Hibiscus Children's Center Home

Message from Hibiscus CEO, Thomas Maher

Hibiscus Children's Center needs your support

December 2, 2011 - This week on Treasure Coast Happenings

Drew Mello talks with Tom Maher, CEO of Hibiscus Children's Center.

Michael Waninger and Jack Connolly talk about the Annual Support Campaign that helps raise funds and awareness for Hibiscus Children’s Center, which helps abused, abandoned, and neglected children.

Johnny represents one of the hundreds of children removed from their homes this past year who have found a new home called Hibiscus Children's Center. A new home and "family" made possible by your generous support. A new home where he is taken to a much brighter place - a place filled with love, hope, laughter and smiles. Johnny may be a toddler or teen. He may represent an adolescent girl with her own baby or part of a sibling group. He may be Caucasian, Hispanic, African-American or Asian. His birth parents may be in prison or addicted to alcohol or drugs. They may be affluent or homeless. They may have lost parental rights because of sexual abuse or anger issues. Johnny may have come to his new Hibiscus home directly from an abusive household or after multiple placements with each move adding yet another traumatic experience. He embodies all the children here in our community who, through no fault of their own, have not only experienced the pain and suffering of an abusive environment, but also the deep-seated emotional states of feeling unwanted, lonely and angry.

Johnny also embodies all that is caring and good in our community. Because of community support – your support – Johnny’s needs are being fulfilled. He is provided safety, professional counseling and love by caring staff or devoted foster parents. And, his future is being nurtured so that he has the education and social skills necessary to become a happy productive member of society, breaking generational abuse.

Johnny needs you. Hibiscus needs you.

Please make your annual contribution now.

This past year our nation and our neighbors continued to face unprecedented financial challenges. The result was that the number of families in crisis situations needing our help continued to grow. Homelessness reached extraordinary numbers. More children than ever were emotionally, mentally and physically impacted by their parent’s/caregiver’s stress. And the severity of reported child abuse cases continued to rise. In addition, government funding of critical social service programs was cut.

There is good news, however. Because of you and others listed in the Hibiscus Children's Center 2010-2011 Annual Report, Hibiscus was able to meet those challenges head on. Children removed from their families due to abuse who now call The Tilton Family Children’s Shelter in Jensen Beach or Hibiscus Children’s Village in Vero Beach home, found the loving professional care they need and deserve, and received enhanced therapeutic, medical and dental care.

And through new Hibiscus literacy and life-skills programs, young folks were prepared to be productive, responsible members of the community – ending generational cycles of abuse.

Mental health and other Hibiscus Children’s Center community outreach programs based in St. Lucie County with a satelite office in Okeechobee County were also expanded to meet growing needs.

Families in crisis received in-home counseling, mitigating the possibility of child abuse or neglect.

Child victims of sexual abuse and those forced to endure the pain of family alcohol and drug abuse were treated by Hibiscus therapists

Foster families were recruited, trained and licensed by Hibiscus Children’s Center and are being given continuing support services that help them to meet challenges and assure safe responsible care for the children placed in their home.

But this is a new year with new challenges and Hibiscus is once again reaching out to the community for help. Individuals and families, businesses, and church and fraternal groups are being asked to participate in the 2011-2012 Hibiscus Annual Support Campaign.

All donations, grand and modest, are needed to sustain the work of Hibiscus Children’s Center.

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In addition to government funding, Hibiscus Children's Center must raise $2,500,000 this year to continue sheltering children, strenghtening families and nuturing the futures of those subjected to abuse, neglect and abandonment.

It is anticipated that approximately $1,600,000 will be raised through special fundraising events, grants and bequests resulting in a deficit of $900,000 that must be raised through the Hibiscus Annual Support Campaign.

With your help our thermometer will reach its top and Hibiscus children and families will continue to get the help they need and deserve.