News and Newsies

If you missed the article in the Metro section (page B2) of the Post-Dispatch on Tuesday, here's the link. All Centers were listed individually with addresses and phone numbers, along with a call for much-needed diapers and newborn supplies. Response has been wonderful!

In case you weren't tuned to 850 AM on Wednesday at 7:10 a.m., the ten minute interview with ThriVe President/CEO Mark Dungan will soon be available for on our website. KFUO is the nation's longest continuously running religious radio station and is housed on the Concordia Seminary campus in St. Louis.

Watch the South County and South City Suburban Journals for upcoming an interview and photo of Tracy Flori, South County Center Manager. The article will focus on Tracy's involvement with ThriVe, our ongoing need for baby supplies, and the critical need for our organization in the St. Louis community.

Our pregnancy resource program is a previous recipient of Old Newsboys funding and we are invited to apply again this year. We've also been asked to help recruit volunteers to sell the papers on the Thursday before Thanksgiving - Old Newsboys Day. (Thursday, November 20th.) If you've always wanted to be a newsie, call Erin at 314-783-3040 ext 224 - she'll help make your dream come true.

Talk and Tours are now being scheduled at our Central West End center for September 12, October 10 and November 14. If you have friends you'd like to introduce to our mission, a tour is a great opportunity to do so. These no-pressure, breakfast or lunch events are designed to provide information and education - no one will be asked for money at a Talk and Tour. We will follow up after the event with those who give us permission to do so. For more information or to reserve space, call me at 314-783-3040 ext 225.

We've just completed our Development Plan for FY09 and are compiling a menu of opportunities for investment in our mission, a tool for presentations to current and prospective donors. We're also developing a PowerPoint presentation and a corporate brochure that illustrate the critical need for our services and the impact they have to save and change lives.

And last, our Annual Report for FY07 - our last year as PRC - is back from the graphic designer and soon will be posted on our website. If you'd like a copy on disk, let me know.

Forging Relationships

Our new fiscal year is off to a great start with grassroots interest and involvement flourishing! On July 8^th , 14 volunteers gave a total of 37.5 hours helping the Development Department with vital projects that would have otherwise taken weeks of staff time. Thanks to all who assembled information packets, stuffed envelopes, assisted with clerical tasks and prepared goodie bags. By popular demand, we're instituting a monthly Volunteer Work Day! The next one will be Tuesday, August 12. Interested individuals and groups may request additional information from Erin Kelley (nee Herwig!) at 314-783-3040 ext 224.

We are pleased to partner this year with Churches for Life, a new ministry under the leadership of Doug Merkey. On Saturday, July 26, CFL will conduct a workshop entitled Life-Affirming Agencies from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church. The workshop is designed for agency leaders, staff and board members who want to grow their organization's relationship with local churches. Doug brings his experience as a marketing executive, theologian, and sold-out believer in Jesus to this workshop which is sure to offer some practical, substantive helps. Since ThriVe is a partner with CFL, we can send as many people as we want to the workshop without cost. Each person attending must RSVP and you may do so by email to info@getintolife.org.

To read more, go to this link: http://www.getintolife.org/Agencies/Workshops/tabid/235/Default.aspx

If the link does not work for you, go to www.getintolife.org and you can find the workshop on the Calendar. Please do not RSVP through the website - it will try to charge you $10!

Yesterday morning we were honored to be a sponsor for a Pastor Breakfast organized by the Respect Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and featuring Pastor Luke J. Robinson, Executive Director of The Voice of Truth & Life Ministries of Frederick, Maryland. Pastor Robinson, visiting St. Louis this week for the AME Convention, is committed to "Sound the Alarm" on the problem of abortion in the African American community. His teaching, exhortation and commentary edified and challenged all who attended.

This afternoon we hosted representatives from the Respect Life Apostolate for a Talk and Tour at our St. Louis City center. Our relationship with the Apostolate has been fruitful in many ways already as they encouraged strong support for our run&walk 4 Life and opened doors for us to forge new relationships within numerous schools and churches.Today's energetic conversation inspired us all to seek ongoing opportunities to share information, programming, (particularly among our respective abstinence educators) networking and collaboration and we're meeting next Wednesday to discuss more specifically how our organizations may forge a partnership for an urban initiative.
It was an inspiring way to end our week!