2006 was a turning point year for EH. We were fortunate to expand our board to three new members, Lisa Basara, PhD, RPh; Rev. Kevin Babcock and Regina Raiford.
EH was buoyed by an unexpected monthly anonymous donor commitment that has allowed us to better concentrate on direct care, community outreach and organizational development at levels we were previously unable to accomplish.

The results have been effective and gratifying. The financial commitment allowed us to remain at our location in Lansdowne as we preferred. That was indeed a miracle. We were also immediately able to offer emergency respite care to several children; one who went on to remain with us for nine months until reunion with his dad.

Direct Care:
As of 2006 we have 4 adopted children who originally came into our family through foster care, one foster child with a permanency goal and for nine months provided full time long term respite care to one child.

Following four years of foster care to our daughter Ebony’s disabled twin brothers (known under assumed names Lyle and Kyle) we were able, after much advocating with Philadelphia Department of Human Services and Philadelphia Community Behavioral Health, to transition them into a recommended residential treatment setting at the Elwyn Campus in Media. With a view to becoming a resource family for the boys we attended required trainings and fulfilled criteria to be an approved placement home for Elwyn. Upon approval we were happy to receive into our family 13 year old Daniel Jeffers as a permanent placement. In the coming year we expect to finalize adoption of Daniel in our family.

We continued to proceed on developing a relationship with medically disabled Nicky O’Keefe, currently a resident at Voorhees, NJ. We have begun the process for him to become a member of our Epiphany House family and finalize his adoption.

We provided respite care to children referred to us in emergency situations on several occasions.

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Community Outreach
Among most significant results of community outreach is that of two families recruited through Epiphany House one received a child into placement and another completed an approved home study and is currently searching for a child. This is particularly significant because it takes a lot of outreach and relationship building in the community to find a new family to accept a child through foster placement.  These 2006 recruitment results are as good as those achieved several years ago by a two year, Pew Foundation funded project that engaged the efforts of seven major local faith based agencies. Our small Epiphany House operation cannot match those kinds of resources yet our results are as good. It is gratifying to know that our day in and day out efforts to raise awareness about waiting children is coming to fruition. What we lack in financial resources, staff and marketing abilities, we compensate for in determination, commitment, love, and grit.  In 2007 we want to add five families to that number.

In other outreach our support to children included a volunteer reading program at People’s Emergency Center in Philadelphia, hosting a volunteer program here at Epiphany House with local youths from The Building with Books organization, holding a summer splash party for 40 children, and playing a key organizing role for the Angel Tree project at Christ Church in Philadelphia which provided over 150 gifts at Christmas to children in shelters. Each month, our online newsletter reaches over 700 individuals. We conducted over 30 small group information sessions, took our ice cream cart to numerous community events, including the Lansdowne 4th of July parade where we gave out over 1000 ice cream bars and disseminated informational fliers. On Labor Day weekend we did outreach at the Labor Day parade in Philadelphia and at the Philadelphia Green Festival on South Street disseminating Epiphany House materials to over 4000 people. We continue to work on community projects with the Lansdowne and Vicinity Ministeruim and with several community health agencies involved in the special medical and therapy needs of our children. As a non-profit organization we are members of The Philadelphia Sustainable Business Network which helps us connect with a number of local business people, professionals, social entrepreneurs, investors, not-for-profit leaders, and government representatives who are committed to building a more socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable local economy.

Suky helps decorate angel tree.

In other initiatives on behalf of at risk children, we supported Making a Difference University, a youth leadership program for ninth graders in the local William Penn School District, Philadelphia, Citizen’s for Children and Youth, Watoto Child Ministries, St. Michael’s Clinic in Port-a-Haiti, and sponsored a child’s tuition at St. Malachy’s School, Philadelphia in gratitude for their hosting our Fall benefit.  In addition, we conducted a yard sale with proceeds to The Amish community that suffered from the October 2nd rampage shootings.

A very exciting outreach development late in the year was the development of working relationship with Heart Gallery Philadelphia Heart Gallery Philadelphia
http://www.heartgalleryphiladelphia.org in promoting the adoption of waiting children.

We continue our Caroline’s Hope committee, a special EH committee continued to raise funds to help with the medical needs of Caroline, a ventilator dependent quadriplegic child. http://www.carolineshope.org

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Advocacy:
There are two major child advocacy projects we promote. One is the Stop the Violence Petition, http://www.knoxforphilly.com/about and the other is legislative alerts from The Children’s Defense Fund. Legislative Updates www.capwiz.com These are promoted on our website and through email alerts.

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Our Children:
We are very pleased with the activities and accomplishments of our children in 2006. Joshua was enrolled in a summer art program in which he did quite well. Daniel and Suky have been engaged in and are ever advancing in martial arts.  Suky and Ebony regularly take horseback riding lessons, all the kids regularly swim at the local YMCA.
 Ebony participates regularly w/ Kathie in the Mile a Day walk at her school aimed to promote regular exercise and good health. Ebony has a special talent in art and loves to draw. She has created numerous of heart warming and whimsical drawings of princesses, kids, flowers, and family portraits.

Sonty and Suky benefited from scholarship grants that allowed them to attend two weeks of Camp Wapiti, run by The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania in Maryland where Sonty received the camper of the year award.

Sonty also has had the privilege of becoming a member of the Philadelphia Boys’ Choir and Chorale and through his own fund raising efforts raised most of the cost of traveling with the choir last April to Costa Rica and Panama.
Sonty and Joshua last summer started a lawn cutting service to earn spending money.
Suky was able to attend a week long summer riding camp in West Chester and a local horse care camp in Lansdowne. She won several show ribbons for horse care. Suky also took lessons in sewing and enjoys making aprons, pillows etc.

Salinna began receiving home nursing care for which we had strongly advocated and is very lovingly attended to by Ms. Marie and Ms. Laura on weekday after school. This added individual attention has done wonders for Salinna. Salinna’s medical needs make her care very special.

 

In academics Sonty received Distinguished Honors at Drexel Hill Middle School, Daniel is recommended for all advanced courses in his first year of high school. This is particularly commendable because before placement with DHS Daniel had missed over 8 months of schooling. Suky is consistent in achieving excellent report cards at Garretford Elementary. She brings a magical quality to our lives. Ebony is enrolled in a wonderful life skill special education program at Hillcrest School Elementary in Drexel Hill. Ebony is a delight to teachers and staff. She brings lots of life and humor to class. Salinna attends the George Crother’s School in Swarthmore where she is embraced by a wonderful staff of teachers and therapists who are dedicated to help her reach her full potential.

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Fundraising:
There were two major fundraisers in 2006. A Pancake Breakfast May 6th at the Garden Church in Lansdowne and, Benefit Gala with the Philadelphia Boys’ Choir and Chorale at St. Malachy Church in Philadelphia on September 16th. The Pancake breakfast earned about $1000.00 profit. The benefit gala with the boys’ choir raised $18,225.09 after expenses.

We are grateful to all who have supported us in 2006 and made these remarkable results possible. We think our contributors, volunteers and all those who offer support have every reason to be proud of their commitment to EH. We know first hand that our children would not have the wonderful opportunities they have with out the support of the “extended” EH family comprised by all those who support us. In turn, in 2007 we aim to identify and honor others who have become adoptive parents to foster children. We particularly acknowledge the following corporate sponsors in 2006:

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