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Visionary Philanthropy: A Gift from the Heart
A Message from Family & Youth’s
President & CEO Julio Galan
Since 1970, Family & Youth Counseling Agency (Family & Youth) has offered innovative, relevant and community supported services to children and families in Southwest Louisiana thanks to the support of local philanthropists. Early this year, John and Ginny Henning made a strategic and visionary investment to begin the establishment of a best practice model to aid children who have lost a significant person in their lives and to support a positive and healthy recovery.
Grief is a challenging process at any age, but to a child, the death of a loved one can be especially complicated and confusing. The concept of death is usually difficult for children to grasp. Grief can also follow other kinds of loss, such as divorce. While children are often viewed as being resilient, grieving children need to be given special attention and consideration. John and Ginny’s visionary investment will afford children the needed resources to help them move forward through accepting the loss and developing the skills needed to understand such difficult emotions.
Additionally, their investment will memorialize the short life of a community advocate and friend of the most needy in Southwest Louisiana by revitalizing the now The Shannon Cox Counseling Center. The center will continue to provide a wide range of constructive and life-changing services in the form of counseling, consultation and education and now, thanks to John and Ginny, grief counseling services for children who have lost a significant person in their lives.
Inspired and encouraged by the vision and energy of John and Ginny, community volunteers and leaders: Jane Baggett, Lorraine LeBlanc, Marti Lundy, Jules Maust, Joy Parker, Robert Piper, Noni Shearman, and Pam Tadlock under the leadership of Marti Lundy, took it upon themselves to organize the first Shannon Cox Memorial Tennis Tournament at the marvelous Lake Charles Racquet Club. The event was attended by over 100 players and concerned citizens to raise funds to benefit the Shannon Cox Counseling Center initiative. Next year’s event is in the planning stages now.
Because of the leadership of Family & Youth’s Board, the professionalism of staff and the dedication of volunteers, Family & Youth established a business model that allows, in a relatively short period of time, the incorporation of new programming and initiatives to enhance and support existing services for the benefit of children and families, none of which could be possible without visionary philanthropy. This latest initiative is a testament of the power of community and the concern of our citizens for the well being of children, our most precious resources. On behalf of the many children now able to receive grief counseling and support, I say THANK YOU!
Shannon Cox Counseling Center Advisory Council with Shirley Webb and Gavin Cox (center), Shannon’s mother and son.
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and/or mental health
attention or treatment.
You may contact us at 337-436-9533 for further
information.
Family & Youth, 220 Louie Street, Lake Charles,
LA 70611, 337-436-9533, www.fyca.org
Copyright Family & Youth Counseling Agency, Inc.
2010 |
