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Chairman’s Message
Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Report Chairman's Message
Wikipedia defines the future as “a time period commonly understood to contain all events that have yet to occur. It is the opposite of the past, and is the time after the present.” At Futures for Children we certainly understand that definition. For over 40 years we have made our life’s work the future of American Indian children.
Over 20,000 children have successfully gone through our various programs. Our past successes are indicative of what our future holds. We have the track record that proves we can “walk the talk.” We haven’t done that alone, and we will not walk alone in the future. We have a dedicated staff, committed children, countless volunteers at our various sites, and financial supporters who have kept this organization going over these 40 plus years.
At times it hasn’t been easy, but we have stayed the course, focused on our core mission of enriching the future of children. Without this focus Futures for Children would not be the organization that it truly is.
It is my personal gift to serve a second term as Chairman of the Board. My wife Janet and I have been involved with Futures for almost 25 years. Over the last two years we have been privileged to attend the Youth Leadership Summit at Northern Arizona University, where over 100 teenagers gather for a week of interactivity and leadership programs. It is an incredible experience that helps establish and build leadership in young adults.
We have witnessed many opportunities and challenges. At the heart of grasping an opportunity or meeting a challenge is the central theme of this organization. Futures has never swayed from that mission and as the future unfolds the organization never will.
As I write this, the challenges facing American Indian Children are enormous. School dropout rates are at record levels. Unemployment rates in many parts of Indian country are among the highest ever recorded. Many Indian children are from single parent homes. Even if they graduate from high school or post secondary education, can they find meaningful employment at home or will they have to leave the reservation? The list goes on and on.
Futures for Children, with its proven track record, stands as a beacon facing a number of these continuing and upcoming challenges. Yet, we cannot do it alone. We, like many of you, are struggling in these difficult economic times. We need the continued support of our many donors. We need new donors and new mentors. Please tell a friend about us or sponsor a get-together with a Futures’ spokesperson. Help us walk the Futures’ talk. We will be there and we need you to be there with us.
Peter Fagan
Chairman of the Board
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