April 2008 Archive of News and Musings

Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Welcome Heather!
 
Things have been a bit crazy for me recently, so I'm late in sharing this: but I'm very excited to introduce you to the newest member of the BHA team, Heather Kelly.

Heather Kelly

Heather started in March as our first full-time Development Coordinator. Our vision at BHA is to expand our transitional housing program so that we can help more homeless families move toward stability and self-sufficiency. However, in order to grow, we need more funding.

While we had wanted to fill a position like this for some time, funding was an issue. However, thanks to two special partners in ministry the vision for this role has become a reality. The first is a local couple whose commitment to BHA’s growth is so great that they offered $15,000 in seed money to hire a staff member focused entirely on deepening our support base. The second partner is the United Service Foundation, which awarded BHA a generous grant beyond the seed money to fully fund the Development Coordinator position over the next three years.

I'm excited to have Heather on our team because of her passion for serving the poor, her connection to the city of Harrisburg, and her capacity to build relationships and develop resources.

As an undergraduate student at Eastern University, Heather worked summers for a Christian community development organization in Pittsburgh. She then attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law where she focused her studies on providing legal services to the poor. She planned to pursue public interest legal work right after law school, but God’s timing was slightly different.

Heather came to the Harrisburg area in 2000 for a two-year federal clerkship. She then spent five years practicing law at the Harrisburg firm of Rhoads & Sinon LLP, alongside long-time BHA Board member Paul Wessell. But the timing was right and she is excited to transition to full-time Christian ministry serving low-income and homeless families.

Heather, her husband John and their two young children Tim and Sara live in the city of Harrisburg, about a mile from BHA, and attend church in Allison Hill.

I’m thrilled that Heather has joined the BHA team for all of the reasons mentioned above...and I look forward to you meeting her as she gets out to our special events, supporting churches, and other public engagements to spread the good news of our work.

Posted by Steve Schwartz   (4/29/2008 2:03:21 PM | link)

Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Spring Cleaning
 
This past Friday we took part in the United Way's Youth Day of Caring event co-sponsored by the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, hosting about fifty volunteers who helped with some clean-up projects in our neighborhood. One major effort was cleaning up Koons Alley, which is right behind some of our properties and had become an illegal dump site. As you can see from the pictures below, the volunteers had quite a job on their hands, and worked really hard!

Koon's Alley Before

Koon's Alley After

So thanks to the students from Lower Dauphin High School as well as adults from Fulton Bank, the Community Action Commission, the Weed and Seed Program, the City of Harrisburg, the County of Dauphin, and Dirty Dog Hauling!

See newspaper article featuring our very own Jennifer Rash. (PDF, 214k)

Posted by Steve Schwartz   (4/29/2008 12:05:07 PM | link)

Sunday, April 20, 2008
Condolences
 
At BHA, we're saddened to hear the news of the tragic death of the Honorable Judge Todd Hoover's son, Jaren. Judge Hoover handles all of the children and youth cases for the Dauphin County court system. I've heard nothing but high praise for this man from numerous sources. He is known as a passionate, wise advocate on behalf of children, many of them in difficult circumstances beyond their control.

We serve many families in difficult circumstances, and it is always hard to see children having to face such hardship. We know how vital it is for these children to have an advocate, and Dauphin County is blessed to have such a tremendous person leading the way in this area. So for all Judge Hoover has done for Dauphin County's families and children, it breaks my heart to think he must face the loss of his own child.

On a personal note, Judge Hoover will always hold a special place in my family's history, as he finalized the adoption of our two sons just two months ago (as well as being involved in several earlier precedings regarding their case).

Judge Hoover and family: May you find grace, peace and comfort during this difficult time from your Father above and your loved ones...and may you find strength and joy in your memories of Jaren.

Posted by Steve Schwartz   (4/20/2008 11:29:09 PM | link)

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The Ty Cobb Method of Spring Thaw Bike Tour Training
 
Hall of Fame baseball player Ty Cobb is said to have worked out with lead weights in his shoes, to improve his speed and leg strength. Inspired by this as I prepare for the Spring Thaw Bike Tour, I've decided to train by riding my bike while pulling along two ~40 lbs. weights. Their names are John-Luis and Carlos, my two sons.

The boys love riding in the bike trailer and my legs sure get a work out. I rode 50 miles in the inaugural Bike Tour in 2005, back when I was in the best shape of my life. But three years, two children, very little exercise and 50 pounds later...well...lets just say I need the workout. I plan to ride 25 miles this year if all goes according to plan.

Care to join me? Fill out your Spring Thaw Bike Tour registration brochure (PDF 140k) and send it in. Or perhaps you'd like to sponsor me or another rider or team of riders in the event. Check out our Donation page for the drop down list of the riders in this years event...you can make your sponsorship donation right there.

Posted by Steve Schwartz   (4/15/2008 1:05:00 AM | link)

Monday, April 07, 2008
Congratulations Tori!
 
This morning around 5am Tori, a participant in our program, gave birth to Jacob Antonio Breban. Little Jacob weighed in at 6 lbs. 8oz. and Mom and baby are doing fine. We welcome Jacob to our program and offer congratulations to Tori and her fiance Josh!

Posted by Steve Schwartz   (4/7/2008 9:29:30 AM | link)

Friday, April 04, 2008
This Mother's Day Weekend...
... Celebrate Motherhood by Supporting Single Moms
 

1. Play or Sponsor the
   BHA Golf Tournament
   Friday, May 9
   More details
    
2. Ride or Sponsor a Rider in the
   Spring Thaw Bike Tour
   Saturday, May 10
   More details
    
3. Make a Memorial Gift
   in Honor or in Memory of a special woman...
   

Instructions: How to honor the special lady or ladies in your life with a unique present this Mother’s Day — a donation to BHA in her honor to bless homeless women and children on their journey of healing.

• Send your donation to BHA, and we’ll send you a tax receipt for your gift whether $25, $250 or $2,500. You can mail it to us at BHA, 219 Hummel Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104, or submit the donation through our website's donation page.
• For Honor gifts, close to Mother’s Day we’ll mail a postcard to the woman/women you list (please provide a mailing address for each honoree), letting them know that a gift has been made by you in their honor (the amount of your gift will not be shared.)
• You may also choose to make a loving gift in memory of a special woman who is no longer living. Please include the woman or women's name(s) along with your gift.
• For all honor/memorial gifts received before Mother’s Day (May 11), we’ll list your name and the woman/women you choose to honor/remember in the next issue of the BHA newsletter (again, the amount of your gift will not be listed).

* Taking part in these Mother’s Day Weekend celebration opportunities does NOT get you off the hook for taking your mom, wife, daughter or other special female out for dinner.

Posted by Steve Schwartz   (4/4/2008 12:10:41 AM | link)

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