Home Alone

by Taryn Stark and Maggy McDaniel





Home Alone is one of America’s most beloved movies. Children dream of having an opportunity to run the house by themselves, fight the bad guys and come out on top! Most parents, however, dread the thought of accidentally leaving their child behind and realizing it miles and miles above ground in a 747. Whether we grew up with the dazzling flick or watched our children grow up with it, Home Alone is definitely a household favorite.

The sad reality of this movie, however, is that it illustrates a form of child abuse: neglect. The Macalister family (from the movie) was responsible for 8 children, Kevin included. Because of their flurry to catch a plane on time, Kevin was left abandoned to fend for himself over the Christmas holidays. We all know, of course, that this is depicted as a huge mistake in the movie. The parents are horrified at their lapse and do everything that they can to get back to Kevin as soon as possible. The reality of child abuse, however, is much less forgiving.

Here is one example: A Central Indiana couple left their 2 year-old son alone in a van for 40 minutes on a bitter cold night. Police say the family shopped inside a supermarket, leaving the young boy locked inside the van, with the temperature outside just 16 degrees. This seems like a harmless act: leaving your kid in the car for a bit while you go grocery shopping. It is not harmless; its child abuse. Neglect is a common form of child abuse that generally goes unacknowledged. However, The Villages, along with Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, know differently.

This example of child abuse illustrates why organizations like The Villages are so important to our society. Through our Healthy Families sector and Family Connection Network, adoptive, foster, and biological parents alike are trained and educated about the dangers of neglect. They are enlightened and encouraged in their journeys of parenthood. Just think: If the Macalister parents had gotten involved with an organization like The Villages, then they likely wouldn’t have left Kevin home alone. If you would like more information on The Villages, contact us at http://www.villageskids.org/ or 317.273.7575.

Hell is for Children by Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz7A0MAvofE&feature=related

They cry in the dark, so you can't see their tears
They hide in the light, so you can't see their fears
Forgive and forget, all the while
Love and pain become one and the same
In the eyes of a wounded child

Because Hell
Hell is for children
And you know that their little lives can become such a mess
Hell
Hell is for children
And you shouldn't have to pay for your love with your bones and your flesh

It's all so confusing, this brutal abusing
They blacken your eyes, and then apologize
You're daddy's good girl, and don't tell mommy a thing
Be a good little boy, and you'll get a new toy
Tell grandma you fell off the swing

Because Hell
Hell is for children
And you know that their little lives can become such a mess
Hell
Hell is for children
And you shouldn't have to pay for your love with your bones and your flesh

No, Hell is for children

As the month of April is Child Abuse Prevention month, The Villages is committed to raising awareness of child maltreatment throughout Indiana and hopefully the world. If you are interested in getting involved with The Villages or learning more about our organization, please contact us:

Website

Donate Online

Call: 800.874.6880 or 317.327.7575

Matilda...everyone's favorite little girl!

by Taryn Stark and Maggy McDaniel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfJAvIA9aJY

Whether we fell in love with Matilda as parents watching the movie with our children, or as children ourselves, most of us love the little girl! She is innovative and driven, intelligent and compassionate. Who wouldn’t love such a well-behaved and devoted daughter? Matilda, however, is an exception to the rule. Raised in an indifferent and clearly unloving family, Matilda proves to be an exception to the rule of an abused and neglected child. In 2007, 80% of 21 year-olds that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder (more details found here: http://www.childhelp.org/resources/learning-center/statistics). Though this statistic is bleak, it does reflect the reality of the world in which we live.

Child abuse is not solely defined as physically harming one’s child, as many people today are inclined to believe. Child maltreatment is illustrated in a number of different ways, some of which include neglect, physical abuse, psychological abuse or emotional abuse and are all produced as a result of acts or omissions of acts by parents or caregivers.

At The Villages, we strive to not only lower the unfortunate reality of child abuse, but also to eliminate it all together. We believe that one-on-one personal devotion and love are the most positively influential things that a child can receive. Our vision is that every child we serve will flourish in a healthy, nurturing self-sufficient family. We hold that this kind of love and affection can be found most abundantly through foster-care and adoption, not institutions. As such, we are dedicated to servicing Indiana’s children to the best of our ability.

As the month of April is Child Abuse Prevention month, we are committed to raising awareness of child maltreatment throughout Indiana and hopefully the world. If you are interested in getting involved with The Villages or learning more about our organization, please contact us:

Official Villages' Website

Donated Online
Phone: 317.273.7575 or 800.874.6880

It's Super Bowl time for our Champions

The Super Colts are in the Super Bowl, and we at The Villages couldn’t be more excited! For the past several years, the Indianapolis Colts have generously supported The Villages’ life-changing. From summer camp scholarships to filming our PSA…the Colts have proven to be true Champions for Children!

Indianapolis Colts former head coach, Tony Dungy, and current head coach, Jim Caldwell, have helped spread the word about The Villages by acting as a spokes person in our commercials and public service announcements. Both coaches encouraged families to open their hearts and homes to Villages’ child and become foster parents…by joining a team of champions.

Coach Tony Dungy poses for a picture with The Villages children after filming the 2007 commerical.

Coach Jim Caldwell brings The Villages children in for a post commerical huddle

In the summer of 2009, Villages’ children received camperships to attend Indianapolis Colts Defensive End, Dwight Freeney’s football camp. This three day long camp gave the children the opportunity to hone their football skills, interact with Dwight Freeney and meet some of Freeney’s Colts team mates, including Peyton Manning and Dallas Clark. The children learned important lesson that can be used on and off the field!

The Villages President and CEO, Sharon Pierce, and Director of Development, Katee Franson, gets their picture with Dwight Freeney at a post camp reception

Support from the Colts doesn’t end with the coaches and players. The Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization have sponsored The Villages golf tournament for the past two years. Their financial support enabled us to raise critical funds needed to support our services and program for children recovering from the painful childhood trauma of abuse and neglect.

On behalf of 1,400 children The Villages supports each and every day … we wish the Indianapolis Colts the best of luck on Sunday! We are honored to have you as partners and we thank you for being Champions for our Children!

Might Ducks, Mighty Villages

The Mighty Ducks is a phenomenal movie about joining together as a team of individuals. Some of you may know about this movie. At first, the kids are brought together as a group of individuals. Some of them had been on a Minnesota hockey team; others came in sporadically, hoping to join the clique of previous brothers. This proved to be both challenging and disheartening. Finally, the group of players was forced to truly join together as a new team. Yes, they were all individuals from different parts of the world, yet they were bonded through the USA team, through the Mighty Ducks team. This team, through all its up’s and down’s, through all its growth and hardships, is only able to succeed by coming together as a brotherhood. They can only become champions if they “fly together.”

photo courtesy of http://ducks.jp.land.to/d2teamphot.jpg

In this same way, The Villages believes that we can all become champions for children if we come together. As Indiana’s largest accredited not-for-profit child and family services organization, we cannot do it by ourselves. We cannot change the world alone. Vulnerable children, children such as those who make up The Mighty Ducks, are in need throughout Indiana. We have recognized this need and are now calling on you to help us answer the need. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Together, we can do anything.

This month The Villages is hosting “Pack the House for Charity” night on February 28th. Tickets are on sale for $9.00, and $5.00 goes to Prevent Child Abuse Indiana. Last year, we raised over $12,000 for the children. Help us to raise even more this year! Visit our website at http://www.villageskids.org/indexnews5.php or call us at 800.874.6880.

The Villages and Colts...Champions for Children

by Sharon Pierce, President and CEO

The Colts are on a roll…and so are The Villages’ Families. Thanks to the gracious support of Indianapolis Colt’s Head Coach, Jim Caldwell, The Villages has dynamic TV, radio and print ads urging people like you to consider being a heroic foster or adoptive parent!

Coach Caldwell and Villages' children who starred in our new commercial!

Check out our upcoming Information Nights at www.villageskids.org. And there are countless other ways to help Indiana’s most vulnerable children…you can donate to enrich children’s lives…volunteer…provide new books…purchase some gift cards….provide personal hygiene supplies for our older youth! Join The Villages’ team today!!

Thank You to Our Sponsors!!!

As we're really starting to gear up for our 2009 Golf Classic(September 17th), we would like to thank our generous sponsors! Our sponsors have made the Golf Classic poswsible through their generous contributions, and unending support! Without our sponsors, we wouldn't be able to run the Golf Classic, our largest fundraiser of the year, and we wouldn't be able to meet the needs of the hundreds of kids who are directly helped by the Golf Classic. Thank you so much for all your help and support!

Title Sponsor:
Holladay Properties in partnership with AmeriPlex Indianapolis and Purdue Technology Center

Children's Champion Sponsor:
Don and Jen Knebel

Children's Hero Sponsors:
Ice Miller, LLP
Katz, Sapper, and Miller, LLP
Westport Homes

Champs FORE Children Sponsor:
Anonymous

Box Lunch Sponsors:
Baker and Daniels, LLP
Crosser Family Foundation
Sams Club
Monroe Bancorp

Beverage Cart Sponsors:
Venture Logistics
Wells Fargo Advisors

Matt Breman Memorial Awards Sponsors:
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Bose, McKinney, and Evans, LLP
Sharp Business Systems of Indianapolis
Shelbourne Knee Clinic at Methodist Hospital

Prize Sponsors:
Circle City Millwork
Dealers Wholesale
K-Squared Consulting
MBAH Insurance
Michael Binder/Frost Brown Todd, LLC
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Timberland Lumber

Hole Sponsors:
Aspire CPAs, P.C.
IKON Office Solutions
Kinder Electric Co., Inc.
Krieg DeVault, LLP
M&I Bank
Pellegrino & Associates, LLC
Postlethwait Family
Reese Wholesale
Steve Pierce, Sunbelt Indiana Business Resources
Tabbert Hahn Earnest & Weddle, LLP
Vectren Energy Delivery
Venture Logistics
Weber Concrete Construction
Zink Distributing Company

Banner Sponsors:
Linda and Skip Adams
Stephen Becker
Century 21 Diversified Realty
Citizens Gas
Classic Concrete Co, Inc.
First American Title
Henry Poor Lumber
Jupiter Leasing
Kerman's Fine Flooring
ParaPRO, LLC
Kyle Trick

Check out our facebook page to see some of the cool items that have been donated for the Silent Auction at www.facebook.com/villageskids!