Faces: Philip Richards

NOTE:  For this edition of "Faces" I have asked my Dad, Kent Howard, to write about his friend, Philip Richards.    Philip is helping coordinate speaking engagements to promote Tuck In Your Neighbor.

The third in this series introduces....

Philip Richards

  Shown here with his wife, Gina and their daughter, Elizabeth Anne.  My Dad also with them Tailgating at University of Alabama before a home game in Tuscaloosa. 

Philip Richards lives a life of service.  
I met Philip in 8^th grade and we became fast friends with similar interests. Sunday School classmates,  cross-country teammates, double dating and eventually college room mates and groomsmen in each other’s wedding.   Philip lives a life of service.  He was introduced to the United Way by his employer, Alagasco (29 years), over 20 years ago and continues to faithfully serve as a volunteer and speaker. Philip’s passion for service is most visible as an advocate for ARC and the programs they provide to help families living with disabilities.  His leadership as President of Alabama Arc and as a National Arc Board Member gives him an opportunity to share his personal story and make a difference in the lives of others.

Just for Fun:

Cat or Dog?  Reluctantly....dog

If you could have a superpower what would it be?  the power to heal disabilities and illness

Favorite bedtime book or story?  The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado.  A book about a disabled lamb who finds he has a special purpose and place in this world.  A lamb who has always felt different and sad because of his black spots and his limp, feels his true worth when he is called upon to help keep the baby Jesus warm.

Bedtime Stories

Bedtime books were part of my daily bedtime routine as a child.  Now as a teenager, before I turn off the light, I read.

Words on a page, especially when coming alive to create a story can be truly enchanting.  Fairytales or modern day realism, bedtime stories transcend generations.  Everyone should have the opportunity to remember a favorite bedtime story.  I know my favorite stories include The Very Hungry Catepillar by Eric Carle and The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. 

Some other favorites of many include:

Tuck In Your Neighbor will be asking for new donated books in March of 2013.  

Being tucked in with bedtime stories is an important way to connect to those that we love and to the huge world around us. 
Please comment below about your favorites.  I will use this to help make our wish list in March!

Faces: Martha and Charlie

The second in this series introduces..... 

Two important faces behind Tuck In Your Neighbor

 Charlie Peters and   Martha King

Martha King comes to Glenwood from Tuscaloosa where she served as Director of Player Development for the women’s basketball team at Alabama. She received her MA in Human Environmental Science from the University of Alabama and a bachelor of science in Marketing and Speech Communication from Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas. Martha enjoys staying active outdoors, cooking great food, and spending time with her beloved dog, Bear Bryant. Over the past three weeks, Martha has thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Glenwood Family and is looking forward to a long career here. She would love for you to stop by Quarterback Center to introduce yourself and say hello! 

Just for Fun:

Cat or Dog?   Dog! I love my dog, Bear. Any time I’m not at work you can most likely find me hanging out with my dog!

If you could have a superpower what would it be?   I would fly. I love traveling and this would help me see the world and stay within a budget!

Favorite bedtime book or story?   Goodnight Moon  

Charlie Peters comes to Glenwood from another local nonprofit agency, Positive Maturity, where he worked as Technical Assistance Coordinator. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Birmingham-Southern College. Charlie’s hobbies include reading, creative writing, and running. He lives in Southside with two cats, Gatsby and Albus. In his first few weeks at Glenwood, he’s enjoyed getting to know the outstanding, passionate staff and is excited about growing with the agency. 

Just for Fun:

Cat or Dog? Both! Or a cat raised by dogs. 

If you could have a superpower what would it be?  Telekinesis
Favorite bedtime book or story?  Goodnight Moon

Martha and Charlie are important to Tuck In Your Neighbor.  They are both open, generous and a partner in all aspects of this project.  Helping with the logo design work, planning the Volunteer Introduction Event, establishing an all encompassing time line are just examples of their support.  
Their encouragement to me has been a gift.
Thank you Charlie Peters and Martha King!

Faces: Sherri Van Pelt

The first in this series introduces..... 

Sherri Van Pelt

Vice President of Development and Communications at Glenwood & 
my Girl Scout Gold Award Advisor

Sherri Van Pelt is a three time graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham holding degrees in psychology, occupational therapy and public administration. She joined Glenwood’s leadership team in 2011.  As the vice president for development and communications, she leads an extraordinary team of highly skilled professionals and is responsible for supporting Glenwood’s mission through community relations, communications, volunteer programs and philanthropic funding. She has been professionally involved in the health care community for more than 30 years as an occupational therapist and as an executive leader in the nonprofit community.  Highly involved in the community, Sherri is an avid supporter of the arts, cancer research and community programming for individuals with disabilities.  In her free time she can be found in her studio working as a glass artist and enjoying time with her family and friends.

The bio above is from www.glenwood.org, but I know her from church.
Sherri Van Pelt is a creative, energetic person that meets everyone with a smile and compassion.  I see her and her husband, Pete, enjoying their two grandchildren, Molly and Benjamin, at church on Sunday.  She is very involved in the community and is an advocate for many.   As you can see when I was searching for my Gold Award project for Girl Scouts I immediately thought of her.  Mrs. Van Pelt is a friend to me.  Thank you Mrs. Van Pelt for your out-stretched arms.

Just for Fun:
Cat or Dog?   No cat or dog at the current time!

If you could have a superpower what would it be? If I had a superpower it would be to slow down time so that I could fit more into a day! I often feel like the clock moves like the ones in cartoons where the hands just fly around!

Favorite bedtime book or story?I love to read Pinkalicious books with Molly and truck books with Benjamin! My personal bedtime reading is usually about glass art!

                                                                                                                                             

Faces Behind Tuck In Your Neighbor

Over the next few blog posts, I will be introducing the "Faces Behind Tuck In Your Neighbor." These faces represent only a portion of this incredible team  that have already come together to make this project a reality and to continue the mission of Tuck  In Your Neighbor. 

What is Required of a Logo?

What Is Required of a Logo?   

Tuck in your Neighbor is a multi faceted project, and such a project needs a way to convey its goals and purpose in a concise manner.  One means to accomplish this is through a common image or a logo.     

A logo is often the first impression so it needs to be accurate and memorable; yet, it must communicate all the necessary connotations. Another important role of the logo is its need to be consistent: It should be relayed in all references of Tuck In Your Neighbor. 

Our discussions were clear that this image or logo needed to demonstrate the wholeness of Glenwood, Autism & Behavioral Health Center with a theme of Tuck in Your Neighbor.  So just where do you begin?  What images portray this project with enough style and clarity as possible? We began with Glenwood’s logo as the focus and then tried to incorporate this project.  

After much debate, deliberation, graphic help from my Uncle Jim, and lots more help from Martha King and Charlie Peters at Glenwood our image began to take shape.  

I hope we have accomplished what we set out to do by conveying the message of Glenwood and Tuck In Your Neighbor. 

Thanks for your support!

Thanks to all who came to the Volunteer Introduction Event last Sunday. Your support is essential to this project, and all who were absent may still play a huge role in helping and continuing Tuck In Your Neighbor.

We realize the event seems far away, but we want to begin building the momentum now.

Important details to remember:

Week of City Wide Drive: March 30 - April 6, 2013

Tuck In Your Neighbor is drive for new linens and other necessities for the Glenwood Autism & Behavioral Health Center in Birmingham, Alabama.  This is a week-long event led by a kick-off party in late March with donation drop-off locations available throughout the city.

Kick-Off Party
Date:  Saturday, March 30, 2013
Time:  9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Location:  Eighteenth Street Orientals
                 1808-29th Avenue South
                  Birmingham, Alabama  35209

Contact:  Patricia Howard    ph3710@gmail.com

www.glenwood.org/TuckInYourNeighbor
www.facebook.com/TuckInYourNeighbor
www.TuckInYourNeighbor.blogspot.com

Who Is Your Neighbor?

I invite you to think of your neighbors. Neighbor is often defined as a person living relatively close to another although a neighbor is also a fellow human. A neighbor can be one who is a part of any community of yours whether it be through a religious organization, social outings, or family, because they are connected to you. While Glenwood is a thirty minute drive from my home, the people there are my neighbors.

As the volunteer introduction event creeps closer, the excitement and reality of this project grows.

Tuck In Your Neighbor

    After turning off of Sicard Hollow Road, I am surrounded by trees with cabins nestled between them. As the road bends, I see the office where I am to visit. Walking from my car, I am aware of how quiet and calm the space is although being a neighbor to a major metropolitan city. The main campus is located on 363 acres off Sicard Hollow Road in Birmingham, Alabama. Nervous as I embark on this adventure I am met with a warm “Welcome to Glenwood.”

I don’t have many memories before I was a Girl Scout. It has been nearly 11 of my 16 years which has led to the beginning of my final Girl Scout Project, the Gold Award. A Gold Award is defined as a take action project that addresses an issue within the community.

For the past two years, my Girl Scout Troop has been involved with a Christmas Party at Glenwood and I was astonished by their work.

Just consider this: Present in 82 school systems and 53 counties in Alabama, Glenwood touches the lives of more than 7000 individuals throughout the state. Glenwood’s purpose is educating and treating individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder or a behavioral health disorder and offers more than 20 services for children, adolescents, adults, and families with mental health needs. It’s nationally renowned for its care, clinicians, and commitment to honoring the individual’s dignity.

Fast forward from the Christmas party to August 2012 ready to investigate for my project, I thought of Sherri Van Pelt, a family friend and fellow church member, who has been involved in many worthwhile causes. Unknown to me at the time, I discovered that Mrs. Van Pelt is the Vice President of Communications and Development at Glenwood.

From this meeting, rose my Gold Award. With Mrs. Van Pelt’s help, the staff at Glenwood, my Girl Scout Troop, family, and you, I am creating an annual drive called "Tuck In Your Neighbor" to collect new linens and other items on Glenwood’s wish list. This drive will last one week and begins in late March of 2013.

Thanks for viewing my blog, and for more information visit this blog for updates, www.glenwood.org, and “like” Tuck In Your Neighbor on Facebook. Thanks for your support with this project!