Choices for Life Pays Tribute to Local Leader

OKLAHOMA CITY — March 28, 2008 — Choices for Life Foster Care, Inc. is scheduled to honor David Gadberry at the second annual Leave Your Mark Event at the Sportsman’s Country Club on May 22, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. The event is held each year to pay tribute to a local leader for their outstanding work with children in the foster care community and for their positive partnership with the organization’s Therapeutic Foster Care program. Gadberry, a senior associate pastor at the Church of the Harvest, will be recognized for his work with the Royal Family Kids’ Camp. The Christian-based, week-long camp provides a safe environment for foster children to receive one-on-one support, understanding and encouragement from an adult camp counselor.

As part of the awards ceremony, Gadberry will be given a bench decorated with handprints of the children on the foster program, and placed in a location of his choice. The bench will serve as a reminder of the need for therapeutic foster care, while encouraging the public to consider becoming foster families or as they are otherwise known, Treatment Parent Specialists.

“We are grateful to pastor Gadberry for the unforgettable experience he provides our children,” said Douglas C. Fellrath, CEO of Choices for Life Foster Care, Inc. “The week at camp arms these children with positive reinforcement that greatly aids in their development and treatment within the therapeutic foster care model.”

The Choices for Life Therapeutic Foster Care program combines professional foster homes with an intensive and personalized therapy program. Subsequently, children and adolescents are able to benefit from the stability and support provided by a trained foster family, while at the same time, they receive individual, family and group therapy from qualified counselors.  The program is designed specifically to help children with emotional issues and traumatic histories that may be the result of previous abuse.

Choices for Life Foster Care, Inc., which was established in 1997, is an active member of the Oklahoma Therapeutic Foster Care Association, the professional association of all therapeutic care provider agencies in Oklahoma. The organization has also been a national member of the Foster Family-based Treatment Association since 2001 and is accredited by the Council of Accreditation. The organization, which was founded in Oklahoma and has served over 1,500 children in the state, now also operates in Georgia. Visit cflfostercare.com or call (405) 751-0800 for more information.

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May 22, 2008 (OKC Leave Your Mark Celebration)
	Awaiting to present the Leave Your Mark Bench and Award to David Gadberry.
	David addressing the audience after receiving the award and bench from Doug Fellrath (president of Choices for Life Foster Care).