Gina Yonko

What:

Mix, mingle, and shop at the Providence House 20thAnnual Deck the House, the premier holiday event of the season that benefits babies and children in crisis.

Enjoy a festive holiday atmosphere in the newly renovated City View Lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium, with beautifully decorated Christmas trees and memorable holiday tunes provided by the North Coast Men’s Chorus. Guests can dine, mingle with Cleveland Browns players, bid on hundreds of live and silent auction items from trips to the tropical Caribbean to an ice cream party with All-Pro Cleveland Brown, Joe Thomas, all while helping our community’s most vulnerable children.

This magical evening also includes the announcement of the 2015 NFL Ed Block Courage Award winner presented to a Cleveland Browns player, a community role model who exemplifies professionalism, strength, and dedication.

Who:

Honorary Chairs Annie & Joe Thomas, #73, Browns Offensive Lineman

Celebrity Emcee Jimmy Malone, WMJI 105.7 FM and Andrea Vecchio

Where:

FirstEnergy Stadium, Home of the Cleveland Browns

City View Lounge

100 Alfred Lerner Way

Enter through the Southeast Gate

When:

Tuesday, December 8th

5:30-9:30 p.m.

Media passes available at the registration table. Please check in for pass.

# # #

Contact:

Kayla Naticchioni

216.651.5982 x 225

kayla@provhouse.org

About Providence House:

Providence House – Ohio’s first Crisis Nursery – provides emergency shelter and care for children in crisis, newborn through age 10, who are at risk of abuse or neglect, while offering family support services to strengthen and stabilize families long-term. Visit provhouse.org for more information.

CLEVELAND – Providence House cut the ribbon today on Elisabeth’s House: The Prentiss Wellness Nursery (Elisabeth’s House). Elisabeth’s House, the first of its kind in the country, is a new service on the Providence House campus that will address a growing population of at-risk children in the Greater Cleveland area whose safety and care is further jeopardized by medical conditions which cannot be supported when discharged from the hospital due to family crisis, unstable living environments and caregivers with limited or no capacity to meet their child’s needs.

“Today is an exciting day not only for Providence House, but for our entire community,” said Natalie Leek-Nelson, President and CEO of Providence House. “Elisabeth’s House is an innovative solution to address children’s safety and wellness while also addressing deeper root causes of family crisis and instability that may result in poor medical and developmental outcomes for children and possibly abuse or neglect. This type of service is at the core of our mission of protecting children, empowering families, and building safer communities for every child.”

The initial Providence House concept was further developed by a 39-member taskforce that teamed healthcare professionals from University Hospital’s Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, The Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, and MetroHealth with Providence House staff and board, as well as insurers, researchers, and children’s healthcare advocates. The resulting model will allow hospitals to discharge children (birth-10 years old) from the hospital who have minor medical needs into the Wellness Nursery’s care, while Providence House staff work intensively with parents to address issues that range from homelessness and domestic violence to substance abuse, mental health challenges and more.

Elisabeth’s House is located across the street from the Leo’s House Crisis Nursery on the Providence House campus at West 32ndStreet, where the Providence House crisis nursery works to prevent child abuse and neglect by protecting at risk children, empowering their families, and building a safer community for every child.

# # #

Contact:

Emily Perry
216-651-5982 x 226
emilyp@provhouse.org

About Providence House:

Providence House – Ohio’s first Crisis Nursery – has cared for over 7,000 families and children in crisis, living for days, weeks, or years without the support they need to help get them back on their feet. To provide the support so desperately needed by these children and their caregivers, Providence House has built a holistic, integrated program focused on both child abuse prevention and family preservation. Their unique Crisis Nursery Program is a comprehensive, crisis nursery service based on 34 years of experience, the latest child welfare research, and proven evidence-based programs and practices that can help prevent child abuse and neglect, reduce system involvement and foster care placements, and strengthen families in crisis. Visit provhouse.org for more information.

Mix, Mingle, Shop, and Support Providence House at the 19th Annual Deck the House Benefit Presented by the Cleveland Browns

What:

There is only one holiday event in Cleveland where you can mingle with Cleveland Browns players in the City View Lounge of FirstEnergy Stadium, get a jump start on your holiday shopping, and enjoy festive holiday tunes, all while supporting children and families in crisis: Providence House’s 18thAnnual Deck the House Auction Benefit presented by the Cleveland Browns. With the spectacular Cleveland skyline as the backdrop, City View Lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium is transformed into a magical holiday atmosphere surrounded by meticulously decorated Christmas trees. The robust silent auction offers guests the opportunity to check off their holiday shopping list with something for everyone. Hundreds of items from toys for the tots on your list to fabulous gift certificates, vacation packages, and the chance to sit in the Owner’s Loge at a Browns game will be on display.

Who:

Honorary chairs Annie & Joe Thomas, #73, Browns Offensive Lineman

Celebrity Emcee Jimmy Malone, WMJI 105.7 FM

Where:

FirstEnergy Stadium, Home of the Cleveland Browns

City View Lounge

100 Alfred Lerner Way

Enter through the Southeast Gate

When:

Tuesday, December 9th

5:30-9:30 p.m.

Media passes available. Please call Emily Perry at 216.651.5982 x 226.

# # #

Contact:

Emily Perry

216-651-5982 x 226

emilyp@provhouse.org

About Providence House:

Providence House – Ohio’s first Crisis Nursery – has cared for over 6,500 families and children in crisis, living for days, weeks, or years without the support they need to help get them back on their feet. To provide the support so desperately needed by these children and their caregivers, Providence House has built a holistic, integrated program focused on both child abuse prevention and family preservation. Their unique Crisis Nursery Program is a comprehensive, crisis nursery service based on 32 years of experience, the latest child welfare research, and proven evidence-based programs and practices that can help prevent child abuse and neglect, reduce system involvement and foster care placements, and strengthen families in crisis. Visit provhouse.org for more information.

Luncheon Kicks Off National Child Abuse Prevention Month

What: Child abuse and neglect affects everyone in our community. Children that experience abuse and neglect have higher drop-out rates, a tendency towards violence, and are at high risk for depression and mental illness. For every child lost to the system, to the streets, and to prisons, we turn back the clock on building safe and strong communities. Each spring, Providence House, an organization dedicated to ending child abuse and neglect, invites the community to hear about its progress in protecting children, empowering families, and building a safer community.

The Providence House 33rd Annual Spring Luncheon will feature special guest Greg Fitzsimmons, an Emmy Award winning writer and host on both radio and TV. His memoir Dear Mrs. Fitzsimmons tells his honest and entertaining story of growing up in a dysfunctional, Irish-American home and the challenges he has overcome.

The Luncheon is an opportunity to share Greg’s and other’s inspiring stories, celebrate recent successes, and honor the selfless volunteers, community members, and corporate partners that make the work of Providence House possible.

When: Friday, April 4th

Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
Lunch & program at Noon

Where: Renaissance Cleveland Hotel

Grand Ballroom
24 Public Square

Media passes available. Please call Emily Perry at 216.651.5982 x 226

# # #

Contact:
Emily Perry
216-651-5982 x226
emilyp@provhouse.org

About Providence House:
Providence House – Ohio’s first Crisis Nursery – has cared for over 6,500 families and children in crisis, living for days, weeks, or years without the support they need to help get them back on their feet. To provide the support so desperately needed by these children and their caregivers, Providence House has built a holistic, integrated program focused on both child abuse prevention and family preservation. Their unique Crisis Nursery Program is a comprehensive, crisis nursery service based on 32 years of experience, the latest child welfare research, and proven evidence-based programs and practices that can help prevent child abuse and neglect, reduce system involvement and foster care placements, and strengthen fragile families. Visit provhouse.org for more information.

Providence House Partners in Prevention
Aleris
American Greetings
Bauer Advertising
Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc.
Cleveland Browns
Community West Foundation
Fifth Third Bank
Fogg
Forest City Enterprises
Gilbane
Grant Thornton
KeyBank
Linear Creative
Ohio Savings
Oswald Companies
PNC
Sherwin Williams
The Albert M. Higley Company
United Airlines

What: There is only one holiday event in Cleveland where you can mingle with Cleveland Browns players in the City View Lounge of FirstEnergy Stadium, get a jump start on your holiday shopping, and enjoy festive holiday tunes, all while supporting children and families in crisis: Providence House’s 18th Annual Deck the House Auction Benefit presented by the Cleveland Browns. With the spectacular Cleveland skyline as the backdrop, City View Lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium is transformed into a magical holiday atmosphere surrounded by meticulously decorated Christmas trees. The robust silent auction offers guests the opportunity to check off their holiday shopping list with something for everyone. Hundreds of items from toys for the tots on your list to fabulous gift certificates, vacation packages, and the chance to sit in the Owner’s Loge at a Browns game will be on display.

Special highlights of this year’s event include:

• Presentation of the 2013 Ed Block Courage Award to a Cleveland Browns player.
• Chance to mingle with, and receive autographs by Cleveland Browns Offensive Lineman Joe Thomas (#73) and the Ed Block Courage Award winne
• Exclusive holiday performance by the North Coast Men’s Chorus

Who: Honorary chairs Annie & Joe Thomas, #73, Browns Offensive Lineman Celebrity Host Auctioneers Jimmy Malone, WMJI 105.7 FM and Andrea Vecchio

Where: FirstEnergy Stadium

City View Lounge
100 Alfred Lerner Way
Enter through the Southeast Gate

When: Tuesday, December10th

5:30-9:30 p.m.
Media passes available. Please call Emily Perry at 216.651.5982 x 226

# # #

Contact:
Emily Perry
216-651-5982 x226
emilyp@provhouse.org

About Providence House:
Providence House – Ohio’s first Crisis Nursery – has cared for over 6,500 families and children in crisis, living for days, weeks, or years without the support they need to help get them back on their feet. To provide the support so desperately needed by these children and their caregivers, Providence House has built a holistic, integrated program focused on both child abuse prevention and family preservation. Their unique Crisis Nursery Program is a comprehensive, crisis nursery service based on 32 years of experience, the latest child welfare research, and proven evidence-based programs and practices that can help prevent child abuse and neglect, reduce system involvement and foster care placements, and strengthen fragile families. Visit provhouse.org for more information.

“Elisabeth’s House” slated to open in the fall, serving children with medical needs whose families are in crisis

CLEVELAND — Providence House today announced that this fall it will open “Elisabeth’s House – The Prentiss Wellness Nursery,” a unique model for helping children with minor medical needs whose families are in crisis and alleviate the burden of local hospitals struggling to deal with non-medical family issues. The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss foundation gave $1 million to Providence House to create “Elisabeth’s House” – The Prentiss Wellness Nursery and aid the organization’s ongoing campus expansion.

“Providence House has always responded to the needs of our community’s most vulnerable citizens, children whose families are in crisis,” said Natalie Leek-Nelson, Providence House CEO and President. “Over the past year, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in calls for children with minor medical issues, who cannot be safely discharged home from hospitals because their families were dealing with significant challenges, leaving them unable to safely care for their children’s medical needs. We reached out to the medical community and families to provide a solution, and we believe that “Elisabeth’s House” is the answer.”

The Prentiss Wellness Nursery, “Elisabeth’s House,” is a collaborative and innovative approach to a serious community and medical problem. The first of its kind, it will offer intensive family support and crisis intervention services for children with family stability concerns while also providing on-site medical staff that monitor and maintain the children’s medical, developmental, and physical needs.

The initial Providence House concept was further developed by a 39-member taskforce that teamed healthcare professionals from University Hospital’s Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, The Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, and MetroHealth with Providence House staff and board, as well as insurers, researchers, and children’s healthcare advocates.

The resulting model will allow hospitals to discharge children into the Wellness Nursery’s care, while Providence House staff work intensively with parents to address issues that range from homelessness and domestic violence to substance abuse, mental health challenges and more. The Prentiss Wellness Nursery will also allow hospital physicians and medical personnel to focus on the most serious cases, as children who could otherwise be discharged can now leave the hospitals and be cared for at Providence House.

“The Prentiss Wellness Nursery will be an incredible support both to local hospitals and to families,” said Patricia DePompei, President of University Hospital Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and MacDonald Women’s Hospital. “Providence House has done a fantastic job of partnering with the medical community to create an innovative solution to a growing community health need. We applaud Providence House for leading the charge on this important issue.”

The Prentiss Wellness Nursery will serve children newborn through age 10, integrating minor medical care with the holistic child-focused services and intensive family support services that help address the root causes of family crisis and empower families to assume full-time care of their children’s medical needs.

“Elisabeth’s House” will be located across the street from the newly expanded “Leo’s House” on the Providence House campus at West 32nd Street, where the Providence House crisis nursery works to prevent child abuse and neglect by protecting at risk children, empowering their families, and building a safer community for every child.

With capital funding secured, a business plan in place, and a feasibility study completed, renovations are slated to begin this month to meet the fall target date to open The Prentiss Wellness Nursery.

# # #

Contact:
Emily Perry
216-651-5982 x226
emilyp@provhouse.org

About Providence House:
Providence House – Ohio’s first Crisis Nursery – has cared for over 6,500 families and children in crisis, living for days, weeks, or years without the support they need to help get them back on their feet. To provide the support so desperately needed by these children and their caregivers, Providence House has built a holistic, integrated program focused on both child abuse prevention and family preservation. Their unique Crisis Nursery Program is a comprehensive, crisis nursery service based on 32 years of experience, the latest child welfare research, and proven evidence-based programs and practices that can help prevent child abuse and neglect, reduce system involvement and foster care placements, and strengthen fragile families. Visit provhouse.org for more information.

First Baseman joins forces with local crisis nursery to fight child abuse and neglect

CLEVELAND—The Cleveland Indians won’t be the only team fighting for Cleveland when they step on the field for opening day. Providence House, a local crisis nursery that protects children from abuse and neglect, will join Cleveland Indians’ First Baseman Nick Swisher prior to the opening pitch to accept a major gift of $75,000 from his foundation, Swish’s Wishes.

“Providence House is thrilled to receive this incredibly generous gift from Nick and his foundation,” said Natalie Leek-Nelson, Providence House CEO and President. “Nick is both an amazing player and person who shares our passion for helping children in crisis, and his gift will change the lives of our community’s most vulnerable children. We are excited to be part of Opening Day as we join the fans in welcoming Nick to Cleveland and accept his foundation’s incredible support.”

An advocate for children, Nick Swisher’s Foundation “Swish’s Wishes” is a nonprofit organization designed to help all children in need with vital medical care, education and recreational activities and other essential programs that will make a difference in a child’s life, while also helping to raise self-esteem to create a bright future for children.

The timing of Swisher’s gift is appropriate, as April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Providence House is making its annual push to raise awareness of the issue through its Every Child campaign.

For more information about Providence House, visit provhouse.org.

For more information about Swishes Wishes, visit: beyondthedugout.net/btd_charities_swish_wish.html

For more information about the event, please contact Anne Keegan at the Cleveland Indians at 216-420- 4432.

# # #

Contact:
Emily Perry
216-651-5982 x226
emilyp@provhouse.org

About Providence House:
Providence House – Ohio’s first Crisis Nursery – has cared for over 6,500 families and children in crisis, living for days, weeks, or years without the support they need to help get them back on their feet. To provide the support so desperately needed by these children and their caregivers, Providence House has built a holistic, integrated program focused on both child abuse prevention and family preservation. Their unique Crisis Nursery Program is a comprehensive, crisis nursery service based on 32 years of experience, the latest child welfare research, and proven evidence-based programs and practices that can help prevent child abuse and neglect, reduce system involvement and foster care placements, and strengthen fragile families. Visit provhouse.org for more information.

CLEVELAND—April is National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month, and Providence House, a non-profit crisis nursery providing emergency shelter and services to children at risk of abuse and neglect, invites the community to get involved by participating in a month of events.

“We need the community’s help,” said Natalie Leek-Nelson, CEO and President of Providence House. “April is an important time for us to mobilize everyone to do their part in the fight against abuse and neglect.”

This year, Providence House is stepping up its efforts with the “Every Child is Your Child” awareness campaign. “Every Child is Your Child” is the message that captures the Providence House mission. Beginning April 1st, vibrant banners, surrounding the RTA concourse at Tower City Center, will introduce the community to the children of Providence House. People will be encouraged to visit the Providence House website (provhouse.org/everychild) to learn more about their compelling stories.

Providence House will also be hosting the following events during Child Abuse Prevention Month:

“Every Child” Annual Luncheon – April 16th:

• 32nd annual spring luncheon at Renaissance Cleveland Hotel hosted by Trustee Karen Dolan
• Doors open at 11:30 a.m., lunch begins at noon
• For information or tickets call 216-651-5982 or visit provhouse.org
• Hear recent successes and exciting announcements about the future

City2City 5k Child Abuse Prevention Run for Every Child– April 28th:

• 6th Annual City2City 5K Child Abuse Prevention Run on Sunday, April 28th
• Run begins at 9:00 a.m. at Tower City, travels through historic Ohio City past the Providence House campus, and ends at Tower City
• Register at hermescleveland.com or day of at 8:00 a.m.
• All proceeds support every child at Providence House

# # #

About Providence House:
Providence House – Ohio’s first Crisis Nursery – has cared for over 6,500 families and children in crisis, living for days, weeks, or years without the support they need to help get them back on their feet. To provide the support so desperately needed by these children and their caregivers, Providence House has built a holistic, integrated program focused on both child abuse prevention and family preservation. Their unique Crisis Nursery Program is a comprehensive, crisis nursery service based on 32 years of experience, the latest child welfare research, and proven evidence-based programs and practices that can help prevent child abuse and neglect, reduce system involvement and foster care placements, and strengthen fragile families. Visit provhouse.org for more information.

Editor’s note: Media interviews and photo opportunities are available – see list below:

• Every Child is Your Child Awareness Campaign: April 1st- May 15th , Tower City Center
• Annual Spring Luncheon: April 16th , 11:30am – 1:30 p.m., Renaissance Cleveland Hotel Grand Ballroom
• City2City 5K Run Start – April 28 th 9:00 a.m., Outside Tower City (Huron Road)

Providence House Partners in Prevention
American Greetings
Bauer Advising
Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc.
Cleveland Browns
Community West Foundation
Fogg
Forest City Enterprises
Gilbane
Grant Thornton
KeyBank
Linear Creative
Ohio Savings Bank
PNC
Prevent Child Abuse America
Securitas Security Services USA, Inc.
Strategy Design Partners
The Albert M. Higley Co.
The Ritz Carlton
Tower City Center
United