General
Announcing – The Atherton Home
June 12th, 2013 | 
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Our fifth home is under construction! In spite of a very wet spring, dirt work and foundation are finished, and progress continues weekly. We are excited and thankful to serve more children.
With the help of NAP tax credits, the funds needed to construct The Atherton Home were raised within a few months. We are still in need of additional funding to maintain the home once it’s built. Projected completion date is Summer 2014.
Please consider making a gift to our Endowment Fund. It is a gift that will ensure our children’s needs are protected not just for today, but for future generations.
For a brochure about the Coyote Hill Endowment Fund or other Planned Giving options, visit our Giving Options page. Also, feel free to call our office (573-874-0179) to set up an appointment to discuss your estate planning goals.
Also – keep up to date with the progress on The Atherton Home by checking back often to view the picture gallery:
June 2013 Newsletter
Click the link below to view this month’s newsletter:
May 2013 Newsletter
Jeremy Maclin Charity Weekend
It all began Friday evening. Our kids were invited to the Mizzou Athletic Training Complex to meet about 15 former Mizzou and current NFL greats. They happily signed poster after poster, as well as t-shirts, footballs, and helmets for all of our kids. One of the cutest moments during that time was when one of the four-year-olds was handed a poster and autographing pen so he could get autographs – and he said, “I’ll need help writing my name.”
Next – we were all in for a treat, as we found out first hand that boys never really grow up. It was great fun seeing all of the big, tough football guys laughing, teasing and playing kickball with our kids…sometimes even picking them up and running with them so they could get to a base faster. Competitiveness means you always want to win, even when playing kickball with four-year-olds.
Saturday held just as many fun opportunities, beginning with a football camp in the morning that our boys were invited to attend. The camp included lots of running, tackling, foot-work, push-ups and inspiration from these talented football players.
The day ended by watching the guys get a little out of their element to play softball. During the Home Run Derby, our kids and Home Parents were invited to help catch the hit balls. The big Mizzou Legends Softball Game provided an entertaining grand finale. Lots of laughs and friendly competition ensued as defensive players took on offensive players for six innings, with Sean Weatherspoon providing humorous commentary throughout the game. The offensive team won soundly 12-2.
It’s true – the Jeremy Maclin Charity Weekend did provide some greatly appreciated fund-raising support for our ministry. More than anything, however, it provided a tremendous amount of fun and new experiences for our children. Where else could a child in our care get the chance to play kickball with famous football players? Or attend a football camp coached by college and NFL greats? Nowhere else but the Jeremy Maclin Charity Weekend!
We can’t thank The Jeremy Maclin Foundation enough, not only for the financial support, but also for the fantastic opportunities you gave our children. We loved every moment of it!
View photos from the weekend:
April 2013 Newsletter
March 2013 Newsletter
MU Football Player Reaches Out
Our four teen boys recently hung out with L’Damian Washington, Senior Wide Receiver for Mizzou Football. In the words of a 14 year old, it was the “Best Day Ever.”
It was a fun and inspirational opportunity, especially considering L’Damian’s background. He talked to the boys about persevering through struggles and the importance of setting goals for yourself.
We’ve compiled some highlights from an article in the Columbia Missourian, written over a year ago, explaining Washington’s history and motivation. We hope you’ll take a moment to read through it, and be inspired!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 | By: Andrew Wagaman
L’Damian Washington lost both of his parents during his childhood in Shreveport, LA, his father being shot and killed when L’Damian was only 5 years old, and his mother dying of complications from a blod clot when he was 15 years old. At the time of his mother’s death, Washington’s older brothers were only 19 and 17 years old, and his younger brother was nine.
Their mother had taught her sons to stick together. Now she was gone, but they did not consider going separate ways. It wasn’t easy. The oldest brother worked whatever jobs he could get while the younger brothers continued school. When L’Damian Washington turned 16, he began working at the same hospital his mother had, delivering archived medical records doctors requested.
Sometimes, it wasn’t enough. Sometimes, they had no running water. Sometimes, the power went out. Rent went unpaid.
L’Damian Washington had other people looking out for him. He began attending Ebenezer Baptist Church every Sunday, and he spent many nights at the pastor’s house, as his best friend, Josh, was the grandson of Pastor Jimmy Smith.
Allowing anyone else to support him, though, was not an option. Everybody has problems of their own, L’Damian Washington said. And besides, he would not leave his brothers.
“It made us tougher, and it brought us closer together,” L’Damian Washington said. “I praise God for that.”
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L’Damian’s success at MU is not solely sports related. He also continues to make good grades, and he says that his degree comes first at Missouri. He plans to use his degree in psychology to help other Shreveport kids from what he calls a hard background.
What does co-offensive line coach Josh Henson say about L’Damian Washington’s ability to survive his tough situation? Henson is not totally sure, but he has an idea.
“I think the biggest factor is not feeling sorry for yourself,” Henson said. “Some people get in a tough situation and say, ‘Well I can’t succeed because of this, I can’t succeed because of that.’ Instead, L’Damian said, ‘I’ve been dealt the hand I’ve been dealt, I’m going to make a choice to do something great with it.’”
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Thanks, L’Damian, for being such a wonderful role-model and taking the time to inspire and reach out to our teenage boys. It was an experience they will never forget.
February 2013 Newsletter
Click on the link to view this month’s newsletter:
Pancake Breakfast, 2013
Make plans to attend this annual fundraiser, in support of our recreation fund!
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Jeremy Maclin Charity Weekend
April 5 & 6, 2013
Jeremy Maclin, former MU football star and current Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver, is joining forces with his former teammates and other Mizzou Football players currently in the NFL to bring Mizzou greats back to campus to give back to kids in need and local non-profits. He selected Coyote Hill as one of the charities he is supporting during this weekend!
Full details can be found at the Jeremy Maclin Charity Weekend website, but here’s a summary of the weekend’s events:
