Christian Child and Family Services Association » Boles Children’s Home

Major League Baseball Player to Build Facilities on Boles Children’s Home Campus

Sally Shank — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:50:16 +0000

ARLINGTON, Texas – March 24, 2010 – The Vernon Wells Perfect 10 Foundation will break ground on its first project on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, when Major Leaguer Vernon Wells and his wife Charlene begin construction of two North Texas quadraplex homes for single mothers and their children who are in need of financial and emotional support. The public and media are invited to the ceremony at 11 a.m. on the Arms of Hope – Boles Children’s Home campus just outside of Dallas. The Vernon Wells Perfect 10 Foundation was established in 2009 by Toronto Blue Jays center fielder and Arlington native Vernon Wells to support and protect children and mothers in need.

“We’re excited to begin construction on our first project just a few months after our first major fundraiser,” said Vernon Wells. “Working in partnership with Arms of Hope, one of the most respected facilities in the country, we’re fulfilling our goal of providing shelter to single mothers and children while encouraging and equipping them to improve their lives. This is the first step in our long term plan to help those truly in need.”
The ceremony is on April 6, which is in the middle of a three-day season opening series between the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays. Vernon and Charlene Wells, the Foundation board and representatives from Arms of Hope will attend the ceremony. The two new homes are scheduled for completion this year.
Boles Children’s Home is located at 7065 Love in Quinlan, Texas. It is run by Arms of Hope, a 501(c)(3) not- for-profit Christian care organization that assists children and single-mother families in need. Arms of Hope’s other facility is Medina Children’s Home near San Antonio. The facilities have over 135 years combined experience in comprehensive residential care programs for children.
”Arms of Hope does not receive federal or state grants,” added Kevin M. McDonald, Arms of Hope President and Chief Executive Officer. “Instead, we rely on caring individuals, businesses, civic groups, churches and foundations, like the Vernon Wells Perfect 10 Foundation, for funding and volunteer support. By partnering on eight new family housing units on our Boles Children’s Home campus, both organizations are maximizing the funds raised to improve our community and change lives.”
Through its Residential Child Care, Together Program, College and Career, Right Start, and Outreach Ministry programs, Arms of Hope is committed to providing a safe haven and Christian environment for children and single-mother families by helping them avoid homelessness, poverty, abuse and neglect and by leading them to lives of sustaining and productive citizenship. The campus residents attend public school, nearby universities or trade schools and participate in school, church and campus activities.
In 2007, Vernon and Charlene Wells partnered with Michael Young and Taunee Taylor of the Texas Rangers baseball club, as well as Arlington Police Officer Stephanie Gillespie in a charitable endeavor that forever changed their lives. They took a group of underprivileged children shopping for basic necessities.
“These children are among the homeless population in Arlington, living in motels with their parents who are unable to provide regular meals and proper hygiene,” noted Charlene Wells. “We initiated a plan to make a difference in their lives by creating the Vernon Wells Perfect 10 Foundation to support and protect children in need. Over the past year, we’ve begun fundraising and now we will put those funds to work with our first facility. Our Board and those who support our Foundation are delighted with this milestone and are motivated to reach the families who first inspired Perfect 10.”
About The Vernon Wells Perfect 10 Foundation
Established in 2009 by Arlington, Texas native and Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells and his wife Charlene, the Vernon Wells Perfect 10 Foundation is a Christian faith-based organization established to support and protect children and mothers in need. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) national non-profit organization. For more information, visit VernonWellsFoundation.org or contact Scott Black at (214) 520- 3430 ext. 303 or sblack@tprm-usa.com.

Arms of Hope Announces Appointment of Joe Brazell as Executive Driector of Boles Children’s Home

Sally Shank — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:21:33 +0000

Kevin McDonald, President & Chief Executive Officer of Arms of Hope Youth & Family Solutions (AOH), announced today the appointment of Joe Brazell to the position of President & Executive Director of Boles Children’s Home (BCH), a leader in child care and family services for over 84 years.

McDonald said that, in this position, Mr. Brazell will oversee and direct BCH’s daily operations of all programs including Residential Child Care, Mother-Child “Together Program” and Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center.

Brazell brings more than 20 years of management experience to BCH. He most recently served as Planning and Analysis Manager for Refinery Operations at Valero Energy Corporation in San Antonio, Texas. Brazell has also served on the board of directors of Medina Children’s Home, another Arms of Hope ministry, since 2004. McDonald said, “We are indeed fortunate to have Joe accept this very important position. He brings not only his varied management and business experience to Boles Children’s Home but also a passion and heart for the mission of Arms of Hope. I have known and served with Joe for a number of years and am so pleased to have a person of his characterand ability in this critical role.”

“I am excited about this opportunity to work with Arms of Hope

Youth & Family Solutions and the outstanding staff at Boles Children’s Home,” Brazell stated. “My wife Bridgette and I have always had a deep love for children and know that the Lord has been preparing us for this position for many years. We were humbled and uplifted when we were offered this opportunity to serve at-risk children and disadvantaged single mothers and realized that when God calls us, we need to answer.”

Brazell is a graduate of York College and Lubbock Christian University.

Medina Children’s Home & Boles Children’s Home Announce Consolidation and Formation of ARMS OF HOPE

Sally Shank — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:32:52 +0000

Arms of Hope a not-for-profit Christian Home network was formed with the consolidation of Medina Children’s Home, Medina, Texas and Boles Children’s Home, Quinlan, Texas. “It gives me great pleasure to announce a new partnership between two organizations that are leaders in child care and family services in the state of Texas,” announced Curtis Bedrich, Chairman of the Arms of Hope Board of Directors.

Discussions between the two boards of directors began some time ago with the idea that these two great organizations, with much in common, could do so much more and do it more effectively and efficiently working together. “As with any worthwhile endeavor, it took a lot of work and prayer by the respective directors to reach an agreement that met the needs of both organizations while remembering and honoring the needs of those we serve,” stated Kevin McDonald, Arms of Hope President and Chief Executive Officer.

“We are excited about the potential to help even more children and families in the future by building on our strengths under a strong leadership team.” Boles and Medina both have rich histories and share identical programs and missions. Together they bring over 135 years of experience in child care and have served thousandsof children and single-mother families. From their founding, both Boles and Medina have had a strong commitment to Christian principles and the spiritual development of the mothers and children in their care. “That commitment is the center piece of everything we do and will continue to be our number one priority,” McDonald emphasized.

Medina and Boles have been able to serve and grow because of dedicated and generous supporters, who cherish children and single-mother families. “Arms of Hope is very proud of its rich heritage and is so appreciative of its supporters for their faithful giving and commitment to this work throughout the years,” McDonald stated. “Never has their – 2 – support been more important than it is right now. We have great confidence that thesupporters of Medina and Boles will rally behind Arms of Hope to ensure we are able toserve even greater numbers of children and single mothers in need as we move forward.”

ABOUT ARMS OF HOPE Youth & Family Solutions: Arms of Hope is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity focused on changing the lives of children and families in crisis by providing a loving Christian environment in which they can grow and develop. AOH is located on two campuses, one in Medina, Texas founded in 1958 and another in Quinlan, Texas founded in 1924. AOH has two primary programs, Residential Group Care and Mother-Child Care. The Residential Group Care program provides a warm, loving, family-like Christian environment where children can grow up safe and secure and develop to their full potential. The Mother-Child Care program focuses on keeping families with no husband or father figure together by providing basic necessities of life in a safe and nurturing atmosphere while helping single mothers obtain an education and vocational training. Both of these programs have helped change countless lives over the past eighty-four (84) years.

A rms of Hope network is dedicated to nurturing and expanding the caring Christian family programs established at the campuses in Medina and Quinlan, and to fostering new loving environments where children and single mothers in need are able to reach their fullest potential.