Giving back

In many ways, Kyle Elizabeth is a typical teen. She loves to shop, dance, hang out with friends and chat on her cell phone. Involved in many extracurricular activities, she loves playing the violin, volunteering at her school, camping in Georgia and participating in Paint Your Heart Out Pensacola. All of this is tangible evidence of a young person living a full life.

What you don't necessarily see is the depth of her passion and her giving heart. Kyle's life has come full circle; she is now giving back to Children's Home Society of Florida, the very organization that united her with her mother and father, Bill and Robin.

In January 2005, the family celebrated a major life event as Kyle was called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah, a rite of passage when a Jewish girl crosses over from childhood to adulthood and becomes responsible for her own deeds, spiritually, ethically and morally. Kyle prepared for this for many years, working diligently to learn to read Hebrew, volunteering and completing a required research project. It was with great pride that her parents watched Kyle stand on the bimah with the rabbi, leading the Sabbath service and reading beautifully from the Torah.

Their pride turned to admiration when Kyle said she wanted to make a donation to Children's Home Society of Florida from gift money received from her bat mitzvah. "I have a wonderful family, and Children's Home Society of Florida helped make that happen," Kyle said. "Hopefully, my donation will allow CHS to help other parents find wonderful children, and other children find wonderful parents."

"Children's Home Society of Florida has always held a special place in our hearts," explains Robin. "In 1991, Bill and I adopted Kyle, with CHS' help. We both had been active volunteers with CHS fundraisers for many years. When Kyle was only a few months old, she attended committee meetings with me. To this day, we run into people who served on that same committee who tell Kyle they remember her coming to those meetings." She continued, "And Bill served on the board of directors and executive board for many years. He visited Tallahassee many times as part of the Western Division Legislative Day delegation."

What the Mertins didn't realize at the time was how their acts of giving would influence their child.

No clients shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Clients needing accommodations for a disability and/or clients with special communications needs should contact their Children’s Home Society of Florida worker or make their request for accommodation at the time of admission into a Children’s Home Society of Florida program.

CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, REGISTRATION #CH180, IS REGISTERED WITH THE STATE UNDER THE SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.