The Forsyth County Community Connection recently raised $15,000 at an event that supports foster children in Forsyth County.
Blues & Q, a barbecue and music event, held its fourth annual fundraiser on Saturday, April 22, the proceeds of which will now help attract local families who could potentially provide homes for foster children.
“Each year, we ask the [Division of Family and Children Services] what their needs are and what can we do to help,” Niki Colella, executive director of Community Connection, which sponsored the event, previously told the Forsyth County News. “The first year, the majority of funds went to do home studies for foster families, which cost about $750. The second year, the money went to more home studies and impact classes to make sure weren’t losing families.
“The third year, we used it for a media campaign; we had four billboards and two still up, and this year it’ll probably be combination of media campaigns and paying foster families to get out and raise awareness and any other way to help with recruitment.”
Jacob Stidham, board chairman for Community Connection, said this year’s event was the most successful yet.
“The third year, we used it for a media campaign; we had four billboards and two still up, and this year it’ll probably be combination of media campaigns and paying foster families to get out and raise awareness and any other way to help with recruitment.”Jacob Stidham, board chairman for Community Connection
“We sold out and are looking to add tables next year to meet the growing demand to attend this fun and unique fundraiser to find homes for foster children in our county,” he said. “More than 250 of our neighbors enjoyed the evening of music and barbeque.
“But, most important, their participation will make a difference in the lives of children and have a positive and lasting impact on Forsyth County families.”
The evening also served as a goodbye to Colella, who will be moving out-of-state with her family, Stidham said.
“We couldn’t ask for a better send off than the rousing success of our fourth annual Blues & Q fundraiser,” he said, “and we look forward to our next executive director helping us continue to expand on the successes of the last few years as we pursue our important mission of helping the most vulnerable families and children in our community.”
He added Community Connection is currently looking for its next director.
A nonprofit associated with the Georgia Family Connection Partnership and the Hands on Network, Community Connection’s mission is to “connect the needs of vulnerable children and families to agencies and volunteers that can create healthy pathways so that every family is healthy, engaged and self-sufficient.”
Those interested in applying to the new position should email fococcb@gmail.com with a resume, three references and an initial statement of interest.