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“The number of people seeking services from Hillcrest is growing,” says Julie Johnson, president of the Board of Trustees. “Their problems are increasingly more difficult and complex. I’m not sure people realize just what a reach into the state of Iowa Hillcrest has. We must guarantee that the Christian mission of service that Hillcrest provides is available to those who need our help.”

“To respond to their needs, we must expand special education programs, provide our staff with the best professional training and technology, reinvigorate our campus buildings and provide a solid base for the future,” says Jan Stoffel, CFRE, Director of Development. “We’ve studied the situation thoroughly and believe that a capital and endowment fund raising program with a goal of $1.8 million is appropriate.”

The Help for Today Hope for Tomorrow campaign will be launched in Dubuque in the spring of 2002, with a wider focus on other communities and churches throughout the state in 2003.

“Until 1960, Hillcrest was entirely supported by charitable giving,” states Stoffel. “Today, 85% of revenues comes from government agencies and other third party payers. With the erratic nature of this funding, it is difficult to provide a consistent level of service needed for the recovery of our clients. We need the help of everyone – the state, our communities, individuals and our churches - in order to carry out our mission.”

As part of the campaign, $1.3 million will be raised for capital needs, with another $500,000 for cash needs to augment the endowment.

“The Hillcrest endowment is inadequate to weather the storm in uncertain economic times,” says Johnson. “ It is far smaller that other comparable agencies and has not kept pace with the growth of our programs and services. We absolutely need to make sure that when people need us, we are there.”

With the addition of the $500,000 for the campaign, the endowment will grow to $1.25 million. Long- range plans call for increasing the endowment to approximately $5 million through charitable bequests and other deferred gifts.

In the minutes of the Hillcrest Board of Trustees of 1920 these words were recorded, “As women and men are called into military service …, some provision for the smallest and weakest members of our nation must be made in every community. The Country has put the saving of children as a duty on each man and woman and this Home will continue to do this work for our State with the continued assistance of the friends of the Home, and with the full realization that the future of our nation depends on the physical, moral, and spiritual development of the young.”

These words could have been written today. Hillcrest is partnering with the State to serve thousands of people that the State has determined need services. Until the day comes that we don’t depend upon those contracts to provide our quality services, we need to advocate that the “State” provides fair and appropriate funding. With our nation involved in a war on terrorism and with our entire nation facing difficult economic times, we must still focus on the needs of our young and others who need our help.

As I listen to politicians of both major parties I hear them agree that our economic times are difficult and will not get better in the near future. I know that we jointly need to find some alternatives to make sure that the frail members of our society are provided for.

For the majority of Hillcrest services the Iowa legislature holds the keys to insuring their availablility and quality. There have already been cuts in services due to the last across-the-board cuts in November, and now we face another cut unless something can be done. Governor Vilsak is proposing the use of the “rainy day fund.” The Iowa legislators did not define what a “rainy day” was several years ago, but I think that if we had described an attack on our nation and a resulting economic down turn there would have been much agreement at the time that this would be a “rainy day” at best. The use of the rainy day fund will povide some relief for this fiscal year, and more lasting solutions are needed for the future.

People who recruit three or four others to their bowling team and collect pledges are invited to participate in free bowling and shoe rental, food and entertainment, and have the opportunity to win prizes. Members of each team that raises at least $400, and individuals who raise at least $100, will receive Year 2002 Bowl T-shirts. Special prizes go to any team that raises $1,000 or more. This year’s goal is to have 42 teams participate.

It takes over $1,000 to make and maintain one match of a Big and Little for one year. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dubuque has 46 current matches, with more than 20 kids on a waiting list to be matched. To sign up, or for further information on how you can participate in Bowl For Kids’ Sake, call Anne Hedrick or Julie Woodyard at Hillcrest (563-583-7357), or contact one of them by e-mail at ahedrick@hillcrest-fs.org or jwoodyard @hillcrest-fs.org.

It was the seventh season for Reflections in the Park, and the cumulative proceeds from this successful event now exceed 1/2 million dollars for Hillcrest. Over $70,000 was raised from the 2001 event.

Season of Lights, held in partnership with Make A Wish Foundation of Iowa, had an extremely successful inaugural season at Squaw Creek Park in Marion. Despite the added expenses associated with putting together a new event in a new location, Hillcrest and Make A Wish each earned over $20,000 from gate receipts.

The holiday lights events are organized by volunteers in each community, with displays sponsored by area businesses and organizations. Sharon Faley of Dubuque and Marcia Correll of Cedar Rapids chaired the events. They were assisted by small steering committees and hundreds of community volunteers.

A recent lease agreement between Hillcrest and United Way Services of Dubuque has had a positive effect on this situation. The United Way building, located at 220 W. 7th Street in Dubuque (between the Town Clock and Firstar Bank in downtown Dubuque) now houses the Hillcrest/WIC, Hillcrest Supported Living, Home Supervision, Adult Vocational and Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation programs. In addition, a Maternal Health program nurse and social worker now have space to see other clients under the Title V Enhanced Services program for pregnant women.

During the coming months, the Hillcrest Clinic and Teen Family Information Center will also be moving from its present location at 2500 Asbury Road to the new building.

$5,000 from the Wahlert Foundation for new flooring in our residential treatment facilities.

$2,500 from CitiFinancial for Big Brothers Big Sister of Dubuque program support.

$1,500 from Very Special Arts Dubuque for music education materials and instruments for our elementary school.

Hillcrest Family Services continues to strongly believe that there is a tremendous need for children to have spiritual support. A deeper healing comes when they find their own spirituality and develop a set of values that will guide them through life.

A chaplain ministers to the spiritual needs of our troubled adolescents. Many times, this encounter is the first time they’ve related to a minister or attended church services.

A Christian Sunday service is offered each week, with the youth and staff members attendng. Hillcrest respects the faith background of every youngster in our programs. Children may worship at a local congregation of their denomination.

“Hillcrest children come to weekly group sessions on a voluntary basis — and over 90% choose to participate, says Jamie Cutler, Hillcrest chaplain. “They discuss forgiveness, self-doubt, and the emotional and spiritual roller coaster of change. The youth learn about the value of honesty, to others and themselves, the value of healthy relationships and the power of prayer.”

Deepening the faith journey
The Hillcrest Ambassadors is a worship ministry team that visits churches in eastern Iowa. Accompanied by a chaplain and staff, Hillcrest youth present a Sunday service that includes music, drama, prayer, scripture and personal testimony.

Hillcrest children can participate with youth from other congregations as they come to our campus for a youth group or confirmation class trip.

For some youth, arrangements are made to integrate them into additional community faith-based offerings, such as Bible studies, workshops and conferences.

Teen shares his story
James, age 16, is happy to share his story with others whenever he gets the opportunity. Participating with the Hillcrest Ambassadors has been very important to him during his time in our residential treatment program.

“My mother is dead and most of my family has disowned me except for my grandmother. I came to Hillcrest because I was fighting, using and selling drugs, being super disrespectful to others and pretty much out of control. I was on a path to jail or the cemetery. Through Hillcrest, I’ve learned to be more accepting and to deal with problems without hurting or taking my feelings out on other people. I have changed my outlook on how to handle things. I know that God is really working in my life through the Hillcrest Ambassadors and the Hillcrest Chaplains.”

James’ story is just one of many shared by Hillcrest youngsters. Many of them have had no measurable contact with a church or chaplain prior to coming to Hillcrest. The program opens up new possibilties that many of them were unaware of before coming to our residential treatment program.