Advancing the Kingdom

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Advancing T he Kingdom: Kingdom House 116
offs on tax returns and other sources of
donations.
‘With this law, Missourians can make
an investment in our children’s future,’
Governor Bond said. ‘State funds already
are stretched thin on programs to help
prevent child abuse and neglect. The
contributions made to this fund will go
a long way toward giving our children
the help they need to grow into happy,
productive adults.’
Beginning next year, individual taxpayers
can check off a minimum contribution of $2
from their tax refunds. The state treasurer
will invest the funds, which then will be
distributed to appropriate agencies through
the state by a Children’s Trust Fund Board
appointed by the governor.
The fund can also accept contributions,
which are tax-deductible, from individuals,
corporations and other sources.
In addition to administering funds
to community programs, the board will
conduct statewide educational programs
regarding the problems of children and
families, and encourage citizens to become
involved in the prevention of problems.
The Children’s Services Commission,
created by the second bill Bond signed,
will encourage greater coordination among
the various state agencies responsible for
children’s programs. The commission will be
composed of the director or deputy director
of state agencies, including the departments
of Social Services, Mental Health and
Elementary and Secondary Education, as
well as members of the state Senate, House
of Representatives and a judge of juvenile
court.
Kingdom House, a United Methodist
agency, has programs that deal daily with
the problems of child abuse and neglect. ‘We
are proud to have been chosen by Governor
Bond and commend him for his efforts to
deal with this most serious problem,’ stated
Rev. Eugene Morse, executive director.17
Signed into law at Kingdom House,
the Children’s Trust Fund program still
exists as a way to support Kingdom
House and other agencies statewide that
assist young people. The commission
still continues to encourage coordination
among the various state agencies
responsible for children’s programs
through the departments of Social
Services, Mental Health and Elementary
and Secondary Education, as well as
members of the state Senate, House
of Representatives and a judge on the
juvenile court.
The rest of the decade was
highlighted by a capital funds drive
that was apparently unaffected by the
break-in just days before Christmas.
Early Saturday, December 21, 1985,
staff arrived at Kingdom house to
discover a burglary sometime during
the night in which all the day care
center’s toys and food to be distributed
at Christmas was taken. Local television
stations, newspapers and church pastors
were notified – “the response was so
overwhelming that Santa was able to
distribute generously to the families of
his preschool friends and the agency
was able to share its bounty with other
agencies…Cash collected on Monday
alone came to more than $8,000 and
checks continued to come in the rest
of the week.”18 Morse reminisces, “on
A
P hoto:
A: Promoting Children’s
Trust Fund License Plate
sates
Signed into law at
K ingdom House, the
Children’s Trust
Fund program still
exists as a way to
support Kingdom
House and other
agencies statewide
that assist young
people.