The gift of summer smiles

Neighborhood Centers aquarium field trip!

Remember your childhood summers? Loading up the car for a family vacation, packing for church camp, spending hours at the pool, riding your bike to your friend’s house... Unfortunately, many of the children we serve at CCFI do not have memories of such carefree summers. Each child we serve deserves a chance to enjoy the summer and it is you — our generous supporters — who help make that possible through your gifts.

Your contributions allowed CCFI’s Neighborhood Centers to provide an enriching six-week camp for more than 100 kids this summer. There were lots of field trips in June and July, from the Oklahoma Aquarium to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum. Kids cooled off each week at Westwood swimming pool and visited area water parks. The older youth had the chance to give back by volunteering at the Humane Society and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma while our middle school kids learned new skills such as cooking with the Food for Thought Learning Institute.

Thank you for helping to make the summer what it should be for our kids — fun and enriching!

Summer Smiles Photo Album »

Check out pictures, adventure and smiles from our 2012 Nighborhood Centers summer enrichment services!

What I've learned from volunteering

Mollie pictured on right

I began volunteering for the Center for Children and Families, Inc. (CCFI) just a few short months ago, and oh has it been a ride! I came into the children’s play group on Tuesday night’s not having a clue what to expect. I was a little apprehensive, but felt immediately comfortable when I met the other volunteers. Everyone was so nice and seemed genuinely passionate about what they were doing. That is when I knew CCFI was special.

I quickly learned that CCFI is an organization that cares so fervently about making a real difference in the community. The entire staff and volunteers love what they do, and it reads so clearly in the manner with which they go about their work. Having the opportunity to contribute just a small portion of my time to the unique mission of CCFI has really humbled me.

I love watching how excited the kiddos are to see us every Tuesday night, and how equally excited we are to see them. These kids remember us and depend on us to be there, and that is why I keep coming back. I know that just the little amount of time I spend with them each week helps bring stability and consistency into their lives, which is something I can be proud of. I learn as much from these kids as I hope they learn from me, and I will continue to volunteer with CCFI for as long as I am able.

I am more than honored to be part of this special organization, and to help support their compassionate mission to improve the lives of children. I feel extremely blessed to have stumbled across CCFI because of the perspective it has brought to my life. 

I encourage every person to support the mission of CCFI in any way that they can. I have no doubt it will enrich and touch your life in the way that it has done so to mine.

Mollie Rischard 

CCFI Children's Group Volunteer

Jack's Celebration

Jack and his friend, Kira, Celebrating their CAKE par

For most 8-year-olds, tearing open countless presents from family and friends usually only happens during the holidays and on birthdays. But that was not the case for one boy, who requested that his guests bring gifts for others during his CAKE (Celebrating Adopted Kids, Everyday!) celebration during November.

As a young philanthropist, Jack Flax is inspired by his parents, Troy and Jenny, to give back to the community and saw their CAKE celebration as a way to inspire others.

“We really wanted Jack to do something special not only for himself, but for others as well,” said Jack’s mother, Jenny. “We invited all our friends with adopted children to the CAKE party and made it a benefit party for CCFI. I think helping a local agency made it even more special for us, the guests and especially for Jack.”

Jack's cake, it says: "Happy Adoption Day Jack"

Jack and his friends and family raised over 250 diapers at their party last month, all of which went to the CCFI public diaper and formula closet.  The Flax family believes that philanthropy starts young and that learning to help others at an early age truly makes a difference. Here at CCFI we couldn’t agree more. Teaching young children to perform great acts of kindness, such as this, is an important life skill. Children, like Jack, are our future generation of volunteers and supporters and we are beginning to see younger philanthropists each year.

Jack’s mother, who’s been active in several of her own philanthropic adventures, couldn’t be more pleased. “Whatever your situation in life, there’s almost always someone who has it a little tougher than you do,” Jenny said. “I think that getting kids to understand about donating and giving back when they are young really makes a difference.”

Jack agreed and said, “It’s a really fun way to help and have fun with my friends!”