The McHoul Family Receives the Lifetime Achievement Award

Three Generations of McHouls

Doug and Marikay McHoul have raised a family that embodies a living legacy to their lifetime of achievement. Three generations of McHouls work together in a family business, the McHoul Funeral Home, and give countless hours of community service through fundraising and volunteering.

Please join us in the comment section below in thanking them, congratulating them on their award, and sharing your stories about them.   

Kevin and Betsy Carswell Receive the Good Neighbor Award

The Carswells embody the best of good neighbors. They recognize unaddressed challenges facing Hudson Valley nonprofits and step up to fill the gaps. Whether its rallying IBMers or classmates at school, they find ways to engage others in the community in joining them in projects. In that way, the hours they spend volunteering get multiplied many times over. 

Please join us in the comment section below in thanking them, congratulating them on their award, and sharing your stories about them.

Rev. and Mrs. Jesse V. Bottoms Receive the Quality of Life Award

 
Rev. and Mrs. Bottoms have been selected for the Quality of Life Award for their contributions to improving the lives of both individuals and the community in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, and nationally. We honor their teaching and commitment to debt-free living and their leadership in both religious and civic life.



Please join us in the comment section below in thanking them, congratulating them on their award, and sharing your stories about them.  

Brian and Kimberly Hunt Lee – The Spirit of the Future

Kim and Brian Lee stay flexible to balance dual careers, raising their two young children in an extended and blended family, and leadership in Hudson Valley charitable events and committees. These are challenges most young families face today. We honor them because they are the Spirit of the Future.

Please join us in the comment section below in thanking them, congratulating them on their award, and sharing your stories about them.   

Come have fun at Crime Victims' Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event!

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

There’s an old saying: "You can't really understand another person's experience until you've walked a mile in their shoes." Walk a Mile in Her Shoes asks men literally to walk one mile in women's shoes. It's not easy walking in these shoes, but it's fun and it gets the community talking about something that's really difficult to talk about: gender relations and sexual violence.

Family Services' Crime Victims Assistance Program’s first annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event will take place at 1PM April 30 at Marist College.  Everyone is invited!  Help us raise awareness and support Crime Victims. 

You can register as an individual or a team.  We’ve got great prizes for walkers who bring in the most sponsorships.  If you don’t have a pair of heels, don’t worry we’ve got a pair of pink flip flops for you!

For more information or to register, go to familyservicesny.org and click on Walk a Mile in HER Shoes under “Happenings.”

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Walk a Mile in Dutchess County

Help Us Celebrate the Opening of the Paul Robeson Program

Join the Sadie Peterson Delaney African Roots Library
To celebrate the opening of the Library’s 

Paul Robeson Program

 May, 7th 2011 2pm to 6pm  

 

Paul Robeson: An American Life

Lecture: Dr. Michael Morrison “O Worthy Pioneers”
Historical contributions of Paul Robeson and
Other African American actors to theater and the performing arts

Lateef Islam Auditorium
Family Partnership Center
29 North  Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Sponsored By
New York Council for the Humanities
Sadie Peterson Delaney African Roots library a program of Family Services

Legal Health Rights of Minors- Free Workshop!

Family Services' Youth Services Department invites you to attend a FREE workshop about the legal health rights of minors.  

All are invited!

When:                 Tuesday, April 26th

Time:                  1:00 - 2:30 workshop for providers

                          3:00 - 4:30 workshop for youth

Location:             Family Partnership Center

                          29 North Hamilton Street

                          Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Cost:                  FREE

For more information please contact

Diane Labenski, Director of Youth Services

845-452-1110 x3170

dlabenski@familyservicesny.org

There's still time to buy your raffle tickets!

Image via Wikipedia

You can win a three or four day Royal Caribbean Cruise to the Bahamas for two* or an iPad with 3G and wifi -- first and second prize for the Family of the Year raffle.

Tickets: $10 each or three for $25. To purchase tickets contact Jean Calyer at 452-1110 x3135

Drawing: 8 p.m., April 7, 2011 at the Family of the Year Dinner, Grandview. Winners do not have to be present.

Family Services' Youth Council Launches Prom Project 2011

The Family Services Youth Council would like you to help make Prom Project a reality!

Image by hcplebranch via Flickr

Prom Project is one of our latest goals that we are striving to make a success. It is a way to show the teens of today's high schools that they can look beautiful and have a night to remember, no matter what their situation is.  We are looking for the donations of gently used and clean prom gowns. A dress to wear on a special occasion to make the lucky girl feel like a princess on the night of nights.  Any accessories, shoes, or make up would also be greatly appreciated. 

Once late March rolls on in, we will open our doors and let the wonderful young women come and get a free dress. Donating just one dress can help give a teen joy and hope not to mention the smiles. Of course, it isn't just the ladies who find themselves in rough times. Any donated tuxedos, suits, or even dress shirts and pants for our handsome gentlemen make a difference.  Please get a hold of Katherine Raynor by phone, (845) 452-1110 x3344, or by email, kraynor@familyservicesny.org, if you would like to make a donation or if you have any questions.

The Family Services Youth Council is also looking for new members who want to make a difference or help with the project. We have lots of future projects planned and your help could make a world of difference. The Youth Council is a way for youth to help their peers and make a difference in the community. Contact Katherine at the above information if you’d like to join or wish to find out more information. Membership is free. Meetings are the first and third Tuesday of every month at 4:30 in the Family Partnership Center.  If you would like to get a dress for your prom please call and make an appointment and you will be fit into that perfect dress.

Community Partnerships Launch “Tobacco Marketing Works” Campaign

ALBANY, N.Y. (February 10, 2011) – An innovative media campaign was launched today to educate New Yorkers about the effect that tobacco industry products and marketing in stores have on youth smoking. The campaign reflects research that in-store marketing is more powerful than peer pressure, and youth are twice as likely as adults to be influenced by tobacco product displays and other marketing.

 

“In New York State, the tobacco industry spends approximately $1.1 million per day to market its deadly products.” stated Ellen Reinhard, Director of Tobacco Free Action Coalition of Ulster County. “Everyday, our kids are exposed to a tremendous amount of tobacco marketing in our grocery stores, convenience stores and pharmacies. Exposure to this tobacco marketing in stores is a primary cause of youth smoking.”

 

“It’s time to protect our kids. It is not an accident that tobacco products are displayed in the most prominent location in stores,” said Susan Kennedy, Community Partners Media Project Coordinator. “Research has also shown that retailers near schools have more products on display and more signs. The tobacco industry insists that they don’t target kids, but that’s not what it looks like in retail stores around the state.” 

 

The tobacco industry spends half a billion dollars a year to market cigarettes in New York State, a portion of which is used to pay tobacco retailers to display tobacco products in the most visible location in the store — directly behind the counter where all customers must pay for their purchases. A recent American Cancer Society survey of 677 New York state tobacco retailers reported that 88% of stores statewide display tobacco products directly behind the counter, and 79% of stores contained tobacco advertising.    

 

“Thanks to the Community Partnerships for illustrating a problem which has largely gone unchecked: in-store tobacco marketing that is hooking our kids on a deadly product,” said Scott T. Santarella, President and CEO of the American Lung Association in New York. “Because the average nonsmoking adult doesn’t pay close attention, there’s a faulty perception out there that this marketing isn’t doing any harm. Nothing could be further from the truth. These tactics are very effective in helping the industry get new customers. Sadly, those new customers are our kids.”

 

Community Partnerships for a Tobacco Free New York are funded by the NY Tobacco Control Program. They educate community leaders and the public about the dangers and social costs of tobacco use, engage local stakeholders to adopt policies that restrict the tobacco industry’s presence, seek to de-normalize tobacco use and eliminate secondhand smoke. 

 

For more information, visit TobaccoFreeNYS.org.