Dear Friends, Supporters and Volunteers,

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Shelley Bratton, our new Director of Development and Communications (sbratton@bethlehemcenter.org), and Karie Barbieri, our new Director of Missions and Education (kbarbieri@bethlehemcenter.org) to  the Bethlehem Center.

Shelley comes to us from the YMCA of Greater Charlotte with over 8 years extensive background in fundraising, volunteer management, event planning, marketing and public relations.  Her main goal at Bethlehem Center is to help us build stronger relationships with church groups, community leaders, corporations, individuals and volunteers so that we can improve on the programs we provide.  Her goal is to raise $150,000 in new donations in 2007 which will be allocated to our local mission programs.

Karie Barbieri, comes to Bethlehem Center from the Broward County, Florida YMCA and the YMCA of Greater Charlotte.  She has an extensive background in program management.  She will be working with and helping direct Bethlehem Center staff and programs.  One of her first goals will be to establish and implement Quality Program Standards for our existing programs. This will help insure we deliver the highest quality services to the families we serve.  Gloria Audrey will have a new role in assisting Karie with Missions and Education, as well as leading the Emergency Assistance, Campbell’s Label and Harris Teeter programs.

Bethlehem Center is very excited about our new additions and we look forward to improving and growing for the children and families we serve.  We understand that change, especially big change, is hard.  The changes were very difficult to make but we are confident that our realigned organizational structure will have a significant positive impact on the families we serve.  We are also committed to putting in the hard work necessary to make sure this happens.  We are grateful for the support you have offered in the past, and need your continued support to fulfill the Bethlehem Center mission to: renew hope, strengthen family life and promote self sufficiency.  Please feel free to call either Steve or William if you have any questions. 

Sincerely,  

Steve Scruggs                                                                 William McDonald
Bethlehem Center                                                         Bethlehem Center
Board of Directors, President                                        Executive Director