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Region #14: Atlanta, GA

Children's Restoration Network (CRN) provides basic necessities, programs and special events for children and mothers who experience homelessness. The organization creates positive experiences through healthy community interaction, mentoring programs, scholarships and fulfilling basic needs. CRN has dedicated 13 years to fulfilling their vision by working with group homes and more than 120 shelters in the metro-Atlanta area. They have served 1,900 children each day and 3,400 within a year.

Winning Regional Essay

"Frequent transitions between schools, empty book bags and a lack of guidance and support comprise the daily realities of the 1,900 homeless children we serve. In order to alleviate a fraction of the rigors that accompany homelessness, CRN offers twelve programs to these underprivileged children. Two of these in particular are directed toward homeless school aged children to promote a healthy education and serve as a source of support during their school years."

"The first is Project One on One, an academic mentoring program, designed in 1997, which benefits children living in group homes and shelters across metro-Atlanta. Needy children are matched with caring, supportive adults who not only assist them with basic math and reading skills, but also help them improve their attitudes toward a higher education and a future career. Volunteer mentors meet once a week for an hour and a half at one of the nine group homes involved in the program. The program also encourages outings with program participants to sporting events, museums, movies, restaurants, etc. Our goal is for these children to attend college, earn a stable job, and become economically self-sufficient."

"As a component of Project One on One mentoring, CRN's New Hope Scholarship is offered. Unlike Georgia's Hope Scholarship, which is awarded to high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0, the NEW Hope Scholarship is awarded to deserving seniors living in group homes and shelters. A one page essay denoting why he or she should be a recipient, an advocate's recommendation letter, and a positive attitude is the criteria for the application. Last year, CRN awarded six New Hope Scholarships each worth $2000 to be used for a technical school or college of their choice."

"Both Project One on One and the New Hope Scholarship have proven to be both effective and beneficial to needy students. An example is Gino P. who attended mentoring sessions for five years beginning when he was 10 years old in 1997. This individual was a member of the initial mentoring program. Last July, he was awarded one of CRN's New Hope Scholarships and is currently a student at Georgia Perimeter College. To date, he is a psychology major and plans to empower students through knowledge as a volunteer once did for him. If we receive this grant, $2,000 will be used for a scholarship and $3,000 will be devoted to the mentoring program."

If they won the $100,000 National Award ...

"Frequent transitions between schools, empty book bags, and a lack of guidance and support comprise the daily realities of the 1,900 homeless children we serve. In order to alleviate a fraction of the trauma that accompanies homelessness, CRN offers twelve programs to these underprivileged children. Two of these in particular are directed toward homeless school aged children to promote academic achievement and serve as a source of support during their school years."

"The first is Project One on One, an academic mentoring program, designed in 1997, which benefits children living in group homes and shelters across metro-Atlanta. Needy children are matched with caring, supportive adults who not only assist them with basic math and reading skills, but also help them improve their attitudes toward a higher education and a future career. Volunteer mentors meet once a week for an hour and a half at one of the nine group homes involved in the program. The program also encourages outings with program participants to sporting events, museums, movies, restaurants, etc. Our goal is for these children to attend college, find a stable job, and become economically self-sufficient."

"As a component of Project One on One mentoring, CRN's New Hope Scholarship is offered. Unlike Georgia's Hope Scholarship, which is awarded to high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0, the NEW Hope Scholarship is awarded to deserving seniors living in group homes and shelters. A one page essay denoting why he or she should be a recipient, an advocate's recommendation letter, and a positive attitude is the criteria for the application. Last year, CRN awarded six New Hope Scholarships each worth $2000 to be used for a technical school or college of their choice. This year CRN will award ten scholarships."

"Both Project One on One and the New Hope Scholarship have proven to be both effective and beneficial to needy students. An example is Gino P. who attended mentoring sessions for five years beginning when he was 10 years old in 1997. This individual was a member of the initial mentoring program. Last July, he was awarded one of CRN's New Hope Scholarships and is currently a student at Georgia Perimeter College. To date, he is a psychology major and plans to empower students through knowledge as a volunteer once did for him. The $5,000 we were awarded for the initial contest will be used to help fund these two programs."

Good information to know:

• CRN staff is small but dedicated. CRN has four full time employees, two part-time and one intern. People are often amazed when they realize how few people organize and run the many programs and special events CRN offers.
• Volunteers are the "life blood" of CRN. In 2006 5,534 people volunteered over 28,000 hours. Many spent just 3 or 4 hours wrapping gifts or flipping hamburgers but many also volunteered hundreds of hours of their time.
• In fiscal year 2006, 93% of what was donated to CRN was used for programs.
• CRN's New Hope Scholarship provides a second chance for deserving kids in shelters who because of their circumstances do not quite qualify for Georgia's Hope Scholarship.
• Children that began in CRN's mentoring program 10 years ago are now receiving college scholarships. CRN will provide 10 children New Hope Scholarships this year.
• In CRN's 14 year history we have provided goods and services to over 30,000 homeless children and 9,000 mothers.
• CRN provided academic, emotional, and physical support to over 3,400 children in 2006
• CRN"s volunteers are some of the most dedicated in the world! One CRN volunteer puts together 1,000 colorful Easter Baskets each year, and another 1,800 Christmas stocking. They begin work the day after Easter and the day after Christmas.
• CRN's Back 2 School campaign passed out 1,853 NEW book bags filled with all necessary school supplies.
• CRN distributed almost 10,000 tickets to homeless children to Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers games.

Mission & Vision

Mission: To offer hope and support, enabling children and their mothers to break the cycle of homelessness by empowering them to become a part of mainstream society as active, productive citizens through programs and special events designed to address their academic, emotional and physical needs.

Vision: To continually seek to enhance its ability to offer significant resources to homeless children and mothers and make a demonstrative difference in their lives by creating strong partnerships and attaining financial stability.