The Poshard Foundation for Abused Children is a charitable organization that was chartered in 1999.  It seeks to help abused, abandoned, and neglected children in southern Illinois.  The Foundation has no paid employees and relies on volunteers to carry out its mission.  John A. Logan College generously houses and hosts the Foundation office.   

The Poshard Foundation is focused on improving the lives of children, healing abused children both physically and emotionally, and stopping the abuse of children. It provides support for existing child welfare agencies and organizations in the southern 1/3 of the state when traditional funding sources are not available.  The Foundation also sponsors valuable trainings at no charge to professionals working to protect children.

The Poshard Foundation for Abused Children does not receive federal or state grants and operates on the generosity of individual gifts and its annual fundraiser in October.

We provide funding for children in crisis when other funds are not available. Whether it is for car seats, counseling, or special medical equipment for the examination of sexually abused children, the Foundation bridges the gap when possible.

We have sponsored numerous seminars and workshops over the years, provided at no cost to over 1,500 attendees.  Through our partnership with Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, valuable trainings have been accomplished, including the following:

“The Effects of Domestic Abuse on Children”
“The Effects of Methamphetamine on Children”
“Shaken Baby Syndrome”
“Your Young Child”
“The Effects of Sexual Abuse on Children”

The Foundation has completed several large projects to date, such as:

Building a new shelter in 2003 for women and children in Cairo, IL. The 6000 sq. ft. shelter is valued at $600,000 and was primarily completed with the donations of local labor unions.
In 2007 the Foundation donated a building in West Frankfort, IL to the Night’s Shield/Roan Center and then contributed $125,000 toward its renovation, creating an emergency shelter for children rescued from abusive home situations.
In 2008, the Foundation pledged $50,000 to Southern Illinois Regional Social Services, now Centerstone, to help build the children’s wing of their renovated facility in Carbondale, Illinois.
In 2014, the Foundation contributed $100,000 to the Children’s Medical and Mental Health Resource Network, a program of SIU School of Medicine, to create a Mental Health Resource Network in the southern 23 counties of Illinois.  The purpose of the network was to increase the number of mental health professionals in the region with an 18-month learning collaborative on Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, an evidence-based treatment used to treat children who have experienced trauma such as abuse.  Prior to this training, only one certified TF-CBT therapist was in the southern Illinois area; now 64 additional therapists have been trained to provide this therapy to children and families.  The Trauma Training Collaborative received two gold awards nationally for this effort.  These awards recognize outstanding community based programs incorporating systems of care for children, youth, and young adults and their families. 
In 2015, the Foundation distributed additional grant funds totaling $100,000 to 12 local service agencies.  These grant awards were due to the budget crisis in the state of Illinois which has led to a decrease in funding for many social service agencies.  These funds being made available to help provide direct counseling to abused, abandoned, and neglected children in southern Illinois.
In 2016, the Foundation approved a special grant of $15,000 to be given to the United Methodist Children’s Home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.  This grant was used to refurbish the cottages at the Children’s Home which were in much need of repair.  Approximately $150,000 in labor costs were donated toward this project by local labor unions. 

Thank you for partnering with us for eighteen years to help vulnerable children.  The need is still great, and we will continue to work. 

Glenn and Jo Poshard believe that Carterville is the perfect place for their Foundation to be based.  John A. Logan College, which is centrally located within the area the Foundation serves, has graciously hosted The Poshard Foundation since 1999.  The annual trainings of the Foundation as well as their annual fall brunch are held at JALC; the support the college has shown for abused, abandoned, and neglected children in southern Illinois is nothing short of phenomenal. 

 photos:

2016 Poshard Foundation Annual Toy Give-away at JALC.  $16,400 in gifts distributed to over 350 children through 18 agencies and organizations in Southern Illinois
2016  “Beds for Kids” holiday donation of $500 from Lauren Craig and her customers at Eccentrics in Carterville
2017 April Child Abuse Prevention Month Kick-off at JALC with President Ronald House reading the Governor’s Proclamation
Glenn and Jo Poshard photo