Tailgate for the Kids event sets new all-time “scoring” record

3^rd annual event uses football-themed game-day party to help abused & neglected kids

FAYETTEVILLE, AR (Oct. 13, 2012) — On the day of the Arkansas-Kentucky football game, one team has put a record number of “points” on the board. No, we’re not talking about the Razorbacks or the Wildcats. Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter’s Tailgate for the Kids team posted an all-time record today, scoring net proceeds of more than $137,000 to help abused and neglected children.

In its third year, this fun, gridiron-themed tailgate party for the whole family, which was held before the Razorbacks vs. Wildcats football game at the Tyson parking lot on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Fayetteville, eclipsed last year’s net proceeds ($90,000) by more than 52 percent.

The event also included a special appeal to fund the Children’s Shelter’s new Life-Skills & Mentoring Program. Tailgaters took out their checkbooks and credit cards and easily covered the program’s $5,000 startup costs, exceeding that goal by $7,000. The Life-Skills & Mentoring Program focuses on teen-age residents, particularly those who are close to the age when they have to begin making some decisions about the future and putting some plans in place to help them attain their goals and make a successful transition to “life after foster care.”

The Life-Skills & Mentoring Program will include:

• Resource binders for teens – to be used as a reference for information the rest of us may take for granted, with sections on subjects such as personal safety, health, feminine hygiene, banking basics, acquiring insurance coverage (auto, health, renter/homeowner, life, etc.), educational options/financial aid, job-seeking, income taxes and assistance resources.
• Personal journals – to record thoughts, feelings, questions, information received verbally, etc.
• Mentor allowance funds – an allotted amount of money to be used by mentors to pay for individualized enrichment activities for the resident.
• Resource books and workbooks – to be used with the resident to develop life skills and foster positive relationship-building, self-esteem, resilience, self-determination, etc.
• Laptops and computer programs – to use individually with the teens (GED prep, job skills training, health education, life-skills training, etc.)
• Cookbooks, dishes and cookware – to incorporate meal-planning/preparation as a life-skill activity.
• Self-defense/martial arts training – to promote increased self-esteem, empowerment and emotional/physical health.

Northwest ArkansasChildren’s Shelter Annual Giving Manager Frankie Rankin and Executive Director Steve Schotta credited the record-setting performance to the Tailgate for the Kids Steering Committee’s efforts to secure increased sponsor participation.

“The formula for succeeding with this kind of an event is very much like the approach it takes to succeed on the football field – talented people who develop and execute a sound game-plan. It takes dedication and hard work, and the Tailgate Committee have scored, big-time!” said Schotta. “But their victory is even more meaningful when you realize that 100 percent of the net proceeds of this event go to help abused and neglected kids, who need some ‘wins’ in their lives. And it is our community – with people like our Tailgate Committee and our wonderful corporate sponsors – who help us to help them achieve those everyday victories.”