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VBS programs win MVP award (Story 32 of 50)

September 10, 2019 CCHO 50 Stories for 50 Years, CCHO Stories, Children's Residential Center, Ministry Support, Videos

CCHO is celebrating 50 years of ministry! Throughout 2019, we will be sharing stories of the lives that have been forever changed by the work God has done through our family of ministries (CCHO, Encourage Foster Care and Encompass Christian Counseling). This summer, we were tremendously blessed by a group of churches who supported CCHO through their VBS programs. In story #32 in our 50 Stories for 50 Years of Ministry series, we say “thanks!”

We are so grateful for the collection of caring churches that have supported CCHO and our family of ministries over the past five decades. Without the fundraising dollars they’ve contributed, the hours upon hours of volunteer help they’ve provided, the steady stream of prayers they’ve lifted on our behalf, and all the other ways they have been involved, there would be countless children, adults and families who were never given an opportunity to find hope and healing on the other side of their pain.

Church support has always been crucial to our purpose of helping people experience their worth in Christ, and this summer, a number of awesome churches (see the full list below the video) elected to give to CCHO through their Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs. These VBS contributions included items our residential program needed for the children we serve along with more than $10,000 in financial donations. Wow!!

Thank You!!

Several members of our residential staff express their gratitude to the host of churches that donated to CCHO through their VBS programs this summer. Watch the video to learn more about this inspiring act of generosity!

Thank you to the following churches for making us their featured mission for VBS this summer:

Barrs Mill Church of God
Croton Church of Christ
Danville Church of Christ
Dover First Christian Church
East Liberty Church of Christ

Eden Church of Christ
Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church
Grape Grove Church of Christ
Heath Church of Christ
Louisville Christian Church

Louisville Church of Christ
Meadow View Church of Christ
Orrville Christian Church
Pleasant Grove Church of Christ
Victory Church of Christ

If your church is interested in making CCHO its featured mission for your 2020 VBS program, please contact Dan Franks, Director of Development, at franksd@ccho.org or 330.345.7949 ext. 2336.

Celebrating Five Decades of Ministry

This story is part of our "50 Stories for 50 Years of Ministry" retrospective. Throughout 2019, we will be sharing 50 stories about the broken hearts, broken people, and broken families that have been made new by a loving and redemptive God. Have your own story about CCHO and our family of ministries? Click the button below to share it with us.

CCHO Turns 50!

Proud to be a BBB accredited charity

September 4, 2019 CCHO News

CCHO and our family of ministries have recently achieved Charity Accreditation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). This significant achievement affirms that we are committed to integrity and best practices as a nonprofit organization.

CCHO President and CEO Kevin Hewitt says, “We are so pleased to be acknowledged by the BBB and be part of an elite group of charities nationwide that meet their high level of accountability. This status is an honor for our organization especially in our 50th anniversary year. Many thanks to our staff for their quality work and dedication.”

The BBB measures a variety of factors including board oversight, fundraising practices, finances and measuring effectiveness. The depth of BBB charity evaluation goes beyond that typically included in financial statements and government filings, as well as a deeper dive than other charity monitoring organizations.

Each BBB charity report process involves a rigorous evaluation of the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability as well as any needed guidance on how to implement processes and procedures with excellence. This accreditation signifies that CCHO and our family of ministries are committed to trust and transparency in the giving community.

We are truly excited about this achievement and hope you will join us in celebration.

Back to school

September 3, 2019 CCHO Children's Residential Center, News

It’s back-to-school time! We hope your children are transitioning well into the school year routine. This is a big change and can be a struggle for students as they settle in with peers, teachers and schedules.

We’re looking forward to kicking off the new school year for the youth in our residential center. In the early days of CCHO, student-age residents attended public school locally. In more recent years, we have provided classrooms with licensed teachers right here on our Wooster campus. These learning environments in our Children’s Leadership & Recreation Center are tailored to address the unique needs of children with trauma.

Due to a change in their service focus, we are transitioning away from Summit Academy as our school provider. For the 2019-2020 school year, we are pleased to begin a partnership with Norwayne Local Schools. Many of our kids are behind developmentally and academically because of trauma and neglect. Their teaching staff will help our students get back on track and see school as a positive place.

Classes start on Monday, September 9. In addition to praying for our students and staff, we have a few unique requests that you may be able to fulfill.

• Large wall map of Ohio
• 40 Classroom Headphones – over the head style, full ear coverage
• Base Ten counting blocks for math (100 to 200 pieces)
• Kidney (or arc) shaped table for elementary-school students (48×72 inch)

Please contact Lauren at steinerl@ccho.org to coordinate your donation purchase/drop-off/delivery. Donations may be shipped directly to CCHO through Amazon Smile or other stores.

Thank you for helping our students feel supported in the new school year. It’s a tangible way for them to experience their worth in Christ.

Small and mighty

September 3, 2019 One Heart Stables

One Heart Stables is home to a select group of horses. Each of their distinctive personalities contributes to their role as “equine therapists” as they serve the children in our residential program as well as adults and children in the general public through Encompass Christian Counseling. With each equine lesson, we strive for our riders to gain self confidence, improve their mental and physical capabilities, and engage in social relationships with other riders, staff and volunteers.

Name: Caramel
Breed: Quarter Pony

Caramel is the smallest therapy horse in the barn. He is often described as “small but mighty” because he is brave, energetic, and enjoys going for long trail rides.

Caramel has helped many people learn to trust horses through his gentle yet spirited personality. He has the patience of a saint and is a great match for the young horse enthusiast. Caramel loves all of the attention that he receives and is exceptionally happy when munching on a carrot or apple.

Therapy Comes in All Shapes & Sizes

When you donate to CCHO, you are ensuring that our kids receive access to a wide range of therapies including equine therapy. Client benefits include an increase in self-confidence, self-worth, communication skills, coping skills and problem-solving skills. Make a gift today!

25 years of drives, chips and putts (Story 31 of 50)

August 28, 2019 CCHO 50 Stories for 50 Years, CCHO Stories, Events, Ministry Support, News

CCHO is celebrating 50 years of ministry! Throughout 2019, we will be sharing stories of the lives that have been forever changed by the work God has done through our family of ministries (CCHO, Encourage Foster Care and Encompass Christian Counseling). Today, we are pleased to share the story of our 2019 Caring4Kids Golf Classic. This annual event regularly brings together more than 60 different golfers in support of the work being done at CCHO and throughout our ministries. Story #31 in our 50 Stories for 50 Years of Ministry series recaps the 25th edition of the C4K Golf Classic, which took place Monday, August 26, 2019.

What started in 1994 as a small fundraiser for CCHO in our 25th year of ministry has now become an annual event, 25 years later, that allows our family of ministries to continue providing services and support for children, adults and families in need.

This year, 64 golfers from 16 teams teed off at Hawk’s Next Golf Course for 36 memorable holes. Teams competed for prizes like longest drive of the day, closest to the pin and longest putt while also shooting for the best team totals on the first 18 and second 18 holes, but the real focus was on supporting CCHO and its family of ministries.

The 25th annual Caring4Kids Golf Classic was a huge success. Save for a couple of late rain drops, the weather was absolutely gorgeous. Golfers were welcomed with a warm breakfast courtesy of Biscuit Uprising, lunch was served during the first round and then each team made their way back to the CCHO campus for a delicious steak dinner. The night was capped off with the announcement of the winning teams and golfers.

We are thrilled to announce that the 2019 C4K golf outing raised a total of $50,000 for CCHO and its family of ministries. Thank you so much to all the golfers and sponsors who have blessed the children, adults and families we serve in an incredible way!

Our 2019 Title Sponsor was Hummel Group; Premier Sponsors were Apple Creek Banking Co., Area Wide Protective, BellStores/Campbell Oil Company, Central Coated Products, Inc., Eagle Advisor Group, Ohio Gratings, Inc., United Titanium, and Vasco Asphalt Company; Supporting Sponsors were Seaman Corporation and Whitaker-Myers Group; and Lunch Sponsor was Security First Training & Consulting.

Celebrating Five Decades of Ministry

This story is part of our "50 Stories for 50 Years of Ministry" retrospective. Throughout 2019, we will be sharing 50 stories about the broken hearts, broken people, and broken families that have been made new by a loving and redemptive God. Have your own story about CCHO and our family of ministries? Click the button below to share it with us.

CCHO Turns 50!

Supportive golf swings (Story 30 of 50)

August 23, 2019 CCHO 50 Stories for 50 Years, CCHO Stories, Children's Residential Center, Events, Ministry Support

CCHO is celebrating 50 years of ministry! Throughout 2019, we will be sharing stories of the lives that have been forever changed by the work God has done through our family of ministries (CCHO, Encourage Foster Care and Encompass Christian Counseling). As we prepare for this year’s Caring4Kids Golf Outing at Hawk’s Nest Golf Club in Creston, we hear from a father-son duo who supports this event each summer in story #30 of our 50 Stories for 50 Years of Ministry series.

On Monday, August 26 at 8:00 in the morning, 15 teams will tee off for the first of 36 holes at our Caring4Kids Golf Outing. As we head into the final months of our year-long 50th anniversary celebration, it’s only fitting that this marks the 25th edition of our annual golf outing.

The golf outing began in 1994 as a way of connecting members of the community to the work being done in our children’s residential center. Now, 25 years later, this end-of-summer fundraiser helps provide the resources our family of ministries needs to assist children, adults and families on their journey to healing from abuse and trauma of all kinds.

Don Boehm and his sons Matt and Brad have been swinging their clubs in support of our ministry for years. Here’s what Matt and Don had to say about why they come back every year for the golf outing:

My involvement in the golf outing began one year when one of our church teams was looking for a golfer for the outing. It was my first time visiting the campus and seeing what CCHO was all about. It was a fun time on a great course and so I was hooked from there. It has become a day I look forward to each year and, for the last several years, an opportunity to spend the day golfing with my dad and my brother Brad.

The golf outing is one of the ways I support the mission of CCHO. CCHO has a special place in my heart and has impacted my life in a big way. It was on a short-term mission trip to CCHO to work on the campus several years ago that I was able to witness firsthand the kids who were struggling with hurt, anger and fear. The campus staff showed me what it looked like to step into the trenches and embody the love of Jesus in a new way. God used that trip to break my heart for hurting kids, an experience that led to my wife Daylene and I becoming foster parents and ultimately adopting two young ladies into our family.

-Matt Boehm

For me, it started as a great way to support CCHO. Through some work projects we’ve done on campus with our church, Bethel Church of Christ, CCHO has become special to me. The work CHO does changing the lives of children coming from troubled homes makes it a worthy mission. A side benefit has been golfing with my two sons. The golf outing is a special day that we look forward to every year, spending the day together and helping support God’s work at CCHO.

-Don Boehm

We are so appreciative of Don, Matt, Brad and all of our golfers, and we can’t wait to see what God has planned for our 25th Caring4Kids Golf Outing. If you would like to join the fun next year, be sure to save Monday, August 31, 2020 on your calendar!

Celebrating Five Decades of Ministry

This story is part of our "50 Stories for 50 Years of Ministry" retrospective. Throughout 2019, we will be sharing 50 stories about the broken hearts, broken people, and broken families that have been made new by a loving and redemptive God. Have your own story about CCHO and our family of ministries? Click the button below to share it with us.

CCHO Turns 50!

Riding high with Sons of God (Story 29 of 50)

August 21, 2019 CCHO 50 Stories for 50 Years, CCHO Stories, Events, Ministry Support, News, Volunteers

CCHO is celebrating 50 years of ministry! Throughout 2019, we will be sharing stories of the lives that have been forever changed by the work God has done through our family of ministries (CCHO, Encourage Foster Care and Encompass Christian Counseling). The Northern Ohio Chapter of the Sons of God Motorcycle Club has been blessing our ministry and the kids we serve on the CCHO campus every summer since 1996. On the heels of SOGMC’s latest visit on Saturday, August 17, Anthony Lehman writes about his club’s incredible event and the ways their members show our young residents the love to Christ each year. In story #29 of our 50 Stories for 50 Years of Ministry series, we give thanks for the unbelievable generosity shown by the SOGMC over nearly a quarter of a century.

In 1981, Gary Shire was given a vision from God that became Sons of God Motorcycle Club Ministry. Since our humble beginnings in Mansfield, Ohio, the SOGMC has grown across the United States and Canada, with multiple chapters spread throughout 25 states and Canada.

The Sons of God MC, Northern Ohio Chapter had the pleasure of hosting their first benefit run for Christian Children’s Home of Ohio (CCHO) in 1996. This annual benefit has taken place every August for the past 23 years, with 100% of the money raised going to directly support CCHO.

The SOGMC, Northern Ohio annual CCHO Benefit Run takes the participants on a journey of 75-100 miles, beginning in the Akron/Barberton area, winding its way through the beautiful countryside of Summit and Wayne Counties, and ending at the CCHO campus. While the riders are on their way to Wooster, the children at CCHO are being treated to a host of activities including games, prizes and face painting, to name a few. At the conclusion of the run, the riders join the children for an afternoon of eating, socializing, entertainment and all-around fun. Some of the entertainment provided throughout the years has included motorcycle stunt riding, parachutists, puppet shows, bands and more.

Toward the end of the day, the SOGMC, Northern Ohio Chapter auctions off numerous donated baskets and items. We present awards to the riders from different categories such as furthest distance traveled, largest motorcycle club, and the coveted Kids’ Choice for best bike. We then conclude with what is arguably the best part of the event for the participants and the children: the motorcycle rides. The SOGMC members and participants provide the children with helmets and are then blessed to be able to give the children motorcycle rides around the property.

It has been the pleasure of the SOGMC Northern Ohio Chapter to be involved with CCHO in this capacity, and we look forward to many more years of blessing the members of this community, as they have so richly blessed us in return.

Celebrating Five Decades of Ministry

This story is part of our "50 Stories for 50 Years of Ministry" retrospective. Throughout 2019, we will be sharing 50 stories about the broken hearts, broken people, and broken families that have been made new by a loving and redemptive God. Have your own story about CCHO and our family of ministries? Click the button below to share it with us.

CCHO Turns 50!

Trust, treatment, transformation (Story 28 of 50)

August 16, 2019 CCHO 50 Stories for 50 Years, Adoption, CCHO Stories, Children's Residential Center, Counseling

CCHO is celebrating 50 years of ministry! Throughout 2019, we will be sharing stories of the lives that have been forever changed by the work God has done through our family of ministries (CCHO, Encourage Foster Care and Encompass Christian Counseling). Today, we hear from an adoptive mom whose son eventually found healing from his past trauma in CCHO’s residential treatment program. Story #28 in our 50 Stories for 50 Years of Ministry series reminds us how important time and trust are on the road to wholeness.

My son was adopted when he was eight years of age. He had been in residential treatment for three years prior to his adoption, from age five to age eight. When he came to my home, he exhibited significant self-harming behaviors like defiance, aggression and running away. His social and emotional skills were almost nonexistent due to his extensive trauma, which included 19 moves within the foster care system and the loss of his birth family. Developmentally, he had significant delays as well. Cognitively, he had delays and a lower IQ, which made progress even more challenging.

Initially, his behaviors were not too severe at home. However, he suffered from attachment disorder, which made it difficult to help him feel safe or to trust anyone so he could heal from his past, causing his behaviors at home to intensify. After two years, they had become nearly unmanageable. His threats made it unsafe for him to remain in the home, and he was placed at CCHO by the county after making multiple threats to kill me and kill himself.

He initially was unable to deal with any of his past trauma or behavior issues, making his first four months at CCHO largely unfruitful. But once he began to disclose the extensive trauma he endured as a very young child to a counselor that he trusted, his progress was incredible. His counselor and I communicated frequently and worked closely during weekly sessions to further address the attachment issues my son exhibited. He went through an intensive trauma therapy program (Thrive), which shed more light on what he experienced in his birth family. Finally, after his trauma was treated and he knew he could trust me, his behaviors changed for the better. After only four more months, his transformation was amazing. He came home and was the funny, happy kid God created him to be. He no longer had any aggressive behaviors. He did not make any threats to harm himself or me.

I believe that God directed the county to choose CCHO because it was what my son needed to help him become the man God created him to be. He learned that love is unconditional and that moms can be trusted. He is completely attached to me now and trusts me 100% in many areas. He dealt with much of his past trauma and has continued to use the coping skills he learned at CCHO.

He is now 14 and still has areas that need work. He has many delays that will require more attention. But, without CCHO he would likely not be here at all. I was unable to maintain him safely in our home so I had expected to return custody to the agency. I am thankful that never happened.

I have hope that he will be a wonderful adult and contribute in a great way to the lives of others. He challenges me each day to never give up and to recognize that no child is ever a lost cause. Some kids just got started off with more obstacles than others. But with the proper help and lots of prayer, good things can happen. If my son never gives up, I won’t either.

Celebrating Five Decades of Ministry

This story is part of our "50 Stories for 50 Years of Ministry" retrospective. Throughout 2019, we will be sharing 50 stories about the broken hearts, broken people, and broken families that have been made new by a loving and redemptive God. Have your own story about CCHO and our family of ministries? Click the button below to share it with us.

CCHO Turns 50!

Encourage a generation

August 14, 2019 CCHO Communications, Ministry Support, Stories

Without the encouragement from caring CCHO staff, Brent and Mia may not have gotten baptized. Both of these young residents carried many years of severe abuse and trauma with them when they came to our campus last year. The people in their lives that should have protected them instead repeatedly hurt them, and they believed they couldn’t trust anyone. But because of the loving actions and encouraging words of our staff, Brent and Mia opened their hearts to God and eventually ended up getting baptized during their time with CCHO!

You too can powerfully impact the lives of boys and girls who are in desperate need of hope and encouragement from others.

The kids on our campus spend a lot of time in our new Children’s Leadership & Recreation Center (LRC), whether they’re coming in for the school day, enjoying a meal in the cafeteria, playing games in the gym or engaging in our recreational therapy programs. Imagine how powerful it would be for those boys and girls to see an encouraging message from you or your favorite Bible verse each time they walk to the CLRC!

By purchasing a legacy brick with your name or inspirational message (or both!), you could play a vital role in the next baptisms on our campus. Your words can be a source of incredible encouragement on the next generation of kids in need.

Our world can be so discouraging, leaving many of us scared and scarred. God intends each of us to encourage others so that, together, we can find joy amidst that pain and brokenness (see Hebrews 3:13 and 1 Thessalonians 4:18). Children like Brent and Mia used that encouragement to embrace a relationship with their Savior. Your words of encouragement can help others turn their lives over to Jesus. What a powerful legacy you can leave for future generations on our campus!

Leave a legacy for kids in need

Purchase your legacy brick today and be part of the eternal story God is writing in the lives of these children. What message do you want to leave for them on your brick?

Buy Your Brick Today

Cool cars and warm hearts (Story 27 of 50)

August 13, 2019 CCHO 50 Stories for 50 Years, CCHO Stories, Events, Ministry Support, News, Volunteers

CCHO is celebrating 50 years of ministry! Throughout 2019, we will be sharing stories of the lives that have been forever changed by the work God has done through our family of ministries (CCHO, Encourage Foster Care and Encompass Christian Counseling). For the last 10 years, the Mid-Ohio Corvette Club (MOCC) has blessed our young residents with a memorable day filled with yummy food, outdoor fun and rides around campus in some of the coolest cars you’ve ever seen. In story #27 of our 50 Stories for 50 Years of Ministry series, Jim Morrison and Regi Muich from MOCC share the history behind their annual Cruisin’ for the Kids event, which just drew 162 Corvettes to the CCHO campus this past Saturday, August 10. We are so grateful for this 10-year partnership with MOCC!

During the early months of 2010, the Mid-Ohio Corvette Club (MOCC) met to discuss our largest endeavor of the year. We had always chosen our yearly fundraiser on the basis of the recipient’s overall need. After learning that Christian Children’s Home of Ohio (CCHO) was focused on nurturing young girls and boys who may never have received warmth from a home environment otherwise, we were excited to pick CCHO.

Members quickly worked as a team to organize committees for everything needed to create a successful, fun and financially rewarding day for CCHO. Flyers were printed and mailed to anyone and everyone we knew who owned a Corvette so they could mark their calendars for August 14. From April through early August, the Corvette Club members canvassed an area consisting of at least three counties practically going door-to-door to both individuals and companies asking for contributions for CCHO.

The big day arrived with terrific weather and excitement, as well as butterflies. The gathered enthusiasts enjoyed visiting with one another during a pastry, bagel and fruit breakfast at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Wooster. They were also treated to the local FM radio station WQKT playing music and asking trivia questions for prizes.

Shortly after, 110 Corvettes were on their way to CCHO on roads chosen to show off some of the Wooster area’s natural beauty. Upon arrival, they were parked in a large grassy area near a pavilion set up for all the activities at the home.

My wife Darlene and I are proud to be members of an organization with fellow members who are willing to do what must be done. It doesn’t really seem like work when we have the opportunity to show a few children love and kindness. It warms our hearts when we as a club can create a smile on a child’s face from something we have done.

-Jim

This Cruisin’ for the Kids event has grown over the past 10 years, and the kids and staff now choose the car show winners. One year, the children chose as their favorite a particularly beautiful car that had won multiple trophies at other shows. The owner later told me that this was the best trophy he had ever received and that it meant more to him than any other.

We now give rides to the children and staff as well, a tradition that started when one of the Buckeye Corvette Club members showed up with a banner for the girls to wear that said, “Buckeye Princess.” The girls who wanted a ride were allowed to sit as Princess of the Day while riding around the campus waving to everyone. When it was discovered that the boys felt left out, all the kids (and staff too) were given rides.

It is heartwarming to see the kids enjoy the cars and attention each year. After getting into a convertible, one little girl looked up and squealed, “This car doesn’t have a roof!” Two years ago, we sang happy birthday to one of the residents. I have never heard a more sincere rendition of the song.

We wish CCHO a very happy 50th anniversary! MOCC and other Corvette enthusiasts are honored to share the day with the kids at CCHO.

-Regi

Celebrating Five Decades of Ministry

This story is part of our "50 Stories for 50 Years of Ministry" retrospective. Throughout 2019, we will be sharing 50 stories about the broken hearts, broken people, and broken families that have been made new by a loving and redemptive God. Have your own story about CCHO and our family of ministries? Click the button below to share it with us.

CCHO Turns 50!