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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dallas, July 2, 2010

Texas Friends of SAFY Host Event

(Dallas, July 2, 2010)Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY) will hold the first of its series of quarterly events aimed at increasing community awareness and fundraising for statewide foster care services.

SAFY Texas will host an informational and fundraising luncheon at Four Seasons Resort & Spa in Irving on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Keisha Roberts will address attendees and offer her inspiring story about life in foster care and growing up in a safe and loving home. Her personal experience and passion for foster care brings a unique perspective and insight into child welfare in Texas. Other speakers include: Dru Whitaker, C.E.O. of SAFY, and SAFY National Board Chairman, Cody Bateman. The event is by invitation only and includes area leaders, businesses, and other interested community members. In addition to increasing awareness, the organization hopes to raise funds to support foster families working to make a positive difference in the lives of children in need. All proceeds from the event will support The Foster Fund.

The Foster Fund was created to assist Texas children in SAFY’s care by providing resources for services and/or activities foster families cannot afford. For example, a child may want to play baseball but doesn’t have a glove or the money for his uniform or registration. Or worse, many families cannot open their homes to additional children in need because of unaffordable daycare costs when reimbursement can take months. The Foster Fund will be in place to cover unforeseen costs and will ultimately place more children in safe, loving homes. Imagine how something as simple as a glove and a pair of cleats can change a child’s life!

New this year will be the Dream Court which provides youth teams with a chance to play on a synthetic court where their game will be announced by expert play-by-play commentators, just like you see in professional play! Youth teams are randomly selected to participate.

Last year the Macker hosted over 90,000 players and nearly 1.7 million spectators in 55 cities, including Fort Wayne and Muncie, Indiana. All proceeds from this year’s event will benefit SAFY foster youth making the often difficult adjustment to independent living and the University of Saint Francis athletic scholarship fund.

The purpose of this event is to share the financial challenges facing foster parents and children, while raising awareness and support for Texas Friends of SAFY. The goal is to raise at least $10,000 for area foster children and families. In alleviating some of this financial adversity, more Texas children will find a safe, supportive and loving home.

ABOUT SAFY

Mission: Fostering an environment that positively impacts the lives of youth and their families …. whether they are with us for an hour or a lifetime.

SAFY is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) national agency providing therapeutic foster care, adoption, and comprehensive treatment services to families and youth for over 25 years. Headquartered in Delphos, Ohio, SAFY has offices in eight states including Texas.

SAFY will help over 4,500 children this year alone. These children come from all walks of life and are from all races, ages and backgrounds. Many of the children in SAFY’s care are victims of abuse and neglect. They have emotional and physical scars that often prevent them from being placed in more traditional foster home settings. SAFY’s foster parents are professionally trained to provide treatment foster care that is tailored to the individual needs of each child with the ultimate goal of permanency in mind.

The Texas Friends of SAFY program was developed to increase awareness among individuals and corporations about SAFY Texas foster children, adoption and foster parent programs aimed at helping more Texas children in need of a safe, supportive and loving environment.

SAFY of Texas, 201 Billings St., Suite 201, Arlington, TX 76010
www.safy.org

For More Information Contact

Amy Nusbaum Rode
Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth
(800) 532-7239
rodea@safy.org

Sher Briggs
Sherbee Media
(214) 394-8968
sbriggs@sherbee.com