What's New at KidsPeace

84 Teams Converge to Raise Hope, Funds for Local Charity

 at 13th Annual KidsPeace Soccer Invitational

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Free Admission for Public – Proceeds to support TeenCentral.Net

WHAT:     The 13^th Annual KidsPeace Soccer Invitational

More than 80 teams will bring 1,000+ players and hundreds more fans and neighbors intent on having a good time and raising money to benefit TeenCentral.Net, the unique website developed by KidsPeace that allows teens to write anonymous posts about their problems and concerns and receive free online advise from Master's level counselors within 24 hours. The site also contains resources, news and information about domestic violence, obesity and smoking cessation.

Admission is free, so come on down, pull up a chair, and maybe buy a t-shirt or a hot dog in support of this annual event.  There will be fun games, music, visiting attractions, food, and activities.  Verizon Wireless is the tournament sponsor.

WHEN:     Saturday & Sunday, August 21-22, 2010

Exciting kicks, blocks, and goals from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm both days

B104 Crew & Bee – Saturday from Noon to 2:00 pm.

WLEV 100.7 FM – Sunday from Noon to 2:00 pm

WFMZ TV 69 and interactive fun for kids, 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m., both days

WHERE:       KidsPeace Orchard Hill campus, 5300 KidsPeace Drive, Orefield, PA 18069

                  (DIRECTIONS:  From I-78 take Rte 309 north 7 miles, turn left on Old Packhouse Road.

Campus is ahead on left).  For weather information, please call 610-799-8315.

“Come on down and support local kids and the team of your choice,” says KidsPeace President & CEO Will Isemann. “And for two straight days, everyone will be a winner!”

SPECIAL NOTE:  In addition to great competitive soccer, there will be a coaches’ clinic on Friday, Aug. 20 conducted by Fernando Carrizo, head coach of the Northwestern Lehigh High School Varsity Boys Soccer team and assistant coach of the FC Sonics. The clinic has a minimal fee and is open to all participating coaches and to coaches who do not have teams in the tournament.  Sessions will be conducted from 5 to 8:30 p.m.  For more information or to register, contact Jenelle Perich at 610-799-8493.

KidsPeace operates Foster Care and Community Programs offices across the country. While referral agencies attempt to achieve permanency for these children through placement with other family members, they still have many children to place in treatment foster homes with highly trained families like those recruited and trained by KidsPeace.

With shrinking tax revenues and diminishing funds to take care of the needs of foster children in care, KidsPeace associates often feel frustration with having sufficient families to meet needs of referred children. Program Manager Jennifer Brown of the KidsPeace Merrillville, IN, FCCP office has decided to be innovative in motivating and encouraging her eight-person team of associates.

Jennifer has created two award programs that she bestows on her dedicated staff members: the Pit Bull Award and the Crusader Award. These recognitions encourage associates to fight their daily battles fearlessly, and to be strong advocates for the children in the Foster Care program.

“People who work with me have always characterized me as a pit bull because I fight hard and never give up on getting as much assistance for our children as possible,” Jennifer said. “This gave me the idea for the Pit Bull award, which is presented to an associate weekly.” The initial award is a Pit Bull pin with the associate’s name on it, and subsequent awards include adding dog bones to the pin, a dog bone bracelet and a dog bone tiara.

The Crusader Award includes a helmet, sword, breastplate and shield and has been given only once so far to Jen Gaskill for sticking with it and winning the battle for a particularly difficult case. The other associates are now vying for the honor of taking the Crusader gear from Jen and claiming it as their own.

“I believe that this is a very positive incentive that has everyone excited about our ‘Save a Kid Challenge’ campaign that is both fun and empowering,” Jennifer said. She has gone to the community for prizes, and businesses have donated manicures and haircuts, with more to come.

This was Jennifer’s plan to build resiliency among the associates who deal with frequent policy changes that send children home too soon only to see them back in crisis and in need of another foster home. Congratulations to Jennifer for being innovative and encouraging to the associates in her office.