Update!

I want to update everyone on my 25 for $25 for my 25th quest. It wasn't at all a complete bust, but unfortunately, we did not reach the goal. BUT, we did have $825 committed. And just to give you an idea of how much of an impact that amount will have at First Glance, consider this: our Open Plate program, which weekly feeds 30-40 students a home cooked meal, can function on less than the amount we raised! It just shows how much your donations really do affect First Glance!

25 for $25 for my 25th!

It is drawing near...

happening just once a year...

a spectacular festival...

September 16th...

MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

I'm sure you are all pumped for this spectacular holiday! Burritos, tacos, quesadillas, queso, sombreros, pinatas, and the list goes on and on. But what you may not realize is that September 16th is more than just the anniversary of the Grito de Dolores that started the Mexican War for Independence. 

It is also my birthday.

Yes, little ole me. Celebrating my entrance into the world yet again. And its the 25th anniversary of that momentous day. From the time I opened my eyes and they held me upside down to hit my rear so I could breathe, I knew God would use me for something great.

The thing is, in that 25 years I've been contemplating my destiny for greatness, I have realized that God did not want me to accomplish it on my own. He knew I needed you.

So far you may be thinking to yourself, "Self, why is she writing about her birthday on her First Glance blog?" Well, here's where it ties in and you join me on my quest for greatness:

First Glance is incredible. For those of you who have seen it, you know how cool it is, and for those of you who haven't, believe me: God is at work here. And oh how God has blessed us! But He also reminds us at times that we do need Him, and we do need the Body of Christ to accomplish what He has laid out. 

First Glance is growing, and fast. More than ever, we need others to come alongside us and support us. Yes, through prayer. Prayer always helps. But also financially. Within the last year, many of our programs have more than doubled, and while we are holding steady in monthly supporters, the economy has really hurt our influx of grant money. 

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."

Matthew 9:37

More than ever, we are having to lean on individuals. We are asking for workers to come and take part in this harvest with us. As a push for donors, I am presenting a challenge to all you who happened upon my blog. 

The Challenge!

dun dun duhhhhhhhh.....

I need 25 people...

To donate just $25 a month...

For my 25th birthday!

Think of it this way: You're giving to me (by supporting a cause I truly believe in). You're giving to God (and growing His kingdom). And you're getting a tax write-off. What more could you ask for?!?

What will this money do?? With 25 people supporting First Glance with $25 a month for a year, we could COMPLETELY cover all the costs associated with AT LEAST two of our programs. At least. These are programs that feed at-risk youth, give them mentors who care, and keep them off the streets. And it'll help keep the lights on to boot!

If you are at all interested, whether you want to give or just want more information about First Glance, PLEASE contact me at kendra@firstglance.org!

Sacrifice going out to eat at that restaurant just once a month, and make my birthday dreams come true!

In the inspired words of Daryl Hall & John Oates....

Well well you (ooh ooh ooh ooh) 

you make my dreams come true (you you) you

(you you)

*****UPDATE!!*****

Okay, so blog reading world, I'm crying out to you yet again only in another way. I've had some support already, but I wanna give another option to those of you out there who may not be able to commit to $25 a month.

25 people for $25 for just 12 month also equals 300 people giving one time donations of $25. Sound easier? And feel free to even give $100 (and it'll count for 4 of those 300 needed commitments).

Why Do I Doubt?!

I haven't updated this blog in a while, well...honestly, because work has been tough. I had written grant after grant. I had been playing the waiting game, trying to be patient for responses from my grant requests, but for several months, I heard nothing.

I really do believe so much in First Glance and its mission, and I feel responsible for the financial well-being of the organization. I mean, that's my job. But I was trying and pushing for funds, and the wells of funding remained stagnant.

Then, after a while with no answers, foundations begin responding. Each with a "no." The waiting game and the rejections hit me hard. I felt like I was failing completely. Not to mention, I had made the transition to full-time at First Glance, and though it was/is a blessing, it was definitely a transition. AND Josh and I had moved into the Kenmore community (a great story that I shall write about later), and unpacking was stressing me out.

All things combined = a broken-down, worn-out Kendra

My co-workers took notice and came to my rescue, making me take a Friday afternoon off with the promise that I would have fun--No work, no unpacking. (In case you are wondering, I used the afternoon to play with puppies and go thrifting. Quite an enjoyable time!)

When I returned to work on Monday, God had a little surprise for me. Not only had we found a potential Business Director and database system (two things that will make fundraising more organized and streamlined), but we had received a random $5,000 donation from a  foundation! One of the foundation's donors had requested these funds be sent to us, and I cannot tell you just how encouraging that was!

The most amazing thing about it is that repeatedly God is providing for First Glance in ways that no one can truly take credit except Him. I believe it is His way of showing us that He also believes in what we are doing here, leaving me with the question "Why do I ever doubt Him?!"

CORNHOLE: No Longer Just a Tailgating Game

In Georgia, football is HUGE, and therefore tailgating is HUGE. There are many tailgating games people play to pass the time before a big game, but none are as popular as cornhole. But to me, that's all cornhole was—a tailgating game.

Fast forward to me living in Ohio, and what do I begin to see everywhere? Cornhole. People everywhere playing it, talking about it. There was even a seasonal store in the Fairlawn mall dedicated to it. Blew my mind. So as I began planning fundraising events, I did not question the idea when a Cornhole Tournament was mentioned to me. I immediately loved the idea and jumped on board.

With the help of my co-worker Steven, I began to research how to throw a successful Cornhole Tournament. I happened upon several sites, which led me to emailing me and eventually coming into contact with Dave Weiser of Ohiocornholetour.com. Dave, who travels to venues that offer to hosts cornhole tournaments, said he believed in our mission and was willing to help for FREE!

Day of the event, we had two tournaments: a recreational and competitive tournament. Dave ran the two tournaments, while volunteers helped to run concessions. He also brought several cornhole sets and helped to advertising on any cornhole websites he knew about. And after asking around to see how people heard about the event, I found that most had heard through OhioCornholetour.com or another website Dave had posted the event on. Needless to say, Dave and the Ohiocornholetour.com were blessings from God.

And the blessings didn't stop there. One of Dave's friends who could not attend the event gave him money to donate to First Glance. The second place winners of competitive tournament donated back their prize money to First Glance and even donated an extremely nice set of National Cornhole Association regulation cornhole boards.

Overall, the event raise $450! It exceeded all of my expectations, and there is already talk of another tournament for next year!

Check out ohiocornholetour.com's recap and pictures of the event at http://ohiocornholetour.com/2012/recap-first-glance-fundraiser-2-25-2012/#more-538 !

They See Me Rollin'

When I began at First Glance, I was handed the Northern Ohio Golf Charities grant guidelines and told this  would be my first grant. I was also told that we would be asking for two vans from this foundation. I was excited but very nervous as I looked over all of the questions and criteria.

I spent the next month working on this grant, asking a ton of questions, having writer's block, and second guessing myself. As the deadline was closing in, I finally began putting all of the final touches on the grant. Then I sent it in. I felt like a huge burden had been lifted, but next came an almost more nerve-racking event—the wait.

I worked on other grants; I worked on events. During this time, I began to realize just how important vans are to First Glance. I began taking students home who would normal walk miles just to get to a First Glance function. I saw how unsafe the street seemed and could be at night. I heard stories of students who were scared to walk home after some of the programs for fear of being jumped. My heart began to hurt for these vans.

Then, a few months after I turned the grant in, I got an email requesting an interview. I was so excited! We have made it past the preliminary overviews! They actually wanted to talk to us! I got Noelle, the executive director of First Glance, and Jessica, the former Fundraiser, to join me for the interview.

The day of the interview I got to the Foundation's office and realized I had not read over my grant or prepared at all. My head was obviously not in the game. The interview came, and I was so glad to have Noelle and Jessica. I stumbled over words and realized I had left out a crucial number in the budget. I felt that our request was doomed due to my lack of perfection. I knew that if we got it, it would be by the grace of God, but they let us know that they would have a decision made by February.

February 14th, 2012. I had been waiting to hear from the Golf Charities Foundation when I walked in my office and found a letter. It was a small, thin letter, so my automatic reaction was that we were rejected. I opened it to find a letter and a funding follow-up request. WE GOT IT! I read the grant. They were only funding us for one van, but still—WE GOT IT! $23,000 for a van! This will get us a safe, reliable van, and it is only because of GOD that this happened. And all I can say now is He is good.

Over the next couple of months, we planned to search for and price vans. I'm very excited to see how God will work through First Glance using these vans! I will keep you updated with any cool stories!

These T-Shirts Give You Authority in This Town

As I went through my leadership volunteer training, I was handed a First Glance Staff T-shirt. "These t-shirts give you authority in this town," I was told. "When you talk, people will listen."

In September, I became the new Fundraising Director at First Glance(thanks to some master workings on God's part--story to come...). I work on raising support to keep this ministry going--whether that be through grants, events, or individual contributions. Even in just the few months I have been here, I have seen God working.

First Glance's Background: First Glance is a free youth center in the Kenmore Community of Akron, Ohio. It started as a branch off the middle school ministry of The Chapel in Akron. The first event was held in the Kenmore Community, and when more kids than expected showed up, it became evident that these kids were searching for something. The ministry continued to grow until it became its own entity in 2005.

The mission of First Glance: to connect students and this community to Christ and the church through real, loving, and non-threatening avenues.

First Glance ministers to all kinds of kids in the Kenmore and surrounding communities. They now have seven programs to reach different kids including: Rec Nights, where the kids just come and hang out; Teen Moms and Young Moms program, for the new moms in the community; Young Adults, a place where those too old for rec nights can come hang out; Ladies' Night Out, a mentoring and abstinence program; Skateboarding Program, a mentoring program for the growing skateboarding population; and Open Plate, where dinner is provided and then kids are walked over to a local church on Sunday nights.

Many of the kids in the Kenmore Community are considered at-risk, meaning something in their life threatens to hinder them from success. For some of these kids, it is the community and their peers. For some it is their home life. And for some it is simply their economic status. First Glance gives them a place that is safe and encouraging environment. Several of the programs during the week feed the students, and for many of them, it is the only decent meal outside of school they receive.

God is doing something amazing in this community through First Glance, and I would love for you to be a part of that--whether that be through prayer, monetary contributions, or just following this blog. As I continue to write grants and gain more contributions, I will keep you updated on how God is continuing to bless First Glance's Fundraising. But more importantly, as I continue to volunteer, I will share with you the stories of these kids and how God is working in their lives.

If you would like to check out more about First Glance, visit our website at http://firstglance.org/
If you are interested in being added to the prayer list (very short bi-weekly email) or newsletter list (only mailed 4 times a year), please email me at kendra@firstglance.org.
If you would like to become a monthly supporter of First Glance, please check out our support page http://firstglance.org/support.html.