Where we’ve been

Not long after Charlie’s death, plans were underway to spread the lessons learned from his tragedy. Capitalizing on the heightened community awareness and the generosity of many, Charlie’s Safe Haven was established (since renamed Charlie’s House).

In its first full year, the organization was able to:

• Raise over $66,000
• Supply more than 10,000 furniture safety straps to families
• Provide information to new parents
• Participate in 12 community events
• Assist in getting a resolution passed in the Missouri Legislature to urge the U.S. Congress and Consumer Product Safety Commission to enact regulations for use of furniture safety standards for tip-prone furniture

Riding the momentum of the previous year, Charlie’s House continued its fundraising efforts with the goal of building a real-life safety demonstration house. Children’s Mercy Family Health Partners, a continued supporter, made a generous donation in both 2008 and 2009.

In 2009, Charlie’s House hired a full-time Executive Director, Annette Teson.

2009 also featured the first Injury Prevention Day at the ‘K’ sponsored by Charlie’s House, to help spread the word and teach practical “how-to’s” for home safety.

Thanks to the generosity from the Royals Charities, Charlie’s House was able to distribute free furniture straps and safety checklists, as well as have experts on hand to address issues surrounding Home Safety topics.

In 2010, Charlie’s House launched its redesigned Web site with the help of a grant from The Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties, Kansas. This year also saw the securing of land for the real-life safety Demonstration House. If donation goals are hit, construction should begin in late 2011, with a completion date in 2012.

Want to be a part of making sure the Demonstration House gets completed on time? Every dollar and helping hand makes a difference. Donate or Volunteer today.

2011 allowed Charlie’s House to become truly hands-on with the support of James Engle Custom Homes. Through their generosity, Charlie’s House safety-proofed a model home in the Bluestem subdivision in Overland Park. This home, open to the public on a daily basis, provides true room-by-room instructions and examples of how to install safety techniques in the home.

Charlie’s House began the silent phase of a capital campaign to raise the $1.3 million needed to build the safety demonstration house. Although the capital campaign has not been publicly announced, nearly sixty percent of the total goal amount has been raised. This has been done through the leadership of an all-volunteer committee separate from the Charlie’s House Board of Directors.

2012 activities included:

• The Physicians Alliance on In Home Safety in which Charlie’s House is providing safety information to pediatric and pediatric subspecialist offices for the distribution to patients and families
• Open House Tours at Charlie’s Safety Showcase at the James Engle Model Home (ended March 2013)
• Charlie’s Chats – informational meetings to educate interested parties about Charlie’s House
• Conducting speaking engagements on in-home safety in the community as requested
• A partnering with Crowley Furniture to distribute furniture straps
• Newsletters distributed quarterly containing home safety tips and updates regarding the organization
• Communication via Facebook, Twitter and email with educational home safety tips
• Third Party Fundraising Opportunities such as the Brian M. Anselmo Foundation’s Dancing with the Stars, KC CAN! Auction and Dinner, and Laura Lenhert platter sales with a portion of sales coming to Charlie’s House

On January 2, 2013, John McCarthy was hired as the new Executive Director for Charlie’s House. John brings with him years of experience in coaching, fundraising and education.

In addition to continuing many of the activities and programs from 2012, Charlie’s House is working with builders to develop a plan to move forward with construction of a permanent safety demonstration home, with an anticipated 2014 ground breaking.