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"Cultivating the Seed of Youth" |
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1249 S. Diamond Bar Blvd., #345, Diamond Bar, CA 91765-2226 |
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Steve Gilbreath, of Pasadena, California, is the winner of the 36" Big Screen television that Zera Foundation raffled off in order to raise funds for
its children. The raffle was a huge success and many thanks to all who participated in purchasing tickets as well as selling them. The drawing was held on Sunday, May 31, 1998 at the Best Buys Store in Torrance,
California. The atmosphere was charged with great anticipation and excitement as customers and employees gathered around the Manager of the store to watch him draw the winning ticket. "And the winner is Steve Gilbreath
of Pasadena, California." Steve says his main use for the big screen will be to practice his karaoke routine for the shows he puts on for convalescent hospitals through his church's outreach program. Steve
performs for at least a dozen convalescent hospitals each month spreading good cheer and encouragement to the residents there. Way to go Steve! The Zera Foundation would like to wish you many years of Big Screen
viewing enjoyment and thanks again for your participation with our raffle. Hey Steve! When is the party so we can all come over and watch?? |
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"Very few people, if any, shine with the honesty and sincerity as Willie's character has demonstrated. His dedication is 100% from the heart. As the founder of the Zera Foundation, any funds donated has the assurance that they will be used with the ultimate micro-management application geared for the full benefit of our young people in need. I, Paul Keever, have personally experienced his sincere, respectable and generous personality not as a friend, not as someone approached for promotional means but as an outsider looking in. I wrote this letter unsolicited. This man is real and genuine, and he is the best person qualified to find the utmost use of any donations, either in the form of cash, cars, boats, etc. or any other thing you can conceive to donate, even your own personal time doing volunteer work with the Foundation. Willie for sure will find ways to better put your talents to good use, and the personal rewards are enormous, and to feel that elusive emotional gratification of being able to help someone in need is achieved tenfold. If you can't put in your time, please put in what you can give for the sake of our young people in need and desperate for the care and compassion of other human beings. Please help." |
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The Brain The Conflict Between the Conscious and Sub-Conscious Mind |
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Scientists have determined that the human brain has the capacity of processing 100 million bytes of information per second. Our brain is divided
into two parts, the conscious and sub-conscious mind. Each part functions to direct our actions, attitudes and our character. Let's talk a little bit about the sub-conscious mind. This part of our brain controls
our body. It tells us to breathe, chew, swallow our food and perform bodily functions. In other words, it has lordship over our flesh. It is the I, me and my, of ourselves. It functions on it's own, meaning
it needs no thought on how to act, it just acts. You do things because it is the sub-conscious mind that tells you it is going to "feel" good. The sub-conscious mind throws caution to the wind, because it wants
to feel good right now, without regard for the future consequences. But there are always consequences for acting without thought. On the other side of your brain is the conscious mind. The conscious mind
speaks to your heart and soul. It gives thought to how you love and treat other people. It has lordship over your "thoughtful character." The conscious mind will not function on its own. It will act on the
knowledge of what it hears. God speaks to your conscious mind (spirit) and when you listen, it enables you to make a right choice. Here's an example of how these two parts of your brain work in your life: Bro' is
going to school and making good grades, but his "homies" are hanging out and ditching class. They decide to smoke a little blunt behind the school building every day. They ask Bro' to go with them. He knows that
if he does not go, they will call him a punk and pick on him. The sub-conscious mind says, "Go with them. Those are your homies, and besides, there's nothing happening in school any way. It's going to feel
good to hang out with the homies and get a little buzz on." The sub-conscious mind gives no regard to any consequence. Remember it only acts on what it feels right now. Your conscious mind, (God speaks to
your conscious mind) says to you nothing more than, "Go to school." It acts on the knowledge that your parents and teachers are expecting you in school. You begin to remember the knowledge that you need an education to
accomplish your goals and dreams in life. Remember, you always have a choice in life. You have to decide who or what is pushing your decisions. If you make a decision on just what you "feel" without thinking about
what you do, you cause problems for yourself and for others. You always hear people tell you "you knew better than that," because you did not use the "knowledge" you had to make a right decision. Or you will tell
yourself "I don't know why I did that" because you don't "feel" now, what you felt then when you made that decision. Be careful. Be aware. Stay conscious. Parents, it is our job to train our children to use
"knowledge" to make right decisions. When they are too young to make their own decisions, we must use our knowledge to help guide them. Drugs, peer pressure, and pain teach our children the wrong lessons. These
things will affect their sub-conscious mind and cause them to decide on what they "feel", rather than on the things they know in their hearts to be right. When we reinforce the practice of informing our children how God
speaks to our conscious mind (spirit) and not through our sub-conscious mind (feelings), they will make right decisions. How Fearfully and Wonderfully You Are Made!! |
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And that's exactly what we believe here at Zera Foundation. So in keeping with that belief, both the staff and children were in 100% agreement when it was
suggested that the Foundation donate 61 Easter Sunday dinners to the Los Angeles Rescue Mission. The Easter season is a time for reflection. Our hearts go out to families who cannot provide for their children, for
whatever the reason. There are many people who are hungry and homeless in this country. Although Zera cannot feed them all, it was a blessing to be able to feed 61 hungry families, especially the children. This
seemed like the best way to support the Los Angeles Rescue Misson and the hungry and homeless people it serves. Keep in mind how fortunate (blessed) you are that these helpless individuls are not members of your family.
IT IS A BLESSING TO BE A BLESSING! |
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Today, over half a million children are in foster care in the United States. Here are a few staggering facts to let you know just how critical the situation is:
n More than 650,000 American children spent all or part of 1997 in government-run foster care.nCalifornia alone spends at least $635 million a year on foster care. nThe nation will spend more than $12 billion on public agency child welfare this year. nAt least 40,600 foster children have been in care for 5 years or longer and another 51,300 have been in care between 3 and 5 years. n Some 15,000 youngsters will reach the age of majority (18 years) this year and leave foster care without a permanent family. n The American Public Welfare Association reports that 70% of foster children enter the system because of abuse, neglect, or "parental conditions" including drug addiction, incarceration, illness or death. nThe ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) reports that 1 in 10 foster children remain in state care longer than 7.4 years. nMore than 50,000 foster children were legally free to be adopted at the start of fiscal 1997, yet still remain in the foster care system. nAccording to the Children's Defense Fund, African-American children tend to stay in foster care far longer than do Caucasian children. Almost one-third of the African-American children in foster care have been there for 5 years. n 15% of all children in America are black, but 40% of the children in foster care are black. nBy most accounts, the govern-ment run foster care system is failing. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? |
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Heroic, innovative, excellent. The above are just a few words to describe our wonderful VOLUNTEERS. Every organiza-tion's future is
dependent upon the people that work to make it a success. Those individuals that take serious the challenges and demands of the organization's direction and scope. Zera Foundation is working within the areas of our
society that most would like to forget existed. Children within the Foster/Group Home Care System and adults on welfare roles need people with a tenacity to help them overcome the many barriers interfering with their success
and also people with a heart of love for the bad times to make failure a little easier to accept. The Foundation would like to take time to honor two such individuals: Karen Ellsworth
has created a relationship with a couple of our girls which forces them to look at what lies ahead of them in the future and to overcome those hurdles which would cause them to stumble. She projects love, while being firm enough for the girls to see how much she cares. Through her consistent coaching, Karen exposes the girls to the first stages of womanhood outside of the foster care system by setting herself as an example of what can be accomplished when you put faith in God. Karen has worked with the Department of Public Services and Children Services from 1971 through 1992, with her last 13 years there in a supervisory position. Karen currently owns her own personnel referral business, and is in the final stages of purchasing a Christmas tree farm to be located in the Chino Hills, California area. The Foundation appreciates her efforts and commit-ment to the children. We hope for a continued relationship with Karen. Her expertise and love will be our success.
Bree Tuck
has set her sights on one girl in particular. She has taken the time to expose her to an environment which she has only heard exists. Bree has a special talent to reach the tender spot of a child, find the hurt and make it better. She exhibits a tender teaching way that will enrich each child she touches. Bree is a legal secretary with an extensive knowledge of our legal system and also has aspirations of entering into journalism. We thank you Bree for your time and patience with our children.
Do you have the ability to make a young person feel important? The building of a strong self image and self-esteem is so very important when dealing with children in Foster and Group Home care. If you feel you
have this ability and possess a strong desire and sense of commitment, then we would love to talk with you about joining our team. We are particularly looking for tutors and mentors who can donate 2 to 3 hours per week.
Please contact Willie Hudson by mail at 1174 S. Diamond Bar Blvd., No. 635 Diamond Bar, California 91765, or telephone him at (714) 990-8131. |
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Tap into our new Website and receive up-to-date information on all of the wonderful activities and accomplishments of the children of Zera Foundation. Look us up at " http://www.zerafoundation.org" |
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Eddie Campbell Mary Campbell We Love You Pat McCauley (Campbell) |
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[Home Page] [About Zera] [Our Founder] [Foster Facts] [Press] |
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