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Click on the above
picture to see an overview video
presentation of Phase One (requires Quicktime 7).
It shows the homes
that have been refurbished on the street, interviews with
some of the staff that are directing the rebuilding, and some
"thank you's" from a few people that received a
computer.
Note: Click on the
following link for a 'low bandwidth' version of the video
(Quicktime 4 minimum):
 Phase
One (Web Quality)
[File is large---it
may take 30-45 seconds to start with a broadband connection]
CHRISTMASES PAST:
Day Care Kids (1999 - 2002)
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For the past 6 years, my children, Arielle and Tyler, and
I have been giving individual Christmas gifts to the 25-30
kids whose parents are residents of Grace Center's one-year
drug and alcoholism
rehabilitation program.
The "Teddy
Bear Express" program serves the needs of nursery/preschool
age children and utilizes a comprehensive curriculum to improve
both fine and large motor skills as well as academic skills.
The goal is to prepare young children socially and academically
for entrance into the public school system, while helping
them 'heal' by adding balance and structure to their lives.
Last Christmas (2004), in addition to
their individual gift, we gave the children a "community"
gift---Tyler's old Macintosh (LCIII!) with a whole bunch of
games and some educational software. Though it was a bit 'slow'
and had simplistic games on it, they went
crazy over it! The Day Care Director has mentioned
to me that they still use it every day. (They have also received
another LCIII as a part of the Seneca Street Phase One installation).
So, during last year's holiday, I was
reading the "Purpose-Driven
Life" by Rick Warren---specifically, Purpose #4,
titled "Shaped for Serving."
It planted a 'seed' in me. [Visit the following link if you
are interested in a 'summary' web site of the book I have
created:
PDL
Web Site ].
That seed was 'watered' when I developed
the "Life Purpose Statement" for myself that was
mentioned in the last chapter (#40) of the book. This Life
Purpose Statement guided me to summarize my purposes for my
life---it 'aimed' me in the 'proper' direction for my "gift
set," properly defined 'success' for me, clarified my
roles, and was simply expressed by answering the following
five questions:
1) What will be the 'center' of my life?
2) What will be the 'community' of my life?
3) What will be the 'character' of my life?
4) What will be the 'contribution' of my life?
and
5) What will be the 'communication' of my life?
As part of the process to develop a "statement,"
I was to determine what "gifts" I had---things I
enjoy and do well without even thinking about it, and lose
'track' of time when I am doing it.
During the gift assessment process, the
following question was asked to 'challenge' the reader (me)
to be more specific:
"What action(s) will you
take today/tomorrow in starting or continuing to become part
of a community group that you can be able to share and develop
your abilities for the greater good; to experience the multiplication
effect of a group with a 'mission'; to encourage the love
and care of a few intimate friends; and to know the joy of
what the Christmas season's message is all about."
The main gifts for me, that the analysis
brought to the fore, were computers and teaching. This just
so happened to fit well with my past work experience, since
I was a partner of an Apple dealership during the 90's.
I then learned about something on the
Internet called "Freecycle"---a
'grassroots' Yahoo Group that connects people who want to
recycle things that still have some useful life left in them
instead of throwing them away, and having them end up in the
landfill.
On a lark, I thought it might be neat
if I could get a couple of old Macs, refurbish them with some
of the stuff I have left over from my dealer days, and put
them into the new Children's Home on Seneca Street that Grace
Center's was refurbishing.
In the past 7 months, I have collected
over 30 computers
with monitors, keyboards, mice, accessories, and a 'mess'
of software licenses!
WHY AM I DOING THIS?
Grace Centers of Hope is doing an amazing work in transforming
peoples lives---all without
any government funding.
Having be blessed with a 'above average'
lifestyle, I just want to encourage these people that society
has 'looked the other way' from---and share some of my possessions
and abilities. I also want to inspire them to honestly believe
that they are 'valuable,' and can make a 'difference' in their
own and other's lives.
One of the ways I thought of 'helping'
them was to have more than just games and educational software
for their children, but to have 'productivity' software for
them to learn that they could use someday in the workplace.
Hopefully, they will be able to 'compete' in a higher-level
job market than they would have in the past without these
new skills.
A GREAT 'START'
Microsoft was
good enough to donate the entire "Office"
suite---authorizing me to install it on as many computers
as I refurbish for this project! So, I will be teaching them
the 'pieces' of the suite---Word, Powerpoint and Excel---so
they will have these specific skills when they go back into
the workforce.
Of course, having other
large organizations help us with this 'project' would
be great. So, if you have any connections to the philanthropic
department of a computer hardware and/or software company,
or even an organization that has been using Macs that may
be in the process of upgrading, please send them a link to
this site. Hopefully, they can see what is happening here
and decide to get involved.
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Grace
Centers of Hope believes that family and community are the
building blocks of a solid society---and that's what "Little
Grace Village" is all about.
As
the first housing 'campus' that is associated with a homeless
shelter graduates from the one-year drug or alcoholism rehabilitation
program will be able to move into the village for a two year
"after care" experience
.
CHRISTMASES PAST:
Day Care Kids (2003 - 2004)
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