2012 Central Thanksgiving Together in Columbus

The 2012 Central Ohio Thanksgiving Dinner took place in Columbus: (link to more photos)

Date: Sunday, November 18, 2012
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: Harry C. Moore Campus Center, 745 Pleasant Ridge Ave., Bexley OH 43209

Sponsors:

• Capital University President Bowman's Office
• Capital University ROTC Crusader Battalion
• Capital University student organizations and Campus Ministries
• National Council of Jewish Woman: Columbus Section
• Foster Care Alumni of America, Ohio chapter
• Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
• 2 Lt. Gabriel Koshinsky, 10th Mountain Division

Planning Committee Members Include:

• Bethany Koshinsky, ACTION Ohio
• Lisa Dickson, ACTION Ohio

2012 NE Ohio Thanksgiving Together in Cleveland

The 2012 NE Ohio Thanksgiving Together took place in Cleveland: (link to more photos)

Date: Saturday, November 17, 2012
Time: 11:30 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Antioch Baptist Church, 8869 Cedar Ave., Cleveland OH 43209

Sponsors Included:

• Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services
• National Council of Jewish Woman: Cleveland Section
• Antioch Baptist Church
• Adoption Network Cleveland
• ACTION Ohio

2012 NW Thanksgiving Together in Toledo

The 2012 NW Ohio Thanksgiving Dinner took place in Toledo: (link to more photos)

Date: Sunday, November 11, 2012
Time: Noon - 3 pm
Location: The Andersons Activity Center,1833 Holland Sylvania Rd. Toledo OH 43537

Sponsors Included:

• The Andersons
• The Dave Thomas Foundation
• Northwest Ohio Youth Advisory Board
• Whitmer Catering
• Lucas County Children Services
• Foster Care Alumni of America, Ohio chapter

Planning Committee Members Include:

• Lead Facilitator: Marcus Henry, President of NW Ohio Youth Advisory Board
• Lisa Dickson, ACTION Ohio
  Mandy Lehman, ACTION Ohio
• Crystal Oliver, ACTION Ohio
• Tabatha Miller Ashford, General Public
• Aimee Falk, Marketing Coordinator, University of Toledo

2012 SW Thanksgiving Together in Cincinnati

The 2012 SW Ohio Thanksgiving Dinner took place in Cincinnati: (link to more photos)

Date: Saturday, November 10, 2012
Time: From Noon - 2:30 pm
Location: The People's Church, 220 William Taft Road, Cincinnati OH 45219

Primary Sponsors:

• The People's Church
• Coalition of Care

In the words of Katie Deyo, "As a church we believe in these young people and want to bless them."

Planning Committee Members Included:

• Lisa Dickson, ACTION Ohio
• Laquita Howell, ACTION Ohio
• Doris Edelmann, ACTION Ohio
• Katie Deyo, The People's Church and Coalition of Care.
• Moira Weir, Hamilton County JFS
• Brian Gregg, Hamilton County JFS
• Madeleine Kipperman, Cincinnati Works
• Cindy Skinner, Focus On Youth
• Evelyn Spears, JOURNEY to Successful Living
• Val Bairnsfather, Safe Pastures Transitional Living
• Teresa Nered, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative
• Annie Schellenger, HEMI
• Pat McCollum, SWOFCA
• Shahrazad Ali, Lighthouse Youth Services
• Carol Wheeler-Strother, UC School of Social Work
• Sherrie Mathis, Mathis Foundation
• Bridget Doherty, Hamilton County Youth Advisory Board

ACTION Ohio Family Cookout: May 7th

ACTION Ohio Family Cookout ~ Because We ARE Family

Date/Time: Saturday, May 7 · 11:00am - 3:00pm
Location: Sharon Woods Metro Park, 6911 South Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, OH

PURPOSE OF EVENT: We work so hard to make a difference. We make sacrifices that other people might not even know about.

That's why this event is designed for us to get together and relax. Get real. Talk about what we've learned in our relationships (dating, marriage, parenthood). Encourage one another - and be flat-out silly together.

DETAILS: All you have to bring is yourselves -- but hey, if you wanna make this a potluck, feel free to bring some extra food :)

And definitely, you are welcome to bring your children and spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend. Please, please do so!! These are the families that we have created for ourselves.

There will be fun activities for children... it's probably too soon for water balloons, but you never know with Ohio weather!!

2010 Central Ohio Thanksgiving Together

On November 21, 2010, the Central/SE Ohio Thanksgiving took place at Capital University. Here is a link to more photos.

Gabriel Koshinsky served as Lead Facilitator. Sponsors included: Capital University ROTC: Crusader Battalion, Kappa Sigma Upsilon, Village Network, Starr Commonwealth, Franklin County Children Services, NYAP and the Columbus Jewish Foundation.

Many thanks goes to Ohio CASA for assistance with decorations.

2010 NE Ohio Thanksgiving Together

On November 20, 2010, the NE Ohio Thanksgiving was held at Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland. Here is a link to more photos.

Zelma Brown served as Lead Facilitator. Sponsors included: Cuyahoga County Children Services, Adoption Network Cleveland and Village Network.

State Senator Shirley Smith, Judge Michael J. Ryan, and Judge Patricia Ann Blackmon were in attendance.

2010 SW Ohio Thanksgiving Together

On November 14, 2010, the SW Ohio Thanksgiving was held at the Phoenix in Cincinnati. Here is a link to more photos.

Amy Roberts served as Lead Facilitator. Sponsors included: Cincinnati Works, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Bob Mecum of Lighthouse Youth Services and Richter & Phillips Jewelers. Decorations were donated by Kroger, and the beautiful table arrangements made possible by Val Bairnsfather.

Channel 12 and Fox News stopped by to capture some of the excitement.

2009 Thanksgiving Invitation

For our 2009 Thanksgiving gathering, we are partnering with the faith community and Capital University to host a Thanksgiving Seder for Foster Youth.

We welcome foster care youth, alumni, and allies/adult supporters, as well as active members of the Jewish community to attend.

Please RSVP to our 2009 Thanksgiving Invitation



Schedule:
2:00 p.m. - Arrival
2:30 p.m. - Introductory Speakers
3:00 p.m. - Foster Care Youth/Alumni Panel
4:00 p.m. - Eat and Socialize
5:30 p.m. - Departure

Sponsors:
Congregation Agudas Achim is welcoming us into their Social Hall. Capital University Student Government is contributing to the cost of food. Catering by Scott is providing us with a generous discount. We are also receiving support from the Jewish Student Union at Capital.
History of this Event:
For young people in and from foster care, the holidays are often a harsh reminder of lost connections. We miss the comfort of knowing we have a place where we are always welcome, year after year.

For this reason, for the past three years, Thanksgiving has been a time for Ohio foster care youth, alumni and allies/adult supporters to gather together.

In 2007, foster care alumni from all over the nation came Home for the Holidays to Washington D.C., to remind "our parents," the federal government about the need to foster connections to success.

In Ohio, our 2008 Thanksgiving event was sponsored by Montgomery County Children Services and the VISION Youth Advisory Board:


In 2008, OACCA assisted with the cost of meals, and PCSAO agreed to reimburse travel expenses.