Message from the President, Father James L. Meyer
It began in the mid-seventies when I was on staff at Children’s Hospital of Michigan as Associate Chaplain. We discerned that parents and other support persons often were “nickeled and dimed to death” while their children were hospitalized. $2.00 for parking, $2.50 for lunch, $3.00 for TV. Already penalized in their paychecks due to time off to be at the bedside of their child, many went all day without eating due to lack of funds. We observed unit secretaries and cleaning women pressing spare change into their hands.
Not only did we advocate for free TV, which I believe is in place today, but also, with a few hundred dollars in donations, we began a chaplaincy fund to supply these and similar needs. Successor to that early endeavor is the Chalfonte Foundation, established in the year 2000, as a public non-profit 501c.3. corporation #38-3569149. As our letterhead states: Providing spiritual, psychosocial, recreational, financial and educational support for children, youth, and other individuals and families in need.” Similar to our pastoral care in the hospitals, neither race, ethnicity or religion (or lack thereof) are criteria for assistance. Perceived need is the only criterion.
Given current grim international conditions, it would be disingenuous not to respond to unmet needs of children around the world. Mostly through personal contacts, certainly outside of any government’s influence, we have been able directly to assist children in such countries as Honduras, Haiti, Lesotho and Iraq. Domestically, we have responded to needs throughout Michigan, from Detroit, through St. Clair Shores to Lansing and Grand Rapids and up to Kalkaska. Special activities at Chalfonte House and Ryan Giannini Park will be addressed elsewhere.
We rely solely on free-will gifts for our income. Sources include donations from individuals, foundations and matching grants as well as memorials for deceased loved ones. We have a Board of four directors, all of whom serve without compensation.
I realize that the bigger charities have overhead expenses such as administration, salaries, incentives and promotion. We are small enough that Chalfonte Foundation expenses for these items amount to ZERO. I can assert with integrity that EVERY DOLLAR CONTRIBUTED TO THE CHALFONTE FOUNDATION WILL BE USED IN DIRECT FULFILLMENT OF OUR MISSION.
Nonetheless, our activities have far from insignificant impact. In 2007, the Chalfonte Foundation distributed $80,871 in gifts and grants for needy children as well as $9,328 for the activities of Chalfonte House. An additional $2,656 was spent at a donated twelve acre parcel of land, ten miles north of Elk Rapids, Michigan, aka: Ryan Giannini Park (RGP). The park is used as a peaceful pastoral respite as well as to provide a unique outbound experience for city kids and families. A new adventure there is the creation of a Halloween haunted forest.
Details of the Annual Ryan Giannini Memorial 11 Legged Lake Tour will be provided elsewhere. Though a source of income for the Foundation was a secondary consideration, I am pleased to report that this 2007 ride around Torch Lake, Michigan netted $8,836.
At Chalfonte House, spanning eighteen years, there are eight volumes of notes from Chalfonte Kids who have benefited from the work of the Foundation. The year before he died unexpectedly at age twenty in 2002, Ryan Giannini penned the following entry:
"Making memories happens every day at Chalfonte House, and I am truly grateful to be a part of those memories. Thank you for inviting me up again, and I hope (smile) I'll be back soon. I love this place, and everyone who comes up here."
His words are echoed by others throughout the pages.
Because of our generous angels, this work will continue far after I am laid beneath the sod. You are invited to become one of them (an angel, not one laid beneath the sod).
Love,
Fr. James L. Meyer, Esq.
Aka... Jimeyer