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In September 2013, John G. Wood School (JGW) added a kindergarten through fifth grade program, responding to an expressed need in our community for alternative education at the elementary school level. The JGW Elementary School is the only program in the Richmond metro area that addresses aggression, teaches social skills and has a primary goal of returning the students back to a public school setting through a holistic approach that actively engages both parent and child through the evidence-based Teaching-Family Model of Care. It serves young children who are unable to succeed in traditional public school because of their need for a high level of individualized instruction. The goal is for the program to support the child to build stronger social-emotional and coping skills – and greater impulse control – so that they are able to return to a regular classroom.

The opening of JGW Elementary School was a whirlwind of activities in 2013 in which the community was very engaged. Now that the building is renovated, walls newly painted, and the sounds of children are brightening up the rooms, we thought we’d update you about what’s going on within those formerly-stark walls. continued page 7

VHBGV I RGI N I A H OM E F O R B OY S A N D G I R L S

WINTER 2014

8716 West Broad St.

Henrico, VA

804.270.6566

vhbg.org

Shark Tank

Against the Odds

Masked

9

Holiday Campaign 6

8

Band Together 4

community kindnessHANDS ON DAYOn Saturday, October 18th from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm,20 volunteers from throughout Richmond came to campus to participate in the community-wide volunteer event, HandsOn Day Greater Richmond. Eight volunteers helped paint the first floor of the Alumni House, which is soon to be a VHBG History Museum. Six volunteers cleaned House 12 to welcome a new Teaching-Parent couple. Six more volunteers planted pansies – donated from four local Lowe’s Home Improvement stores, a Home Depot and a Kroger – around the John G. Wood School and Therapeutic Resources buildings. Fantastic job, everyone!

BANANA REPUBLICVolunteers from the Charlottesville and Short Pump Banana Republic stores worked hard in October in VHBG’s on-campus ‘store’ which is filled with donated items for our children. When children come to us with very little, they can ‘shop’ in this store for clothing,things to decorate their rooms and other essential

items. During their stay here, they earn points for good behavior, achievement and chores – and shop in the store for rewards of their choice. When kids leave, they visit the shop to pack a takeaway bag. JGW students shop at the store for school supplies. This store is essential to the daily operations of VHBG. The Banana Republic volunteers come to campus throughout the year to clean up, switch seasonal clothes, reorganize clothing racks and categorize school supplies.

CARMAX Employees collected new and gently used winter coatsand brought them by VHBG on October 14. Thirteen large bags of coats were distributed throughout campus to our kids. Thank you, CarMax, for being proactive, calling us to ask what we needed, and collecting these coats for our kids, who will be warm and toasty this winter!

THE VIRGINIA BEACH CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAUAt the Virginia Society of Association Executives meeting

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TRIATHLONOne hundred and thirty children arrived on an unseasonably chilly Saturday morning in August to participate in our Youth Triathlon, presented by Endorphin Fitness. Many of our children participated, including one who had never learned to swim untilthe Endorphin Fitness camp the week before. Our new swimmer, age 12, lives at VHBG and has a chronic health condition that challenges his growth, development and physical capacity. After learningto swim, finding out that he could actually accomplishthe running and biking goals of the camp, he committed to participate in the triathlon. It was an exhausting challenge but with the support of his peers and dedicated staff providing the encouragement he needed, he finished the race!

AUXILIARY CARD PARTYThe Auxiliary hosted a wonderful card party and boutique on campus in August. This event not only raises money for VHBG, but is a great opportunity for new people to visit campus, support our mission and hear our story. Colleen Messick and John Dougherty spoke to the group briefly, and entertained questions over some very yummy chicken salad on croissant sandwiches with a deviled egg side — a tradition with this group!

on October 2 at the Richmond Convention Center, our President, Claiborne Mason, received a donation from The Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau of 60 bags of hygiene and school supplies for our boys and girls. WELLS FARGOThanks to Wells Fargo for supporting VHBG throughout the summer by donating $1,000 to the Home for every home run at a home Flying Squirrels game, for a total of $3,000! They also arranged for our children to attend games. Go Wells Fargo! Go Squirrels!

event highlights

If you are interested in volunteering, have a group at work that volunteers, or would like to donate items, please contact Shannon Early at [email protected]. For a current list of needs, please visit http://vhbg.org/giving/wish-list/

40TH DONOR APPRECIATION DINNERTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 23RDAt VHBG’s Donor Appreciation Dinner this year, our attendees shared in a wonderful steak and crab cake dinner at the Country Club of Virginia. Claiborne Mason, President, gave a special anniversary toast and honored Mr. and Mrs. E. Carlton Wilton, Sr., for having generously hosted this fabulous event for 40 years! The Donor Appreciation Dinner is an annual dinner in honor of our special advocates and most generous donors – those who gave $500 or more during the previous fiscal year. Won’t you join us next year?


Legacy Society Become a part of the tradition of thoughtful giving that has supported VHBG for nearly 170 years. You’ll enjoy special tax benefits and income constructed around the planned gift you choose to make, and our children will continue to receive the benefit of caring adults and family relationships. Please consider becoming a part of the VHBG family by making a planned gift to VHBG today. Because for our children, family is everything. To learn more about Planned Giving at VHBG, please call Colleen Messick, VP of Philanthropy, at 804.270.6566, ext. 115.

philanthropyHundreds of supporters from the Richmond community banded together in support of VHBG this year like no other on Friday night, September 13th, at our signature fundraising event, Band Together. This event is a wonderful, festive party held at the home of Tiff and Kelly Armstrong that featured music by grammy-nominated Yarn, food by Mosaic, Rappahannock Oyster Company and Dixie Donuts, and cocktails and a craft signature drink, the Richmond Mule fashioned after the Moscow Mule of the 1920s.

This sold-out event raised $165,000 for John G. Wood School! The volunteer-based Band Together committee was chaired by Taryn & Matt White, co-chaired by Sarah Ann & Whit Knier. GO TEAM!!! This total raised was an

increase of almost $72,000 over last year. Sponsorships increased by over 200% with Ferguson topping off all donations as our presenting sponsor!

This was the first year that Early Supporters — generous donors who, in addition to their tickets, purchased $250 or more of ‘band aids’ well in advance of the event — were honored by being noted on the invitation, celebrated by an invitation to a casual BBQ dinner at the Armstrong’s home, and given special VIP parking at the event. Band aids are 100% tax-deductible. If you are interested in being an Early Supporter next year or serving on the committee, please contact Colleen Messick at [email protected].

See page 10 for more photos.

Banding Together


There will be no regularly-scheduled campus tours during the month of December or January. We will resume our 4th Wednesday tours on February 25th. But, if you would like a tour before February, we’d love to have you! Please contact Barb Goodwin at [email protected] or 270-6566, x126 to schedule a visit.

come for a visit

Because family is everything

family teaching

healing

our beliefEvery child deservesto grow up surrounded by a loving, nurturing family in a safe, supportive community.

our modelIn the home, the classroom, and the community, we reinforce positive family dynamics and teach essential behavioral and life skills.

our impactWe heal children and families. Through healing we break the cycle of family dysfunction for generations to come.


Every year during the holidays, the central Virginia community becomes very generous in support of our mission. We receive all kinds of wonderful items that are much needed. This year, though, we have a need thatis so critical that we have decided to ask for financialgifts towards a specific purchase rather than donations in kind during this holiday season.

Each of our Teaching-Family Homes here on campus has a large passenger van that we use to transport our kids to sports activities, cultural activities, tutoring, doctors appointments, etc. These vans are quite literally limping along with huge repair bills. Model years starting in 1998 with an average of 153,000 miles each, our current vans are larger than necessary, and gas guzzlers.

If we and the central Virginia community get together, we can have new vehicles for our incredibly hard-working Teaching Parents by mid-January! Asbury Automotive Group, owner of Crown Automotive, has already stepped up to generously offer to provide these vehicles at cost. So the campaign is off to a great start! Crown Automotive is the owner of many auto dealers

holiday annual fund campaign

throughout central Virginia including Richmond’s two BMW retailers, Crown Acura, and Crown Mini.

We always welcome gifts at any level. Can you help us? Thank you in advance for your support of this project and our very important mission!

New this year:Two ways to donate! Online at vhbg.org or with the enclosed envelope.

We will be getting the word out about this campaign in a couple of ways. Keep an eye out near our entrance at 8716 West Broad Street for a large sign that we’ll keep updated on our progress towards this tremendous goal. We’ll also post progress on Facebook, vhbg.org, and a sign on Pump Road.

If you have questions about this campaign, please contact Colleen Messick at [email protected].

Our Holiday AnnualFund Campaign is toraise $70,000 to purchase2 energy-efficient small passenger vans.

goal$70,000


continued from cover Meet ‘the shark.’ A young child of 6, diagnosed with an unusually high level of hyperactivity, joined us in May, 2014 to finish out his last month in first grade. In his vivid imagination, he was a shark – specifically a Mako shark. After all, the Mako shark is the fastest shark, and he was fast. It was hard for this child to stay in one room, let alone sit at a desk. After all, sharks always have to keep moving or they’ll die from lack of oxygen.

We knew this young man was going to return to us for the 2014-15 school year, so our teachers worked on how to help him learn how to ‘contain his spatial boundaries.’ Before being successful academically, he first needed to learn how to stay focused.

Solution: ‘the shark tank.’ The brainstorm of JGW’s substitute teacher, Bonnie Hathaway, ‘the shark’ was welcomed back to school with ‘shark tanks’ in each classroom! To the adults, these tanks looked a lot like a colorful border taped to the floor in a square around his desk, but to our shark, they looked like places he was free to be active – his space – in each classroom. He quickly learned to stay within his space – with all the water a shark needed – and not go outside of his tank, where there was too much air for a shark to stay healthy – and potentially too many great white sharks, his imaginary arch enemies!

Less than two months into this school year, the teachers know that the shark is about ready to retire the shark tank. But they’re in no hurry. They’ll do whatever it takes to make their students feel comfortable within their own skins – whether it be human skin or the imaginary rough skin of a sea creature!

This is one example of JGW’s creative approach to teaching. The methods used by JGW’s teachers are often out of the ordinary because our children, first and foremost, need to be taught behavior modification strategies before they can effectively tackle their academic curriculum. The goal of JGW teachers is to provide their students with not only a quality education, but a ‘toolbox’ of behavioral and social skills that theycan use for the rest of their lives.

Meet‘the shark.’


John G. Wood students in Ms. Eason-Lang’s Language Arts class created masks after reading Homer’s epic, The Odyssey. Some students created masks representing heroes and others made monsters, but each child used art as a creative medium to freely express their thoughts about the unit.

During the unit, students learned about the elements of an epic and compared Homer’s legendary story to current childhood epics like Percy Jackson, the Harry Potter series, The Wizard of Oz, and Star Wars.

In addition to creating masks, students read the epic aloud, completed character grids and watched the made-for-TV movie, The Odyssey. The student’s masks are currently on display in entrance hallway of John G Wood.

Masked: A Tale of Homer’s Odyssey

education

As part of John G. Wood School’s emphasis on giving back to the community, a team of our kids and staff, Team VHBG, collectively ran 54 half-mile laps – that’s 27 miles – to raise support for the Mukhanyo Christian Academy (MCA), an elementary school that educates children who have HIV/AIDS in the Mupulanga region of South Africa. Our team raised $518!

During this 4th annual Run for Mukhanyo, children between the ages of four and sixteen used a water bottle to collect coins and cash donations. Proceeds from the run will be used by MCA to buy additional school supplies like uniforms and books.

Congratulations to the students and staff of VHBG who participated in this effort!

4th Annual Run for Mukhanyo


On a wonderful fall day, Rohan Murphy visited John G. Wood School to share his inspiring story of perseverance and triumph with VHBG youth and staff. Rohanspoke about his life motto, “Appreciate what you have in life. Make no excuses.”

Motivational speaker Rohan was born with a rare birth defect that caused doctors to amputate both of his legs at the tender age of four. Rohan went on to have six


Flying Againstthe Odds

other major surgeries during his childhood. He worked with physical therapists to build strength and to learn how to use his new artificial legs but Rohan struggled with confidence and feelings of isolation. Rohan’s life changed during his eighth grade year of school when his physical education teacher offered Rohan a manager position on his school’s soccer team. He began to see himself in a different light after joining the team.

By the end of the season, Rohan’s soccer coach offered him a position on the wrestling team. Rohan declined the offer, but his coach didn’t give up. He encouraged Rohan to break out of his shell and become a wrestler.

At the beginning of the following year, Rohan began to wrestle as a

member of his high school’s team. He found friendship and comfort in the other members of his wrestling team.

Rohan went on to graduate from Penn State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology. In 2008, Rohan become a national representative for Nike. Now, he travels around the U.S. to speakwith youth.

in the news Claiborne Mason, President, and Karen Rice, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor for Therapeutic Resources, were guests on Virginia This Morning on CBS Channel 6 on September 5th. Claiborne discussed VHBG’s Family-Teaching-Healing philosophy. Karen spoke about working with our kids during times of transition (including back-to-school), and our focus on trauma interventions. Listen to the discussion at http://wtvr.com/2014/09/05/band-together-with-your-local-community-to-support-children-in-need/

congrats Congratulations to our teaching parents, Chris and Marie Harris, for receiving the Outstanding Teaching-Family Practitioner Award at the fall Teaching-Family Association conference. This award recognizes

“outstanding Teaching-Family Practitioners at each Certified Member Agency… who have provided outstanding service as Teaching-Family Practitioners in the tradition of our first practitioners, Lonnie and Elaine Phillips.” Congratulations,Chris and Marie!

Sakina K. Paige, ChairKelly Boykin, Vice Chair William Hardy, Secretary Alan Hess, TreasurerGary S. Powers, Immediate

Past Chair

Karin AddisonKelly B. ArmstrongAustin Brockenbrough IIIDonna DouglasRobert T. GreenlandStokes Grymes

Kathleen LukeJ. Lawrence Mansfield Jr.Ed McLaughlin*Shaila Menees Mark MortonTom MountcastleMary Virginia ScottTaryn White*Henry L. WiltonEdward H. WinksRussell G. Wyatt

Claiborne Mason, President

Thomas G. Snead, Jr., ChairmanNorman A. Scher, Secretary Kirsti A. Goodwin, Treasurer

Kelly B. ArmstrongKelly Boykin Thomas. J. Dillon, IIILawrence L. GraySakina K. PaigeGary S. Powers

Thanks for supporting our mission!

BOARD OF GOVERNORS FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

*We’d like to extend a special welcome to our two new board members:Ed McLaughlin & Taryn White.

Thanks for suppporting our mission!

band together

2014

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FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SERVICE CIRCLEVHBG’s Service Circle is a group of individuals and their families who generously donate their time toward events such as Teacher Appreciation Week, Band Together, the Golf Tournament, and holiday celebrations here on campus. The Service Circle emphasizes activities in which their entire family can engage with our kids.

This month, the Service Circle families will be joining our children for fun activities at our holiday celebration here on campus. They plan to bring sugar cookies to decorate with our kids. They’re also going to provide matching sets of hats, mittens and scarves, and a wrapping station at the event to package them up properly for the holidays.

ways to get involved

FAIRYLAND CHRISTMAS Nov 28 6:00pm, Grand Illumination2300 Wistar Court (off Skipwith Road)Did you know you could support VHBG while enjoying Richmond’s fabulous Tacky Lights Tour? Pay a visit to the 41st Annual Production of Fairyland Christmas at the home of Frank J. Hudak, Jr., ‘Mr. Christmas,’ this holiday season. All donations collected onsite support VHBG. Mr. Christmas raised over $90,000 for VHBG last year, and has a goal of raising over $100,000 this year! The evening of January 1st will be the final lighting. Winn Transportation and Down Under Limo are official sponsors of Fairyland Christmas and donate a generous percentage of proceeds to VHBG.

save the date

We welcome the community in many ways here at VHBG – and here are just a few. Our three main volunteer groups – Service Circle, Young Professionals, and Auxiliary – give to our VHBG family by generously donating their time. There is no financial commitment. If you have questions or would like to get involved in any of these groups, please contact Colleen Messick at [email protected].

YOUNG PROFESSSIONALSThe Young Professionals (YPs) is a group of volunteers who get involved with our kids monthly, as well as participate in fundraising events. The YPs meet every month on the 2nd Thursday from 6-8:00pm, to engage with our youth in various activities. They also volunteer at fundraising events throughout the year, and meet quarterly for happy hour.

In October, the YPs played volleyball and had a pizza party with our kids living in the Teaching-Family Homes, carved pumpkins with them, and did fall crafts with a potluck. For the holidays, they’ll take the kids on a Tacky Lights Tour and have dessert!

AUXILARY Established in 1935 for “furtherance of spiritual, moral, and financial aid to the Virginia Home for Boys,” the Auxiliary holds two card parties a year where community members are invited to enjoy games and lunch – traditionally chicken salad sandwiches on croissants and deviled eggs – in support of our mission. The Auxiliary meets monthly. Their next card party will be in April, 2015.

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8716 West Broad StreetHenrico, Virginia 23294VH BG . ORG / 80 4 . 270 . 6 5 6 6

NONPROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

RICHMOND, VAPERMIT NO .777

VHBG is now offering the option to receive our quarterly newsletter via email. If you would liketo receive an electronic copy rather than a paper copy of the newsletter, please indicate so below.

If you would like to continue to receive the newsletter in the mail, no action is necessary.

VHBG is Going Green

I would like to receive VHBG’s newsletter via email

Name:

Email Address:

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I am interested in learning more about the following (check all that apply): Family-style Group Home Program Educational Programs Community-based Therapy Programs I am interested in visiting the VHBG campus for a 4th Wednesday tour. Please contact me with details.

Please return the form in the mail to VHBG / 8716 W. Broad St. Henrico, VA 23294 or email Colleen Dugan Messick at [email protected] indicating your preference

VHBGV I RGI N I A H OM E F O R B OY S A N D G I R L S

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