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Facts about Homeless, and why we advocate for the homeless children and families of greater Charlotte.
In February 2011, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, reported a record 3,564 identified homeless children enrolled in the county's schools.
Charlotte saw a 36% rise in family homelessness in 2010, the second-highest increase among 26 cities studied.
The National Center on Family Homelessness reports:
- Families make up more than 40% of the country's homeless population.
- 29% of homeless adults in families are working.
- 42% of homeless children are under the age of six.
- Homeless children have three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems compared to nonhomeless children.
- North Carolina rates 44 (1=best; 50=worst) in Overall Rank for Child Homelessness.
The Family Housing Fund reports:
- 92% of homeless mothers have experienced
severe physical and/or sexual abuse. - 35% of women coming into homeless shelters
are pregnant. - The difficult surroundings [of homeless shelters] often affect the mother's feelings of adequacy and can interfere with critical maternal-child bonding.
The programs of Bright Blessings provide positive emotional experiences for homeless children by lifting spirits, boosting confidence, broadening horizons and supporting basic needs.
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Bright Blessings In the News
June 2011 - The Charlotte Observer: Volunteers Can Send a Personal Message
May 2011 - South Charlotte Weekly: Chairman of the Board named at Bright Blessings
April 2011 - The Charlotte Observer: Party Helps Homeless Children
March 2011 - My School Rocks Magazine: Happy Birthdays! (pg 34)
February 2011 - Little Ones Magazine: Bunko Brings Bright Blessings
January 2011 - The Charlotte Observer: Bright Blessings Gets New Home
January 2011 - Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly: Birthday Blessings Evolved
January 2011 - Mint Hill Times: Organization Gets New Name, New Location
January 2011 - South Charlotte Weekly: New Name, Same Game for Bright Blessings
January 2011 - South Charlotte Weekly: Helping Hands for Bright Blessings
Recent Press Releases
Videos
May 14, 2010 - Larry Sprinkle of WCNC interviewed Birthday Blessings' co-founder, John Cervantes
December 13, 2009 - Candy + Potter of 107.9, The Link and their volunteer army host shelter party at Turning Point of Union County
December 12, 2009 - Help-Portrait photographers' initiative partners with Birthday Blessings
May 21, 2009 – WCNC video aired on NBC affiliates across the country and on msnbc.com
August 8, 2008 - WSOC-TV
May 26, 2008 - The Charlotte Observer
Audio
Media Kit
Basic overview, included below:
•Mission
Mission •History
History •National Expansion
National Expansion•Description of programs
Description of programs •Numbers served
Numbers served •Co-founder information
Co-founder information For media inquiries, please contact:
Amy Cervantes
Volunteer Executive Director/Co-founder
Bright Blessings (formerly Birthday Blessings)
Mobile: 980-230-9931
Also available:
•Photos of co-founders
Photos of co-founders•Most recent Bright Blessings e-newsletter
Most recent Bright Blessings e-newsletter Basic Overview
Mission: To celebrate, inspire, and support homeless children, while offering fun and meaningful volunteer opportunities for both adults and youth.
History: Bright Blessings (formerly Birthday Blessings) was founded in 2005 by Amy and John Cervantes of Mint Hill, North Carolina, a couple who wanted to help needy children while sharing a love of volunteerism with their own young children.
What began as one monthly birthday party at a Charlotte homeless shelter has now grown into a thriving nonprofit that operates numerous programs and projects, serving thousands of homeless children and families across a four-county region.
Amy leads the organization as its volunteer executive director, and John is the vice-chair of the board of directors. As a volunteer-led organization, more than forty dedicated individuals regularly help operate its two core programs, Bless-A-Birthday and Bless-A-Baby, and its many supporting projects. In April 2011 the organization will proudly open the doors to its new facility, The Giving Village, which will serve as the nonprofit’s headquarters and will host thousands of volunteers and visitors each year.
The programs of Bright Blessings serve over 3,000 children in need each year, celebrating birthdays and providing critical care essentials for homeless children and supporting the emergent needs of homeless babies.
National Expansion: In summer 2009, Bright Blessings began devleoping a national expansion model. Today, there are pilot affiliate chapters organizing and under way in multiple cities across the country. The Bright Blessings National Affiliate Network has already received more than 300 affiliate chapter requests for cities and communities throughout the nation and is expected to officially launch in 2011.
The Programs of Bright Blessings: The non-profit's two core programs, Bless-A-Birthday and Bless-A-Baby, provide positive emotional experiences for needy children and their families by lifting spirits, boosting confidence, broadening horizons, and supporting basic needs.
Bless-A-Birthday
- Shelter Parties Project- Birthday celebrations are held monthly at shelters and housing/program facilities serving homeless children and their families. All residents are invited to the parties, and those with birthdays in that month are celebrated as the guests of honor. In addition to the traditional birthday fun, Bright Blessings celebrations also include meals and beverages, as well as a variety of educational and enrichment programs.
- Student Birthdays Project – This anonymous program serves homeless youth living in transient situations such as motels and campgrounds. Homeless elementary students receive birthday snack bags and treats to celebrate at school with classmates. Homeless middle school students receive Party-In-A-Bag kits to share with family members. All birthday students also receive new gifts, Care & Comfort Bags, as well as new books.
Bless-A-Birthday
- Baskets filled with clothing, blankets, food, supplies and critical-care essentials help welcome and support the emergent needs of babies entering homelessness.
Bright Blessings co-founders:
John and Amy Cervantes live in Mint Hill, North Carolina. John is 38, and is Sr. VP, Investments, Triune Capital Advisors. He actively serves in leadership roles at his church, and for the Charlotte-based non-profit LifeSpan Services. John also serves as President of the Charlotte Alumni Chapter for The Lawrenceville School, and coaches for his sons' sports teams. Amy Cervantes is 38, and is an at-home mom of three. In addition to her volunteer role as executive director for Bright Blessings, she volunteers at her kids' schools and serves as an Elder at her church, where is she is also active in teaching and leadership roles with the children's ministry. John and Amy have three sons: Alex, 8 years; Eli, 6 years; Adam, 4 years.
"Bright Blessings brightens the lives of our children, who would not otherwise have the opportunity to celebrate their birthdays."
Martha Olstin, social worker
Charlotte Emergency Housing
Archived News Articles (2008-2010)
October 2010: Charlotte Parent Magazine | Sharing Cake, Candles and Care
09-24-10: South Charlotte Weekly | Birthday Blessings Kicks off Inaugural Funky Fundraiser
09-17-10: South Charlotte Weekly | Never Made a Birthday Wish
09-08-10: Ballantyne Scoop | Birthday Blessings Announces "20 for 20: Race for the Cup"
08-24-10: Mint Hill Times | Birthday Blessings Gets Grant from Jimmie Johnson Foundation
08-22-10: The Charlotte Observer | Birthday Blessings Aids Homeless Kids
08-15-10: The Charlotte Observer | Helping Others
08-08-10: The Charlotte Observer | Helping Others
08-07-10: Charlotte Smarty Pants | Smarty Mom: Amy Cervantes
07-29-10: South Charlotte Weekly | Birthday Blessings to Benefit from Monkey Joe's, Wolfman Pizza Fundraisers
07-19-10: Speedway Children's Charities | Birthday Blessings
06-28-10: Ballantyne Scoop | Boosterthon Fun Run Joins the Birthday Blessings Party to Serve Homeless Campers
06-11-10: South Charlotte Weekly | Hebrew National Hosts Better-than-a-Picnic Picnic to Benefit Birthday Blessings
05-19-10: The Charlotte Observer | MOMS Club Hosts Birthday Benefit
05-10-10: Ballantyne Scoop | Good Eats and Family Fun at Topz Healthier Burger Grill to Benefit Homeless Kids
05-07-10: South Charlotte Weekly | Birthday Blessings Event at Ballantyne's Topz Healthier Burger Grill
04-20-10: Ballantyne Scoop | Annual Birthday Bash Event at Ayrsley Grand Cinemas on April 24
03-28-10: The Charlotte Observer | News of the City - YES and Wolfman Pizza Partner at Monthly Shelter Parties
February 2010: Reader's Digest | Make it Matter: Happy Birthday to Them
01-24-10: The Charlotte Observer | News of the City - Nonprofit Blessed with 8,350 Books
01-21-10: South Charlotte Weekly, Pg. 6 | Nonprofit Collects 8,350 Books for Homeless Kids
January 2010: Woman's World Magazine l Making A Difference
2009
12-27-09: The Charlotte Observer l Expanding Birthday Wishes
12-21-09: The Mint Hill Times l Birthday Blessings Helps Give Families Professional Portraits
Fall/Winter 2009: CPCC Connections l Nursing Grad Continues Service with Birthday Blessings
12-01-09: SceneDaily.com l Speedway Children's Charities Awards Grants
11-22-09: The Charlotte Observer, Neighbors l Make Holidays Festive for Needy
11-22-09: The Independent Tribune l Nonprofit Works With Homeless Children
11-19-09: Ballantyne Scoop | Birthday Blessings Organization Planning 2 Local Events To Help Homeless Children
11-08-09: The Charlotte Observer, Cabarrus Neighbors l Cabarrus Joins in Birthday Blessings - Part [1] Part [2]
08-13-09: The Mint Hill Times l Nonprofit 'Blessed' to Expand
08-12-09: South Charlotte Weekly l Give to Others, Get a Pizza!
May 2009: Today's Charlotte Woman l A Special Gift
04-24-09: The Charlotte Observer l Charity Gives Kids Birthday Blessings
Spring 2009: Little Ones Magazine l An Undisguised Blessing
2008
08-31-08: The Charlotte Observer, Neighbors l Birthday Blessings has Back-to-School Bashes
August 2008: Charlotte Weekly l Birthday Blessings Takes the Cake
05-26-08: The Charlotte Observer l Family Wants to Give Homeless Kids HAPPY BIRTHDAYS - Part [1] Part [2]
For Bright Blessings PR and media inquiries, please contact us.
Press Release Archives (2009 - 2010)
05-17-10: College of Business marketing students help create birthday fun for area homeless children
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WCNC - Charlotte Today
April 2011
Click logo to view segment
