The Poshard Foundation Announcing 29 Grant Awards to Southern Illinois Agencies Serving Abused and Neglected Children
(Carterville, IL | April 24, 2023)
As part of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Jo Poshard, Director of The Poshard Foundation for Abused Children, will announce grants for over $100,000 at a press conference on Thursday, April 27, 2023, 1:00 p.m. in the Board Conference Room at John A. Logan College. Agency representatives will be available to the press for comment.
A total of 29 grants will be given to Southern Illinois agencies to be used specifically for services directly dealing with abused, abandoned and neglected children in our region. Those organizations are:
Arrowleaf, Vienna
Baptist Children's Home and Family Services, Carmi
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Illinois
Cairo Women's Shelter, Inc.
Caritas Family Solutions, Carterville
Caritas Family Solutions, Mt. Vernon
CASA of Franklin and Hamilton Counties
CASA of Jefferson County
CASA of Saline County
CASA of South Central Illinois
Centerstone, West Frankfort
Children's Home and Aid, Herrin
Children's Medical and Mental Health Resource Network, Anna
Clarity Women's Care, Carbondale and Marion
Foster Family Resource Center of Southern Illinois, Carbondale
Franklin-Williamson Child Advocacy Center, Herrin
Healthy Families Illinois - Shawnee Health Service, Carterville
Hoyleton Youth & Family Services
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Marion
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Prison & Family Ministry, Marion
Perry-Jackson Child Advocacy Center, Pinckneyville
Southern Illinois Coalition for the Homeless, Marion
Spero Family Services, Mt. Vernon and Murphysboro
Stress and Trauma Treatment Center, Inc., Eldorado
Survivor Empowerment Center, Carbondale
The Amy Center, Mt. Vernon
The Guardian Center, Carmi
The Night's Shield, West Frankfort
Two Rivers Child Advocacy Center, Anna
Jo Poshard noted, "April is state and national Child Abuse Prevention Month. Our Foundation distributes these grants in April to draw attention to the plight of abused children in Southern Illinois and to remind the public that child abuse exists twelve months a year...not only in April. We must be vigilant year-round."
"It has been our mission for twenty-four years to help the abandoned, neglected and abused children of Southern Illinois to overcome their abuse and return to a more normal childhood through counseling, medical intervention, food security and recreational activities. These grants, administered by our committed social service workers, serve that purpose." - Glenn Poshard
Glenn and Jo Poshard, co-founders of the Poshard Foundation, believe every child deserves a safe person, a safe place, and a safe community. Unfortunately, that is not the reality for many of our children in Southern Illinois. The abused, neglected, and abandoned ones are those the Poshard Foundation seeks to help. Whether it is by providing counseling, cribs, therapeutic camps, supplies for college-bound foster children, or training for the prevention of violence against children, the Foundation strives to make a difference in young lives.
Bates Foundation Awards $25,000 to the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children
(Carterville, IL | February 10, 2023)
The Poshard Foundation for Abused Children was recently honored with a $25,000 donation from the George A. Bates Memorial Foundation. Dr. Michael Murray, a trustee for the Foundation, presented the check to the founders of the Poshard Foundation, Glenn and Jo Poshard.
This is the fourth year that Murray, one of three trustees on the Foundation, was able to garner support for the southern Illinois charity that helps heal children suffering from physical and emotional abuse by providing funds when other funds are unavailable.
The Bates Foundation, located in Chicago, donates only to 501c3 charitable organizations. The three trustees of the Foundation meet once a year to determine what charities to support. The Foundation supports about 15 groups annually, with each trustee making a case for the organizations they want to help.
"What I look for in an organization is a dedication to their mission and their passion for their cause," said Murray. "I have known Glenn and Jo for years and know firsthand their passion for the cause of abused and neglected children. So I know when I hand this check-off, it is in good hands, and for the fourth year in a row, the other members of the Foundation agreed." According to Glenn Poshard, donations of this size are not typical and are greatly appreciated.
"This is important to us for several reasons. We don't have a marketing budget or solicit donations from other foundations, and everything we get is by word of mouth," said Poshard. "We don't get these grants every day; it will go a long way and help many children."
Jo Poshard stated that this donation would go directly to children in need in southern Illinois.
"In southern Illinois, we have 15 or 16 counties that have two and half times the state average of child abuse. We try to bridge the gap for those children and get them the things that traditional funding cannot get them," said Jo Poshard. "So when agencies run into a dead-end, they know they can call us to help provide anything from beds to counseling services. It can even be a new pair of shoes to wear to court to testify against their perpetrator. These funds will help the children, not rent, not salaries, just the children, and we are very grateful to the Bates Foundation."
You may contact The Poshard Foundation for Abused Children at Poshard Foundation for Abused Children 700 Logan College Drive, Carterville, IL 62918-2500, or by phone at (618) 985-2828 ext. 8564.
L - R: Glenn Poshard, Michael Murray, and Jo Poshard.
The Poshard Foundation Announcing Toy Distribution through Southern Illinois Agencies Serving Abused, Abandoned and Neglected Children
(Carterville, IL | December 5, 2022)
On Wednesday, December 7th, social service agencies across Southern Illinois will be visiting the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children at John A. Logan College for one of the largest Christmas toy giveaways in the region. About two thousand brand new toys and gifts will be distributed to approximately 600 abused, abandoned and neglected children throughout 12 counties in Southern Illinois. Distribution of the toys will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 7th. Toys will be distributed over a two-day period.
Partnering with The Poshard Foundation is Ameren Illinois which has provided funding for gifts in the past, and in recent years has contributed $5000 annually toward the project.
The children receiving gifts are identified by agency caseworkers who work with the Poshard Foundation.
"We want to thank Ameren Illinois for their partnership again this year as well as Hangin' by a Thread, BlueCross BlueShield, Modern Woodmen of America, Richard Clark of Tri-State Business Equipment, Auto Credit of Southern Illinois and our individual donors. These children were not on anyone's Christmas list but they are now. We hope these gifts bring smiles to many faces," said Poshard.
Ameren Illinois representatives donate $15,000 to the Poshard Foundation for Christmas gifts and unmet end-of-the-year needs of abused children Thank you to Ameren for our invaluable partnership and desire to help the children over many years!
Please help us raise money for abused, abandoned, and neglected children in Southern Illinois, with a secure credit/debit card donation.