Donors who gave an accumulated $100 or more in 2009 are listed in the Kaleidoscope Circle of Care. Major donors ($500 or more in a year) become members of the Kaleidoscope Circle of Care Leadership Council. 
 
Click the following link to view these donors as well as those outstanding volunteers who went above-and-beyond in 2009 to shape better lives for kids.

2009 Donor List - Circle of Care
 

We look forward with great optimism to the future. By following the path laid out by the Kaleidoscope board 37 years ago, the staff, board, volunteers and donors are making a better future for the children we serve right here in our communities.

As we all know – so well that it may seem cliché – children are the future. But worn as that saying may seem, it is often minimized. Kaleidoscope maximizes the resources provided by you and others to meet the goals of the Kaleidoscope mission. By doing so, we have affected children with a powerful impact leading to better childhoods and eventually productive, fulfilling adulthoods. Paradoxically and despite knowing that children are the future, support for programs serving at-risk children continues to erode.

Thank you for your support, and thank you for believing in the future of the children at Kaleidoscope.

Currently, Kaleidoscope requires about $3 per child per day in philanthropy to provide the best care and services to children and youth. YOU are part of that philanthropy that makes Kaleidoscope work.

You help nurture children to become independent and goal-oriented young adults. You support Kaleidoscope programs and cultivate hope in even our youngest children.

To save and change the lives of children costs time and money. Thank you for your help.

                                     
Bill Binder, Board Chair                          Tom Finnegan, Executive Director
 

Kaleidoscope's fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 saw $8,193,576 in expenses, with 87.7% going towards programs. You can find detailed, audited financial statements by clicking on the following link or calling 773-278-7200 x4024 and asking for a copy.

FY2009 Audited Financial Statement
http://www.k4k.org/resources/docs/Audited%20Financial%20Statement.pdf 

Kaleidoscope’s Associate Board is an extraordinary group of volunteers dedicated to raising awareness and funds while have fun in the process.

The first term AB created two of their own successful fundraising events, including a wine tasting event and a bowling fundraiser. The AB also raised significant money through a 50/50 raffle. Furthermore, the members of the AB volunteer each year to make possible our annual Kid Art Show, kids’ summer picnic and all-agency family holiday party.

The board and staff are very, very grateful to the tireless efforts of the group, particularly our co-leaders Molly O’Farrell and Mary Larocca, who took the mantle in 2008 to launch a group that raised over $7,000 through Associate Board-sponsored events and other Kaleidoscope campaigns.

Because of their efforts, the 2010-2011 Associate Board comprises an outstanding group of individuals filled with creative ideas and a high level of energy. We’re proud to have Molly O’Farrell back as our Vice Chair while Michelle Stevens has assumed the responsibility of Chair.

Thank you Associate Board!!!

If you’re interested in joining this great group and working towards the end of improving life for some great kids, check out http://www.k4k.org/k4kab 

Delories finds it hard to believe that it’s been 40 years since her close friend died. The pain feels fresh when she recalls that night and getting the news. Even more excruciating is the empathy she felt for her friends’ little boy, “Brandon.” She carried his pain in her heart for five long years, not knowing how much longer those years felt for Brandon. You see, she lost contact with Brandon when he was left in the care of family who could not, and did not, provide him the care and love a little boy needs.

Five years too long…long enough for Brandon to become a ward of the state – that means the State of Illinois was legally Brandon’s parent.

Brandon lost his mother, and then everything he knew. He never got the chance to grieve the loss of his mom, but was forced to immediately face the reality of what he only saw as being left alone in a big world. Not surprisingly, Brandon didn’t immediately warm to his first foster parents…and didn’t get the chance to either before they presumed Brandon just wasn’t a good match. Brandon was moved to his second foster home, then his third. He began acting out, getting into trouble, then moved to his fourth foster home, fifth, sixth…

Brandon became a seriously troubled youth and deemed “specialized” by the state. Back then it was more common for kids to bounce around from one home to the next because the special care and attention kids like Brandon needed wasn’t being provided immediately like it ought to have been. Brandon, like so many other kids, learned to reject the care being offered to them by a foster parent BEFORE getting rejected…it became a defense mechanism.

In that fifth year after Brandon’s mother died, Delories heard from a friend of a friend that “the poor little boy who’d lost his family” had recently been sent to Kaleidoscope. Because he was deemed specialized and needed special attention to help him recover from his trauma, Kaleidoscope took him in to provide him the most stable care possible in a family that would be trained and supported to care for just such children.

Delories contacted Kaleidoscope and, without hesitation, became a licensed foster parent for Brandon by the time he was twelve years old.

And that’s where the best part of Delories’ story begins.

Since that day that Delories took Brandon into her home, she has become the foster parent to over 20 children. If that doesn’t illustrate the size of her heart, she took in two foster children, a four-month-old and then a three-year-old, who weren’t expected to live to see their next birthday. But because of her unconditional care, both are doing remarkably well. Without Delories, these two would have certainly grown up in an institution, if they would have even survived at all. Both now in their twenties, Anthony and Jeanetta remain in Delories’ care as adults with special needs, but are clearly happy as evidenced by their smiles and affection towards Delories and the Kaleidoscope staff.

Most recently, a tiny infant named Demajh was referred to Kaleidoscope who was the child of teenage foster youth herself. The Kaleidoscope staff approached Delories about taking the infant into her home while we all worked closely with the teenage parent with the goal of reunification. Sadly, but believed to be in the child’s best interest, Demajh’s mother chose to terminate her rights as his parent. Demajh would have been placed in another foster home at this point, however Delories asked to adopt Demajh and the Kaleidoscope staff began the adoption process, given her stellar record as a foster parent and knowing the Demajh would be given all the love he needed and a good life.

To be sure, Delories is an exceptional foster parent. Her story inspires others who have the capacity – to both provide and to love – to become foster parents and to adopt foster children. Delories has dedicated the last 35 years of her life fostering children in her own home, creating a large extended family where all know her as “mama.” As a founder of Kaleidoscope’s Foster Parent Association, former President and mother, Delories is an inspiration to us all.

Brandon is grown up now, but in spite of living in Florida and leading a successful career, he still finds time to call and check up on his mama.

 
For two years now, Northern Trust has helped Kaleidoscope enhance programs for foster youth and build awareness for high-need abused and neglected foster youth. This is truly a company that makes a difference in Chicago.

In 2008, Northern Trust became a partner in building new programs and enhancing tried-and-true programs for foster youth - 18-23 years old - who are aging out of the foster care system. In many states, once a foster kid turns 18, they're on their own. Now I know - and you may agree - that when I turned 18, I still relied on my network of family and friends to truly make a full transition into independence. We believe our foster youth are no different.
 
Northern Trust joined Kaleidoscope by providing a supportive grant towards its transitional living services programs. Then, the following year, Northern Trust became a key partner of Find Your Future, Kaleidoscope's internship program for foster youth in college. Both of these grants ensure that foster youth turning 18 are not forgotten, but giving the support they need to become independent, productive and happy young adults.
 
BUT...Northern Trust didn't stop there. Also in 2008, the wonderful people at this great company offered to host Kaleidoscope's popular Kid Art Show. Their prime location gave many more people the opporunity to attend and be part of a great arts program just steps from where they work. Kaleidoscope made many new friends and was able to put the focus on the kids and their talent while the bank provided the venue and catering.

Everyone at Kaleidoscope is eternally grateful to Northern Trust - not to mention the many employees who volunteer and donate throughout the year. So, THANK YOU to our board members Lindsay Amborski, Kathy Soto and the many, many other great people at Northern Trust!
 
We look forward to a great 2010 working together to save lives and change lives!

Marion Rogers became a licensed foster parent with Kaleidoscope in 1985 and has since opened her home – and her heart – to dozens of children. When permanency legislation passed in 1996, Ms. Rogers decided to adopt the twin boys in her care and a few years later adopted a third foster child. Even with the hectic demands of raising three children, Marion provided emergency foster care and was an active member of the Kaleidoscope Foster Parent Association’s Policy Committee.

Aside from her experience as a foster parent, Marion has a special ability to work with the biological families of her foster kids. Five years ago, we asked Marion to help us with the placement of a young boy in the process of returning home and told her the transition would happen fairly quickly. We chose Marion for this child because, quite simply, she is a unique and gifted foster parent. However, four years and many reasons later, a court decided against returning this child to his parents. When asked, Marion made the commitment, without hesitation, to take guardianship of him.

These are just a few examples of the love and commitment Marion has shown our kids. Now, over 22 years later and with four more kids of her own at home, Marion has retired from fostering. We had the pleasure of celebrating Marion’s dedication to the children of Kaleidoscope at the 22nd Annual Foster Parent Awards Banquet in December.

While it’s impossible to quantify the impact she has had on the lives of the kids she has cared for or the families she has touched, we do know that Kaleidoscope is richer for having known her.

From all of your friends at Kaleidoscope, a big Thank You, Marion, and happy retirement!

Shania’s father left long ago. Her mother could not, would not give up drugs and alcohol. Shania lived as a ward of the state most of her life and finally moved into her aunt’s house at age 15. But Shania, having known nothing but rejection and trying to reconcile her anger and love of her mother, treated her aunt badly. Shania was failing classes in school and on a downhill path toward her own destruction.

Shania was referred to Kaleidoscope in the summer of 2008 as an at-risk teenage foster youth. Shania’s aunt was willing to do whatever she could to keep her in her home, but she needed help soon or she would lose Shania. Shania was reluctant to talk to Lauren, her family worker, and the other team members assigned to her case. She was often found staring into space, seemingly asleep with her eyes open. Lauren’s team met daily, brainstorming new ways to engage her and provide her opportunities to open up.

The week before Christmas, members from her Kaleidoscope team showed up at her door, holding a giant, red box adorned with gold ribbons and ornate bows. With big eyes, Shania said flatly, “That’s a beautiful box.” Knowing that Shania half-expected a gift from Kaleidoscope, Lauren told her that this gift was not from Kaleidoscope, but a donor, her "Secret Santa." Shania took the lid off the box, finding the things she’d been wishing for: drawing paper, pencils and crayons, a digital camera and a bottle of perfume she’d always “tested” at the store. Then, Shania began crying. Smiling, Lauren asked why she was crying. Shania said, “No one had ever been nice to me.”

Lauren sees that day and that gift from a stranger as the catalyst that changed Shania. Shania opened up and began talking about what was on her mind. Shania began accepting the love her aunt gave her. In four months, Shania went from failing grades to the honor roll! And if there’s any question that that simple gift was part of what helped her make a change, just look to the foot of her bed where there sits a giant, red box wrapped in gold ribbons still adorned with ornate bows.

As students in college, our biggest fear given the state of the economy is probably the impending job market. In addition to competing with hundreds of applicants for a select number of jobs, one disadvantage many graduates will have is their lack of employment experience. Due to the competitive nature of obtaining a job, many students are vigorously pursuing internships that will not only prepare them for the professional road ahead, but will also allow them to form vital relationships within the job market. 

Though good connections are extremely helpful to a successful career, for some, these connections are not so easily obtained. Through the Find Your Future program, college students who are cared for by the state of Illinois are paired with Chicago area businesses for ten weeks with paid internships. Many of these students have encountered various obstacles in the child welfare system, yet every one of these students (in order to be eligible for the program) is enrolled in college and maintains at least a 2.5 GPA.

The Find Your Future program is sponsored by Kaleidoscope and DCFS, not to mention the numerous businesses who make this program so successful. There are always business professionals available to give advice, and the staff at kaleidoscope and DCFS are by far the biggest component of this support system. The director of the Find Your Future program, Abbie See, places each intern with a business, but it doesn’t stop there. Not only do the creators of this program place students in very good internships, they also hold a number of workshops and networking opportunities geared to preparing us for the professional world. 

Last summer, with the Find Your Future program, I was placed with Streetwise magazine and served as an intern writer. Through this internship, I learned a lot about journalism and even had my work published in the magazine; most of all, I formed lasting relationships with my employer and the staff. From this program, we are provided with experiences that require professionalism and test our abilities. Through the rigorous internships we learn time management, discipline and effective communication skills. What skills we didn’t pick up from our internship were enforced by the Find Your Future mandatory workshops, which included classes on business etiquette and building a resume.

Shanicka Burdine, a senior at the University of Illinois, interned at the Cook County Juvenile Child Protection Division as a court coordinator intern last summer. When asked about her internship, she replied, “I never imagined myself working in a courtroom, at least not at this point in time. Even if our internships weren’t paid, the experience itself is worth it.” Another student who participated in the program is Victoria Nelson. Victoria is also enrolled at the University of Illinois and is a biology major. She plans on applying to the Find Your Future program next year: “I’m definitely applying next year, mainly because I know with Find Your Future there are people who want me to succeed. They don’t just place you in these internships; they provide a support system which makes it impossible for you to fail.”

The Find Your Future program truly lives up to its name, helping students prepare for their futures. As a college student, I may still have fears of the uncertainty of the job market, but I rest easy knowing that I’ve been prepared for whatever I will find in my future.


Jacqui Batts is a senior at the University of Illinois majoring in journalism and a 2009 alumna of Find Your Future.