Also this following link is Dominic's Latest Huffington Post Piece. It's on Foster Parents and his son's battle with Epilepsy. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominic-carter/small-deeds-are-making-th_b_5921902.html

1. 1
The
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Donald Carlin
Board Chairperson
James W. Peak, Jr.
Vice Chairperson
Russell Sanaeko
Treasurer
Maureen Konchar
Corporate Secretary
Richard Allman
Jon Ames
Robert Auchinachie
Judy Becker, Ex-Officio
Willie Campbell
Mary Ann Cerretani
Della Finney
Sharon Fowler, Ex-Officio
David Masland, Ex-Officio
Linda Morales
Ann Pearson, Ex-Officio
Dennis Sweeney
Henry Weissmann
Alan J. Wilmarth
John W. Zimmerman
How to Contact Us
Telephone . 607-772-6904
800-772-6904
Robert (Chip) Houser .ext. 121
President/CEO
Patricia Giglio. ext. 237
Chief Administrative &
Financial Officer
Kathleen Romer. ext. 140
Chief Program Officer
Robert Allman. ext. 127
Managing Director of
Residential Programs
Carol Aronowitz. ext. 139
Managing Director of
Planning & Performance
Improvement
Maria Cali . ext. 101
Vice President of Education
Rebecca Mebert. ext. 131
Vice President of Community
& Donor Relations
Frederick Mohrien .ext. 208
Managing Director of
Preventive & Family-Based
Services
E-Mail
info@chowc.org
Web Site
www.chowc.org
enhancing the safety, stability & well-being of our children, families & communities
A Publication of the Children’s Home july 2008
Dominic Carter Visits Children’s Home
“I want to ask an important question today. What do
you want to do with your life?” Thus began Dominic
Carter’s talk with the youth from several of the Children’s
Home programs on May 29, 2008. “It doesn’t matter what
has happened to you, it is where you end up. Sometimes you
have to use negative words to make positive actions. You will
have to take one step at a time.”
Dominic Carter, veteran television newscaster on NY1, host of
nightly show “Inside City Hall” and author of a book entitled
“No Mama’s Boy” was in Binghamton to share his personal
story of his childhood of sexual and physical abuse by his
mentally ill mother. Dominic was the Keynote Speaker at a
conference sponsored by the Broome County Family Violence
Prevention Council entitled, “Resiliency — the Past Doesn’t
Dictate Who You Are.” He, his wife, son and daughter spent
time with youth in the afternoon on our Hillcrest campus. He was direct and engaging as he empha-sized
education and achievement.
Dominic Carter and Jacob K.
“Mental illness (like my mom had) is almost like cancer. It happened to you; you didn’t bring it on
yourself. You didn’t wish for it. So we have to remove all these barriers around mental illness. If
there’s one overriding theme, I’m using whatever platform I have as a television newscaster to say,
‘Look, I was sexually abused by my mother. I dealt with her mental illness. She severely beat me. I
grew up on welfare, no father, housing projects and I made it. If I can make it, you can make it.’”
Mr. Carter encouraged our youth listening that afternoon to come up with him and share what they
wanted to become as adults. “I want to become a police officer.” “I want to become a psycholo-gist.”
“I want to go into the Navy and serve our country.” “I want to become a professional baseball
player.” One young man, whose path has taken him through our Residential Treatment Program,
Boys’ Group Home and now a “graduate” of the Supervised Independent Living Program, spoke
confidently of wanting to finish his associates degree and go to New York for design and graphic
arts. (To read Jacob’s story, see page 4.)
Dominic Carter shared visuals of his appearance on the cover of The New York Times TV Guide
(which called the veteran journalist “a force to be reckoned with”), as well as numerous guest
appearances on national talk shows, Fox News and CNN as well as interviews with who’s who in
the news as an illustration of what one can do even with a rough start in life. At the end of his time
with us many more stories were shared with Mr. Carter as he signed books, gave away Syracuse
University T-shirts (his Alma Mater) and listened to the kids talk.
In an e-mail following his visit he wrote, “Thank you so, so much for having me. You folks are saving
lives. You are so special. Believe it or not, I will NEVER forget your kids. It was just something very
sincere, and very positive about them. Thank you for all that you folks do.”
Thank YOU, Mr. Carter. Your message inspires us.

2. p rog ram n e w s
Message From The President
Here at the Children’s
Home, we take seri-ously
our job of helping our
children, “To build a life worth
living.” This newsletter is filled
with stories that support that
endeavor. We have a story
on the Garden of Hope, the
Maggie Memorial, Dominic
Carter’s visit and powerful mes-sage,
letters from residents,
and a number of awards our
children have received. Many
of our former residents keep in
touch with at least one staff after they leave us. I know of one
young lady who is currently doing an internship at a domestic
violence shelter in Australia this summer and will receive her B.A
this December. She persevered all of the obstacles in her life and
was adopted after she was 18!
Dominic Carter’s message to our residents and our staff was that
of resilience. Our own shining example of that is our relation-ship
with Isaiah Kacyvenski and his entire family. Their mother
Margaret (Maggie) resided at the Children’s Home for the first
12 years of her life, and they credit the love and support she
received here as helping Isaiah and his siblings survive a child-hood
of neglect and alcoholism. Not only did Isaiah graduate
from Harvard and become an NFL football player, his siblings
have all succeeded in their chosen fields. Their father, David, has
been in recovery for over a dozen years and all of them have
begun to heal from their past scars.
Our children respond very positively to visits from people like
Isaiah and Dominic Carter. They perk up, ask great questions and
realize they are not really alone. They begin to understand that
they can make a difference in their own lives and that others
before them have done so.
Building a life worth living requires a message of hope. To our
friends and supporters, we thank you for helping us keep the
message of hope alive.
Chip Houser
(chouser@chowc.org)
President/CEO
Congratulations!
to Classroom #3 for winning a 1st Place award for
their 30 second video PSA on distracted driving
(cell phone usage) in the Danielle Stento
How to Save a Life Contest.
K ristina
and the Chenango Valley High School Choir
received 1st place honors in Darien Lake. Great
job Kristina!
S arah f.
has successfully earned enough credits at BCC
for an Associates Degree, assisted in our Food
Service Department, and has joined the Navy
with the intent of getting a Bachelors Degree
B and making the Navy her career. en c.
– the highest ranking boy scout in Children’s
Home history – received a GED.
Children’s Home Preventive
Services (CHPS)
A s reported in our previous newsletter, the Children’s
Home was awarded a contract from the Broome
County Department of Social Services to provide preventive ser-vices
to children that are at risk for out of home placement and
their families.
We are pleased to report that this program is up and running
and began as scheduled in April. So far we have 25 cases and
are gradually moving towards our maximum capacity of 60 cases.
We were awarded the contract on Christmas Eve and were able
to hire staff, train them, rent space, buy furniture and develop
our procedures in just 4 months!
Therapeutic After School Program (TASP)
Eagles with Coaches Fred Mohrien and Thomas
Anderson Jr., celebrated an undefeated season
this year in the Chenango Forks/Chenango
Bridge Community League.
Two staff dish up dessert to a
­student
during the “Recreation
Awards U Love” (RAUL) party.
Congratulations to
all recipients!
Art Gallery in Ahearn boys’ residence depicting
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills.
Students in Miss
Giovannitti’s art class
created hand-made
valentines for resi-dents
of the Hilltop
Nursing Home in
Johnson City for
the Valentine’s
Day “Sweetheart
Social” sponsored by
Southern Tier Young
Professionals.
Peeps in DBT Land brought to you by Angel,
Brian, Crystal, Lenny and Spencer, the stu-dents
of Mrs. Pruitt’s & Ms. Pesko’s 10th
grade class at the Children’s Home. Subitted
to Press & Sun-Bulletin’s Peeps Contest.
Kresge Gym Gets New Paint
T hanks to a donation of paint from Daniels Paint and
time and labor from Filbin Painting, the gymnasium in the
Kresge Education Building at the Hillcrest Campus received a new coat of paint.
It looks wonderful and the kids enjoy using this newly renovated area.
2 2 3 3

3. p rog ram n e w s
T hank you!
Thank you to Binghamton University staff for coordinating an
educational field trip with lunch for our students in April.
Jack Braunstein, Director of Development, Anderson Center for the Performing Arts
and the University Art Museum, Silvia Ivanova, Curator of Education, University Art
Museum, Casey Korchynsky, Assistant House Operations Director Anderson Center,
Jim Stark, Associate Professor of Art, Sculpture Studio and Iron Foundry, Bob Griffin,
Sodexho Food Services. Some comments from the students regarding the tour:
“The pictures in the Art Museum look very realistic. I found the sculptures made
from elephant tusks interesting. The bronze pouring was cool. I felt the heat from
10 to 15 feet away.” — Shawn, 9th grader
“I liked it. Many different and talented drawings from BU students. I loved the bronze
pouring. I wish I could pour the bronze. The Anderson Center is so big. This summer I
want to come and see it all open. The food was wonderful.” — Chelsi, 8th grader
“I enjoyed the oil color paintings in the art museum.” — Joe, 9th grader
Looking for
the Light at the
End of the Tunnel
Hello my name is Jacob K. I’m a
resident at the Children’s Home
Supervised Independent Living Program
(SILP).
Growing up for me wasn’t easy at all. I
grew up in the city of Binghamton with
my father, mother, brother and sister. I was
the oldest out of the three of us and had
a lot of responsibilities as my mother was
ill for most of my childhood. I first arrived
at the Children’s Home in 2002, rebellious
and not caring. After six months I realized
this was taking me nowhere. One day
I decided to actually work my program
and use it to my advantage, and what
do you know? I received many rewards
and incentives. I was on a roll and then,
September 2003, I lost my mother. I was
thinking about giving up on everything.
But I didn’t. I had my mourning time, then
got back into the swing of things because
that’s what my mom would want me to
do. I accomplished many things including
receiving the Gregg award in school two
years in a row, made high incentive levels,
and had a job off campus.
I moved on to the boys’ group home and
excelled even more. In the public school
system I made honor roll twice my junior
year while still being employed. The next
move was to SILP where I continued to
excel. I graduated high school, have com-pleted
4 semesters at Broome Community
College with a job, car, and good credit
score. .After three more semesters to
complete my Associates, I plan on getting
my Bachelors Degree in art and to live my
life doing things with art.
I believe with hard work and an optimis-tic
attitude you will be successful. I’ll be
leaving the Children’s Home in 5 months
because of age, but it has definitely
helped me out, and I would like to take
this time to thank all the staff who did
their part to help me.
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Linda Pipkin and Elizabeth Hickey, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK) Adoption
Program (funded by the Dave Thomas Foundation), attended WWK Summit
in Columbus, Ohio in May. Two hundred recruiters and supervisors from 50 states and
Canada attended workshops that included “Personal Values of Permanency Professionals
— Implications for Family Selection & Child Placement, Adolescent Brain & Trauma,
Engaging Youth, Critical Steps in the Record, Common Barriers Faced by GLBT Adoptive
Parents, Assessing Adoption Readiness, and Changes in Adoption Policies & Practices”.
Currently over 100 Wendy’s Wonderful Kids adoption recruiters are working in the U.S.,
the District of Columbia and Canada with 3,400 children. To date: 471 children adopted,
440 children in Pre-Adoptive Homes and 2,143 matched.
The Foundation’s vision is that every child will have a permanent home and loving fam-ily.
The Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program has an ambitious goal of matching 8,000 to
10,000 children with adoptive families by 2010.
Letter from a Resident…
Spiritual Life
I recently met with Jonathon (not
his real name) to complete a Spiritual
Life Assessment. When I asked him if he ever
prayed, he said “no.” When I pressed him
a little further he said, “I tried it once and it
didn’t work.” He went on to explain that he
had prayed that he wouldn’t get beat up, but
it didn’t work and he got beat up anyway. At
thirteen years old, Jonathon concluded that
no one, not even God, could protect him and
keep him safe.
One of life’s most basic needs is the need to
feel safe. It is difficult for a person to thrive
physically, emotionally, and psychologically
when he or she is in a state of uncertainty and
fear. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist
movement, offers some simple advice for
all of us who are entrusted with the care of
young people. In his General Rules, Wesley
says that those who claim to be followers
of God must: (1) Do no harm; (2) Do good
of every possible sort; and (3) Attend to the
ordinances of God. Simply put, a “safe place”
is that place where no additional harm is
done, where good of every kind is evidenced,
and where faith is lifted up and practiced
in a meaningful way. We cannot rest until
every home, every school, every church, and
every childcare agency is a place where the
Jonathons of our world can proclaim, “I feel
safe here!”
Bill The Rev. Bill Townsend
(btownsend@chowc.org)
Director of Spiritual Life
five months later
A fter months of construction the young women in our Residential
Treatment Center moved to Sarah and Decker, the new buildings on
campus. Staff worked with the girls to make choices for their new living facilities
and a plan for being in two buildings rather one very cramped space. Staff have
commented on how well the treatment plans work with the girls having their own
rooms to do homework and sleep. Ask the girl’s what they think? “We love having
our own space!” Thanks again to the Decker, Hoyt, Kresge, Klee, Gaffney, Mee and
Rozen Foundations, Kathryn Hemstreet, F.E. Jones the general contractor, and all
who contributed to the overall new look of the front of our campus and the effi-ciency
of the new buildings!
The Greening of Christmas
T hink GREEN (or plastic or paper) for our Holiday wish lists! With the
increased costs of gas and postage, your cash donation will go further
if you let us do the shopping. With quantity discounts and sales tax exempt sta-tus
afforded to us, your cash donation gives us more “purchase power” when
shopping for 350 children.
You can designate the type of gift or just indicate for Christmas and Holiday
Shopping! For a wish list visit our website, email holidays@chowc.org, or call
607-772-6904 ext. 122. We will, of course, gladly accept gifts that you buy, if
that gives you special pleasure!!
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4. com m u n ity ♥ i n vo l vem e n t
Come join the fun!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Celebrate 50 years of the Ice Cream Social with
the Children’s Home! Tuesday, August 12th from
5:00 to 8:00 pm. Think 50th Anniversary – Think
1950’s. Theme attire welcome! Tickets are still just
$3 each, with hamburgers, hot dogs, veggieburg-ers
and beverages available for an additional cost.
H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H
H H
H H
H H
H H
H H
H H
H H
H H
H H
H H
H H
H H
H H
H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H
Upcoming Community Event…
Garden Of Hope
I t was a Garden Party, a spring night with friends to
show support for the Children’s Home, a place where
young lives begin to mend. The 5th Annual Garden of Hope event
held at the Schorr Family Firehouse Stage in Johnson City, saw
more than 125 friends gathered, with proceeds over $36,000.
Thanks to the committee and volunteers who helped make this
event whimsical, magical and fun. Thank you also to Lowe’s
Heroes from Lowe’s of Binghamton for the donation of plants and
flowers that enhanced the decorations at the Firehouse Stage.
Following the event, Lowe’s Heroes provided soil and mulch and
the Children’s Home provided the manpower to plant the flowers
and shrubs at the Hillcrest location of the Children’s Home.
Maggie Memorial
T he Maggie Memorial 2008 Charity Golf Tournament
on July 27, 2008 at Traditions at the Glen, was a huge
success. The proceeds this year are over $30,000.00 with more
than 200 players and 42 teams. The money will help us continue
to work with youth to build a life worth living. Thank you to the
members of the community who sponsored or participated and
the Kacyvenski family who memorialize their mom through this
event and their time spent with our children.
2008 Events Corporate Sponsors
Garden of Hope – Maggie Memorial Golf Tournament – Ice Cream Social
Premier Sponsor
Clear Channel Radio (All Events)
Platinum Sponsors
Cadence Design Group
Curcio Printing
Gold Sponsors
M&T Bank
NBT Bank
Time Warner Cable
Visions Federal Credit Union
Silver Sponsors
BAE Systems & Johnson City Employees Community Service
Fund
Binghamton Giant Markets
Crowley Foods
Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Huff Ice Cream
Peoples National Bank
United Health Services
Universal Instruments
Bronze Sponsors
Bates Troy
Binghamton Mets
C&C Marketing
Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP
Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP
Raymond Corporation
Relph Benefit Advisors
Sanico – Cleaning Solutions
Security Mutual Life
Tioga State Bank
Supporters
Binghamton Johnson City Monument
GHS Federal Credit Union
Leonard & Cummings, LLP, Attorneys at Law
Northeastern Striping
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
Southern Tier District Credit Unions
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
West Presbyterian Church
Media Sponsor
Press & Sun-Bulletin
WBNG TV
6 6 7 7

5. Giving Joyfully (& Selectively)
A friend recently received a request from a charity to
give monthly through checking withdrawal, but she
was uncomfortable giving that way. My reply, “Give where your
heart is and however you feel comfortable.” One way to approach
charitable giving is to plan to whom you will give, depending on
where your interests lie, and allow for a few spontaneous dona-tions
throughout the year. Then you can say, “No thank you” to
other requests. We encourage those who give to the Children’s
Home — or who might give to us in the future — to give because
you believe in what we do, care about children and trust that
your gift goes where you want it to. GIVE JOYFULLY — no matter
where, or how much you give. Thank you for your support.
Rebecca Mebert
(rmebert@chowc.org)
Vice President of Community and Donor Relations
Y ou can stay up-to-date
with us! Check our web-site
for the latest photos and
information. Visit www.chowc.org.
Secure on-line donation is avail-able
for your convenience.
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Binghamton, New York
Permit No. 14
WAYS TO BE INVOLVED
H Display our calendar artwork at your business or place of
worship.
H Become a Friend to a Child.
H Make a monetary gift ­of
cash, stock, bequests, insurance
policy designation, charitable trusts, real estate. Gifts may
be for general operating, or designated for special projects.
H Donate to our Endowment
• Support development of innovative programs
• Diversify the Children’s Home funding mix
• Secure the long-term future of the Children’s Home
PRESENTATIONS
D epending on the location and date, we provide
speakers from the Children’s Home for your busi-ness,
congregation, club or service organization on various
topics regarding our programs and child advocacy. We can
provide written materials, a PowerPoint presentation or short
video if you wish to do your own presentation to your group.
For information, please call Rebecca Mebert, Community &
Donor Relations, at (607) 772-6904 ext 131 or Arna O’Neill
at (607) 772-6904 ext 289.
Children’s Home
1182 Chenango Street
Binghamton, New York 13901-1696
Telephone: (607) 772-6904
Serving Children Since 1912
REMEMBER
OUR
WEBSITE
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