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Our Over the Edge for Kids fundraiser was a success! On Saturday, August 24th, 2018, several courageous volunteers went over the edge of the SPARC building on West Broad Street to support children in the Athens-Clarke County and Oconee County community.
Along with watching our Edgers repel down the side of a 5-story tall building, attendees were able to enjoy face painting, a bouncy house, and live music. For lunch, there were delicious, fresh grilled hamburgers, chips, and tons of other goodies. Plus, local vendors Nedza's Waffles, Kona Ice Athens, and Your Pie were there too! With your help, we were able to raise over $22,000 for children and families in need! Here is a short video with clips from Saturday's fun. We would like to thank each and every one of our supporters, volunteers, and Edgers. This event wouldn't have been possible without you all.  Children First, Inc. is putting the fun back in fundraising! This isn’t another 5k or golf tournament; we are going Over the Edge for Kids! On Saturday, August 25th, Children First Inc. will be hosting the 3rd Annual Over the Edge for Kids event in collaboration with Nancy Travis Childcare Project and Interfaith Hospitality Network. Several brave volunteers will raise $1,000 for the opportunity to rappel down the SPARC building in Athens at 2040 W. Broad Street, across from Steak & Shake. This exciting event will be fun for the whole family! There will be food, music, face painting and a bouncy house. You don’t want to miss out this! The fun starts at 9am. We’re even sending the mayor, Kelly Girtz, Over the Edge! Mayor Girtz says, “the first work I ever did in human services was interning as an assistant to an investigator for Child Protective Services in Norfolk, VA in 1993. That was a foundational experience in my life, and one in which I interacted with lots of CASAs and other agency people, and saw some stuff that I couldn’t get out of my head if I tried. It set me on the professional path of supporting children and families, which will continue into my life as mayor… come watch me rappel off a building and hope that gravity treats me kindly.” So, join us as we cheer on Mayor Girtz and our other brave Edgers.       The community can also show their support by donating. We currently have 15 Edgers who need your help to reach their $1,000 goal. Each participant has an online fundraising page where donations can be made at any level through a secure, easy-to-use system. Community members can make a donation and learn about each of our Edgers at https://www.otecwe.com/athens/children-first/.
For more information on Children First, Inc. and Over the Edge, call 706-613-1922 x1 or email info@childrenfirst-inc.org. Be a part of something different. Let’s make this year’s Over the Edge the most successful yet!  In 1988, President Ronald Reagan declared the month of May as National Foster Care Month. It is a time dedicated to raising awareness and acknowledging those who are committed to making a difference in the life of a foster child. Did you know?
It’s hard to know what living in foster care is really like if you’ve never had to experience it. There can be a lot of pain and confusion associated with it. As a young child, being removed from your home and placed into a new one can be traumatizing. Nothing happens on the child’s terms which can be extremely difficult for them to understand. They don’t get the same stability that other kids get. There are adults coming in and out of the child’s life and they don’t always have a place to call home. Most kids in foster care have experienced so much trauma at such a young age that it will possibly stay with them for the rest of their lives. However, their past doesn’t define them. They are still kids who love to play sports, watch cartoons, and spend time with their friends at school. Even with the hardships they may face, they are still able to enjoy being a kid. There are so many people who are able to make a difference in a child’s life, including social workers, foster parents, teachers, and our CASA volunteers. So, for #NationalFosterCareMonth we want to honor those who play a key role in the lives of foster children and raise awareness of the needs of these children. If you want to learn more about our CASA program, visit www.athensoconeecasa.org. Also check out Home in 5 and United Hope for Children for more ways to help children in foster care.  |
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