Hope For the Children Now Benefit Gala

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Community Partner: Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church

Through their Creek Watering Oaks initiative, Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church (WCPC) inspires church members to serve vulnerable children in Oakland through partner organizations. On April 19th, the entire Sunday worship service and educational program focused on reaching “at-promise” youth living in Oakland. Faith Network was one of five partner organizations invited to participate, along with Points of Light, Harbor House, CityTeam, and Today’s Youth Matter. Pastor Larry Austin of Oakland City Church and the School of Urban Missions worship band led WCPC in Sunday worship.

After a rousing service, each partner organization spoke before the congregation, presenting opportunities to volunteer and serve. Church members were then free to speak individually with representatives of the organizations and identify ways to be engaged. The importance of community collaboration cannot be stressed enough. As Reverend Austin said in his sermon, “Programs make promises but it’s people who keep promises.”

President's Corner: Jon Blankmeyer

A Fond Farewell to Jon Blankmeyer

With bittersweet feelings, I must announce that one of our founding members is retiring from Faith Network’s Board of Directors. Jon Blankmeyer has served faithfully on the board for fourteen years – twelve years as board chair and two years as treasurer.

Jon and his dear wife Elaine came alongside my wife Diane and me back in May 2001. They provided encouragement and wise counsel as I, a local church pastor, stepped into the uncharted waters of a new calling, the nonprofit sector. Jon helped me recruit a handful of board members to launch a mission to give hope to disadvantaged students. In July of 2001, Faith Network of the East Bay was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) public benefit organization.                                                                                            
Two months later, Norman Brooks (Faith Network’s now-retired Science Horizons director) introduced Jon and me to our first principal, Roberta Teller of Burbank Elementary in East Oakland. This day is forever etched in my memory: September 13, only two days after the 9/11 attacks. Although we were strangers to her, Ms. Teller hugged and welcomed us saying, “I want my school to be a safe place.” In her office, Jon and I listened to Ms. Teller share her hopes for Burbank students and families. Then she began prioritizing needs and listing possible ways to address at least some of those needs. The Burbank maiden voyage would become a template for future school partnerships.

The Faith Network board and staff colleagues all join me in expressing profound thanks to Jon Blankmeyer for his servant leadership on behalf of vulnerable children and under-resourced schools. May God bless the Blankmeyers as they enter a new season of life and ministry.

Mission Springs

By Lisa Oler, fifth-grade teacher at Burckhalter Elementary

In thirty-two years of teaching in Oakland, certain experiences with my classes have left me with a feeling of accomplishment and possibility. One of those recurring experiences has been to take my students to the Missions Springs Outdoor Education science camp every year. We visit the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains for three days of hiking and climbing, observing and investigating outdoor science. We get to know each other away from the distractions of urban modern life. The deep connections we make during that time usually last longer than anything else we do during the year. Former students who return to tell me what they are doing now, more often than not, ask me to take out the photos I keep tucked away specifically for these special visits. Those are the teaching experiences I treasure. Yes, the science is great. But what I value most are the joyful memories the children and I have built in Mission Springs.

First Missions Springs Camp, 2006