Sunday, February 21, 2010

Mission Possible: Program Coordinator & Donations Needed


Greetings to all once again! We have been very busy at the center tutoring children, offering homework help and providing them with a hot meal after school. (Sometimes it is the only hot meal the children get each day.)

I want to take a moment to thank the congregation and pastoral leaders at Erie First Assembly for the opportunity to speak on their local missions panel on Sunday, February 21. My family and I were warmly welcomed and we appreciated the opportunity to tell others about the work we do with at-risk inner-city youth.

For those who attended the event and would still like to purchase ceramic tiles painted by me or the children, send me an e-mail at Clara@ClarasWay.com and reference the Erie First event to receive our special pricing for that event. Click on the link below for more information about our Clara's Way Keepsake Ceramic Tiles. ttp://eriealitytv.com/ClarasWay/TileOrders.pdf

Well, today I have a special mission for you. I believe it is a mission possible. Since the center has grown so quickly (almost over-night ... or at least over seven days) we are now in great need of a part-time Program Coordinator at the center. Our hope is to raise enough funds over the summer to make this a paid position. We need someone who can help us with some basic clerical and organizational tasks as we expand our programs to meet the needs of the children we serve.

Please e-mail me at Clara@ClarasWay.com if your are interested or know someone who would be interested in helping us. As always, we are always in need of volunteers and monetary donations to help us continue feeding and caring for the children after school each day.

God bless and keep you today and always. Love one another and strive to do good always. God loves you and so do I.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Invite Clara to Speak at Your Next Meeting or Event!

To ring in the New Year, we encourage members of the Erie community to consider having me speak at your next event! I am very anxious to share my story and message with others, so if you'd like me to speak at your next event, click on the speaker request form on this site or e-mail Clara@ClarasWay.com for more information.

The YDC children have been busy attending an after-school program at the center with homework help and tutoring provided by Mercyhurst and Gannon students. They are learning to use our new computers and they are looking forward to some fun field trips we have planned for them in the next few months. To support these and other YDC programs in the future, consider making a donation to the YDC by clicking the "donate" button on this site. To receive a keepsake ceramic tile for your donation, click the link on the previous blog post below to learn more.

God Bless You today and always. Love one another, be kind to one another and know that I love you.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Receive a Keepsake Ceramic Tile With Your Donation to Clara's Way in 2010!
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NEW for 2010! Click the link below to find out how you can receive a hand-painted ceramic tile designed by the YDC kids and me with your donation! http://eriealitytv.com/ClarasWay/TileOrders.pdf

Happy New Year to all! We have been so incredibly blessed this past year, and we want to thank each and every one of you for your kind words and support after the airing of the Ward Family Extreme Makeover:Home Edition on Sunday, December 13, 2009. We are so blessed and humbled by your generosity.
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Well, the national spotlight has faded, but we still continue our work with the children. The future is bright for the YDC children thanks to all of you. We are now using the computers donated from EMHE and Mercyhurst College to tutor the children and provide homework help for them after school. We also plan to take them on some fun field trips in the coming months. Stay tuned for more updates on our journey!
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Remember, we can always use community volunteers and we invite you to share the gifts of your time, talents and treasures with us in 2010 and beyond. God bless and keep you today and always.
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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

TOUR THE HOME! Limited Tickets!

John Maleno, Nick Scott and Clara Ward invite you to
TUNE IN to the Show,
then
TOUR the Home!
Clara's Way
Thursday, December 17.
Limited Tickets Available!
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If you are unable to attend, but would like to support the cause, please click the "donate" button on this site. Thank you for your support!
Clara's Way
DEADLINE: Monday, December 14
Please mail to: Clara's Way c/o Maleno Development
2340 W. Grandview Blvd. / Suite 1
Erie, Pa. 16506
Clara's Way
(NOTE: Event parking is available at Holy Trinity Church - 2220 Reed St.
Parking escorts are available to walk guests to and from the Ward home.)
EMAIL INQUIRY: Clara@ClarasWay.com

Friday, November 6, 2009

"Save-That-Date!"

We've just received word from WJET TV that the air date for the Ward Family Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on ABC is scheduled for Sunday, December 13th from 8-10 p.m. (It’s a two hour special!) We have been anxiously awaiting this important announcement and we’re so happy to finally begin the official countdown to the “big day!”
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Because this home makeover would not have been possible without the support of the entire Erie community, we invite you to make this exciting journey with us by registering for updates on the latest, most exclusive EMHE news at ClarasWay.com. Some exclusive information you’ll only find here is that the Youth Development Center is planning a special VIP Extreme Open House Event slated for Thursday, December 17th. Guests will be given an exclusive tour of my home, sample fabulous food and enjoy the music of the legendary Mary Alice Brown. All proceeds from this event will benefit Youth Development Center programs.
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Limited Edition Tiles created exclusively by the Youth Development Center children will be sold at this event for $25 each. My family and I also painted a series of Special Limited Edition Tiles that will be sold for $40 each.
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Clara's Way (The Youth Development Center) is also working on a very special ceramic tile project with Claytopia, and YOU can be a part of it! I was so touched by the beautiful tiles the children made for my driveway and back patio this summer. That's why we decided to give even more children and adults a chance to participate in an ongoing art project to benefit Clara’s Way. Soon you’ll be able to paint and personalize Clara’s Way pre-stamped tiles with our logo on it! Children and adults of all ages are invited to add their own special touches to these pre-stamped tiles, and the proceeds will benefit The Youth Development Center.
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Individuals, school groups and organizations are invited to visit the Claytopia studio at 2503 West 15th Street (Yorktown Plaza) to paint and personalize their very own 6x6 keepsake tile (so our home can be a part of yours!) These “Clara’s Way” general public tiles will be sold for $12 each and will be available at Claytopia after December 13th. With your support, we can “pave the way” to a better future for inner-city kids in our community.
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Finally, a very important project I need your help with is my annual Youth Development Center Christmas Party scheduled for on Saturday, December 19, 2009. Each year we distribute toys to over 300 needy children and feed them a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings! We are collecting monetary donations and new, unwrapped toys at the center, so if you can help, please call us at 814-456-7199, e-mail me at Clara@ClarasWay.com or click the "Donate" button on this page to support our cause.
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Remember that God is good, and He has blessed my family and the Erie community in a very special way. My prayer is that you will join me on this exciting journey as we count down to the “big day” on Deceber 13th. My hope is that you will continue to support our ministry in the months and years ahead (long after the national spotlight has faded.) Please consider volunteering at the Youth Development Center or supporting our programs with your time, talents and treasure.
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This work is ours to do. Hand in hand, we can make a difference.

Monday, August 17, 2009

THANK YOU!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

We cannot say it enough. To everyone who helped with the Extreme Makeover Home Edition project in any way, we say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts! My family and I were completely overwhelmed by the generosity of the Erie community during EMHE’s visit to Erie.
I want you to know that your hard work and support has not only helped me and my family, it has also helped the ENTIRE COMMUNITY. Your generosity and hard work has helped rebuild my home and The Youth Development Center. You have also helped me (and my family) strengthen our will to serve the children in our community for years to come. All praise be to God!

While I cannot possibly mention everyone by name who helped make this Extreme Makeover possible, I would like to thank John Maleno and his entire family and staff, Nick Scott, Dr. Thomas Gamble and the city of Erie for their overwhelming generosity. Thanks also to the organizations and businesses who donated services and items for our family and the children we serve. We are truly grateful and humbled by your generosity.

All my life I have given of my time and resources to help others in need. All of you have done the same for me by donating your time, talents, sweat and resources to make my life and the lives of countless children better. You have also made a lasting difference in our neighborhood by landscaping and doing other odd-jobs for so many who live nearby. For this we are forever grateful. God bless each and every one of you.

This experience has truly been a whirlwind. Sometimes I feel like my feet have not touched the ground! I believe the Extreme Makeover Home Edition’s visit to Erie has helped all of us take the first steps of a new adventure together. Let’s keep that spirit of giving alive in the future by helping one another and loving one another just as you did during EMHE week. We can accomplish great things if we all work together. My new home and youth center are proof of that.

If you would like to learn more about our history and mission, or if you’d like to support us and our continued efforts to help inner-city youth, please visit us at ClarasWay.com.
Once again, on behalf of the entire Ward Family, we say THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU for your love and support!

-Clara Ward and the Ward Family