E D U C A T I O N A L
P H I L A N T H R O P I C
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
For
King's Daughters and Sons from across North America who attended the 48th
General Convention in Williamsburg, VA, the networking and fellowship
was grand. Members gathered to celebrate the work which is accomplished
every day by this extraordinary membership.
A highlight of the convention was Dr. David Craig, Director of The King's Daughters' School in Tennessee who spoke about the work being done with autistic children. Also, members had the opportunity to hear Pat Alspaugh, a King's Daughters and co-founder of Families of Autistic Children of Tidewater (FACT), speak of her experiences and drive to educate the general public about this disorder which affects 1 in every 150 children.
Besides autism, the Order adopted literacy as another focus. Mary Ann Burritt, a retired educator and a Circle leader, reported startling facts about the effects of literacy on a person's economic status, health, and, of course, education. Following her remarks, members gathered nearly 300 books which were sorted and put into bags. These books were distributed to children in shelters and children in areas where horrific storms had taken away their homes.
Two organizations which receive assistance from The King's Daughters and Sons are Operation Christmas Child and Heifer International. Representatives from both groups spoke at the convention. Members donated hundreds of items to fill 57 shoeboxes.
At the final banquet, the following retiring officers were honored for their years of service: Carole Babel, Sara Companik, Walt Laude, Ida Lyons, and Millie McRae.
As ideas were shared
and friendships forged, members left Historic Williamsburg renewed with
enthusiasm for the work ahead. As Peggy Powers, the Order's poet wrote
in a poem, With God All Things Are Possible, "Look forward to that
which is to come, the future holds many things."
SCHOLARSHIPS HELP STUDENTS ACHIEVE LIFETIME GOALS
This is an exciting time for the members of The King's Daughters and Sons. Throughout the Order, hundreds of thousands of dollars of scholarships are being awarded to students studying to prepare for various health careers, theology, and a myriad of other fields in the United States, Canada, and many other countries. These scholarships are funded from the following International Departments: Around the World, Health Careers, North American Indian, and Student Ministry and from Circles and Branches throughout North America.
Through fundraisers such as tennis tournaments, seafood festivals, gala dances, garage sales, and many other activities, the tens of thousands of King's Daughters and Sons raise money to support these scholarships. Since the organization of the Order in 1886, thousands of deserving students have received assistance to achieve their academic and lifetime goals. In turn, many of these recipients have donated to the Order to help others.
One scholarship recipient, Dr. Mark Tong, of Arizona was a scholarship student in the early 1960s. A native of North Korea, Dr. Tong immigrated to the United States in 1951 where he served as an interpreter for the U.S. Army. While attending church in Oklahoma, he met several members of The King's Daughters and Sons who sponsored him as a Chautauqua Scholarship student in 1959 and 1960.
While
a medical student at Tulane University, the Order members in New Orleans
assisted him. Dr. Tong writes "I have never forgotten the kindness
and generosity of Mrs. C. T. White, the Lousiana Branch President and
all of that Branch's members while I studied at Tulane." Later, Mark
Tong received the first Health Careers scholarship from the Order.
Following graduation from the University of Oklahoma Medical School, Dr. Tong began a practice which took him to New York and finally to Arizona where he has practiced for over thirty years. During his practice, he has delivered over 4500 babies. Over the years, he has been a faithful member of the Order.
Dr. Tong and his wife have two daughters, Michaela and Nina. Following in her father's footsteps, Michaela, also a former Chautauqua Scholarship student, is a doctor at a hospital which serves Native Americans in western United States. She sponsors a special mission, Project Babyface, which provides necessities for babies of needy mothers. Knitted items, bottles, diapers, clothing, and children's books are items which will be donated by many members of The King's Daughters and Sons as they gather at Chautauqua, New York, this summer.
From helping a young Korean student find his way in a strange land to donating to the project initiated by his daughter forty years later, The King's Daughters and Sons have forged a strong tie to the Tong family. This is just one example of how members of the Order have made a difference and continue to "Lend a Hand."
Frances Buskey Sellew
Chautauqua
Scholarship
Program
Information
on the Program and how to apply.
[more]
Some of my childhood
memories revolve around attending my mother's Circle meetings... In 1960
I was fortunate to be a Chautauqua Scholarship student. This experience
contributed to my devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ and dedication to
The King's Daughters and Sons. Chautauqua is a wonderful place... it is
an honour to have had our son and daughter and step-grand-daughter be
Chautauqua Scholarship students as well. For all of them, it has made
a positive difference in their lives. I am extremely thankful to be a
lifetime member of the Order and I thank God I have been given this gift.
Phoebe,
ON
