Kansas State Council of ESA

ESA Programs and Projects

The philanthropic programs of the KSC are many and varied. Although we have our specified international and state projects, our chapters support many local charities within their own communities. Examples of such support goes to support local school projects, youth recognition and scholarships, Blast, Hospice, March of Dimes, Heart Association, Special Olympics, Senior Citizen support, advocacy centers for abused persons, assistance to the homeless and unwed mothers, Ronald McDonald houses, youth camps for cronically ill children, as well as many other philanthropic projects.

Circle of Life / St. Jude Children's Research Hosptial

ESA's International Philanthropic Project

Circle of Life Video - Click on button to listen to ESA's story with St. Jude Children's Hospital

"Circle of life was formed in 1978. It was created first as a campaign theme, then later as the title for a new department at ESA Headquarters. Its main function was to handle the high volume of ESA fund-raising events for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital that sparked in the late 1970s and to address member concerns related to fund raising. It is located at ESA Headquarters in Fort Collins, CO., the Circle of life Office operates as a multi-faceted fund-raising arm of ESA that provides everything from bookkeeping, materal distribution and member and/or chapter support. *"The Ideals Of ESA"

ESA Members in Kansas Share Danny's Dream and join
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital that
"NO Child will die in the dawn of Life"

Little Bailey is an example of why the members of Epsilon Sigma Alpha work so hard to raise money to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Bailey was a member of the St. Jude family but lost her battle with childhood cancer at the tender age of five. Since 1972 our organization has made a yearly commitment to St. Jude and have raised over $135 million for the support of the hospital and the children suffering from this disease.
However we do have many success stories with St. Jude patients. (Right) Little 11-year-old Taylor Heersche stood before the 2009 convention without notes and gave a speech thanking ESA for her life that made your heart stand on end. Taylor lives in Kansas and takes her cancer treatements in Wichita. She shared how she discovered she had leukemia, the protocol for her treatment and her progress. She loves to attend Camp Hope every year where she encourages other children with cancer. Taylor is what our work for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is all about. This is a truly outstanding young lady and she has a bright future ahead of her. It was the dream of Danny Thomas that, "No child should die in the dawn of life." We share that dream.

St Jude Children's Research Hospital Website

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Easter Seals
ESA's Second International Philanthropic Project

Easter Seals	According to Janet D. Jamieson, Manager, communications and Corporate Relations of Easter Seal, "Epsilon Sigma Alpha has generously raised more than $5.7 million to help assure that Easter Seals continue to deliver services that help people with disabilities and their families live better lives."

Easter Seals Website

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Goodwill Industries

Goodwill Industries Birthday Bash - January 28, 2011

I’m looking forward to a wonderful year as your Goodwill Chair.

I have a great committee to work with: Jr. Goodwill Director, Debbie Craig; Committee members, Cindy Ewy, Debbie Koch, and Virginia Schulz.

This year we will be taking on Pen Pals from Goodwill Industries to give something back to the people at Goodwill. Of course we will have our usual raffle tables at the State meetings and we plan to decorate a tree for the Festival of Trees using a Gingerbread man theme. If you can, bring your ornament to the August State Council meeting.

Mark your calendars for the annual Birthday Bash at Goodwill. This year we plan to have it Friday January 28, 2011 so ESA members from around the state can participate before attending the State Council Meeting in Wichita. Let our lives speak by helping others this year.

Thanks,

If you need to contact me - I'm here to answer all your questions. EMAIL

Terri Clark - Goodwill Chairman for 2010-2011

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Kansas State Council State Philanthropic Project

Phyllis Simmons, 2nd Vice President
Heartspring Programs/Events

Heartspring requested that the Kansas State Council of Epsilon Sigma Alpha consider supporting the Heartspring Treehouse Project as their 2010-2011 fundraising project. Epsilon Sigma Alpha has supported Heartspring in so many ways over the last 62 years and I hope you will continue to support the Heartspring projects and events this year. By supporting the Treehouse Project, Heartspring staff will be able to create a well rounded, multi disciplinary approach for each student. The goal to support the Treehouse Project is $15,000. Thank you in advance for your donations to Heartspring projects this year and helping the kids.

Heartspring Treehouse – 2010-2011 Kansas State Project

Too often a child with a disability isn’t included in outdoor activities because the disability is seen first and not the ability. It is possible for any child, no matter the ability, to use the great outdoors as a fun, learning experience. By building a treehouse on campus, Heartspring therapists can expand a child’s therapeutic process by looking at what a child can do. Many occupational, physical and speech skills can be addressed outside without it being stressful or tedious; it becomes a fun activity. Often, a different setting or environment can enhance a child’s ability to learn or expand skills.

The Heartspring Treehouse is a unique design and will be accessible for children in wheelchairs. The treehouse will be located on campus amongst a small area of trees behind the main building. The treehouse will be utilized by physical, occupational, speech and behavioral therapists in Heartspring Pediatric Services. Heartspring Pediatric Services helps children from birth to adolescence. The therapists, psychologists and audiologists work together to assess the unique needs of each child and provide comprehensive therapies to ensure every child has a chance to succeed. The power of early intervention is the key to creating a path to independence for a child with special needs. Research shows when diagnosis and treatment occurs early, children have better outcomes and greater success. Therapists at Heartspring have consistently served over 600 children each year with early intervention services.

There are a variety of Therapeutic Activities that will occur in and around the Heartspring Treehouse. They will include dramatic play, motor skills, creativity, comprehension, language and social skills.

Heartspring Treehouse Therapeutic Goals

1. GOAL: Work on balance and dexterity through creative plan improve body alignment, head control and strengthen the torso OUTCOME: Master the art of climbing stairs, stimulate creativity and expression
2. GOAL: Develop spatial cognition OUTCOME: Increased understanding of environment, memory and learning skills
3. GOAL: Physical plan and activity OUTCOME: Increase strength, endurance and motor planning abilities
4. GOAL: Improved posture OUTCOME: Improves speech production and fluency
5. GOAL: Eliminate stressful or tense therapy sessions OUTCOME: Increase speech production, attention to tasks are expanded
6. GOAL: Enhance oxygen flow to the brain OUTCOME: Build mental connections and emotional balance
7. GOAL: Manipulation of devices and tools OUTCOME: Improvement of fine motor skills
8. GOAL: Provide vestibular activities OUTCOME: Stimulate the inner ear and create foundation for learning

Support of the Heartspring Treehouse project will help staff continue to provide top of the line therapeutic resources to children with special needs.

POSSIBLE DESIGN OUTLINE

Possible Treehouse Structure

It's time to ADOPT-A-CHILD

Each year ESA Chapters participate in Adopting a Child at Heartspring to support through the year. The sign up time for this activity should be completed by September 30. If your chapter wants to keep the same child they had last year they still need to contact Heartspring with their request. If you would like to participate in the Adopt-a- Child program contact Heartspring today.

Two activities that have been established in order to develop pre-vocational skills: creating and selling dog treats and the establishment of a coffee cart for Heartspring’s employees. Students will have the opportunity through these projects to develop their communication, social, fine motor and academic skills while running their own mini-business. At Heartspring they strive to create functional activities for their students that teach life skills that will benefit students daily. The majority of students have difficulties in the areas of communications, fine motor skills, socialization (peer to peer and group) and academics. The Coffee Cart and Dog Treat Projects will work on all of these areas in a functional and meaningful way. This will be a transdisciplinary activity, involving speech therapists, occupational therapists and special education teachers.

Coffee Cart Project

The coffee cart project will serve hot and cold beverages for a minimal charge of $1-$2. The money collected will be used to buy perishable supplies needed. The following tasks will enforce skill development: passing out order forms, collecting order forms, preparing orders, packaging orders, delivery beverages. Supplies Needed:

• Perishable items such as sugar, milk, whipped cream, flavored syrups
• Blenders
• Coffee maker
• Hot and cold cups
• Cup sleeves
• Napkins
• Flavors
• Delivery cart

Dog Treat Program

The making of pet treats will utilize many of the same transdisciplinary activities as the coffee cart. Students will learn to cook the treats and package treats for delivery to area shops and vet clinics. Treats will be sold at a minimal charge of $1-$2. Money collected from the sale of the treats will be used to purchase cooking ingredients and packaging supplies. Supplies Needed:

• Packaging boxes
• Plastic boxes
• Labels
• Cooking utensils
• Ingredients
• Small oven

Make sure to use the Gift-In-Kind Form to document your contributions to Heartspring. Mail one copy to Heartspring with the gifts-in kind, one copy to the Second Vice President of the Kansas State Council, and keep one copy for your chapter records.

(Click the goldball for the 2010 November Wish List)

(Click the goldball for the adopt a child flyer)

(Click the goldball for the adopt a child form to obtain adoption)

(Click the goldball for the Gift in Kind form)

ESA and Heartspring have a long and lasting partnership to help those with communication handicaps!

Heartspring

The mission of Heartspring is to develope a partnership with parents, professionals and the community, and to help children with special needs grow and learn on a path to a more independent life. ESA helps to promote the programs and mission of Heartspring by donating their dollars and gifts-in-kind for the classroom, library, and living units. In addition our organization holds the "Day of Love" and Prom night, which entertain and gives the children attending Heartspring opportunities and experiences they might not otherwise have. The Men of ESA help to support Special Olympics conducted by Heartspring for the children. The goal for all Heartspring School students is to transition them to a less restrictive setting whether that be home, a group setting or the public school setting. Heartspring teaches the life skills that children need to become active members of society. Heartspring Pediatric Services strives to positively impact the lives of children with special needs through outpatient therapies that include occupational, physical and speech therapies and psychology services. Together with the child, parents and therapists, individual programs are implemented to help children attain their potential.

BECAUSE KANSAS ESA MEMBERS CARE ABOUT THE CHILDREN AT HEARTSPRING TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED WITH MONEY RAISED IN 2008-2009 FOR THE OT ROOM RENOVATIONS PROJECT!

Suzanne Walenta-Baumann, Heartspring Development Associate sent the following pictures to show the members of ESA the updates for the Heartspring OT Room Renovation.

The staff at Heartspring has been busy. This past year the OT room has undergone many changes. Pictured to the left and right are pictures of the room before renovation took place.

A two-level loft has been installed as well as a therapy swing. A fresh coat of paint highlights the new occupational therapy supplies and the new stereo system. Another new addition is the sink which will be used by therapists and children as they clean up from "messy activities." These changes were possible because of your generosity. Thank you for all you do for Heartspring!

HeartSpring Website

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ESA's Care Connection

The ESA Care Connection was created to facilitate the exchange of person-to-person philanthropic services. Members share their personal talents to provide support to others. It provides an opportunity for members to offer their help to others and to receive assistance during their own time of need. It utilizes the knowledge, expertise, and volunteer spirit of ESA members to share support and service to others in times of personal crisis. There are several divisions of the Care Connection: Personal Support Exchange of Personal Needs / Opportunities International Assistance Programs Relocation Services Contact our Care Connection Coordination if you need further information

Greetings from Karen Knorp Brown - Care Connection Chairman

Welcome to the Kansas site of Epsilon Sigma Alpha International branch of CARE CONNECTION. I am Karen Knorp-Brown, Care Connection Chairperson for the 2010-2011 year. I am a member of Chi Epsilon chapter in Wichita and work as a School Counselor in Valley Center. My committee members are; Sue Friedel from Beta Beta chapter in Andover; Patsy Jenks of Alpha Zeta chapter in Garden City; and Sally Kreger of Theta Pi chapter in Jetmore. We are here to help you plan events for all the Care Connection projects—Hope for Heroes, Warn Welcome Home and Hats for Hope. Click on the links below to find out more about hoe to get involved with these worthy service projects to help others in our communities and in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

We are asking you to come to the ESA functions of the Kansas State Council throughout this year on Fridays wearing either RED or BLUE to demonstrate your patriotism and to show our continued support for our troops serving to protect our freedoms. I’m certain you’ve all seen the email requests for you to do this — well, it is an easy way to show our support—so check the closet and wear RED or BLUE on Fridays.

CARE CONNECTION

The Purpose: To provide caring services to those in need.
The Program: Care Connection is a link that provides service to Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA) members, their families, and others whom they recommend for assistance. The program was created solely to facilitate the exchange of person-to-person philanthropic services. Members share their personal talents to provide support to others. Simply put, it provides an opportunity for members to offer their help to others, as well as to receive assistance during their own times of need. It utilizes the knowledge, expertise, and volunteer spirit of ESA members to share support and service to others in times of personal crisis.

There are several divisions of service within the program:

• Local or International Assistance Programs – In my chapter, we call this Sister Assist, when we jump in with meals, child care, taxi service, even house-cleaning for a sister in need. In Kansas it is the prayer chain, or the help we give one another throughout ESA and can be applying for financial assistance from the Kansas Care and Share Fund, under the appropriate guidelines. ESA has developed several programs to assist chapters in developing resources for those in need through goods and support for extraordinary circumstances.
  
  
• Hope for Heroes - Provides boxes of goods and resources to support military service personnel and their families. We hope you will all be planning at least one event or time this year when you will gather items to send to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  
  
• Hats for Hope - Provides hats and other warm clothing for homeless individuals or those who have been displaced by a natural disaster. Check with Goodwill or Salvation Army or Red Cross to determine the greatest needs in your community and projects with which you can become involved to do “good works” and spread the name of Epsilon Sigma Alpha inviting new members to join.
  
  
• Warm Welcome - Provides baby blankets, support, and information for new mothers and their babies in times when these materials may not be readily available in the home. Check out the hospitals in your area that these services and make “goodie bags” to be given to new moms in need of assistance.
  
  
• Disaster Support - Provides assistance for members who have experienced a catastrophic loss and would benefit from financial relief. A disaster fund is available in the form of a grant to provide immediate emergency relief.
  

Hope For Heros	"ESA has had a long history of supporting the men and women who serve in the armed forces in times of conflict dating back to World War II. We continue this lagacy by sending letters, and care packages to our troops whereever they are located throughout the world today. Hope for Heroes provides boxes of goods and resources to support the military service personnel and their families.

HOPE FOR HEROES:
The Hope for Heroes program provides an opportunity to show honor and appreciation for our country's service men and women. Epsilon Sigma Alpha members, friends and all those interested are encouraged to participate in a project or activity supporting a service person stationed overseas in honor of Veteran's Day and throughout the year.

ESA members and chapters have participated in a number of ways over the years.

• Create a care package with conveniences of home and letters of appreciation. Invite the community to participate.
• Plan a fun day out for the children and families here in the states.
• Celebrate local and national heroes at a local monument or government facility.

For more ideas and pictures about past Hope for Heroes activities, visit ESA's blog at: http://epsilonsigmaalpha.blogspot.com

Hope for Heroes Gift in Kind form - click here!

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KANSAS CARE & SHARE PROGRAM
ESA Cares about its Members

KANSAS CARE & SHARE FUND was established to aid Kansas members in financial difficulties over which the member has no control, i.e., loss of income due to illness, death or accident of member's immediate family or extreme personal hardship that would cause loss of member's income. This fund can be used as supplement of the Disaster Fund in cases where the amount received from the Disaster Fund does not cover member's loss. This fund will depend solely on donations from the individual members, Chapters, and Districts. Contributions to members will not exceed $3000.00 per case.

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Disaster Fund
ESA Cares about its Members

The purpose of the ESA International Disaster Fund is to assist an ESA member whose home and/or personal belongings are destroyed or damaged extensively by one of nature’s causes - fire, flood, etc. Assistance may also be given when a member incurs heavy financial responsibility due to a debilitating illness or accident which involves her or the immediate family who reside in her home and for whom she is legally responsible.

The State Disaster Fund is profiled in the Kansas Chapter Handbook. The maximum amount of a claim is $5,000.00. We need to make donations to help cover our state claims and keep the Disaster fund alive and well to support our members in need.

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Contact the Kansas State Council:
E-mail: WEBMASTER