windsor, New York. Four boys were successfully adopted into 3 loving homes in Greater Binghamton.

			Spiritual Life
			One evening when it came time to dismiss the residents from Chapel, one young man said, "I'd like to stay here forever." When asked why, he responded, "Because I feel safe here." The goal of the Spiritual Life Department is that every child would feel the safe embrace of a loving and caring God.

Fundraising Success

			Our 2009 Events are completed: Garden of Hope and the Maggie Memorial Golf Tournament. Thank you to committee members, volunteers, attendees, staff and all who continue to give time, talent and financial resources to make these events successful.

			Garden of Hope

			Golf Tournament

			Ice Cream Social