'Growing hope' for new building

Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri kicked off its statewide capital campaign, "Growing Hope," at St. Andrew Lutheran Church Saturday. Statewide, LFCS is seeking to raise $8.75 million through the campaign.

The community event for families and donors offered amusements for children including games, a planting station, puppets and face painting. Funds raised for capital improvements will support and sustain the programs LFCS provides to the community in a new, larger building.

The Southeast Missouri LFCS Cape Girardeau office opened in 1973 with one staff member. Since then it has grown to eight staff members operating in a building of 2,000 square feet. The programs, which serve more than 1,000 people in Southeast Missouri annually, provide senior counseling, domestic and international adoption, crisis pregnancy counseling, parenting classes, an Alzheimer's support group, abstinence-only education and teen mentoring services.

"The Southeast Missouri office has received almost 75 percent of its goal, or $716,046 in pledges toward our $1 million goal," said Jeff Martin, Southeast Missouri capital campaign committee co-chairman. "We are very pleased to announce that the family of Shirley and Charles Drury have committed to a very generous contribution that will assist the agency in constructing a new 6,700-square-foot facility on Blattner Drive. By the end of the year, we hope to raise the remaining 25 percent of our goal and also move into our new facility."

"This campaign assures that our services can continue and solidifies the work our staff is doing. It gives the message to the community that we're here to stay," Molly Strickland, Regional director of the LFCS Southeast Missouri office, said.

Lauren Landewee, center, made flowers with her mom, Jennifer, and her twin sister, Lindsey, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church on Saturday. The "Growing Hope" capital campaign officially kicked off at the church. KIT DOYLEkdoyle@semissourian.com

The campaign, which began with a quiet phase in February 2006, is raising $4.55 million in endowment funds to be used to stabilize and sustain core programs well into the future, $2.1 million to eliminate LFCS' facility debt and free up an additional $150,000 a year to assist the many children and families needing care, and $2.1 million in capital improvements, said Alan Erdman, president and CEO of LFCS.

Martin added, "We are especially grateful to all of our friends and donors: the Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Okla., for $125,000 designated for Southeast Missouri; the William T. Kemper Foundation for $25,000 for capital projects in Southeast Missouri; the Kasten family for the naming of the new building; Ron, Jen, Ana and Ali Wahlers for naming the adoption ceremony room; Laverne and Orville Schaefer for naming the baby layette closet; Dorothy and Harlan Seibert for naming the board room; and Judy and Steve Schneider for naming the social worker staff offices."

In addition to Martin, the local steering committee for the capital campaign is also led by Debbie Martin and by Daryl and Kathy King, campaign committee co-chairs. Steering committee members include Jane and Roy Boren, Rob Erlbacher, Steve and Laura Green, Lynn and Jim Hillin, Joycelyn and Kenny Kasten, Kim Kelly, John Lichtenegger, Ellen and John Lorberg, Laverne and Orville Schaefer, Steve Schneider and Jen and Ron Wahlers.

Individuals interested in campaign involvement may contact Melody Anderson at 334-5866.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133