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Home · Newsletters · LYDIA Today
TueTuesdayAprApril7th2009
April 2009
Letter from Executive Director Dave Anderson
 As the recession wears on, Safe Families is receiving more and more calls for help. In fact, we are projecting that our number of placements will double to about 600 this year compared to 2008. Why? The main reason seems to be the economy, which has been bringing a different type of family to our ministry—those facing financial distress, foreclosure or bankruptcy.
A recent front page story in the Sunday edition of the Chicago Tribune illustrated this point. The story was about Safe Families and focused on several clients, including Jenny Lass, 20. Things had gotten so bad for Jenny that she called a local adoption agency to see about giving up her infant son, Zachary. The agency referred her to us, and now Jenny’s son is staying with Safe Families volunteer Amanda Pinc. “I was unable to get a job because I don’t have money for day care,” Jenny says. “I don’t have money for gas.” Now Jenny, who’s living with her mom, has a chance to find a good job, save some money and create a better life for herself and Zachary. All because Safe Families was there for her in a time of crisis.
We are always looking for new Safe Families volunteers. Learn more by contacting Heyward Watford by
or call (773) 653-2255.
Help us Meet the Match!
Safe Families has received a generous $15,000 matching grant from a local foundation! Our deadline to raise matching funds is May 1, and we’re two-thirds of the way there. Can you give toward the last $5,000? Give online or by mail: 4300 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60641, attn: Sylvia Ortiz.
Give Creatively! (and Without Sending Money)
You can give to LYDIA from the comfort of your own home—without even writing a check!
- Donate gently used items that you no longer want and LYDIA will list them on eBay and keep the proceeds. It’s part of our new “Goods4Good” initiative. Items should be in good condition and can include name brand, designer and vintage clothing, shoes and designer handbags; jewelry; silver; and electronics. Unsold items will be given to families and children in need. For more information or to arrange pick up, please contact Sean Durbin at (773) 794-3300 or by
. You can drop off items at 4839 W. Irving Park Road (a LYDIA facility).
- Designate LYDIA as your charity while selling items on eBay, and LYDIA will receive a percentage from your sales through an eBay program called Giving Works. Click on Giving Works from the eBay home page to learn more.
- Register with the search engine GoodSearch.com (and designate LYDIA as your charity). Every time you use GoodSearch, LYDIA will receive a credit of about a penny. If 100 people average just two searches a day for a year, LYDIA will receive about $730.
- Use GoodShop.com to shop online, and LYDIA will receive a percentage of the money you spend (percentages vary). Over a thousand online retailers participate, including Target, iTunes, Travelocity, Amazon and Old Navy. If 100 people purchase $500 in merchandise with an average of 3% donated to LYDIA, the estimated revenue would be $1,500.
Visit LYDIA on Facebook!
LYDIA has a new "fan page" on Facebook, designed to help people connect with the ministry and each other in new ways. As we continue to develop the page, it will keep visitors informed about upcoming events and initiatives, provide links to media stories about LYDIA and tell them more about how LYDIA is changing lives. Find us by searching "LYDIA Home Association," and click on "Become a Fan."
projectMUSIC Hits a Real High Note
 projectMUSIC was a big success! The event’s 114 guests enjoyed an inspiring concert by recording artist Angel Taylor and a performance by the Divine Inspiration Dancers (whose members live at LYDIA’s Residential Treatment Center). The event raised $27,000 to cover the cost of camp for kids who live at our Residential Treatment Center.
Many thanks to event organizers Dan and Kim Michelson for pulling everything together so beautifully...to Catered by Design for donating all of the food and catering services...to Catalyst Ranch for donating the event space on a Saturday night...to Aware/Columbia Records for Angel’s transportation and entertainment costs...and to all our volunteers and silent auction donors.
Join Us for Our May Open House
Join us for an informational Open House on Thursday, May 21, which will feature a tour, Q&A time, short testimony from an LUA student and a brief presentation by Dave Anderson. To make your reservation, please contact Erica Postma, Associate Director of Development, by
or (773) 653-2249.
How Does Our Garden Grow?
 “The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.”
Dorothy Frances Gurney
Kids who live in our Residential Treatment Center are preparing for spring with an eye toward their gardens, which have become a source of inspiration, recreation, salad fixins, flowers and more! We want to extend a special thanks to Nature’s Perspective Landscaping for providing consultation services at no charge this winter. They developed exciting plans for LYDIA’s grounds and for our vegetable and flower gardens (immediate improvements call for the addition of raspberry bushes and a pumpkin patch).
Volunteers are needed to assist with soil preparation and planting in May. To help, please contact Mel Gonzales by
or (773) 653-2233.
TueTuesdayFebFebruary10th2009
February 2009
A Message from Dr. David Anderson, Executive Director
Here at LYDIA, we're experiencing a new level of synergy between our programs and the people who make them possible. What do I mean? Well, take a look at Safe Families, which launched about six years ago with just a handful of volunteers. In 2008, 192 new Safe Families volunteers joined the movement, bringing our total to 434, and we placed 399 kids, vs. 210 placed in 2007.
 There's also a new level of synergy in our fundraising efforts, thanks to creative volunteers like Dan and Kim Michelson. In 2007, they asked family and friends to sponsor Dan's participation in the New York City Marathon, and used the money to send LYDIA’s 40 Residential Treatment Center kids to camp in March 2008.
We're building off the success of the Michelsons' efforts with Team LYDIA, whose dedicated runners will participate in the Chicago 5K or Half Marathon on September 13. This group, whose motto is "Running to Learn. Learning to Run," will raise money to benefit LYDIA Urban Academy, our alternative high school. To join Team LYDIA or for more information, contact Kelcey Gropp by
or call 773-899-5381.
It's exciting to see God take these kinds of efforts and multiply them to bless the families and children we serve. That's the best kind of synergy of all!
Thank you, Ministry Partners!
Ministry partners like you helped LYDIA end 2008 on budget, no small feat in today's tight economy. In fact, donations well exceeded our year-end $90,000 matching grant opportunity! 2009 promises to be an even busier year than last, as the need for LYDIA services continues to grow. You can help by:
- Making a monthly gift to LYDIA via electronic funds transfer
- Seeing whether your employer offers a corporate matching gift program
- Donating appreciated assets
For more information, please contact Nancy Good, Development Director at 773-653-2252.
Getting the Word Out
Introduce your friends and family to the ministry of LYDIA by bringing them to an Open House and Tour on Thursday, February 19, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. This event, a first for LYDIA, is sponsored by the Chicago Board of Directors and designed to share information about the ministry and how people can become involved as volunteers and donors. It includes a brief presentation, Q&A, and tour, as well as tasty refreshments. Additional Open House events will be held in May and September.
Save the Date for LYDIA's Benefit Gala
This year's Benefit Gala will take place earlier than usual, on November 16, and plans are already underway. We are pleased to announce that Erwin Lutzer, Senior Pastor at The Moody Church in Chicago, will serve as our featured speaker. Dr. Lutzer is an award-winning author of more than 20 books, a celebrated international conference speaker, and the featured speaker on three radio programs: The Moody Church Hour, Songs in the Night, and Running to Win.
Have questions? Need info?
To learn more about:
- The Open House on Feb. 19
- Volunteer and fundraising opportunities
Please contact Erica Postma, Associate Director of Development, by
or call 773-653-2249
From the Safe Families Files
It's no exaggeration to say that Safe Families changes lives. Here are two recent examples.
 "Alexandra" was struggling with drug addiction and living with her three children in a motel room. People from a church were paying her room charge and urging her to undergo substance abuse treatment. When Alexandra learned that her children could be cared for through Safe Families and that she could get them back any time she wanted, she finally agreed. Alexandra and her children were reunited soon after she successfully completed treatment.
"Michelle" is a 10-year-old autistic girl whose father, an alcoholic, checked himself into a detox and rehab program. The problem was that in his desperation to get better, he neglected to make arrangements for Michelle's care. So, when school got out that day, the school social worker took Michelle to the police station hoping for help. An officer who knew about Safe Families gave us a call. Within an hour, a Safe Families volunteer came to the police station and then cared for Michelle until her father was in a better place to care for her.
Demand for Safe Families continues to grow! For information about becoming a Safe Families volunteer, please contact Heyward Watford by
or call 773-653-2255.
LYDIA's Goods4Good
 We're looking for gently used name-brand items (e.g. Burberry, Coach, JCrew, North Face) that you might want to get rid of. Perhaps they are getting in the way in your closet or basement, or perhaps you just consider them "ok" now, but they can be used to make someone else's life better. LYDIA is starting an initiative that caters to the .com era in which we now find ourselves. The name-brand items you donate to us will be sold on eBay. Funds raised will help LYDIA provide programs and services to those we serve. Many people now use online shopping as their primary shopping source. LYDIA is using this reality as an opportunity...an opportunity to make others' lives better...your "Goods" for "Good". You can contact us for more information by
or call 773-653-2200. Let us help you with your spring cleaning. (Due to the nature of online selling, please do keep in mind that the items you donate need to be clean and name-brand clothing, accessories or jewelry.)
FriFridayDecDecember12th2008
December 2008
A Message from Dr. David Anderson, Executive Director
Thank you to all those who were part of the 2008 LYDIA Benefit Gala! The event was a great success in terms of contributions received and number of guests (about 900). As the staff continues to process gifts, it’s becoming clear that donors gave generously. The running total brings us beyond our matching grant amount of $100,000, and gifts are still coming in.
 As always, one of my favorite moments of the evening was when clients shared how God has used LYDIA in their lives to bring spiritual and emotional healing. And I really appreciated Dr. Crawford Loritts's insight about how LYDIA and ministry partners like you help "break bonds and bear burdens" by coming alongside people as they overcome the obstacles in their lives, such as domestic violence, drug use and poverty. As he said, the government can’t be the solution because these problems are moral in nature and rooted in character. The government can help, but they can’t give hope.
But LYDIA can, through the power of the gospel. As Dr. Loritts said, LYDIA has a legacy that will last into future generations; it represents a "turning around" of what the enemy wants to destroy in terms of families. Thank you for being part of that "turning around" by living out the gospel in your own lives and supporting this ministry so faithfully.
In closing, I would like to extend special thanks to our Gala Event Sponsors, Table Hosts, volunteers and those who donated items for the Silent Auction. Your partnership makes this ministry possible!
Time is Right for Year-End Gifts
The economy may be shrinking, but the need for LYDIA programs — particularly Safe Families — continues to grow. As we approach the end of the year, we are hoping that, despite difficult financial times, our donors will give generously to the ministry so that we can continue serving children and families in need. Here are some examples of how your gifts to LYDIA make a tangible difference in the lives of our clients:
- $5,000 provides one year of tuition for a student at LYDIA Urban Academy.
- $3,000 pays for a mother and her children to participate for one year in our Healthy Families program.
- $1,200 covers the cost for LYDIA to serve one family through Safe Families.
- $500 provides 10 counseling sessions for a family in crisis.
Gifts to LYDIA can take many forms. The most straightforward is a gift made through our secure web site at www.lydiahome.org/donate or by mail at 4300 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60641.
We are also seeking donors who will support LYDIA with a donation via electronic transfer each month in the amount of their choice. We offer this option as a convenience to our donors, and also to help us anticipate our monthly donor income. It is especially helpful when we are riding out the slow giving months of January, July and August. If interested in monthly giving, please contact Erica Postma, Associate Director of Development, by
or call (773) 653-2249.
Something Beautiful
Those who attended the Benefit Gala were moved by Antwan Turpeau's story of how God used LYDIA and others to save his life. Here, we share the highlights of that story.
"When I was little, my mom had paranoid schizophrenia and we lived in extreme poverty, with no electricity and very little food. At certain points we were forced to live in homeless shelters or bathe at McDonald’s. When I was 10, both my younger sister and I were removed from our home and placed at LYDIA.
 I lived at LYDIA for about two years, and during that time a couple of great things happened. One was that LYDIA matched me up with a mentor, whose name is Cliff. He would pick me up every other weekend to do things I'd never experienced before, like go to museums, Bulls games and Lambs Farm. He motivated me to work hard in school, be responsible, and respect other people. We're good friends to this day.
The other thing that happened was that in the fifth grade I became friends with a boy named Nick. I hit it off with his family right away, and spent a lot of time with them. I had hoped to live with them then, but before that could happen my father was granted custody of my sister and me, and we went to live with him. After a couple years, though, he became so abusive that I ran away. I was 15.
I stayed with people on the south side of Chicago and got involved in gangs and robbing freight trains. My life was out of control, but somehow I still kept in touch with Cliff and the Katz family. When I was 16, the Katzes asked me to come live with them in Park Ridge, and that was a big turning point. They embraced me just as if I had been born into their family.
Today, I am manager of the DCFS Contracts with the Chicago Area Project, and I'm working on my master's degree in social work. I got married briefly, which didn't work out, but I am a proud and invested father now, of Kennedy Ann, who is three. God has done something beautiful in the last 18 or so years of my life. He's given me a new family that includes the Katzes and Cliff, as well as wonderful friends and most importantly Kennedy Ann. I'm thankful.
FriFridayNovNovember21st2008
Benefit Gala
You are invited to attend LYDIA's Benefit Gala on Monday, December 1. The evening is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the ministry's impact on people's lives and discover how you might be part of what is happening at LYDIA.
Tickets are complimentary, and there’s still time for you and your friends to register! Click here to register now.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Monday, December 1. Silent Auction opens at 5:30pm; Dinner and Program begin at 6:30pm
Location: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL
Complimentary Parking: Rosemont Public Parking Garage
EVENING INCLUDES:
Silent auction, special message from Dr. Crawford Loritts, and testimonies from LYDIA clients. An opportunity to support LYDIA financially will be presented. Silent Auction items include:
- Two round trip passes on Southwest Airlines
- Five night stay at Tyron Farm
- Tickets to: Cubs, Sox, Blackhawks and Bears games
- Three Hour Sailing Excursion on Lake Michigan and lunch at the Chicago Yacht Club
- Privately catered dinner at your home for eight by On Occasion Catering & Events
- Day in Long Grove includes lunch, gift cards for shopping, an art class and other treats from local shops
- One night stay at the American Club in Kohler, WI
- Overnight stay and water park passes at KeyLime Cove Water Resort
- Spa and salon packages from Avalon Salon and Day Spa, Spa Bleü, Sunflower Day Spa, Teddie Kossof Salon & Spa, and Urban Oasis
- And many more…
QUESTIONS? Contact Erica Postma by
or call (773) 653-2249.
The Board Members and LYDIA Staff wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
ThuThursdayOctOctober30th2008
October 2008
A Message from Dr. David Anderson, Executive Director
 The struggling economy is taking its toll on everyone, from stock brokers to investors to millions of homeowners. There are "hidden" victims of the crisis as well — families for whom every day was already an economic challenge, who are now on the brink of eviction or perhaps already homeless. When the economy worsens, as it has been lately, these families tend to suffer more than others. But the difficulties go beyond dollars and cents, affecting their very ability to continue caring for their children. In times like these, the services LYDIA provides become more vitally important than ever.
With that in mind, we are hoping that ministry partners like you will help make the 2008 Gala Benefit one of our most successful events ever. The fundraiser is coming up on Monday, Dec. 1, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. The evening will include stories about lives changed through LYDIA this year, opportunities to support LYDIA financially, and a talk by well-known pastor and author Dr. Crawford Loritts.
It's not too late to be a part of this year's event! You can still contribute to the success of the event by serving as a table host, event sponsor, or contributing items to the always popular silent auction. Silent auction items include: weekend get-a-ways, gift cards to popular restaurants and spas, sports memorabilia and tickets as well as many more items. To learn more about any of these opportunities, please contact Erica Postma, Associate Director of Development, by
or call (773) 653-2249.
So Many Ways to Give
The end of the year is fast approaching, and we hope you will remember LYDIA in your charitable giving plans. The country's economic downturn has already affected LYDIA financially. With your help, however, we believe we can still end the year with all bills paid and ready to face the ministry challenges of 2009. Please consider giving sacrificially to LYDIA at this critical time!
Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees (and, sometimes, spouses and retirees). This could double or even triple your gift to LYDIA! Simply request a matching gift form from your employer, then complete it and send it to LYDIA with your gift. We will do the rest.
Does your employer have a foundation that might provide grant opportunities for LYDIA? If so, please contact Nancy Good, Development Director, by
or (773) 653-2200.
Helping Kids Feel More at Home
A very special thank you to Carmen and Vikki Galante, owners of Suburban Elevator. The company paid for almost all of the Residential Treatment Center's most recent "extreme makeover" — redecorating the kids' bedrooms. Thanks also to volunteers from Accredited Staging Professionals, who paid for and executed the redecoration of the Center's common areas, selecting new rugs, pictures and other accessories. Their participation was part of Worldwide Staging Service Week, Sept. 8-15.
Coming Full Circle
 Katrina Schroeder came to LYDIA's Residential Treatment Center when she was about 12 years old. Today she is working toward a career in social service, hoping to help other "youth in care" through hard times.
When I was little, I lived with my parents and my twin brother in Chicago. But there were a lot of problems with drugs and violence in our home, and when I was about six my mom took me and my brother and moved out. We were homeless for a while, and stayed with friends or lived in shelters. Finally, DCFS stepped in. I was placed with one foster family when I was nine, then another. After a few years DCFS was asked to investigate my foster home because of safety concerns. That's when I came to LYDIA.
It was hard at first because I really missed my foster parents. But the staff at LYDIA was great. They took care of me, and they cared about me. I made a lot of friendships with other kids at LYDIA, and talked to my foster mom on the phone whenever I could. I also participated in group therapy and attended a neighborhood school. After about 18 months, I was allowed to return to my foster family, where I stayed until graduating from high school last year.
Now I attend Harold Washington College, where I'm working toward an associate's degree in art. Eventually, I'd like to get my master's in social work and become a DCFS caseworker. In the meantime, I'm serving as president of the Illinois Statewide Youth Advisory Board, an organization sponsored by DCFS that's designed to help children in the system understand their rights, explain what resources are available to them and give them a voice.
I guess you could say I have a real passion for youth in care. I know what they are going through, and I want to help them understand that people are here to help them. They are my inspiration.
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