This month we want to tell you that we are thankful for our September Volunteer of the Month, Bob Addleman, who serves the Matthews House as our volunteer bookkeeper. His dedication and service above self is a tremendous asset to our organization. Bob has an incredibly caring heart for the youth and staff of the Matthews House and he humbly spends countless hours making sure our books are in order and our bills are paid.

Most people involved at the Matthews House will never see Bob, but he plays a critical role in the daily operations at the Matthews House. Because of the time and bookkeeping skills Bob generously shares with us, we not only have detailed and accurate books, but our administrative costs are kept much lower, which results in a higher percentage of each dollar raised going directly to program costs. That means that more of the hard-earned money you donate to the Matthews House goes straight to critical things like training mentors, helping youth apply to college and teaching job skills – just to give a few examples.

Thanks Bob for all you do and for your servants heart!

And thank you to all our volunteers and donors who make it possible each day for lives to be changed forever at the Matthews House!

Recently United Way of Larimer County awarded $35,000 to the Matthews House in the name of decreasing poverty in Larimer County. An abbreviated version of this announcement has been published in the Coloradoan, but for a little more info you can read the entire press release from United Way of Larimer County below.

United Way of Larimer County to Support Self-Sufficiency for At-Risk Youth
Often Overlooked Population Living in Poverty

[Larimer County, Colorado] – United Way of Larimer County announced today the organization will provide $35,000 to The Matthews House, a nonprofit organization in Fort Collins, as part of the effort to accomplish the goal of it’s Pathways Past Poverty initiative.

The funding for The Matthews House will come from United Way’s “Bridging the Gap Fund.” This fund is specifically for projects or work being done to address poverty from a multifaceted approach that works. The organization serves 16-21-year-old youth who have virtually no family, including those who are aging out of the foster care system and youth on parole.

“The Matthews House brings together the strategies to really address poverty for this population and gives them the skills to become self-sufficient,” said Gordan Thibedeau, president and CEO of United Way of Larimer County. He points out that The Matthews House serves an often overlooked population when it comes to poverty.

“We do everything that a parent would have done for them; life skills, job readiness, education,” said Jerri Howe, executive director and founder of The Matthews House. “We work with them so they can become independent.” Howe says the group currently serves more than 70 youth and the need is increasing.

The Pathways Past Poverty initiative is a comprehensive, multifaceted approach to poverty with the goal of turning the trend of increasing poverty around in Larimer County. During the last three years, dozens of community volunteers worked together to determine 12 goals for Pathways Past Poverty. Now, dozens more are researching and developing strategies to accomplish these goals.

Howe said, “I want to see that these youth have a different pathway and that their life is better and not dependent on numerous services so they can learn to be self-sufficient.”

United Way of Larimer County’s focus as an organization is to help people who are in need now while also working with community partners on ways to reduce that need in the future resulting in true community impact.

To learn more about Pathways Past Poverty and the 12 goals, visit www.pathwayspastpoverty.org.

You’re invited…

Enjoy complimentary breakfast and learn about how the Matthews House is changing the lives of at-risk youth in our community.

Hear from Jerri Howe, Matthews House Founder and Executive Director, Magistrate Berenato, Juvenile Magistrate for the 8th Judicial District, and from youth who have been personally impacted by the Matthews House.

When
Thursday, September 24th, 2009
7:00 to 8:30am
7:00am Coffee and conversation
7:30 – 8:30am Program and light breakfast

Where
Hilton Fort Collins
425 W Prospect, Fort Collins

RSVP
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Joyce Dickens at 970-472-4293 or joyce@thematthewshouse.org

“I initially started running because it was a great way to keep in shape.  Then I found out about the Matthew’s House.  I was excited about being a part of something bigger than myself and putting my feet to good use.  It was an amazing experience and I am already looking forward to doing it again next year.”   Jennifer, Runner #6 Just Passin’ Thru

“A great feeling of accomplishment”, ” a real blessing”, and ” a uniquely wonderful running experience!” were all ways this year’s runners described their Wild West Relay adventure. Kristin, who has run with us two years says “I have really enjoyed running the WWR both years that I did it. It is a challenge, but the challenge is well worth your effort when you finish one of your legs at 2am with your van full of teammates cheering you on. I don’t know if I would do the WWR if I wasn’t running for a cause, like with the Matthews House. It gives every step of training, fundraising and actual race added purpose.”   And Natalie, who ran for the first time this year says, “I loved the relay!  Every bit of it; and I know how cheesy that sounds, but its true!  I liked running under the moon late in the night the best I think.  I really wasn’t sure what to expect coming into the race… but the organization of the Matthew House and the WWR volunteers just blew me away!  I will definately go again next year…”

This has been the overwhelming sentiment of our teams over the past 3 years, “I loved it, sign me up for next year.” This year we had 10 repeat runners and 14 first-timers which allowed us to field two complete teams. In addition to training to run between 11 and 19 miles over the course of about 30 hours, each runner took on the additional responsibility of raising money for the Matthews House. This year that fundraising took the form of a community yard sale, a dining event at Cafe Mexicali and a benefit concert/silent auction at Everyday Joe’s in addition to many letters to friends, family and coworkers. Through all these efforts our runners raised over $7,700! Thanks to all our runners: Brian Hansen, Seth Daire, Steve Griffin, Missy Larson, Jennifer McLoudrey, Gail Doesken, Linda Maher, Teresa Schoger, Lauren Wylie, Kristin Higgins, Anna Baldwin, Joyce Dickens, Erin Gladu, Steve Redder, Randy Stinson, Mindy Murphy, Amanda Helfer, Katie McGrail, Jonathan Splittgerber, Todd Howe, Yale Norris, Isaac Howe, Natalie Scholander and Mahala Proch and drivers Jerri Howe and Mike Maher.

Although this is the third year that The Matthews House has participated in the Wild West Relay, this year we made a serious addition. For the first time we took advantage of an opportunity to have a non-profit exchange through Volunteers with a Purpose, an official relay partner. This allowed us to have 16 volunteers assist as race marshals AND help raise over $1800 for the Matthews House in the process. Sometimes this involved directing an occasional unruly runner or moody van driver. But in general, I think our volunteers encountered great people and had a good time being involved. We also had 8 other volunteers help with a pancake and coffee fundraiser at the exchange that raised around $600 to benefit the Matthews House. One of our volunteers commented that she had so much fun volunteering she may even want to run the race next year!

Thanks to our race marshalls: Joel and Tina Vosberg, Craig and Lotta Vollmer, Brian Lindecker, Eileen O’Malley, Laura Harris, Scott and Mary Gordon, Greg and Becky Kendall, Keah Redder, Wes and Elissa Hoffert, Cathy Rotman, and Linda Wright.

Thanks to our Pancake and Coffee team: Jill and Curt Bear, Nicole and Zach Armstrong, Jennifer Sory, Danielle Sardi, Chad Price and Kory Nickell.

We are so grateful that you were willing to make a significant contribution of your time and efforts on behalf of the Matthews House. Thank you for caring and desiring to make a difference in the lives of at-risk youth!

Thanks for joining together to raise over $10,000 for the Matthews House!

And thanks again to our sponsors!

Periodically, groups from the community come alongside the Matthews House to plan and put on events for our youth. These are great, fun activities for our youth with the added invaluable benefit that they are done on a completely volunteer basis by people who share this community with our youth. No ulterior motives, no one getting paid, these are people who genuinely care about our community and our youth. This unconditional compassion has a huge impact on our youth. For them to recognize that there are people in their community who want to invest time in them not because there’s a monetary incentive, but because there’s a true belief in the value and potential of each individual regardless of past events or circumstances. This is incredibly powerful for many of our youth who have seldom had anyone really believe in them.

This summer, a group from Emmaus Road Church came to the Matthews House to hang out with kids and provide a BBQ meal. This group got to know some of our youth through conversation and some games of bocce ball.

We’d like to thank Andy & Amy Lucas, Marie Evans, Ken Snyder and Wendy Thompson from Emmaus Road for their time and compassion and of course the food they brought to grill out

Thanks also to the following Matthews House volunteers for adding a collection of sides and dessert to provide quite a nice spread of food for the afternoon!

Doreen Miller, Tina Morris, Linda Maher, Gail Follett, Cathy Rotman, Christine Christman, Kelly Mapes, Denise Thompson, Vickie Mitchell, Courtney Craig and Denise Birdsall

The Wild West Relay is finally here!

Tomorrow morning, 1560 runners will start outside the Budweiser tour center and head towards Steamboat Springs Middle School, 200 miles away. Each team is made up of 12 runners who will each run three separate times, rain or shine, up and down mountains, across the continental divide, through the night – nothing short of an adventure to be sure.For our two teams, this is a trek that will take between 25 and 30 hours. We’re not going to win any medals, but we will be enjoying a chance to run in amazing scenery, enjoy the company of great people, and raise some money for a great cause.
Now that all the preparations have been made, there is just the actual event to come. Before the sun even thinks of coming up tomorrow, we will be piling in the vans that will be our homes for the next day and a half. Once Runner #1 sets out around 6:30am, the trek is on and everyone will take turns running until we reach Steamboat, sometime Saturday afternoon.

I want to thank all our dedicated runner/fundraisers and all those who have generously donated to the Matthews House by supporting these runners. We’ve reached nearly $6,000 already, with one more week for donations to continue flowing in. (Please join us by making a donation.)

Join us at Everyday Joe’s Coffee House tomorrow night, July 29th at 7pm to hear some great music, eat homemade desserts and bid on fabulous silent auction items. This event is being put on by the runners on the Matthews House Wild West Relay teams to raise money for the Matthews House.

Music – Eva Holbrook and Aaron Strumpel

Desserts – a variety, homemade by Matthews House friends and volunteers (just fyi – our volunteers make amazing food!!)

Silent Auction – learn to play the piano, get a massage, acquire some new art for your home…

And all to support the Matthews House and the youth of our community.

Everyday Joe’s Coffee House, 144 S Mason St, Fort Collins

Wednesday, July 29, 7pm

$10 suggested donation

With sadness we are saying goodbye to Kristin Higgins, Transition Facilitator as she moves on to the next phase of her life. Kristin has been an amazing asset to the Matthews House over the past 2 and a half years, both for her hard work and her incredible compassion and love for the “kids” in our program. Change is difficult but many times empowering as our youth so aptly teach us every day. We will certainly miss you Kristin. We wish you and Dave the very best!

Here’s what Kristin would like to tell you:

After 2 ½ amazing years at the Matthews House, the time has come for me to move on. At the end of July, I will be moving with my husband, David, to Denver, so that he can fulfill his dream of attending medical school. While we are excited for adventures that lay before us, we are sad to leave Fort Collins and the community we have become so connected with.

My time at the Matthews House has contributed so much to the person I am today. I will always be thankful for the opportunity I have had to walk alongside young people who missed out on the love, support and protection of a family and share life with them. I challenged youth to take risks and allow me to be a part of their lives and their hearts and in turn, I was challenged to love in a way that was indiscriminate and without condition. It was amazing to see the lasting and profound effects of simple words such as “I care about you” or “I believe in you.” I watched compassion bridge impossible canyons and lead to incredible relationships built on trust and hope. Thank you to every one of you who demonstrated in a very real and very beautiful way what community is supposed to look like when you wrapped your arms and hearts around the Matthews House youth and staff. You are changing lives.

I will always cherish my time here and will miss the Matthews House staff, board members, volunteers and youth dearly. Farewell for now,

Kristin

This weekend at 921 N Taft Hill Rd in Fort Collins there will be a gigantic yard sale to benefit the Matthews House. The sale will run Saturday and Sunday (July 25 & 26) from 7am to 2pm – please plan to stop by.

Thanks to all who have donated their gently used items to the cause and thanks to all who will come by to search for treasures.

On June 4th, thanks to the generosity of Mountain Whitewater Descents, we were able to take 6 youth along with 3 staff members for an exciting half-day rafting trip on the Cache la Poudre River. The water was high and fast and the rafting was excellent.

This was the first whitewater rafting experience for most if not all of the youth – and once we all got over looking silly in our wetsuits and the few butterflys that had congregated in our stomachs after seeing all the rapids on the bus-ride up the canyon – a great time was had by all. This was a great chance to see the importance of working together and to face and overcome fears.