PAGE 1 ABC HOUSE NEW SLETT ER DECEMBER 2014

December 2014

All Because of Children ABC House - A Child Abuse Intervention Center serving Benton and Linn Counties

“My name is Claire and I’m 12 years old. Two years ago,

when I was on a vacation with my family, my dad’s friend came into my room one night while everybody else was asleep. He locked the door, told me to be quiet and took off my pajamas. And then he touched me where no one has ever

touched me before.

I didn’t make a sound.

He did things that I knew were wrong—and they hurt. He made me think that what he did was my fault, that I made him want to do that to me. And he said if I ever told anyone it was his word against mine and that no one would believe me.

I felt dirty and ashamed and I didn’t want anyone to know.

Once I tried to tell one of my friends but she didn’t believe me. Maybe she didn’t

know how to handle it.

I never told anyone else about that night… until I went to ABC House.

I first went to ABC House to talk about something that happened to somebody else. I walked in on my coach touching one of my friends on the swim team. So I came to ABC House to answer some questions about what I saw. When we got there, everybody was nice to me. They brought me to a waiting room with games and books to read. There were toys for the little kids too. But all I wanted was to pet the ABC House dog. She was a golden

retriever and really made me feel better. So I just sat and petted her soft fur until I heard my name called.

‘Claire, would you like to talk to me now?’ I heard a friendly voice across the room. This was the interviewer lady. She was

nice and had really kind eyes—I felt like I could trust her.

We sat down in a room decorated with horses. The interviewer lady said, ‘Claire, it’s my job to talk to kids. You can tell me anything you want as long as it’s something that really happened.’ I said ok, and then told her what I saw happen to my friend. She didn’t freak out or say anything bad about my friend. She mostly listened and asked some questions. So I thought

maybe it would be ok to tell her what happened to me.

I told her everything – it was like I couldn’t stop talking! And she really listened to me! I felt like a huge weight had been taken

off me, off my heart. For the first time since it happened, it felt like maybe everything would be ok.

I will never forget that she was the first person who believed me.”

I Couldn’t Tell Anyone...

You Have The Power to Rescue Children from the Nightmare of Abuse

Will you help the next child like Claire who walks through

our doors? And the one after that?

You can, by helping us raise $22,000 before December 31st. It is the greatest gift you can make this holiday

season.

Take action now by filling out and returning the enclosed card with your donation or go online to www.abchouse.org and make an easy, secure online gift. Please, if you can, sign up for a monthly donation to help children—just like Claire—all

year-round.

Thank you so much for your life changing gift

PAGE 2 ABC HOUSE NEW SLETT ER DECEMBER 2014

Dear Dr. Carissa: As a Mother, How Does Stress Affect My Health?

B etween hosting family functions, cooking non-stop, and driving in blizzard-like conditions, the holiday season can be stressful. It is important to remember that stress can be detrimental to one’s health—especially during pregnancy. Some stress is helpful and has a positive effect, such as some nervousness before a performance or test. Some stress is tolerable and usually does not affect a person long term, such as suffering the loss of a loved one. Then there is extreme, frequent or extended stress caused by extreme poverty, violence, substance use, or mental health conditions. Before the baby is even born, extreme stresses on the mother can affect the growing baby. Stress can affect the baby’s immune system since much of immune system development occurs during pregnancy. An affected newborn may be born premature, more prone to

infections, have trouble feeding and other health concerns. Once the baby is born, a mother suffering from significant stress may also be less able to provide a nurturing relationship with her baby. This lack of nurturing interaction can alter the structure and functioning of the baby’s brain. The number of cells and the strength of the connections between the nerves in the brain can be diminished. Some of these changes may be irreversible because some connections in the brain cannot be rebuilt. When a baby does not get the nurturing he or she needs, it will alter the baby’s stress hormones. This can lead to learning problems, emotional problems, difficulty building and sustaining relationships, and even increased risk of chronic diseases or infections.

To stay healthy, it is important to keep stress in check, as it can have major consequences outlined above. If you know a pregnant woman or mother in a stressful situation, please do what you can to offer assistance: offer some empathy, a few hours of your time, or a phone number for resources. This could be the greatest gift you could give this holiday season.

* Dr. Carissa is a staff pediatrician at ABC House

The holiday season, as hectic and event-filled as it feels, always reminds me to pause for a bit and count my blessings. What a wonderful year this has been for ABC House— thanks to all of you. Our Runaway Pumpkin Half Marathon was, if you’ll pardon the pun, a

smashing success. Over 920 participants, 250 volunteers and 120 sponsors helped raise awareness and over $64,000 for local children. It was a gorgeous, fun-filled day and everyone had a fantastic time.

I’m grateful for all of you who have given us your time, creativity and hard-earned money to help us meet the needs of children. This year, we had more supporters volunteering in the office, throwing fundraisers for us and attending education events than ever before. I am also very fortunate to have the best staff in the world. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, more

children and families received compassionate child abuse assessments, post-trauma therapy and prevention education than in 2013. As we surpass the number of children served last year, it may feel a little heartbreaking. The amount of children referred for child abuse assessment and support services continues to rise. But even that is reason to feel grateful. Before coming to ABC House, so many of these children were suffering alone and in silence. Now they are supported, protected from further abuse and on the path toward healing. A supporter recently put it like this: “I wish with all my heart that ABC House didn’t need to exist but I am so thankful that you do.” That’s exactly how I feel. And until the day that child abuse and neglect are eradicated for good, ABC House will be there. Thank you for helping us keep that promise. From our family to yours, have a happy and healthy holiday season.

Director’s Corner

PAGE 3 ABC HOUSE NEW SLETT ER DECEMBER 2014

M y all-time favorite gift to give and receive is the gift of time. There’s only so much of it that we can give, and the return-policy on it isn’t so great. To me, nothing in life is sweeter than spending time with dear family members and friends or donating my time to a cause or a person that I care about. Best of all: I know that I’m not alone. By December 31, over 3,000 youth and adults across Benton & Linn Counties will have offered their time to receive education on child abuse prevention, dating violence prevention, and technology safety in 2014 alone. These gifts are meaningful on their own. Together, they are a profoundly impactful - and effective - gift to the entire community. Thank you to all of you that contributed to this gift!

So what’s at the top of the ABC House Community Education wish list for 2015? No surprise here: your time. In 2014, teachers, members of faith communities, youth-serving professionals, community leaders, parents, and youth made their gift of time by attending one or more of ABC House’s Community Education offerings. Several took it a step further and served as “torch-bearers.” They organized Technology Safety trainings for parents, encouraged fellow colleagues and church-goers to attend Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children trainings, and invited ABC House to come to speak to students at their schools. For 2015, we invite you to consider giving a couple hours of your time to attend a training or to set one up at your church, workplace, school or volunteer group.

Ready to make that gift? Call me at 541-926-2203 or e-mail at educator@abchouse.org. Remember that open-to-the-community training opportunities are listed on our website, newsletters and social media pages.

Warm wishes to you as you experience the gift of time this holiday season!

By Maria Schauble - Community Prevention Coordinator

The Gift of Time

● Individually wrapped snacks: cheese

and peanut butter filled crackers, fruit snacks, juice boxes, granola bars, etc.

● Gift cards: Costco, Target, Fred Meyer, JoAnn’s, gasoline cards for $5 - $10

● Office needs: Staples gift cards,

disinfectant spray, disinfectant wipes

● Office supplies: First-class postage

stamps, CD-Rs, DVD-Rs

● Games: Uno, Monopoly, Sorry, Yahtzee

● Cash donations will be used to provide child abuse assessment and counseling services for the children seen at ABC House.

● Bring your in-kind wish list donations to ABC House before Dec. 31 and get a tax deduction receipt. Thank you for thinking

of our kids.

●To arrange a drop off of your donation,

please call ABC House at 541-926-2203

Darkness to Light: Stewards

of Children

Tuesday, January 20, 2015 5:30 - 7:30 pm

ABC House

Tuesday, February 10, 2015 5:30 - 7:30 pm

ABC House

There is no cost to attend,

although a $10 donation is

suggested. Light refreshments

are provided.

Please pre-register by contacting

Maria Schauble at 541-926-2203

or educator@abchouse.org.

Ann Ayers, Linda Cameron, Lori Joy Cook of Healing Garden Massage Therapy, Cynthia Greene, Bill & Joyce Hays, Pat McQueen, Will Sheppy of Valley Acupuncture, Carol Triebes, and all the wonderful Runaway Pumpkin Half Marathon volunteers! Thank you!

We asked for your help for our Community Education program in our last newsletter. You generously answered our call by donating over $2,225 to ABC House. Wow! Thank you so much for your generosity!

PAGE 4 ABC HOUSE NEW SLETT ER DECEMBER 2014

Runaway Pumpkin Half Marathon 2014

O n behalf of the board of directors and staff of ABC House, we would like to thank the communities of Benton and Linn County for the tremendous support received from over 120 sponsors and 250 volunteers for the fourth annual Runaway Pumpkin Half Marathon. The October 18th event netted more than $64,000 to support children served by ABC House! We are so humbled by the overwhelming support by volunteers and sponsors. With your support, we hope to continue to provide a place for children to heal from the crisis of abuse. We appreciate all of the generous support from the community, and hope you will join us

again for a fun and festive event next year. Mark your calendar for October 17th, 2015!

A special thank you goes to the following Events & Promotions Committee volunteers who helped organize our 2014 race:

Faylene Gardner, Chris Giggy, Andrea Hampl, Joy Henkle, Keith Lynch, Hedie Manske, Jodi Miller, Crystal Patterson, Lori Reid, Jennifer Stanaway, Liz Tilson, Will Tucker, Jason Vanbuskirk, Amy Vandetta, Evonne Walls,

Bobby Williams, and Pam Zeemin.

Thank You to our Supporters!

PAGE 5 ABC HOUSE NEW SLETT ER DECEMBER 2014

Bronze Sponsors AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home Advanced Chiropractic AK Carpet & More Albany Optimist Club Albany Police Benevolent Assoc. Albany Sport & Spine Physical Therapy Barker-Uerlings Insurance CHASE Citizens Bank Clif Bar & Company Columbia Seeds LLC Country Financial—Gary Zeemin and Michelle Morford Dutch Bros Coffee Elmer’s Gerding Builders, LLC Jamocha Jo’s Java & Ice Cream Keller Williams—Laura Gillott Lebanon Chamber of Commerce Lebanon Community Foundation Linn County Fair & Expo Linn-Co Federal Credit Union McDonald’s Odwalla OSU Federal, Your Community Credit Union Paventy & Brown Orthodontics Pennington Seed Pioneer Red Canoe Credit Union Rhodes Warden Insurance Agency South Pacific Auto Sales Stellmacher Farm Inc. The Corvallis Clinic The Fahy Team, Re/max Integrity

Udell Engineering & Land Surveying, LLC V.S. Restoration Vertebrata Chiropractic West Coast Industrial Systems, Inc. Community Sponsors Albany Habitat ReStore Bose Family Farm CoEnergy Propane Complete Wireless Solutions DLF Pickseed USA Emagine Marketing & Photography First American Title Fully Integrated Rehabilitation & Sports Therapy Furniture Share Healing Garden Massage Therapy, LLC Jerry Latimer—State Farm Insurance Key Bank Lassen RV Main Auto Body & Paint Phoenix Inn Suites R Squared Rhythmes Tanger Outlets Willamette Valley Bottling Co. Partner Sponsors Adam Kirkpatrick Family Dentistry Bashful Bob’s Bimbo Bakeries Carson Kutsch DDS Dr. Curtis E. Trammell, Specialist in Orthodontics Edward Jones-Albany/Lebanon Offices ENTEK

Grocery Outlet Heritage NW Real Estate, Inc. Holderman Paving LLC Kiwanis Club of Lebanon Melaleuca: The Wellness Company Michelle Beaubien—Arbonne Independent Consultant Oregon Powder Coating Patrick V. Hagerty DMD PC Peak Sports RD Bussard & Son Republic Services Rickard Engineering & Design RJH Enterprises Inc. Santiam Dental Group Stavros Auto Services Umpqua Bank Waverly Dental—Pascal Nguyen DMD Special Mention Best Heating and Cooling Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Santiam CHASE City of Lebanon Girls on the Run Lebanon High School Lebanon Police Department Linn Co Federal Credit Union Linn County Road Department Linn County Sheriff’s Office Road Maggots SamFit Takena Kiwanis of Albany

ALL THE WONDERFULVOLUNTEERS!

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PAGE 6 ABC HOUSE NEW SLETT ER DECEMBER 2014

Thank You for Your Support

Caring Community Highlights

Barbara Emily Knudson

Charitable Foundation Thank you for the grant to

help fund our child abuse

assessment program. YOU

are making it possible to help

children in need!

Target Thank you for the grant to help fund our

child abuse assessment

program. It is truly

appreciated!

Consumers Power Charitable

Trust Thank you for the

grant to purchase

electronic recording

equipment to be used for forensic

interviews. You are helping so many

children in our community. THANK

YOU!

The Collins Foundation Thank you for

awarding ABC

House with a grant

for the counseling

program. Our

counselors help children and their non-

offending family members heal from the

trauma of abuse. You are the reason

we can continue providing hope. Thank

you!

This list below and on the following page represents generous donations from September 28 to November 17, 2014 If we have inadvertently missed someone or misspelled a name, please let us know so we can acknowledge your generosity in our

next newsletter. Send corrections to Megan at coordinator@abchouse.org or call 541-926-2203

Make ABC House the beneficiary of your IRA or retirement fund and make a tax-free meaningful gift of a

lifetime to help abused children. It’s simple. For information contact us at 541-926-2203.

Tangible Donations American Legion

Annette Miller

Annie Perlenfein

Assistance League of Corvallis

Barbara Hogg

Delma Davis

Donna Eshelman

Dutchbros

Eldon Propst

Heins Communications

Helen Smith

Isabella Baker

Joanne Haas

Lois Burley

Melissa Monje

Nicole Bugarski

Riverside Baptist

Sarah Froman

Stellmacher Farms Inc.

Steve and Janice Snyder

Tamara Finneman

Tisa Broadhead

Cash Donations Amvets Auxiliary Post 15

Barbara Hogg and Bill Honey

Carol Glassman

Chrystal Grimes

First Christian Church-Lebanon

Greta and Adrian Nelson

Helen Crossley

Jacob Lamp

Jay and Deborah Gile

Jerry and Estelle Goodpastor

Joy Henkle and Bob Meister

Judith Riggs

Leblanc Family Trust

Marilou Perris

Maryann Davenport

Mega Foods

Nancy Hart

New Dawn

Performance Health Techology

Roberson Ford

Ronald and Patti Leblanc

Ruth E Harman

Six Point Plumbing

Stellmacher Farms Inc.

Timothy Roels

Tom and Laurie Foster

Violet Carruth

Walter and Mary Gustav

Willamette Sam's RV Club

Monthly Supporters Arthur Meeker

Bob and Angela Yeats

Buck and Amy Pearce

Carissa Cousins

Carl and Gloria Johnson

Carla Daniels

Caroline Fisher and

Patrick McCabe

Cathy Law

Charles Hobson

Charlie Eads

Chris and Nancy Giggy

Christopher and Kristina Hubbard

Crystal Kimball

Curtis and Rhonda Dannen

Dan and Crystal Ripplinger

David Triebes

Debbie and Brian Heim

Debbie Barker

Donna Pensinger

Ed and Tawni Boyd

Gary Cole

Glenn and Amy Fairall

Jack Towns

Jacob Robinson and

Jenny Gilmore-Robinson

Jamie and Michel Bryant

Jane Snyder and John Crow

Jennifer Stanaway

Jerry and Kerry Drum

Jessica Basinger

Jim and Jenny Johnson

Joe and Julie Paz

John Kollaer

Kim Shelby and Taylor Halstead

Kori Jones

Laura Gillott

Lisa Wolfe

Lynn Youngs

Marsha Swanson

Michael Ransom

Michael Sessa

Michael Wong

Mike and Amanda Peaslee

Mitch Benedict

Pam Zeemin

Pat and Gayle Edwards

Patty Carper

Philip Krolick and

Jeanee Reichert

Rich and Julie Ames

Ron and Rhonda Loewen

Russ and Dawn Mc Une

Sarah Keady

Shelly McInnis

Stephanie O'Connor

Susan Keister-Schy

Suzanne Meyer

Terri Shank

Veronica Burke

Virginia Corcoran

Wendy Phelps

We would like to highlight an awesome local company, Heins Communications, for giving us a major discount on our phone system and providing additional support and training. These professionals are so kind and knowledgeable; if your business is looking to upgrade phone services, be sure to check them out!

PAGE 7 ABC HOUSE NEW SLETT ER DECEMBER 2014

Caring Community Highlights

Avon Mumm Barbara Williams Helen Crossley Judith Baker Marjorie Mitchell Mary's River Quilt Guild Norma Reeser

Quilters Corner

We would like to thank Sybaris Restaurant owners Matt and Janel Bennett for hosting yet another successful Thanksgiving Benefit for ABC House. We are so honored that you would host this lovely event to support us! Thank you to the wonderful servers and kitchen staff who donated their time and tips! Wow!

Remember to make your charitable gifts

before December 31 to get a tax deduction.

Mail a check to PO Box 68, Albany, OR 97322 or give by credit or debit card online at

www.abchouse.org or call 541-926-2203

400 Quilts!

Judith Baker and friends have hit a quilting milestone. They have completed 100 quilts this year, making their total of 400 quilts for children at ABC House. Thank you so much for taking the time and energy to create these beautiful works of art!

Thank you to the wonderful people from Hewlett Packard who volunteered for the United Way 'Day of Sharing'. They did an amazing job making ABC House sparkle and shine like new! Thank you!

We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Sheriff's Foundation for the gift of $10,000 from the Benton County Sheriff's Office Chili Cook-off last month. We are so fortunate to receive this gift and support from the community. Thank you Chili Committee for planning a wonderful event!

We would like to highlight an awesome local company, Heins Communications, for giving us a major discount on our phone system and providing additional support and training. These professionals are so kind and knowledgeable; if your business is looking to upgrade phone services, be sure to check them out!

If you haven’t already, go to www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards to link your Fred Meyer rewards card to us -- every time you shop you will help ABC House earn a donation! So far, you have raised $975.21 just by shopping! Thank you!

PAGE 8 ABC HOUSE NEW SLETT ER DECEMBER 2014

Find us on

Facebook!

You are cordially invited to visit ABC House and learn more about how we help children.

Tours are offered by appointment on Thursday mornings or Monday-Thursday at 5 pm.

Contact Megan Konzelman at 541-926-2203 or coordinator@abchouse.org

Celebrate Hope Save the Date!

Sixth Annual Celebration of Hope Dinner

Wednesday, April 8, 2015 5:30pm - 8:00pm

Linn County Expo Center

Join other community members for dinner and learn how you can make a difference in the life of an abused child.

ABC House’s Community Partnership Celebration 2015

Venue Sponsor — Linn County Fair & Expo

www.abchouse.org

If you would like to opt out of receiving this newsletter, please email: coordinator@abchouse.org

Make a Gift of Stock

You can make a gift of stock or a tax free distribution from your IRA or retirement account to ABC House.

Have your financial advisor transfer your gift

electronically to ABC House, c/o Mark Floyd, Edward Jones, or call 541-928-9600 for more information.

Board of Directors

Jennifer Stanaway, President Citizens Bank Gordon Vogt, Vice President Gordon Vogt & Associates Jason Yutzie, Secretary Performance Health Technologies

Jerry Drum, Treasurer Albany Police Department Chris Giggy Gerding Builders, LLC Andrea Hampl AK Carpet & More, Inc Becca Johnson Six Point Plumbing & ATI David Peterson Benton County Sheriff’s Office Debbi Richards Albany Parks and Recreation

Barbara Stellmacher Stellmacher Farm Amy Vandetta Udell Engineering & Land Surveying, LLC Sheila Wheeler Coastal Farm & Ranch

Executive Director Jennifer Gilmore-Robinson

Medical Director Carol L. Chervenak, MD

Development Director Lynn Youngs