This week we at LIGHTHOUSE 2911 were fortunate enough to receive funds from churches and individuals to take our youth on a Christmas shopping spree. We told them they could buy anything they wanted within a certain price range. We told them it would have to be a positive present, no profanity or sexual inuendos on t-shirts, etc. The staff and I were not too sure how this would work, but we trusted in God and stepped out in faith. Oh, by the way, did I mention the smiles on the kids' faces while they were shopping? Some of these kids have very little to smile about and I guess, for me, that will make this the best Christmas ever. But let me continue the report.
As the kids were shopping, one or two past clients came to say hello and asked what we were doing. Of course, I had to invite them to shop with us also. I'm not sure if what I anticipated happened, but I was sort of hoping it would in some small way. Little did I know that it would happen to such a degree that it did. Youth would come drop a present in the basket and say, "This is for my mom, or my brother, or my friend." As I was walking the isles of the discount store, I heard one of them say, "If I could get this for my little brother, that would make me so happy just to know he would have a Christmas gift." Needless to say, I stepped to the isle they were on, and said, "Pick it up. We can't have your brother not happy this Christmas." Boy, it makes you feel good to see the joy in a hurting youth's face over a $12 or $15 gift item. As we checked out, we made sure that each child had a gift for themselves and whatever gift they wanted for their family member. One of the funniest things I noticed was that we came in with this purchase on budget, spending exactly what we had in mind. But more than that, our youth will be giving a gift or two to loved ones, letting them realize the Spirit of Christmas.
For all of you who donated, I just wish you could see the joy on the faces of these youth who received gifts because of your generosity. I hope you experience the joy of Christmas from these humble words. From the staff and me, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Merry Christmas to Everyone.
Paul Beard,
Executive Director
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
LIGHTHOUSE 2911 Deer Hunt for 2008
In August we auctioned off a doe management hunt from one of the best wildlife management ranches in south Texas. Ricki McKinney and his son, Russell hosted this weekend. The winner of the auction, Keith Richardson, brought his son, Travis out to hunt. and I happened to be lucky enough to be invited by Ricki to bring my son and enjoy the weekend also. So we had three fathers and three sons and beautiful south Texas weather.
We arrived Friday afternoon and began to hunt about 4:00 pm. My son, Peter, and I weren't in the stands for five minutes when we began to see some does with yearlings. Soon after, we saw some young bucks. As they grow they will become what we call in Texas, Muy Grande bucks. And speaking of large bucks we also saw some monster bucks that afternoon. As the evening went on we saw a bobcat and as the sun began to set, we saw what we came to hunt, a tagged doe. These does need to be harvested because you want to keep the quality of your livestock at its peak. Because my son was setting across the stand he invited me to take the first shot, something I hadn't planned to do. But as he stated it was a tagged doe and we didn't have much time. I took the shot and we had our first kill. Right after that Travis shot an older doe and Friday evening became a time of dressing our kills and celebrating the fun of a fathers and sons weekend on a beautiful south Texas ranch.
Saturday morning we were in the stand at 6:00 am and saw some more beautiful wildlife, but no one had any shots. We had a great breakfast and spent time around the campfire telling "true stories" and enjoying the company of everyone.
The afternoon hunt began with some very windy conditions. We really expected not to see anything because of the windiness, but at about 5:00 pm a beautiful 12 point buck came out and a few does, nothing that we wanted to shoot. We watched the does and buck for about 30 minutes and then it happened. This spike popped out of the brush, looked at the blind, stood broadside. My son said it looked like a spike. I said it was one. He took the shot and the spike immediately fell down. Russell brought in a bobcat that evening and Travis brought in another doe. As we began the process of dressing out these animals, Ricki had prepared his famous beans, pico degaeo, and tasty beef fajitas. We sat around the fire and enjoyed each other's fellowship, discussing how blessed we are.
I really would like to thank Ricki and Russell McKinney for their awesome support of LIGHTHOUSE 2911. I would also like to thank Keith and Travis Richardson for their continued support of LIGHTHOUSE 2911. Finally I would like to thank my son, Peter for all he does for LIGHTHOUSE 2911. There is no way that I could ever afford a trip like this to a beautiful south Texas ranch. I thank God for these men and their sons and I invite you to bid on next year's hunt when it comes up. You will have a beautiful time.
Thanks,
Paul Beard
PS: This was the first weekend I have taken off in several years and it felt good!
If you would like information of how to reach Ricki McKinney, please email me at lighthouse2911@msn.com and please put "deer hunt" in the subject line.
We arrived Friday afternoon and began to hunt about 4:00 pm. My son, Peter, and I weren't in the stands for five minutes when we began to see some does with yearlings. Soon after, we saw some young bucks. As they grow they will become what we call in Texas, Muy Grande bucks. And speaking of large bucks we also saw some monster bucks that afternoon. As the evening went on we saw a bobcat and as the sun began to set, we saw what we came to hunt, a tagged doe. These does need to be harvested because you want to keep the quality of your livestock at its peak. Because my son was setting across the stand he invited me to take the first shot, something I hadn't planned to do. But as he stated it was a tagged doe and we didn't have much time. I took the shot and we had our first kill. Right after that Travis shot an older doe and Friday evening became a time of dressing our kills and celebrating the fun of a fathers and sons weekend on a beautiful south Texas ranch.
Saturday morning we were in the stand at 6:00 am and saw some more beautiful wildlife, but no one had any shots. We had a great breakfast and spent time around the campfire telling "true stories" and enjoying the company of everyone.
The afternoon hunt began with some very windy conditions. We really expected not to see anything because of the windiness, but at about 5:00 pm a beautiful 12 point buck came out and a few does, nothing that we wanted to shoot. We watched the does and buck for about 30 minutes and then it happened. This spike popped out of the brush, looked at the blind, stood broadside. My son said it looked like a spike. I said it was one. He took the shot and the spike immediately fell down. Russell brought in a bobcat that evening and Travis brought in another doe. As we began the process of dressing out these animals, Ricki had prepared his famous beans, pico degaeo, and tasty beef fajitas. We sat around the fire and enjoyed each other's fellowship, discussing how blessed we are.
I really would like to thank Ricki and Russell McKinney for their awesome support of LIGHTHOUSE 2911. I would also like to thank Keith and Travis Richardson for their continued support of LIGHTHOUSE 2911. Finally I would like to thank my son, Peter for all he does for LIGHTHOUSE 2911. There is no way that I could ever afford a trip like this to a beautiful south Texas ranch. I thank God for these men and their sons and I invite you to bid on next year's hunt when it comes up. You will have a beautiful time.
Thanks,
Paul Beard
PS: This was the first weekend I have taken off in several years and it felt good!
If you would like information of how to reach Ricki McKinney, please email me at lighthouse2911@msn.com and please put "deer hunt" in the subject line.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
LIGHTHOUSE 2911 - How I Became A Lifesaver Surfing The Net
Let me tell you a little about LIGHTHOUSE 2911.
Our goal is to provide critically needed services to:
· challenged/disadvantaged families,
· youth offenders,
· youth offender siblings and friends,
· at risk and latch key children
· youth gang, and potential gang members
This will be accomplished by:
· improving participants' life skills,
· promoting family stability,
· reducing youth crime,
· providing a healthy foundation for a successful education, and
· providing a platform for appropriate youth accountability.
Presently, we offer these programs in four locations in the South Texas area with plans to branch out to other locations. But you're wondering how you can be a lifesaver just like I am. At GoodSearch.com we are allowed to search the internet and each time we search, they give a penny to LIGHTHOUSE 2911. If all my friends and all your friends, and all their friends search the internet just a couple of times a day, we could buy school supplies and snacks for each location and even offer some new after school programs just because we use GoodSearch.com. What if LIGHTHOUSE 2911 earned a penny every time you searched the Internet or shopped online? Well, now we can! GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results. GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates a percentage of each purchase to your favorite cause. More than 100 great stores including The Gap, Best Buy and Barnes and Nobel have teamed up with GoodSearch and every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting your favorite cause. Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter LIGHTHOUSE 2911 as the charity you want to support. And be sure to spread the word! But that's not all. I would love to say Thank You to each one of you and let you know that you are a lifesaver also. Contact me at lighthouse2911@msn.com . Go to http://www.goodsearch.com/ and type in LIGHTHOUSE 2911 as your charity of choice.
Thanks so very much!
Paul Beard,
Executive Director, LIGHTHOUSE 2911
PS: Please share this with all your friends.
Our goal is to provide critically needed services to:
· challenged/disadvantaged families,
· youth offenders,
· youth offender siblings and friends,
· at risk and latch key children
· youth gang, and potential gang members
This will be accomplished by:
· improving participants' life skills,
· promoting family stability,
· reducing youth crime,
· providing a healthy foundation for a successful education, and
· providing a platform for appropriate youth accountability.
Presently, we offer these programs in four locations in the South Texas area with plans to branch out to other locations. But you're wondering how you can be a lifesaver just like I am. At GoodSearch.com we are allowed to search the internet and each time we search, they give a penny to LIGHTHOUSE 2911. If all my friends and all your friends, and all their friends search the internet just a couple of times a day, we could buy school supplies and snacks for each location and even offer some new after school programs just because we use GoodSearch.com. What if LIGHTHOUSE 2911 earned a penny every time you searched the Internet or shopped online? Well, now we can! GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results. GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates a percentage of each purchase to your favorite cause. More than 100 great stores including The Gap, Best Buy and Barnes and Nobel have teamed up with GoodSearch and every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting your favorite cause. Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter LIGHTHOUSE 2911 as the charity you want to support. And be sure to spread the word! But that's not all. I would love to say Thank You to each one of you and let you know that you are a lifesaver also. Contact me at lighthouse2911@msn.com . Go to http://www.goodsearch.com/ and type in LIGHTHOUSE 2911 as your charity of choice.
Thanks so very much!
Paul Beard,
Executive Director, LIGHTHOUSE 2911
PS: Please share this with all your friends.
Monday, December 8, 2008
LIGHTHOUSE 2911 Programs Objective Outcome Measures FY08
You may be wondering just how successful our programs are. We serve just over 100 youth per year. If you read the last two blogs, you know that we have come from humble beginnings, but our work is extremely important and our outcome measures prove it. Let me list a few here.
- 82% exhibited improvement in school attendance
- 86% exhibited improvement in social competencies
- 93% exhibited a decrease in substance abuse
- 83% exhibited an improvement in family relationships
- 86% exhibited an decrease in antisocial behavior
- 82% exhibited a decrease in gang activity
As you can see, the program is very successful. We try to reach every need possible. We are very dedicated in what we do. All our staff members and volunteers know that this work is extremely important. We are saving lives and make a difference in each person who participates in the program, but we feel that it is very necessary to be the very best role modles we can be.
Thanks for reading our blog. Look for more to come.
Paul
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Youth and Families We Serve
Basically, there are four types of youth and families we serve:
1. Family Tradition - These are youth whose parents or grandparents may have been in trouble with the justice system or involved in alcohol or drug abuse and/or family violence. Often these youth become dropouts as their parents and/or grandparents have. Basically the mentality is, "If it was good enough for my parents, it's good enough for me."
2. Under the Surface - They may have emotional or physical problems. They seem to get along with everyone. They look like the boys and girls next door, but a situation or circumstance seems to set them off.
3. Country Club - These are affluent, middle to upper class youth who, through experimenting with substance abuse or just doing something on a dare, find themselves in trouble.
4. The Outsiders - These are youth or families who find themselves on the outside of society's norm, usually families who are almost invisible to those around them.
The above mentioned are the four basic youth and families we serve. Often these are the ones who find themselves falling through the cracks of the educational system or the judicial system. Poverty has a large role with many of our families, but recently the more affluent families find themselves involved in the judicial system also.
We at LIGHTHOUSE 2911 help those mentioned above but we are also in the business of helping everyone. Oftentimes we find ourselves doing crisis intervention and other services that are offered throughout the area.
Come back to the blog for more information soon.
Paul
1. Family Tradition - These are youth whose parents or grandparents may have been in trouble with the justice system or involved in alcohol or drug abuse and/or family violence. Often these youth become dropouts as their parents and/or grandparents have. Basically the mentality is, "If it was good enough for my parents, it's good enough for me."
2. Under the Surface - They may have emotional or physical problems. They seem to get along with everyone. They look like the boys and girls next door, but a situation or circumstance seems to set them off.
3. Country Club - These are affluent, middle to upper class youth who, through experimenting with substance abuse or just doing something on a dare, find themselves in trouble.
4. The Outsiders - These are youth or families who find themselves on the outside of society's norm, usually families who are almost invisible to those around them.
The above mentioned are the four basic youth and families we serve. Often these are the ones who find themselves falling through the cracks of the educational system or the judicial system. Poverty has a large role with many of our families, but recently the more affluent families find themselves involved in the judicial system also.
We at LIGHTHOUSE 2911 help those mentioned above but we are also in the business of helping everyone. Oftentimes we find ourselves doing crisis intervention and other services that are offered throughout the area.
Come back to the blog for more information soon.
Paul
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Lighthouse 2911 - What is it?
A Short History of LIGHTHOUSE 2911/Programs
We had no idea of what the humble beginning of eight juvenile justice children, a caring and proactive Juvenile Probation Department and two willing women would become. We gave these troubled teens a safe place to talk about their problems and chart a different direction for their lives. We were beginning a powerful and effective vehicle for reaching the precious hurting children of our community and beyond.
One ordinary Monday afternoon, over a decade ago, we began our “group”, eight teens and two women, backed by the County Juvenile Probation Department. We called our group PALS (Positive Attitude & Life Skills). The lives of these first PALS children were so out of control, so full of danger and life-ending pitfalls, that we were concerned that they might not live to experience their seventeenth birthdays. Without intervention these seven young men and one young woman would soon find themselves in prison or worse.
These children experienced more confusion and pain in their short lifetimes than any one human should ever endure. They were not evil or cruel. They were hurting, angry and terribly confused.
Within weeks, these children began to demonstrate positive changes in their lives. They began to trust, share, and support one another. They exchanged their inappropriate life skills for more appropriate ones.
These original eight teens realized that their lives were better because of PALS. They also realized that their peers needed help and that PALS was the place that any child would be welcomed, helped and supported. They began bringing others into the program.
As a result of the PALS life skills classes grades, school attendance, and behavior began to improve in dramatic fashion. This amazing improvement was being seen in the very children who, a few months earlier, could not remain on a public school campus for any length of time without getting into serious trouble.
This program offers multiple components to its participants. It is our desire to offer these components in their entirety in each program location. If any of these services to children and families were to continue, the new non-profit agency must be formed. Work feverishly began. Local volunteers and the juvenile department worked with the founders of this new organization, named “LIGHTHOUSE 2911”.
Effective August 1, 2005, LIGHTHOUSE 2911 became a non-profit agency.
MISSION STATEMENT - As the Mission Statement of LIGHTHOUSE 2911 proclaims, and the dedicated staff and volunteers involved with this powerful Endeavour have proven:
“With service, sacrifice and selflessness, we bring light and hope to our community, families and our children, building a better future for all.”
So this was the beginning of LIGHTHOUSE 2911 and this is our first blog. As with the beginning of LIGHTHOUSE 2911, I am sure beginning a new blog, we will make mistakes, but as I always tell our clients, "Every set-back is a set-up for a come-back, and a learning experience." So with this first blog, you know a little about LIGHTHOUSE 2911. Please continue to come back and find out more.
Thank you,
Paul
We had no idea of what the humble beginning of eight juvenile justice children, a caring and proactive Juvenile Probation Department and two willing women would become. We gave these troubled teens a safe place to talk about their problems and chart a different direction for their lives. We were beginning a powerful and effective vehicle for reaching the precious hurting children of our community and beyond.
One ordinary Monday afternoon, over a decade ago, we began our “group”, eight teens and two women, backed by the County Juvenile Probation Department. We called our group PALS (Positive Attitude & Life Skills). The lives of these first PALS children were so out of control, so full of danger and life-ending pitfalls, that we were concerned that they might not live to experience their seventeenth birthdays. Without intervention these seven young men and one young woman would soon find themselves in prison or worse.
These children experienced more confusion and pain in their short lifetimes than any one human should ever endure. They were not evil or cruel. They were hurting, angry and terribly confused.
Within weeks, these children began to demonstrate positive changes in their lives. They began to trust, share, and support one another. They exchanged their inappropriate life skills for more appropriate ones.
These original eight teens realized that their lives were better because of PALS. They also realized that their peers needed help and that PALS was the place that any child would be welcomed, helped and supported. They began bringing others into the program.
As a result of the PALS life skills classes grades, school attendance, and behavior began to improve in dramatic fashion. This amazing improvement was being seen in the very children who, a few months earlier, could not remain on a public school campus for any length of time without getting into serious trouble.
This program offers multiple components to its participants. It is our desire to offer these components in their entirety in each program location. If any of these services to children and families were to continue, the new non-profit agency must be formed. Work feverishly began. Local volunteers and the juvenile department worked with the founders of this new organization, named “LIGHTHOUSE 2911”.
Effective August 1, 2005, LIGHTHOUSE 2911 became a non-profit agency.
MISSION STATEMENT - As the Mission Statement of LIGHTHOUSE 2911 proclaims, and the dedicated staff and volunteers involved with this powerful Endeavour have proven:
“With service, sacrifice and selflessness, we bring light and hope to our community, families and our children, building a better future for all.”
So this was the beginning of LIGHTHOUSE 2911 and this is our first blog. As with the beginning of LIGHTHOUSE 2911, I am sure beginning a new blog, we will make mistakes, but as I always tell our clients, "Every set-back is a set-up for a come-back, and a learning experience." So with this first blog, you know a little about LIGHTHOUSE 2911. Please continue to come back and find out more.
Thank you,
Paul
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