| Boys Town North Florida Hosts 27th Annual Christmas Golf Classic | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/btNorthFloridaHosts27thChristmasGolfClassic.aspx | Boys Town North Florida Hosts 27th Annual Christmas Golf Classic | <p>On December 9, supporters of Boys Town North Florida gathered at Golden Eagle Golf and Country Club to compete in the 27<sup>th</sup> Annual Christmas Golf Classic. </p><p>Over 70 golfers came out to compete in teams of four for the top spot, the chance to win some amazing prizes, and support Boys Town North Florida along the way.</p><p>There were different challenges along the way and spots to stop for food and drinks. One of the challenges was the "Beat the Coach" challenge on hole 12 where golfers went against former Hall of Fame Florida State University Baseball Coach, Mike Martin for the chance to win an autographed baseball. There was also a longest putt challenge on hole 18 to win a Titleist driver and a longest drive challenge on hole nine to win a Cameron putter. </p><p>Prizes were given to the top three teams with the best gross and net scores. This year's winners were Carr-Allison, first place gross score, and Syn-Tech Systems, first place net score.</p><p>The tournament was chaired by Charley Redding and board members Boddy Dick and Joe Kelley. There were a record number of hole sponsors, 38, and more than $50,000 was raised to help support Boys Town North Florida. </p><p>Thank you to the sponsors and golfers who supported Boys Town through this tournament and congratulations to Boys Town North Florida on another successful Christmas Golf Classic. We can't wait to see what next year's tournament will have in store!</p><div class="hidden-gal">
<a class="image-group cboxElement" href="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/golf-pic-2.jpg" title="Champions Cup - Boys Town Christmas Classic: Lady Participants"> </a>
<a class="image-group cboxElement" href="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/golf-pic-3.jpg" title="Champions Cup - Boys Town Christmas Classic: Group Photo"> </a>
<a class="image-group cboxElement" href="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/golf-pic-4.jpg" title="Champions Cup - Boys Town Christmas Classic: Autographed Baseballs"> </a>
</div> | 2020-01-07T06:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Champions Cup - Boys Town Christmas Class: Winners holding trophy" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/golf-pic-1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
NewsEvent | | | |
| Six Girls Graduate from North Florida's "Golden Girls" Program | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Six-Girls-Graduate-from-North-Floridas-Golden-Girls-Program.aspx | Six Girls Graduate from North Florida's "Golden Girls" Program | <p>Over the summer a group of six girls, ages seven to eleven, met every Thursday at Boys Town North Florida's ART Town to have fun and learn through the "Golden Girls" service.</p><p>ART Town, an acronym for Art, Training, and Resources, is a facility that provides educational and therapeutic opportunities for youth in the Family Home Program, Treatment Foster Care, and other Boys Town programs in North Florida. It gives families and children a central location to experience personal growth in a welcoming environment. Jackie Barksdale, one of two therapists who provides clinical intervention services at ART Town said, "We now have a designated space where youth can be creative, expressive, and supported while working through past traumas or learning new skills."</p><p>"Golden Girls" is one of the therapeutic services offered at ART Town. These six girls involved in the program over the summer all had goals of learning social and coping skills to help them heal from past experiences. They participated in fun activities that involved learning (psychoeducation) and sharing (processing). </p><p>The group utilized the Six Pillars of Character from the Boys Town curriculum: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship, to aid in their lessons. Although the Golden Girls was a fun and energetic time, the girls worked hard learning and mastering the six pillars. "I met my new best friend," said Nevaeh, an 8-year-old girl involved in the group. "I got to see her every Thursday to do fun things together."</p><p><img src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/goldenGirls2.jpg" alt="North Florida Golden Girls" style="margin:5px;" /> </p>
<p>Each one of the girls successfully completed the group and received a Certificate of Graduation from Marcus Lampkin, Executive Director Boys Town Florida, during a graduation ceremony. "It was an amazing experience watching these girls rely on each other and work together to accomplish so many things from baking treats to discussing what they do to cope with their bad dreams and tough emotions," said Gina Rogers, a student intern. "These girls displayed resilience, patience, and empathy in their group to work together to accomplish a goal even through unexpected challenges and frustrations. It was truly amazing to experience."</p><p></p><p>Congratulations to the recent graduates and thank you Boys Town North Florida for your continued hard work with these young girls.</p> | 2019-12-18T06:00:00Z | News | <img alt="North Florida Golden Girls" src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/goldenGirls1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
NewsEvent | | | |
| Students Surprise Boys Town North Florida with Family Fun Day | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Students-Surprise-Boys-Town-North-Florida-with-Family-Fun-Day.aspx | Students Surprise Boys Town North Florida with Family Fun Day | <p>James Chick, a senior at Leon High School, reached out to Boys Town North Florida's Development Director Margaret Farris in early June to see what opportunities were available to help him complete his community service hours for school. Since James was an avid sportsman, organizing a Family Fun Day for the North Florida Campus Summer Rec program seemed like a natural thing to do.<br></p><p>With the help of his friend Clay Proctor and volunteers from the Leon High School Interact Club, James pulled off a spectacular day. </p><p> Showing the maturity of someone much older than his 17 years, James met with Margaret and Desmond Crayton, Family Home Program Director, to determine what activities would work best for the kids living on campus. This was not an easy task with 30 kids ranging from ages 10 to 17, but he figured it out in a very big way. While on campus, James recognized the vast amount of green space right away and did not take long to develop a plan. </p><p> After weeks of working with his team of volunteers, Family Fun Day finally arrived. </p><p> The hot, summer day was filled with multiple activities and competitions including water balloon darts, over-sized beach balls, faces full of pie, prizes, and so much more. Everyone had such a great time that an outsider wouldn't be able to tell who the volunteers were and who were the kids. For those on staff, watching the two groups interact as one was a sight to behold. </p><p> "I'm so glad everyone had a fun time! My volunteers and I made so many new friends. Thanks again for the opportunity," said James. Another get-together is already being planned by the Leon High School Interact Club.<br></p>
<a class="image-group cboxElement" href="#" style="margin:3rem auto 0px;display:block;max-width:540px;"><img class="spec-border" alt="Boys Town North Florida Family Fun Day" src="/locations/north-florida/PublishingImages/Picture-2.jpg" /> </a>
<div class="hidden-gal">
<a title="Boys Town North Florida Family Fun Day" class="image-group cboxElement" href="/locations/north-florida/PublishingImages/Picture-1.jpg"> </a><a title="Boys Town North Florida Family Fun Day" class="image-group cboxElement" href="/locations/north-florida/PublishingImages/Picture-3.jpg"> </a><a title="Boys Town North Florida Family Fun Day" class="image-group cboxElement" href="/locations/north-florida/PublishingImages/Picture-4.jpg"> </a><a title="Boys Town North Florida Family Fun Day" class="image-group cboxElement" href="/locations/north-florida/PublishingImages/Picture-5.jpg"> </a>
<a title="Boys Town North Florida Family Fun Day" class="image-group cboxElement" href="/locations/north-florida/PublishingImages/Picture-6.jpg"> </a> </div><br><br><br><br><br><br> | 2019-12-11T06:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Family Fun Day" src="/locations/north-florida/PublishingImages/Picture-1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
NewsEvent | | | |
| 3rd Annual ‘Raise the Roof’ for Boys Town Secures $29,422.00 on Giving Tuesday | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/3rd-Annual-Raise-the-Roof-for-Boys-Town-Secures-29422-on-Giving-Tuesday.aspx | 3rd Annual ‘Raise the Roof’ for Boys Town Secures $29,422.00 on Giving Tuesday | <p>
<em>This article is written by Tadlock Roofing. It was <a href="https://www.tadlockroofing.com/3rd-annual-raise-the-roof-for-boys-town-secures-29422-00-on-giving-tuesday/?fbclid=IwAR2douOgxsyjLq7EoZTlF5ibunBZtdGRh4X9xAt6MJ3FYxaffoDSROcb8T0">posted on tadlockroofing.com</a> on December 4, 2019.</em></p><p>On Tuesday, December 3, Tadlock Roofing in partnership with Boys Town North Florida, held the 3rd Annual 'Raise the Roof' for Boys Town Match Campaign and secured the highest donation to-date. The event raised a grand total of $29,422.00 within TWO Hours.</p><p>Boys Town North Florida challenged five of the Boys Town North Florida Champions, nominated from within the Big Bend Community, to each raise $2,500 by 7:30pm. Each of the champions were assigned a Boys Town family home and spent from 5:30-7:30pm phoning-a-friend in a friendly competition to collectively reach and exceed their team goal first. Boys Town North Florida partner, Tadlock Roofing, matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000 raised on Giving Tuesday and presented Boys Town Director of Development with a BIG check at the conclusion of the event.</p><p>More children are coming into the Florida foster care system after a sweeping child-welfare reform law went into effect several years ago. Boys Town North Florida has given thousands of at-risk children the love, support and education they need to succeed and offers an alternative to traditional foster-care with a Boys Town Campus on the West side of Tallahassee. Boys Town North Florida serves more than 1,000 children in our community. It costs $40,841 to sustain a home on campus for 1 month and $3,403 to support a child for 1 month.<br></p> | 2019-12-05T06:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Tadlock" src="/locations/north-florida/PublishingImages/tadlock.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
NewsEvent | | | |
| After a Bumpy Road, Siblings Find Their Forever Home | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/Siblings-Find-Their-Forever-Home.aspx | After a Bumpy Road, Siblings Find Their Forever Home | <p>Siblings Sharron, Stephen and Aleah Duggar finally found their forever family. But there were a lot of bumps along the way. </p><p>Their journey began when they had to be removed from their home. </p><p>The siblings grew up in poverty and neglect. Their own parents were addicted to drugs and had a meth lab in the home. The house was dirty and in poor condition, and the children were physically and emotionally neglected. Both parents had arrest histories and the father spent time in jail. </p><p>In 2013, Stephen (age 3) and Aleah (age 4) were placed in the Boys Town North Florida Foster Family Services<sup>®</sup> program. Three months later, Sharron (age 2) came to live with her siblings. </p><p>In a foster home, Boys Town Family Consultants worked with the children's foster parents to help them address the sibling's problem behaviors and past traumas. Since their biological parents had lost their parental rights, the goal was to eventually find the children an adoptive home. </p><p>Finding a forever home for children is always a challenge. Sometimes, there are several stops and starts before that miracle takes place. After one pre-adoption placement didn't work out for the three siblings, they moved back with their original foster parents.</p><p>That's when Steve and Lee Duggar got involved. </p><p>It started when one of Aleah's teachers mentioned to a friend, Lee Duggar, three siblings at her school were hoping to be adopted. </p><p>“Lee started inquiring about the kids and then called Boys Town to ask about them," said Sara Soria, Program Support Services Coordinator for Boys Town North Florida. “Eventually, Lee and her husband, Steve, met the kids and fell in love with them. Soon after, they wanted to adopt all three children." </p><p>The Duggars worked with Boys Town In-Home Family Services<sup>®</sup> to further develop their parenting skills and create a consistent home routine and schedule that would make the children's transition to their home easier and help set them and the family up for success. </p><p>In addition, the site's Care Coordination Services helped link the Duggars to additional community resources and monitored those services. </p><p>“The Duggar's were open to working with us," said Soria. “The teamwork between the foster parents and Lee and Steve was great and that was really good for the kids." </p><p>On July 19, 2018, Sharron, Stephen and Aleah officially became members of the Duggar family. Currently, the kids are thriving in their loving forever home. </p><p>“This was a team effort and that's why it worked out so well," Soria said. “It was successful because everybody involved worked together for what was best for the kids."<br></p> | 2019-11-26T06:00:00Z | News | | | text/html; charset=utf-8
NewsEvent | | | |
| Boys Town North Florida Alum Is First Recipient of James Dahl Education Award | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/BoysTownNorthFloridaAlumIsFirstRecipientofJamesDahlEducationAward.aspx | Boys Town North Florida Alum Is First Recipient of James Dahl Education Award | <p>Billy Martin was a teen struggling in school and in his personal life when he entered a Boys Town North Florida Treatment Family Home in June 2018. </p><p>A year later, Billy had completed his program at Boys Town and graduated from Godby High School with a 3.1 grade point average. He also scored a 1420 (out of a possible 1600) on his SAT and a 32 (out of possible 36) on his ACT.</p><p>This fall, Billy started classes at Polk State College in Winter Haven, Florida, where he is studying computer systems and business analysis.</p><p>Billy's amazing turnaround in the face of great adversity was due in large part to the treatment and care he received in his Boys Town Treatment Family Home. There, he learned social and life skills to deal with is personal issues, and found a new motivation to excel in the classroom. His accomplishments are even more eye-opening when you consider that he missed the second half of his junior year in high school, and faced the possibility of never graduating or continuing his education.</p><p>"Billy is an amazing young man who is driven and determined to do well," said Boys Town Consultant Millie Kilpatrick.</p><p>In recognition of his outstanding efforts, Billy was the first-ever recipient of the James Dahl Education Award, presented at Boys Town North Florida's Youth Awards Gala in July. The annual event honors all of the youth in the site's Treatment Family Home Program for their academic and personal achievements.</p><p>The James Dahl Education Award was created as a memorial to the late son of a longtime friend of Boys Town North Florida. The annual award will help provide financial support to Billy and future recipients as they pursue their career goals, and ensure that youth served by the site have the educational opportunities they need and deserve. This support includes hiring professional tutors to work with youth and providing educational experiences such as art classes and cultural lessons. </p><p>Boys Town North Florida has been helping children and families in the Tallahassee area since opening as the first Boys Town affiliate site in 1983. Every year, the site's programs and services touch the lives of more than 5,000 people throughout the region.</p> | 2019-11-14T06:00:00Z | News | <img alt="Billy Martin proudly displayed his diploma after graduating with Godby High School’s class of 2019." src="/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/PublishingImages/Billy_grad_photo_with_diploma.jpg?RenditionID=2" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | | text/html; charset=utf-8
NewsEvent | | | |
| Boys Town Foster Parents Help Keep Family Close, Despite Separation and Distances | https://www.boystown.org/locations/north-florida/news-and-events/Pages/BoysTownFosterParentsHelpKeepFamilyCloseDespiteSeparationandDistances.aspx | Boys Town Foster Parents Help Keep Family Close, Despite Separation and Distances | <p>For Boys Town North Florida Therapeutic Foster Parents Lex and Debbie Collins, caring for their youth and trying to keep families together are always top priorities.</p><p>For 17-year-old Rainee-Gray, the Collinses' efforts have meant that she and her siblings have been able to stay in touch with their own parents through difficult times.</p><p>Rainee-Gray arrived at the Collinses' home as a non-relative placement back in 2014. Lex and Debbie also took in Rainee-Gray's younger brother and older sister so the kids could stay together for as long as possible.</p><p>Unfortunately, the parental rights of Rainee-Gray's and her siblings' mom and dad were terminated in the winter of 2016. It was a tough time for all the kids. </p><p>But Rainee-Gray and her brother and sister didn't want to totally lose touch with their parents. They let the Collinses know this, and Lex and Debbie did what they could through the courts to overturn a "no contact" order.</p><p>The Collinses knew how important family connections were. Through persistence and with the court's blessing, they began facilitating supervised family visits for the kids and their mother and father as often as Rainee-Gray and her siblings wanted to see them.</p><p>"Since the kids were older when they came to us, and their parents were still in the area, we felt it would be best if they had supervised contact with them, since they would need to be able to navigate those relationships once they became 18," Lex said. "In this case, we were able to petition the court and it was accepted."</p><p>The Collinses' work to keep the family connected did not stop there.</p><p>Rainee-Gray has one other brother with significant mental health and behavioral needs. His needs make it necessary for him to live a long distance from Rainee-Gray and his other siblings. Again, Lex and Debbie stepped in to make arrangements for the whole family to see each other.</p><p>They worked to organize visits with the brother for holidays and even made the long trip by car to bring him back to their home for a four-day visit. Lex and Debbie bought him Christmas gifts and celebrated with all the children in their home. During the visit, they also made sure all the kids saw their mother and father by supervising visits. They continue to arrange visits with the brother several times a year, planning fun activities like fishing, hunting and boating.</p><p>"It has ultimately been good for everyone, though these situations are always difficult," Lex said. "Once their biological parents realized we were actually on their side, too, it became somewhat easier. We always want to do what's best for the biological family when we can."</p><p>For Lex and Debbie Collins, family is everything.</p> | 2019-08-26T05:00:00Z | News | | | text/html; charset=utf-8
NewsEvent | | | |
