Statements

Mission

The mission of Love Helps, inc. is to affirm children toward responsible behavior through positive character development using diverse programs networked with the community and administered in love.

Background

In 1995, Love Helps, inc. was founded by Nashville, Tennessee architect, Dean Baker with a local board of directors and advisory council overseeing its work. The innovative programs the organization has developed promote literacy, education and character building. Since 1995, Love Helps, inc. has conducted in-class teaching sessions on responsible behavior to more than 15,500 students through our Character Education LIVE! program where students in grades 1-12 participate in workshops which educate students about important topics such as, handling emotions, self-esteem, mutual respect, responsible decision making and effective teamwork. Love Helps, inc. started three other in-school programs described below in 1996 to promote responsible behavior. The LEADING by READING program was initiated to promote literacy and to weekly bring community role model volunteers into public school kindergarten classrooms to read children's stories on character building themes. To date our volunteers have read more than 14,000 books to children. Since 1996, our Triple 'A' Achiever Awards program has been recognizing achieving elementary students who were doing well in school in the areas of Academics, Attendance and Attitude. We have distributed more than 627,000 award certificates and personal cards/letters of encouragement to date. Our TOOLS for SCHOOLS program was also launched in 1996. Through this program we have provided teachers from more than 120 schools with inexpensive materials to encourage positive behavior and discipline in their classrooms. Love Helps, inc.'s programs are conducted primarily in Metro. Nashville Public Schools with the help of more than 1,000 volunteers.

Impact

In partnership with the community, Love Helps, inc. endeavors to be a positive, encouraging force in the lives of children. In general, the organization's main goal is to help children get started out on the right track in their young lives. Consequently, Love Helps, Inc.'s focus is to promote those elements in children which help build successful foundations for young lives, namely, positive character, education and literacy. The multi-faceted approach of Love Helps, inc. accommodates a variety of learning styles and personalities. Love Helps, inc. also strives to engage the community to support the positive development of children. Often, people in the community want to have a positive impact on children, but they do not know an efficient, effective way of doing so. Another goal of Love Helps, inc., therefore, is to provide specific options for community involvement including through financial donations and through volunteering either in groups or as an individual. Through a variety of activities the community can come along side children in the community to encourage them and help guide them toward a responsible future. Helping the youngest in the community get started well leads to a stronger, better community. Having a strong community of responsible citizens is the natural progression and projected long term impact of the work of Love Helps, inc.

Needs

Our five most pressing needs are: 1. Increased public exposure 2. Increased funding 3. More program volunteers 4. Committee volunteers 5. Donations

CEO Statement

Children are struggling in the Nashville community. Tens of thousands live in poverty. Thousands more live in struggling families or struggling neighborhoods. Others are just searching for their place and path in this world. Their struggles often lead to frustration, isolation, apathy, hopelessness and a feeling of worthlessness. But there is hope! Their lives do have value. Today's children can have a positive and productive future. But they must learn to identify the path that will lead them there and be willing to do the work that will keep them on it. That takes training and encouragement, especially with all the obstacles and distractions! Our programs for young children reach out to them at an early age to bring encouragement and hope, to break the isolation and prevent apathy. We teach children that they are responsible for their own actions and for building their own foundation for their lives. We encourage literacy, education, social emotional learning and character building because they are vital elements of their strong foundation. Our work is basically tilling the fertile soil of young hearts and minds and strategically planting seeds that will one day bear fruit. We see some fruit even now as we continue to hear positive feedback from parents, teachers and others. We know that there will be even more fruit later, as these young lives mature.

Board Chair Statement

Love Helps began in 1995 with the goal to love and guide children toward making good choices, building positive character and ultimately becoming good citizens in their community. For more than 26 years, Love Helps, inc. has worked to accomplish that goal as we continue to do so today for more than 3,500 students in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Since 1995, more than 2,000 volunteers have helped us reach our goal and fulfill our mission: "To educate and affirm children toward responsible behavior through positive character development using diverse programs networked with the community and administered in love".This year, our Board has taken on new growth. With new growth comes new ideas which allows us to continually work to meet new goals and objectives we have set. We continue to improve our infrastructure, programs, marketing & revenue so we can continue to help our children. Our children are important since they are the Nashville leaders of the future with creative and unique ideas and thoughts that will carry us forward. As Board members, we are honored to provide them with nurturing and love so they can begin their journey with a well-established foundation.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Human Services  - Children's and Youth Services
Secondary Category:	Education  - Remedial Reading & Encouragement
Tertiary Category:	-

Areas Served

TN - Davidson