Dear Friend:
We want to honor Glen Kehrein’s life, vision, and ministry following his going home to be with the Lord. The community, staff, and board of directors have all been blessed by Glen’s passionate, long-time service to Circle Urban and the Austin neighborhood.
You may be asking “What happens to Circle now?” Glen very wisely assembled a gifted team to serve the neighborhood and the ministry. You can be sure that they are very capable in their roles, and across the board they share Glen’s passion to serve the poor and disenfranchised, and to see the community transformed to the glory of God.
You are aware already of the efforts being carried out at Circle Urban to benefit the youth of our community. Your support has helped provide four dynamic youth programs that are impacting many lives.
You have helped to make Circle Urban Ministries a beacon of light and hope in the Austin neighborhood. Your financial participation is bringing the resources needed to advance our mission: “Inspire, equip and empower urban youth to develop Godly character, to reach full potential; and to transform lives and communities on the Westside of Chicago.”
Part of the regular class time for our College Readiness Program includes Bible study. This year the majority of the 7th and 8th grade students don’t go to church or have a church background, so the Bible and its stories of life and hope are new to them.
The 7th graders are studying what having faith in God means. The 8th graders are doing a study of some of the main characters of the Bible; from the Old Testament to Paul. The theme is “With ordinary people, God can do extraordinary things”.
Your financial support of Circle Urban Ministries enables us to touch lives every day. Your gifts are helping children grow spiritually, socially, academically, and physically.
Mia is in the fourth grade this year. She is in our Circle4Success After-School Program and on the dance team for LIFT Performing Arts. Last year Miss Jackie, the Circle4Success Program director, noticed that Mia was having serious difficulty with reading. Jackie learned that Mia had been placed in the “learning disabilities” category at school. She was troubled about this and wanted to work together with Mia’s mom to help improve Mia’s reading skills.
Mom was willing and available for three half-hour sessions per week to help Mia work on basic phonics. Between Jackie and mom’s work at home over the course of 4 to 5 months, Mia’s reading ability jumped from kindergarten level to nearly grade level. She is now an avid reader, in addition to being a joyful dancer, and her reading ability and confidence level continues to soar.
In this uncertain economic time, Circle Urban is counting on your support – now more than ever. Please consider making as generous a gift as you are able.
A gift from you for $150 covers the cost for a LIFT coach for a week; a gift of $350 covers the food cost for the pantry for a month; a gift of $500 will help cover the cost for College Readiness field trips; a $1,000 or $5,000 donation will help us to grow our programs. You can make all the difference to our participants, their families, and our staff.
A gift marked “Where needed most” will be used where we have the greatest need, or you can designate your gift to one of our programs: 1-to-1 Mentoring, Circle4Success, Lift Performing Arts, College Readiness, or Community Care.
The Board of Directors of Circle Urban Ministries continues to be very diligent in overseeing Circle’s direction and health. We are committed to continuing Glen’s legacy. We trust that you will also continue in partnership with the staff and board as we work together to Build hope . . . Shape futures.
In service to you and Him,
 John H. Campbell
Board Chairman
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