Bundle Up and Run to Help Families

• Prev
• 1 of 4
• Next

FamilyCore's Frosty 5K scheduled for Jan. 26

Traumatic events can happen in anyone's life and often counseling is the best way for a person to move on.

As trauma happens regardless of age, the need for counseling also has no age limits. The problem is that children cannot pay for their own and often, neither can their parents or guardian, said Debbie Ryva, director of development for FamilyCore in Peoria.

"The largest part of what we do is child welfare and children often need or can benefit from counseling. Or the family needs it. But it takes money and we don't always get enough in grants to meet all our needs," Ryva said.

That is why FamilyCore, formerly known as Counseling and Family Services, is hosting its annual fundraising run, the Frosty 5K, on Jan. 26 on Peoria's riverfront. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. at FamilyCore's main office at 330 SW Washington St., and the race will begin at 9 a.m.

A post-race event, including an awards ceremony, will be held at the Gateway Building.

Entry fees are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the race, while families of three or more would pay $45. Walkers will pay $22.

Early packet pickup is available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25 at Running Central, 4450 N. Prospect Road in Peoria Heights.

All proceeds, Ryva said, will be used for FamilyCore client services.

FamilyCore, which has three central Illinois offices and 55 employees, gets funding from several sources, including various United Way agencies, and is able to offer counseling on a sliding scale, depending on income and ability to pay.

But Ryva explained grants are used to make up the difference. "The typical private counseling session is $120 per half hour. Some of our clients qualify to pay as little as $5 of their own," she said.

This is the 14th consecutive year for the Frosty 5K, which Ryva said typically draws a couple hundred runners or walkers, depending on weather. The course for the race starts near the foot of Main Street and goes along the riverfront to just past Detweiller Marina, then back.

The Illinois Valley Striders running club assists FamilyCore in staging the event. Chief sponsor of the Frosty 5K is American Family Insurance. Other sponsors include CEFCU, Smith Drug and Kuhl and Co.

"It's an enjoyable event and it gets pretty competitive," Ryva said.

FamilyCore has another large fundraiser each year, a golf outing at Pine Lakes Golf Course in Washington every August, and several smaller fundraising events during the year, Ryva said.

Some of the counseling FamilyCore helps with are in the areas of parent/child conflicts, divorce or separation adjustment, depression, grief, stress and communication skills. It also offers single parent support for single parents of children under the age of 18. It includes helping to strengthen parenting skills.

Further, it can assist parents in finding a job or securing a home and managing money.

All the services are free, Ryva said. They also are confidential.

"We do a variety of things to help children and families and the Peoria region has always been extremely generous in helping us do that. While there are other agencies that do what we do and we all have our own events, we all collaborate very well together. We try to partner with other agencies and support each other's events," she said.

Counseling and Family Services changed its name a couple years ago to try and sound more friendly and present a more warm and friendly theme. "We're starting to become known by the new name because we still provide the same services, helping people and families," she said.

ABOUT FAMILYCORE

FamilyCore is a private, non-profit, nationally accredited social service agency that has served the Tri-County area continuously since 1900. It is commited to helping individuals and families strengthen their lives through a variety of counseling, child welfare, family preservation and preventative education services.

FamilyCore depends on generous support from contributions to five local area United Ways as well as fundraisers.

FamilyCore offers individuals and families several services such as counseling, adoption, foster care, single parent services, and outreach services. FamilyCore's professional counselors and staff provide a wide selection of expertise to help meet the special needs of the community.

FamilyCore can be reached by visiting www.familycore.org or calling (309) 676-2400.

About the Author