Letters to the Editor for Saturday, November 6, 2010

A second chance for city’s nonprofits

As members of the board of directors for Miriam’s House, a transitional housing program for women and children, we want to express our deepest thanks and heartfelt appreciation to City Councilmen Randy Nelson and Ceasor Johnson for their votes of support in maintaining at least partial funding for nonprofits from the Community Development Block Grant.

As residents, we recognize that council must make difficult and often unpopular decisions related to budget allocations.

We further understand that programs which have been poorly managed in the past need to be corrected. However, those organizations, through no fault of their own, will stand to lose thousands of dollars and deserve to have their voices heard.

When nonprofits such as Miriam’s House help support homeless women and children, we are able to ultimately save the city thousands of dollars.

Graduates of our program find gainful employment, raise healthy and happy children, and contribute in countless meaningful ways to the community.

Our executive director, staff, board members and volunteers all work tirelessly to find needed financial and material support in order to meet the growing needs of those women and children who come to us for any number of reasons.

We write grants, plan events, solicit foundations, and explore every possible source of income in order to fulfill our mission.

Every revenue stream is absolutely critical, especially during these challenging economic times.

Our residents are among the most vulnerable in society and so we feel a particular urgency about fulfilling our mandate to provide supportive programming in addition to safe housing for those in need.

The CDBG dollars are absolutely essential to the continuation of our services and we ask the other council members to please join Nelson and Johnson in reconsidering the needs of nonprofits such as ours that address vital needs in this community.

ELLEN NYGAARD, BETH BIERMAN BURNS, RHONDA CALLAHAM, JOAN JONES, GEORGE VERMILYA, KATHRYN YARZEBINSKI and PAT PRICE

Members, board of directors

MARY ALEX

Executive director



PTO thanks

The Bedford Hills Elementary PTO would like to thank the students, staff, parents and the community at large for their tremendous support of our recent fundraising carnival. It was a gorgeous fall day and a great time to enjoy our fun games, raffles, silent auction, inflatables and other attractions.

The carnival is our largest fundraiser providing support for many projects for our students and staff throughout the school year including cultural events, Ron Clark Academy training, new technology devices and additional playground equipment. More directly we support our teachers with classroom supplies and grade level events.

None of this would be possible without the support of student’s families, neighbors, friends and volunteers. Beth Houck and Beth Kent chaired the event with Jamie Moss and Lisa Pacot as co-chairwomen. Sarah Dunlop, Denise Palys, Amy Franzelas, Laurie Wynnyk and Deedy Cleland shared leadership of the silent auction. In addition to dozens of items donated by local businesses, nearly 30 BHS staff members donated to the auction by offering sports or music lessons or a movie with a favorite teacher.

In all, more than 250 volunteers made this an awesome day including the entire Lynchburg College men’s lacrosse team! Community support is what makes our city schools some of the best in the state and nation. Thanks to everyone for the many ways you support education.

MYRA WRIGHT DENDY

PTO president

Bedford Hills Elementary