Faces of Inclusion November 2021
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that means it is time for our biggest fundraiser of the year! We are thrilled that the 17th Annual Kids Kampus Turkey Trot 5K Run / 1 Mile Walk will be back to in-person on Thanksgiving Day. Since times are still uncertain, we will have a virtual option as well. As most of you know, Pathfinder Kids Kampus is an integrated facility that serves children of all abilities in the same learning space. Kids Kampus offers part-time and full-time traditional childcare to children six weeks through age 12. We also offer Early Head Start, which includes center-based, home-based, and prenatal options, and On My Way Pre-K.
We work hard to ensure that all families have access to our licensed childcare center, but for many families, financial issues make that impossible.
Though we do have families who receive CCDF Vouchers through the State of Indiana, Early Head Start, and On My Way Pre-K funding, not all families qualify for these government programs.
Proceeds from our annual Turkey Trot provide in-house scholarships and financial help to those families who don’t qualify but still can’t afford to send their children to Kids Kampus. If it were not for this fundraiser, there are many children who would be deprived of the benefit of the educational and nurturing environment we offer at our facility.
Serving as the Administrator at Kids Kampus, I can tell you that with the ongoing effects of COVID-19, our families, have a greater need than ever before. The 17th Annual Pathfinder Kids Kampus Turkey Trot will be at the Huntington University PLEX Fieldhouse. The 5K will kick off at 8:00 am and the 1 Mile Walk will begin at 8:30 am. We certainly hope that you can make it there in person, but you can also choose a virtual option and share your personal photos with us on our Facebook event page. Please sign up and participate to support our in-house scholarships! Our families and children need you!
Program Spotlight
ACTING OUT!
This year has seen its fair share of challenges, causing many to find new and creative ways to stay busy. Fortunately, for those with the acting flare, the Jesters in Fort Wayne opened online learning and performing platform, allowing many an opportunity to continue performing. When the online program ended, Mary Reed and Nabrissa Oliveira saw a need and wasted no time in creating Pathfinder’s very own, Acting Out theater group.
Acting Out is comprised of 38 individuals, 36 of which are performers. Mary shared that the lessons about teamwork and accepting others are the main focus of the group. “Every time I challenge the performers, they rise up and surpass it, and I’m always blown away!”
Mary said as the group continues to grow, they hope to have a winter caroling program, develop movie groups where they can work through the process of creating a short film, and host a movie night to share their work. Vicki, a performer in the group, shared that she loves performing and looks forward to her sister seeing her in the show. Stay tuned for the many great things ahead for Acting Out.
TRUNK OR TREAT
The spirited season of Halloween has once again come and gone, but not before Kids Kampus and Pathfinder Services had a bit of spooktacular fun. On October 28, 2021, Kids Kampus hosted its second in-person Trunk-or-Treat event. Our Trunk-or-Treat event started in 2019 for the children at Kids Kampus and has now turned into an annual community tradition. The initial goal of the event was to be a socialization activity to support early childhood development. Why not create a fun event to help children grow and socialize? Kids Kampus’ Trunk-or-Treat event is a great opportunity for families to get their children out of the house and into the community while also providing a safe and engaging environment for them to interact with volunteers, teachers, and each other. Having a bit of fun is a bonus too.
This year's Trunk-or-Treat was opened to anyone that wanted to join, whether in our services or in our community. On average, there are about fifteen trunks at the event each year. That’s fifteen stops for candy in one place... Talk about a candy gold mine! Many trunks are decorated and waiting with piles of candy ripe for the taking. Some trunks fully embraced a fun theme. One trunk in particular- created by Heather Borton, the nurse at Kids Kampus, was really “chomping at the bit” to share their dental care-themed trunk. Heather decked out her trunk with a fun theme about proper dental care after eating sweet treats. While the dentist may be scary to some, Heather made sure her dentist-themed trunk was full of treats and no tricks! Many children and adults stopped to visit the trunk to hear a fun educational piece on dental care. Thanks to a generous donation from Downtown Dental, in Huntington, Heather had toothbrushes available for children and families who stopped by. Not a toothache insight this Halloween! Trunk-or-Treat is becoming a favorite by many, and Kids Kampus looks forward to continuing this event each Halloween season. If we did not see you this year, make sure to stop out in 2022!
5 Ways You Can Get Involved
GIVE
Your financial support makes what we do possible, by filling the gap between government support and the actual cost it takes to serve people with barriers.
VOLUNTEER
No matter your interests or passion, there are opportunities to make a difference in the lives of our friends.
DONATE
In-kind gifts of paint, pencils, craft paper, and more go a long way to inspire new artists and young learners.
PARTNER
Monthly giving provides reliable revenue and helps sustain our work.
VISIT
Attend an event, visit one of our sites, and bring your friends! This is the best way to see our mission up-close.
