Spaulding Youth Center Hosts National Foster Care Month Celebration
May 16, 2019
Spaulding Youth Center was pleased to serve as the host location for the eighth consecutive year for the 13th Annual National Foster Care Month Celebration. This year’s celebration was planned and presented by the New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) in cooperation with Bethany Christian Services of New England. Foster and adoptive families from across New Hampshire were invited to attend this event filled with outdoor activities in celebration of National Foster Care Month.
Almost 500 guests and volunteers attended the event and enjoyed the day on Spaulding’s picturesque Northfield, New Hampshire campus. Volunteers included the Franklin Elks Lodge 1280, who generously donated food and grilled a delicious barbecue lunch, and Movement Christian Church, who sponsored the rental of two bounce houses and an inflatable slide as well as bringing over 30 volunteers to help facilitate the event. Several generous organizations offered activities for the families in attendance, ranging from the Highland Riders 4H Club of Miles Smith Farm who brought a traveling petting zoo to Jeff Webster who presented chess instruction and games. Many wonderful prizes were also donated for a raffle drawing held at the end of the event, including: fifteen bicycles from the Walmart stores of Rochester and Gilford, New Hampshire and gift certificates to various local attractions, such as Charmingfare Farm, York’s Wild Kingdom and Santa’s Village.
“Spaulding Youth Center is thrilled to have hosted this incredible event for the past eight years,” shared Pat Seaward-Salvati, Spaulding Youth Center Director of Admissions. “This highly-anticipated event celebrates foster and adoptive families across the state of New Hampshire. As a licensed Child-Placing Agency, Spaulding Youth Center is excited to support these special families and experience the positivity and joy that comes from bringing everyone together for this event.”the past eight years,” shared Pat Seaward-Salvati, Spaulding Youth Center Director of Admissions. “This highly-anticipated event celebrates foster and adoptive families across the state of New Hampshire. As a licensed Child-Placing Agency, Spaulding Youth Center is excited to support these special families and experience the positivity and joy that comes from bringing everyone together for this event.”
Event registration began at 10:00am, followed by opening remarks made by Jan Lessard of Bethany Christian Services of NE, Inc., Kathy Companion of DCYF and Pat Seaward-Salvati. From there, participants enjoyed a wide variety of activities offered by Bethany Christian Services of New England, Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF), Therapy Dogs International Chapter 205 and much more. Attendees also had the opportunity to partake in family photos, create arts and crafts, play various games, and enjoy ice cream treats and sundaes. Children also enjoyed keeping active by participating in the cargo net and climbing wall offered by Spaulding Youth Center’s Experiential Challenges Outdoors (EChO) program facilitators.
The celebration was also recently featured in a segment on WMUR.com. Please click here to watch highlights from the event.
For those interested in learning more about foster and adoptive opportunities, please contact Dawn Fontaine at DFontaine@SpauldingYouthCenter.org or 603-286-8901 x285.
About Spaulding Youth Center
Spaulding Youth Center is a leading provider of services for children and youth with neurological, emotional, behavioral, learning and/or developmental challenges, including Autism Spectrum Disorder and those who have experienced significant trauma, abuse or neglect. Services include academic, behavioral health, residential, foster care, health and wellness and family support. Spaulding Youth Center is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For information about Spaulding Youth Center, visit www.spauldingyouthcenter.org.
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