• Pathways Program: Approximately 90 young adults (60 in Kansas City and 30 in Wichita) appreciate gift cards and/or other small gifts depending on their needs. Many of these youth do not have anywhere else to spend the holidays and will wake up on Christmas morning in their transitional living apartments or in The Path transition home.
• Residential Treatment Program: Approximately 75 boys and girls, ages 12-18, appreciate gifts from donors who sign up to sponsor their wish lists. A little less than half of these youth will open their gifts at Ozanam on Christmas morning, and the others will open their gifts at home if they have a home pass.
• Day Treatment Program: Approximately 35 students appreciate a standard gift from Ozanam before they leave for their holiday break from school. They spend Christmas at home.
• Ozanam Families: Many of our clients come from families who are struggling financially. More than 90% are estimated to fall below the poverty line. As the holidays approach, staff members identify the families who are in need the most, some who specifically request assistance, and then their wish lists are distributed to donors who are willing to sponsor their gifts or shop for them.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Sign up to sponsor gifts for one of our children or families in need and shop with suggestions from their wish lists.
• Donate a $25 gift card to Walmart or Target to help young adults in our Pathways Program.
• Sponsor an activity for one of the dorm units by donating 12-15 movie passes or bowling passes.
• Bake cookies or deliver stocking stuffers for a group of youth.
• Make an in-kind donation of warm clothing or other items on our general list of needs.
• Make a donation to Ozanam to support general operating expenses related to the holidays.

Feel free to contact us at 816-508-3600 or email info@ozanam.org to learn more about how you can help. You can also visit Ozanam’s website at www.ozanam.org to view our most up-to-date wish list of general needs. As always, we appreciate your support!

Q: What is the Ozanam Guild and how is it different from other young professional groups?

A: The Ozanam Guild is a volunteer group made up of young professionals who participate in events and other activities to benefit Ozanam. Formed more than 20 years ago, it was one of the very first groups of its kind. The Guild is unique because it benefits Ozanam exclusively, and members have a close connection to the youth served by the organization. There are  about 30 Guild members who make up the “core group” of regular participants, and there are more than 1,000 interested individuals on their email list who receive invitations to upcoming events.

Q: Who would make a great Guild member?

A: An ideal candidate would be a young professional who likes to volunteer, who is willing to dedicate at least two hours per month, who is looking for opportunities to network, who likes to have fun, who wants to showcase leadership skills, and who is interested in building philanthropic experience within the community.

Q: What are the activities?

A: Guild members participate in a variety of fundraising events, social activities, and volunteer opportunities within the community and at Ozanam. Here are a few highlights:

In the community: Monthly meetings, Second Fridays Happy Hours, Martini Mile, Recess concert event, and more!

At Ozanam: Youth birthday parties, barbecues, and the annual “Hanging of the Greens” holiday event in the winter.

There is at least one volunteer/social activity per month in addition to the standard monthly meetings (2 hours/month).

Q: What are the expectations?

A: Guild members should participate in monthly meetings held on the second Thursdays at Dark Horse in Westport. It is also recommended that members take part in as many events and volunteer activities as possible during the year.

Q: How much time do volunteers typically dedicate?

A: Members are asked to spend at least 2 hours per month attending the monthly meeting and Second Fridays happy hours. Officers and committee leaders spend about 5-10 hours per month depending on their schedule of events.

Q: How much of an impact do they make on the Ozanam children?

A: A small amount of time can make a big impact! Last year, the Ozanam Guild donated more than $5,000 and 380 volunteer hours! With its 20-year history, the Guild has raised an estimated $100,000 and countless volunteer hours to support Ozanam! Proof of this significant impact is best measured by the priceless smiles on the children’s faces.

Q: What’s the best part about being a member of the Ozanam Guild?

A: The best part is interacting with the boys and girls at Ozanam and feeling like you are doing something positive for them. Also, you will make some of your closest friends through the Ozanam Guild! To get an insider’s perspective, you can read a recent guest blog written by the Ozanam Guild President.

Q: What officer positions and leadership opportunities exist?

A: Upcoming officer positions include President and Vice President, who plan events and meet goals of the Ozanam Guild while serving in an ex-officio capacity on the Ozanam Board of Directors. The Secretary position records minutes during monthly meetings and creates regular Constant Contact emails to notify members about upcoming activities. The Treasurer tracks all income/expenses for the group and turns in monthly statements to Ozanam. Volunteers are also needed for committees like Second Fridays, Community Outreach, Ozanam Liaisons, and more!

Q: How can you sign up to get involved?

A: Sign up at www.ozanamguild.org or contact us at info@ozanam.org. Plus you are welcome to join us at the next meeting to learn more!

During my journey at Ozanam, I have not only learned about feelings, but I have also gained them for myself. I have started loving and caring about people besides myself and have developed a conscience.

I started out hating the system, but now I am crying because I am leaving. I fought my staff emotionally and believed I was superior and smarter than everyone. Now, however, I love my staff and most of all Mr. Carter. I tried to be angry at him every other day at first, but I found out we were bonded so well that this was not possible.

This morning after getting a big hug from him, I started crying. He has been like a father to me, while holding me accountable like no other adult has before. He is the best father-figure I have ever had or respected.

I thank God for my stay at Ozanam and for the friends and staff that have greatly affected my life. I am going to a foster home and will graduate from high school in 2012. I also plan on going to college one day to become a clinical therapist.

- Written by Braydon on his last day at Ozanam.

Anyone who has met me, knows I don’t do anything half-way. I threw myself into the Guild, immediately stepping in as Marketing Chair, then taking on the role of Second Fridays Coordinator, and eventually becoming Ozanam Guild President. I fell in love with Ozanam, what it has accomplished for families in the Kansas City community, and what it continues to do for boys and girls each and every day.

I observe such dedication and passion from the volunteers and the staff at Ozanam; devoted to helping teenagers who are struggling, either socially or psychologically, doing whatever they can to get those students back on the right path. I see that those volunteers and staff members actually have a positive impact on lives. I witness first-hand how the Ozanam Guild, just by celebrating birthdays, planning back-to-school bar-b-q cook-outs, playing kick ball, or simply having a one-on-one conversation changes kids’ demeanors. Not just theirs; but mine and my fellow Guild members’, as well.

Of course, being part of this organization and planning special fundraising events, at times, has provided me with sleepless nights and has certainly caused gray hairs, but more importantly, my participation has given back to me in hundreds of other ways. The students at Ozanam personally inspire me! When I have a rough day, I just think about what they have experienced or are currently going through and know that I can push forward and handle anything.

My favorite memory, a time I will always cherish, was at a birthday party hosted by the Guild on the Ozanam campus, when I talked with a 13-year-old girl.  She made me laugh while we chatted and then she made me cry when, at the end of the party, she asked me if she could hug me. I was told afterwards that she had been struggling prior to that one-hour party and hadn’t wanted anyone to touch her. The staff was shocked to see her hug me and that is when I realized, (gulp), I am making a difference, too!  

You never know what effect you will have on others or if someone or something will have an effect on you. I know that Ozanam has changed me and I will continue to be passionate and actively connected to this cause…and to those students…forever.

- Kalinda Tenborg, President of the Ozanam Guild

For more information about the Ozanam Guild, visit www.ozanamguild.org or click “like” at www.facebook.com/OzanamGuild. To learn more about volunteering at Ozanam, go to www.ozanam.org or call Laurie Minx at (816)508-3608.

Q: How are students graded, and what improvements do they make throughout the year?
A: Students are graded based on attendance, participation and behavior. They are also graded on how well they are taking care of their plants. They begin to show improvement in being able to focus for longer periods of time, learning teamwork skills for group projects, developing appropriate social skills, and demonstrating increased knowledge of horticulture.

Q: What would the kids say is their favorite part of the program?
A: The kids love being in the peaceful greenhouse and seeing their plants change from day to day. They would tell you that the best part is watching people buy their plants during the Plant Sale! Nothing boosts their self-esteem more.

Q: How can people in the community support Ozanam’s Horticultural Therapy Program?
A: People can help by collecting items on their wish list including clay pots, patio paints, garden hand tools, aprons and knee pads. The greenhouse currently has 3 volunteers, but more are needed this summer on any days Monday through Friday any time between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. People can also buy plants at our annual plant sale!

Q: How long has the “Thyme for Kids” Plant Sale existed and when is it this year?
A: The first sale was more than 20 years ago! It has grown into a popular friend-raiser and generates more than $10,000! This year it will be held on Friday, April 29^th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, April 30^th from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. See you there!

P.S. Check out this article in Present Magazine about our Plant Sale to learn more! Present Magazine Kansas City Community – Visit Ozanam Plant Sale and Bring Spring Home.

I feel involved in the progress of my treatment, and I’ve learned to be more patient as I continue to mature. As I display leadership, I am rewarded. I’ve obtained and kept a level 4 status which is the highest level on the dorm.

I also participate in the basketball program while maintaining an on-campus job. I was on the championship softball team on campus during the summer. I’m learning to manage the money I earn from my job. My job is working in the greenhouse. I’m one of the people responsible for the upkeep of the grounds here on campus.

I have tried to stay positive and keep my faith. Being rescued and cared for by my parents and staff could be the very reason I am still alive. Ozanam has helped me address and continue to fix the many issues I face internally. I have experienced emotional abuse and fear of rejection, and so I am working on having better relationships with my family and friends.

As far as my future goals, I’ve been working towards graduating high school on time and furthering my education at the college level. In college I plan to study English and creative writing. Once I complete college, I will utilize my degree to become a writer. I can honestly say I am a story with a potential for success!

- Robert, an Ozanam boy

So many children at Ozanam do not have this kind of stable and loving support system. The holidays can be a very difficult time for them and are often filled with anxiety. Typically, more than half will have no one but our staff members to wake up to on Christmas morning.

I am grateful that there are people in our community who take the time to remember the children at Ozanam each year, making their holidays a little brighter. Some individuals or groups make donations to support the children’s activities, and others deliver cookies or gifts to make each child feel special. Their combined efforts bring hope to our youth, who otherwise might not experience the kind of joy that other kids have come to expect during the holidays.

Thank you for keeping the boys and girls at Ozanam close to your hearts this time of year and always. Please contact us or visit our website at www.ozanam.org if you’d like to learn more about the many ways you can make a difference. May you and your family enjoy a blessed holiday season!

- Doug Zimmerman, President

After an elegant dinner and a program featuring the Ozanam children, get ready for some exciting bidding during the live auction as the Nigro Brothers take to the stage!  We have numerous vacation packages including trips to Colorado, Cancun and Cabo San Lucas.   For the trip of a lifetime, bid high on a week in Ireland at Weaver’s Cottage. We also have a family vacation to the new Harry Potter Theme Park in Orlando and a one week stay in a beautiful vacation home overlooking the gulf on Inlet Beach, Florida.

If you are looking for opportunities to get together with friends, you can win a gourmet dinner for eight in your home prepared by EBT chef Ed Holland or dinner for 20 at Crickets in the Loft! Sports fans will not want to miss the chance to throw out the first pitch at a 2011 T-Bones game and then watch the game from the comfort of a suite!

There are even more exciting packages “in the works” so we will keep you posted.  In the meantime, be sure to make your reservation to attend one of Kansas City’s premier holiday events! You can learn more and register online at http://www.ozanam.org/events/hollywood-holiday-gala. We hope you will join us for our largest fundraiser of the year to benefit the boys and girls at Ozanam!

- Kim Gregory, Special Events Coordinator

In the summer of 2008 Ozanam celebrated 60 years of services to children and families. That summer we welcomed back many alumni on our campus on a Saturday in July to celebrate the thousands of kids we have served over the past 60 years. One of the highlights for me was to hear the many stories of former alum talk about how Ozanam had “saved their lives”.

In honor of the thousands of children that have benefitted from our services we made the decision that we wanted to create a permanent symbol of the history of Ozanam. When Judy and Wayne Hart’s children asked me to suggest an appropriate honor for their parents on the Ozanam campus, I suggested that we wanted to build a Gazebo in the center of our campus as the cornerstone for our permanent donor history at Ozanam. Thanks to the donation of the Hart family, a Gazebo has been built. We not only wanted to honor Judy and Wayne Hart for their contributions to the Ozanam children, but also wanted to create a lasting legacy for the children of Ozanam.

To that end we have developed a memorial brick program to raise the dollars necessary to help the Ozanam children of the future. Donors can personalize bricks in memory or in honor of a loved one with the proceeds going directly to help support our programs and services for the boys and girls. It has been exciting to me to watch this project become a reality. The Gazebo looks beautiful and will be a very pleasant place for our children to visit with their families for years to come. The landscaping around the Gazebo was completed by the boys and girls through our horticultural program!

Please come out and visit us and see the newest addition to our campus. Also please visit our website at http://www.ozanam.org/support-us/brick-and-bench-campaign to learn more information about how you can participate in this special fundraising program by personalizing a brick for the walkway around the Gazebo.

 - Doug Zimmerman, President of Ozanam

After I got in trouble in gym class one day, my therapist brought me to see the coach. She said I needed the Basketball Program. Coach wasn’t sure about this at first, but he agreed to it. The Basketball Program changed me forever.

I would like to thank Ms. Moore for bringing me to see Coach Hutson that day. I would also like to thank all the coaches for helping me learn new skills.

Thanks also to Ms. Myers for teaching me about history, Mr. Arnold for teaching me computers, and Mr. Smith for teaching me art. Thank you to Ms. Weaver and Ms. “C” for being there when I needed to get settled down. I would like to thank Ms. Stockstill for being in the cafeteria and being there in the morning to greet me. Thanks to Mr. Cordier for helping me with algebra, Ms. Sprinkle for being a great assistant teacher, and Mr. Triplett for being there when I needed to talk about work. I would like to thank Mr. Osterhaus for helping me with all the things I needed for college. I would also like to thank my family for all the support they have given me all these years.

My future plan is to attend Penn Valley Community College. This will make me the first person in my family to go to college, and it’s all thanks to my friends, teachers and family!

- By a 2010 graduate of Ozanam School