You Can Make Twice the Impact in March and April

Every day, we are blessed with the opportunity to meet new people, to share in their journey and lives as they pursue employment.  It is through YOUR donations and involvement, the magic happens: People get jobs, families aren't hungry anymore, and they have hope for a future...

Here is a letter from someone we recently had the opportunity to touch...

Please allow me a few minutes to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I know you are busy, individually and  as an organization, that collection of a few paid and a swarm of volunteers you call Christian Help. You are swamped everyday helping virtual strangers, that comprise a cross section of the very needy seemingly with nothing in common but need. An endless parade of human floatsam marginalized from society that washes up on Seminola avenue with enough stories to keep Chaucer busy with  volumes of the Casselberry tales.

So from time to time you must wonder, did it really help that one or did we just feed him for a day ( or a week, or a year).  Well I'm here to tell you, that at least in my case, the help was more than you know.

 How do you measure that help, really? From what it says in the 'notes', or is it in terms of " did they get a job" or not? It must be like trying to read the effect of a tsunami by the human misery that washes ashore on a distant shore.  I'm sure some tell you, but i bet just as many are never heard from  again after they stop coming .

I will spare you the details but you should know the gist of it. Two years ago I spent Christmas sleeping on the concrete slab of a an empty house that was in short sale. No electricity and no water. When the sun went down it was dark and cold. I did read my bible everyday I could and never felt closer to Gods love. Oddly enough it was a very nice neighborhood.

I had no job. I fell behind on my child support and my drivers license was suspended. However, I never needed nor lacked. God provided what I needed in many ways. And eventually I showed up at your door. Thus began the healing, because in a case of a positive, ... " for lack of a nail a shoe was lost, for lack of a shoe a horse was lost..." you know the rest.  Because of your help, or at least in a great part, I was able to get part time work, through which I begin paying my child support, and thus reacquired my license and thus visited my daughter regularly. 

The last session I had with a counselor, I informed him that my daughter Sofia had been accepted at the University of Florida, and qualified for the Bright Futures scholarship which covers about 75% of her costs. I was also told by my employer that they would sponsor and pay for my Community Association Manager license ( CAM ), which when I pass,( and God willing I will) they will consider me for a full time position through which I can at least help Sofia while she is in school.

Is it over? Hardly. But, as a sojourner that is about to leave the shelter that your organization so kindly provided, I wanted to say thanks.

I told Ginger this morning that one day my Lord had cured ten lepers at the same time; Only one came back to thank Him. I am that one leper. Thank you and all the smiling faces that so generously and kindly gave of their time, talent and treasure to help people that may never be able to repay them.

              

But,  some can at least say,

                                                     "thanks".

                                                            God bless you

                                                                      Sincerely,

                                                                                Manny Leon

Donations in March and April are matched through the generosity of the Feinstein Foundation and several generous donors.  Please consider investing financially in making a difference for families in need.  Your $60 donation will become $120 and feed 2 families for a month, $100 will become $200 and sponsor a student for our Jobs Initiative Classes,  $500 becomes $1000 and can keep 2 families from losing their home. Thank you for your generosity!

Donate Online Today or mail a check to 450 Seminola Blvd, Casselberry, FL 32707.

 

There are opportunities for involvement with Christian HELP/CFEC in the following areas: (Not a complete list, check our website and Facebook page for additional opportunities for involvement)

 •Committee Member- Serve on the stewardship committee, capital campaign committee, social entrepreneurial committee, marketing committee, or Casselberry Task Force
 •Board Membership (application process required)- Serve on the board as a champion for the Christian HELP organization helping to set board policy and governance, and vision for future sustainability.
 •Job Skill Class instructors- Wednesday afternoons 3:00-4:30PM. Facilitate classes on Resume skills, Interview skills, and Basic Job Search using a PowerPoint presentation and adding in your experiences.
•Boot Camp Mentors and Facilitators- This program will run on 4 Saturdays starting in February. Facilitators will help with teaching and encouraging students. Mentors will coach students for a 6 week period following the class. Times will be set up at mutual convenience.
 •Resume Preparation and Coaching- At the Christian HELP office on Tuesdays from 10-2. Rotating Schedule. Must have prior resume writing and or/review experience.
 •Jobs Initiative Facilitators- Teach job skills modules based on Re-Charge and Re-Energize your job search curriculum. There are 6 full day modules on the topics of: Creating your Job Search Plan, Resumes and Cover Letters, Networking, Job Search Tactics, Interview and Impressions, and Performance Excellence. Teach a full or ½ day. (Training provided)
 •Jobs Initiative Mock Interviewers- Participate in the module 5 class interviewing students and providing feedback on the interview.
 •Jobs Initiative Mentors- Mentor students who have been newly hired for a position and act as the liaison between the student and the employer when challenges arise.
 •Employment Counselor- This position requires a minimum of 1 day a week commitment. Work directly with clients to assess job needs, resume needs, provide job leads, provide coaching to the job seeker. Must be willing to pray with clients.
 •Job Fair/ Employment Seminar Volunteers- volunteer at the job fair and/or employment seminars to serve the job seekers and employers in a variety of different roles
•Food Pantry- volunteer as a corporate or church group for corporate pantry day or on a regular basis to sort food, help clients, unload trucks, and other general duties.
 •Christmas volunteers- volunteer to help with the Christmas program. See website for job listing. •Ambassador- represent Christian HELP in the community at outreach events
•Host a Food Drive –The pantry is in need of non-perishable goods all year long
 •Special projects and events

 Contact Julie 407-834-4022 volunteer@christianhelp.org Zeynep 407-430-3022 Zeynep@christianhelp.org – All Jobs Initiative opportunities
 www.ChristianHELP.org      www.CFEC.org      www.CFJI.org 
450 Seminola Blvd Casselberry, FL 32707

Give $25, win a chance at a bike! Help us get back on the front page :)

Get a Bike

As you know, we're part of an amazing campaign called The JobRaising Challenge which is designed to raise lots awareness about unemployment and help put Americans back to work. The Skoll Foundation is giving away $5,000 this week to the charity that gets the most donations. We know we can win it. Please. Go Here and give whatever you can. The whole process takes seconds and if you give at least $25, you'll be entered to win a Bixby bike by Shinola worth $1,950. Pretty amazing. The contest ends on 2/20 at 5pm EST and winners will be notified by email. If you have any questions, please email CrowdRise and they'll be ready to help solve everything. Thanks again for all your support. For real. Christian HELP Click Here to check out the rules for the Shinola Bixby Bike contest, mini-challenge and grand prize rules.

Our Big Dreams for 2013

Mayor's Job Fair 2013

I am a dreamer... I can see the big picture... I begin with the end in mind...

As we finish the first month of 2013 (where does time go?), it is amazing to reflect upon all the things that were accomplished in 2012 and to reach even further this year.  Amazingly, while the dreams are lofty and a little scary, it is the impact of those dreams, the personal touch, that makes my passion meter rise.

I love working in a place where people matter.  We can make decisions based on what is the right thing to do.  We can give personalized attention.  We can make a difference for someone, and they in turn make a difference for us. 

This year, we would LOVE to:

1. See out new jobs initiative grow and make an impact in the lives of job seekers, community partners, and employers.  We would like to see all of our students graduate and get jobs.

2. Open a business that can provide transitional employment and provide $ back into the non-profit to help more people.

3. Have a successful building campaign so we can finally all be in one space with all of our services at one place (and have a place for everyone to park).

4. Win JobRaising... we are only $50,000 behind.  You can help at http://www.crowdrise.com/cfec-jr.  It is a stretch, but we still have time...

5. Follow God's will and plan for our future :)

We appreciate the people who make this possible through volunteering, prayer, and financial investment.

The steps we are taking:

1.  Engage more volunteers, community partners, and employers.  Share the vision with groups, at outreach events, and with our politicians, and media.  Shout from the rooftops about successes.
2. Work with local business leaders (in progress) to formulate business plans and strategies.  We are in the next round for the University of Miami Business Plan contest! (Go Canes!)
3. The plans are coming together, the committee is strong, reaching out to potential investors, identifying property, and working the plan...
4. Asking for donations, telling the world our story, blogging, and leveraging social media.
5. Listening and Praying!

I heard once goals are just dreams with deadlines... so I guess we need a few more deadlines.

Sandi

Help us meet the challenge on Job Raising

Christian HELP is excited to be one of the 74 chosen.  Please consider supporting us on CrowdRise Starting January 21, 2013.

74 Finalists Selected in Race to Address Jobs Crisis

Girls Who Code, Jobs for the Future, and YouthBuild Among Groups Vying to Outraise the Field Starting Inauguration Day

*** full list of finalists at bottom ***

Palo Alto, CA – Jan 16, 2012 – On Inauguration Day, when politicians return to Washington to face the same jobs crisis, 74 organizations will begin a crowd funding competition to demonstrate who has the most promising, scalable employment solutions. They are finalists in the JobRaising Challenge, an innovative competition to help job-creating nonprofits raise money and publicity. The Skoll Foundation, The Huffington Post, and knowledge partner McKinsey & Company have selected the most innovative, feasible, and scalable candidates of the 210 applicants representing 31 states and 110 cities across America. Starting on Monday, January 21^st, the American people can choose to donate to one or more of these organizations.  Top fundraisers will be eligible for $250,000 in prizes by The Skoll Foundation.   

The finalists represent innovative ideas to help fight the jobs crisis. Examples include New York’s Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Inc., who has been building a “jobs pipeline” to transition our returning servicemen and women back into the workforce and gain critical work and life skills. Another finalist, Women’s Bean Project, based in Denver, gives short-term jobs to chronically unemployed women.  The Huffington Post’s Arianna Huffington and CrowdRise co-founder and actor Edward Norton recently explained the JobRaising Challenge and the finalist phase on HuffPost Live.

Beginning January 21^st, anyone can participate in the JobRaising Challenge at www.jobraising.com by donating to or fundraising for one or more organizations they believe can best solve the jobs crisis. In addition, McKinsey & Company will select one organization to offer pro-bono mentoring services.  The nonprofit that raises the most money will get $150k, the second will get $50k, and the third $30k from the Skoll Foundation.  The remaining $20k will be used for shorter-term incentives along the way. The JobRaising Challenge intensively leverages these dollars with additional donations though social media-driven crowdfunding.

The effort is also enabled by The Huffington Post's platform and its 50 million unique visitors in the U.S.  per month (comScore, November 2012). HuffPost will provide exposure throughout the contest to participating organizations by inviting them to blog, and will tap its community -- currently commenting at a rate of 9 million per month -- to engage in the JobRaising Challenge. 



“It’s been just terrific to see the positive impact so many outstanding non-profit organizations are having on the U.S. jobs market,” said Sally Osberg, president of the Skoll Foundation.  “The entrepreneurial finalists for this landmark competition are generating jobs, vitalizing communities, and transforming lives.” 

“We wanted to do something constructive during this crisis, which has left more than 25 million Americans unemployed or underemployed,” said Arianna Huffington, chair, president, and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group. “We also wanted to change the narrative, go beyond the fatalistic acceptance that nothing can be done and tap into the ingenuity and resilience that have always defined our country. So I’m delighted to be partnering with the Skoll Foundation, CrowdRise, and McKinsey & Company to raise money, raise awareness and help put Americans back to work.”

“It's so cool to see The Skoll Foundation and The Huffington Post embrace such an innovative approach to helping job creation in America,” said Edward Norton, cofounder of CrowdRise. “We're psyched that so many organizations get to participate and drive lots of dollars and awareness to their causes.”

The Skoll Foundation, The Huffington Post, CrowdRise, and McKinsey & Company, announced the JobRaising Challenge at the Republican and Democratic conventions. It is a new kind of philanthropic initiative to help job-creating nonprofits raise money, raise awareness and help put Americans back to work through highly engaged, cost-efficient incentive fundraising.

JobRaising Finalists:

Accion International - Boston, MA

Anti-Displacement Project, DBA Alliance to Develop Power/ADP - Springfield, MA

Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) - Dearborn, MI

Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency, Inc. - Atlanta, GA

Baker Industries, Inc. - Malvern, PA

Bayaud Enterprises Inc. - Denver, CO

Blue Jacket, Inc. - Fort Wayne, IN

Boaz & Ruth, Inc. - Richmond, VA

Businesses United in Investing Lending and Development - Redwood City, CA

Capital Workforce Partners - Hartford, CT

Career Gear, Inc. - New York, NY

Career Wardrobe - Philadelphia, PA

Center for  Employment Opportunities - New York, NY

Challenge Industries Inc. - Ithaca, NY

Christian HELP Foundation, Inc. - Casselberry, FL

City Year, Inc. - Boston, MA

Code for America Labs - San Francisco, CA

Council for Adult and Experiential Learning - Chicago, IL

Creating an Environment of Success, Inc. - Nashville, TN

DC Central Kitchen - Washington, DC

Dress for Success Worldwide - New York, NY

Easter Seals TriState - Cincinnati, OH

Economic and Community Development Institute - Columbus, OH

Exodus Refugee Immigration, Inc. - Indianapolis, IN

FareStart - Seattle, WA

Getting Out and Staying Out, Inc. - New York, NY

Girls Who Code, Inc. - New York, NY

Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises, Inc - Bridgeport, CT

Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, National Transitional Jobs Network - Chicago, IL

Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement - Chicago, IL

Homeboy Industries - Los Angeles, CA

Hot Bread Kitchen, Ltd. - New York, NY

Inner-City Computer Stars Foundation - Chicago, IL

Interise - Boston, MA

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Inc. - New York, NY

Jewish Vocational and Career Counseling Service - San Francisco, CA

Jewish Vocational Service (Boston) - Boston, MA

JVS Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA

Jobs for the Future - Boston, MA

JobsFirstNYC - New York, NY

Juma Ventures - San Francisco, CA

Kiva - San Francisco, CA

Leap, Inc. d/b/a Brooklyn Workforce Innovations - Brooklyn, NY

Midtown Assistance Center - Atlanta, GA

Nontraditional Employment for Women - New York, NY

NPower Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA

Opportunity Finance Network - Philadelphia, PA

Outside the Box - Indianapolis, IN

Pacific Diversified Services - San Anselmo, CA

Parents and Friends, Inc. - La Porte, IN

Programs Employing People (PEP) - Philadelphia, PA

Project Return, Inc. - Nashville, TN

Rubicon Programs Inc. - Richmond, CA

Samasource - San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center - San Francisco, CA

SER - Jobs For Progress Houston - Houston, TX

Startup Weekend - Seattle, WA

StepUp Ministry - Raleigh, NC

Student Veterans of America - Washington, DC

Students Rising Above - San Francisco, CA

Taller San Jose - Santa Ana, CA

The Corps Network - Washington, DC

The HOPE Program - Brooklyn, NY

The SkillSource Group, Inc. - Vienna, VA

Twin Cities RISE! - Minneapolis, MN

Upwardly Global - San Francisco, CA

Urban Alliance - Washington, DC

Venture for America, Inc. - New York, NY

Wardrobe for Opportunity - Oakland, CA

Women Helping Women - Santa Ana, CA

Women's Bean Project - Denver, CO

Year Up, Inc - Boston, MA

YouthBiz Inc - Denver, CO

YouthBuild USA Inc - Somerville, MA

About The Skoll Foundation

Jeff Skoll created The Skoll Foundation in 1999 to pursue his vision of a sustainable world of peace and prosperity. Led by CEO Sally Osberg since 2001, its mission is to drive large scale change by investing in, connecting and celebrating social entrepreneurs and the innovators who help them solve the world’s most pressing problems. Social entrepreneurs are society’s change agents, creators of innovations that disrupt the status quo and transform our world. By identifying the people and programs already creating positive change, Skoll Foundation empowers them to extend their reach, deepen their impact and fundamentally improve society.

Over the past 12 years, the Foundation has awarded more than $342 million, including investments in 91 social entrepreneurs and 74 organizations on five continents. In addition to grant-making, the Foundation funds a $20 million+ portfolio of program-related and mission-aligned investments. Skoll also operates the annual Skoll World Forum, the premier conference on social entrepreneurship, and shares the stories of social entrepreneurs through partnerships with leading film and broadcast organizations including the PBS NewsHour and the Sundance Institute, to drive awareness of social entrepreneurship and its potential to address the critical issues of our time. For more information, visit http://www.skollfoundation.org/.

About The Huffington Post

The Huffington Post is a Pulitzer Prize-winning source of breaking news, features, and entertainment, as well as a highly engaged community for opinion and conversation. The Huffington Post has 43.7 million monthly U.S. unique visitors (comScore August, 2012) posting over eight million comments each month. The site has over 30,000 bloggers -- from politicians, students and celebrities to academics, parents and policy experts -- who contribute in real-time on the subjects they are most passionate about. The Huffington Post has editions in the UK, Canada, Quebec, France, Spain, and Italy.

About CrowdRise

CrowdRise is a fundraising site dedicated to the idea that raising money for charity and giving back has got to be fun. CrowdRise's custom-built platform and game mechanics provide fundraisers, charities and events with a unique way to raise the most money for their causes and share compelling philanthropic stories with their personal networks. The site lets anyone turn their friends into an active base of donors for any cause. In 2011 CrowdRise topped Mashable's list of "Most Innovative Crowdfunding Platforms" and was named a "Top 25 Best Global Philanthropist" by Barron's. CrowdRise was founded by actor and activist Edward Norton , producer Shauna Robertson, and the founders of Moosejaw, Robert and Jeffro Wolfe. Thousands of charitable organizations, events, celebrities and everyday donors have made CrowdRise their philanthropic base for giving back.

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