The 8th Annual National Foster Care Month Celebration Attracts Over 340 People to Spaulding Youth Center
May 22, 2014
For the third year in a row Spaulding Youth Center was honored to provide the venue for the Annual National Foster Care Month Celebration hosted by the New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth and Families, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Bethany Christian Services of New England and the New Hampshire Foster and Adoptive Parent Association. Over 265 guests and 75 volunteers attended the free event which was held to show appreciation for foster and adoptive families throughout the state. According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services there are roughly 900 children in foster care in New Hampshire each year.
More than 50 businesses and community groups from around the state provided food, activities, entertainment and raffle prizes. A wide range of activities was offered to suit everyone’s preferences including outdoor games with Life is good® Playmakers, fingernail and face painting, makeovers, crafts, chess and rock wall climbing. A balloon twister from Buster’s Balloon Animals entertained families with his creative balloon hats and animals;, and Squam Lakes Science Center displayed animal skulls and pelts for examination. A delicious barbecue was provided by the Franklin Elks 1280 and there was free popcorn, cotton candy and ice-cream sundaes all day. The event ended with a very entertaining talent show of aspiring singers, dancers and actors and the distribution of over 40 raffle prizes including laptop computers from BAE Systems.
Jim Clements, CEO/President of Spaulding Youth Center commented on the day’s events, “Our staff at Spaulding was very happy to host the 8th Annual Celebration to honor the many amazing foster and adoptive families. This celebration brings together families who devote countless hours providing safe and nurturing homes to some of our most vulnerable children and youth. New Hampshire is fortunate to have a dedicated group of families to give love and support to children whose biological families are not able to care for them.”
Spaulding Youth Center provides a wide range of services for children and youth including recruiting and training foster parents who provide loving and nurturing care for youngsters from birth to age 18. The Center’s mission is to leverage professional expertise to help young people with autism or other developmental and/or behavioral challenges learn the academic and life skills needed to be successful in their homes, schools and communities.
For information about Spaulding Youth Center, contact Gail Mayhew, Director of Development at 603-286-7500 ext. 532, GMayhew@SpauldingYouthCenter.org or visit www.spauldingyouthcenter.org.
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