December 2023
CHEERS TO A GENTLER, KINDER NATION
Happy Holidays – Happy New Year!
The 2023 Holiday Season is upon us, and the New Year is quickly approaching. During this sacred time of giving, we reflect on the extraordinary events of prior years, and how blessed and fortunate The Community House is to have had loyal and caring supporters like you. Our ability to remain open, and our ability to impact others - was and remains - only possible by the kindness, dedication, and generosity of others like you.
Holiday Season 2023 also signifies the grandest of milestones for the historic Community House – the beginning of our second century of service. Unbelievable. 100 years – doing business and delivering services to all who enter our doors, in the same location, on the same corner (Townsend and Bates Street) for over a century.
To reach 100 years in existence, The Community House has certainly mastered resilience. It has overcome a World War, the Great Depression, 9/11 and so much more. The Community House has seen times of boom and bust, sometimes as part of the greater economy and sometimes specific to its own market. It has witnessed new competitors entering the scene and older competitors seeking an edge.
In the last year, we continue to recover from a global pandemic, navigated through historic economic challenges, stood courageously against the proliferation of extreme wokeness, attacks on cherished beliefs, tears at the fabric of historic institutions, and turned the cheek to damaging gossip, ill-informed inuendo, untruths and mean-spiritedness. This kind of behavior in today’s world is becoming commonplace and is truly an inexcusable disservice to the many in real need. However, throughout it all, like many of you, the century-old Community House has remained resilient and values the “high road.” We continue to stay focused, to serve, remain optimistic, full of hope, and look to an even brighter, more impactful future. Our children need us, our young professionals – leaders of tomorrow need us, our sick, our infirm, the lonely, the poor, the disenfranchised, and our aged need us. Despite the challenges, let us never, ever, forget charity, kindness, forgiveness, duty, paying it forward. Those that are entrusted with much, much is expected.
Blessed are we, blessed are you – fortunate enough to witness the turning of a page on one century, and witnessing the opening of a new page on our second century of service. Our never floundering core values remain self-improvement, philanthropy, education, friendship, and compassion - self-funded, absent tax dollars, without ongoing sustainable support. We have never asked for business investors or sought taxpayer millages. And never will. We are truly a gift to the community, with no strings attached. Really.
As our “community” heads into the sacred season of counting our blessings and giving back to others, so too are all of us at The Community House; our leadership, staff and TCH beneficiaries – counting our blessings. For it is without all our cherished supporters; our donors, corporate sponsors, class takers, child-care families, event guests, community partners and our dedicated corps of volunteers – that our work would not be possible. Saying “thank you” never seems to be enough, but it is a place to start.
As a now 100-year-old non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, The Community House relies solely upon the kindness and generosity of others who (truly cherish, respect and) appreciate the value of a “Community House,” especially via our all-important annual fund appeal – to deliver on our mission – and to provide the community critical programs and services, education and experiences which benefit and enrich the lives of others in our great community – many, without the ability to pay.
It is during this time of sacred time of giving and celebration that The Community House asks for your vital support while we also pause to humbly acknowledge and remember the many kindnesses already shared, and the extraordinary generosity from those that have been entrusted with little or much...and to offer all of you, from all of us - a big “Thank You.” Be safe, stay well. Happy Holidays.
BEGINNING A NEW CENTURY OF GIVING – THE COMMUNITY HOUSE ANNUAL FUND
The end of the year annual fund appeal is here and reminds our loyal donors and supporters that it’s the final chance to support our critical Annual Fund Drive in 2023. Given the effects of a post-COVID world and the faltering economy, it is hard to overestimate how important this year’s end of the year Annual Fund Appeal is to the historic Community House. For the last three years (and counting) we have found ourselves, like so many, continuing to navigate through a perfect storm – COVID, supply chain issues, inflation, wage pressures, the economy, and ongoing repairs to an aging building. We need help. Will you help us?
By making an end of the year tax-deductible gift to The Community House, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charitable organization now, your gift will ensure that we continue to navigate through these challenges so that we remain the important educational, philanthropic and community resource that thousands of individuals have relied upon for more than a century. To make an end of the year gift now, you can send your donation in by mail at: TCH 380 S. Bates Street, Birmingham, Michigan 48009, give online at communityhouse.com/donate or by calling The Community House Foundation at 248-594-6417. Perhaps some of you might consider placing TCH in their estate plans. It is simple, and painless. For more information, please contact Christopher Smude, SVP, CMO, TCH Foundation at csmude@communityhousefoundation.org.
EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER - WINTER REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN
The Community House’s Early Childhood Center is excited to announce we still have a few spots available for our preschool program. With the use of the nationally recognized Highscope curriculum our amazing teachers are ready to set the foundation of your child’s academic success. Our curriculum uses a whole-child approach to learning, where the child is encouraged to create and execute their plan through hands on classroom exploration. Our program encourages independence, decision-making, and conflict resolution and students graduate from The Community House ECC ready for kindergarten with confidence and the ability to creatively problem solve.
New to the ECC this is our Community Scholars program exclusively available to children enrolled in our school. The Community Scholars programs give children the opportunity to grow even further than in the traditional classroom setting.Parents can support their child’s individual needs and interests with additional focus on Phonics, STEM, Music, Yoga, cooking etc. all while they attend their normal school day.
Additionally, the Early Childhood Center has created a new program to help fill an educational need in our community. Our Junior K+ program will enrich and challenge young five’s students that have completed Pre-K but are too young to start Kindergarten. Junior K+ stops the regression of repeating a second year in a program by providing and exclusive environment with enhanced focus on phonetic awareness and sound blending, developing sentence building, independence and self-help skill sets, science exploration, and critical thinking skills. Reach out to secure your enrollment before spaces are filled for the fall. Contact the Senior Director of our Early Childhood Center, Ms. Sarah Schuster, at 248-594-6411 or sschuster@communityhouse.com.
SAVE THE DATE – PURCHASE OR RESERVE YOUR SEATS NOW!
Storytime with Santa 2023: He’s back. Bring your loved ones together for an experience filled with heartwarming holiday spirit at Storytime with Santa on December 9th (9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m.). Jolly ole Santa himself will be the star, captivating young and old and creating magical moments. The enchantment continues at the craft stations, where little hands can create their own holiday memories. Guests of all ages can treat themselves to a variety of cookies and cups of hot chocolate (and the adults can add a touch of extra holiday cheer from the hot chocolate bar). Learn more at www.communityhouse.com/event/storytime-with-santa/
