An Evening with Goshen 2022
An Evening with Goshen
An Evening with Goshen 2022 kicked off on December 8th at Woodstock City Church with guest speaker, football and baseball star, Brian Jordan.
This evening gala is a platform for Goshen Valley to come together with community leaders, business owners, and families to raise money for the families and foster youth that we serve while enjoying a beautiful night of entertainment with friends.
As guests arrived, they perused the silent auction items and took part in the delicious turkey dinner provided by Center Cut Catering. VIP guests gathered around hors d'oeuvres as they met and chatted with Atlanta sports great, Brian Jordan. They received a photo op and a signed copy of his children's book "The Mystery Behind Doggy Lane." Once dinner was served, Goshen Valley CEO, Zach Blend, kicked off the event with the announcement we had been waiting for...
This year's Evening with Goshen was centered around a new and exciting venture that Goshen Valley is thrilled to announce: the Goshen Family Resource Center.
The Family Resource Center will serve as a hub for clinical therapeutic services, family and parenting supports, life skills coaching, and so much more. All of these services will be available to the community at a central location in Canton, GA.
Our goal is to raise $500,000 to fund the renovation and launch of this new Family Resource Center in 2023, and An Evening with Goshen was the start to this campaign.
With fundraising in mind, we introduced our evening's title sponsor, Eric Baker, with Eric Baker and Associates. Eric's mission as a real estate agent is much bigger than himself. He helps everyone find home by donating a portion of every home commission to neighbors in need and community organizations like Goshen.
Eric then introduced our guest speaker: Atlanta Sports Icon, Author, and Philanthropist, Brian Jordan.
On stage we sat down at chatted with Brian. We heard stories from his childhood, and of course about his incredible sports career. The overarching message we can all take from Brian is this: keep working hard, because there is always someone out there who is better than you. This was a message he graciously shared with all 40 of our boys and staff at Goshen Valley Boys Ranch earlier in the evening.
Before wrapping up the evening, Goshen Valley Alumni, Edward Tsui had a special message for the audience. He spoke about his years spent at Goshen, the big Goshen family he will always have, and the opportunities and goals he has ahead of him in law school at UGA. Next, he turned his focus to the audience and said...
"I am here because of your love, your time, your resources, and your choice to partner with Goshen. I thank God every day that I have the opportunity to be a part of this organization, and I thank God for you all and your investment in me and in Goshen." - Edward Tsui, Goshen Valley Alumni
Wrapping up the event, Aaron Vincent with Vincent Financial Group, shared his own message, reminding us to be grateful and to be generous with what we have.
We echo that message today as we look back on a wonderful Evening with Goshen. We are so grateful to all of you who joined us and who made this event possible. As we fly through this holiday season, we take this moment to say thank you so much for your generosity and for your support of Goshen Valley and for things to come.
First Annual Goshen Valley Founder's Day!
Goshen Valley Celebrates the First Annual Founders Day
On Friday, October 7th 2022, the staff at Goshen Valley came together to celebrate the First Annual Founders Day!
Founders Day honors all those that have served as part of Goshen Valley over the past 23 years. For the First Annual celebration, we hosted a field day full of crazy games, food, and fun for every staff member at Goshen Valley. The day kicked off with Atlanta Sport and Social Club providing an array of competitions for the staff. Right off the bat, all of the staff members split into teams, donning their team colors and face paint to match.
Atlanta Sport refereed and kept score as all of the teams worked their way through the various games, ending with Tug-of-War. Though there was some heavy competition (and even some smack-talking), the Green Team emerged with the win!
After the games, everyone came back together for lunch, catered by Choate BBQ. As all of the staff members mingled and refueled, Goshen Valley CEO, Zach Blend, spoke a few words of thanks and in doing so honored his father, Goshen’s founder:
“To see all of you gathered here is a testament to John’s vision and his faith in what Goshen could one day become. We’ve proven that collectively we can drive successful outcomes for children and families. As we lean into our vision, I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.”
Goshen values community, service, and faith. This First Annual Founders Day was a reminder of all that has been accomplished and those things still to be accomplished while we celebrated each other. As the day wound down, it was hard to miss the chatter about how grateful everyone was to fellowship and bond with one another.
Now going forward, we remember that day and we remember those values as we continue to serve foster youth and fractured families across North Georgia.
Thank you to MesmerEyes Media for DJing and Photographing the event.
Goshen Leadership Academy Founding Class of 2022
Congratulations to our graduates of the first ever Goshen Leadership Academy.
Goshen Leadership Academy was founded to provide emerging leaders at Goshen Valley with an all-encompassing view of what it takes to be a leader. We covered topics from finance to strategic planning all within the framework of Mission, Margin, Morale, and Compliance.
Goshen Valley CEO, Zach Blend, says, “With Goshen's growth over the past decade, including the opening of three new agencies, our footprint has expanded significantly. I felt it was important that we find ways for our emerging leaders to stay connected to one another and to each other's mission. The creation of Goshen Academy established such a platform for consistent collaboration across agencies. We're thrilled with the positive feedback that we have received from those that were chosen to participate and look forward to extending the opportunity to another class of participants sometime in the future."
Our 2022 Graduating Class:
Gabby Brumfield - Goshen Homes Program Director
Molly Phillips - Human Resources Assistant
Sarah Palmer - Goshen Therapeutic Services Clinical Supervisor
Giselle Francis - Goshen New Beginnings Program Director
Anthony Hall - Goshen New Beginnings Life Coach
Chuck Russell - Goshen New Beginnings
Courtney Argo - Goshen Therapeutic Services Program Manager
Kristy Pastush - Goshen Valley Boys Ranch Medical Coordinator
Megan Cortland - Goshen Valley Boys Ranch Program Director
Jamie Crews - Goshen Homes Case Management Supervisor
Caitlin Brunson - Marketing and Community Engagement Coordinator
Kathleen Bradley - Goshen Homes Home Licensing Supervisor
Goshen Valley Chief of Staff, Chris Thomas, who led the Leadership Academy initiative, says, “I am so proud of this group of emerging leaders. Over the past year they have learned not only how to be better leaders, but more importantly they have learned more about themselves and what they bring to the mission of Goshen Valley. Goshen’s ability to continue to grow and thrive is greatly enhanced by the talent of this group.”
Finally, as with all things Goshen, our key community partners were front and center in this effort. Goshen is appreciative of the community partners who took the time to share their experience and leadership experience with our class, including:
Dr. Debra Murdock - Chief Operating Officer, Cherokee County School District
Melissa Lindh - Global CFO, Universal Alloy Corporation
Kevin Williams - Chick-fil-A Operator
Rennie Curran - University of Georgia Football Alumni
Julie Carter - Cherokee County CASA
Brooke Ford - Cherokee County DFCS Director
Mark Roberts - President, Reinhardt University
Nathan Castleberry - Lead Pastor, Local Church Canton
Peter McGaffigan, Managing Director, Wells Fargo Private Bank/Goshen Board Chairman
Bryan Apinis - Director of Intersect Project, North Point Community Church
Jordyn Davis, Intersect Coordinator, Woodstock City Church
Meg Davidson, Community Relations Director, Woodstock City Church
Goshen is proud to have these emerging leaders on our team working for the foster youth in our care. Congratulations Goshen Leadership Academy!
Goshen 2022 Volunteers of the Year
On April 13, Goshen Valley presented 6 individuals with their Volunteer of the Year award, and also presented the first annual Goshen Educator of the Year award. The recipients of the Volunteer of the Year award were Debbie Rabjohn, Bill and Kathy DeMartino, Nancy LaChance, Sydna Lowe, and Kyla Cromer. The Goshen Educator of the Year award was presented to Don Deaton. A bit about each of their service to Goshen is outlined below.
When speaking about the volunteers who make Goshen thrive, CEO Zach Blend said that “We have the opportunity to change lives through relationships, and the relationships with those honored today are one of Goshen’s most powerful assets. We are grateful for all who sacrifice in service to our youth.”
Debbie Rabjohn is the Goshen Homes volunteer of the year. She is the president of the Cherokee County Optimist Club, and has led her club in providing Easter baskets for Goshen Homes youth for 3 years in a row. She has done much of this while going through health issues, and was unable to attend the ceremony for the same reasons. The Goshen Homes team is grateful for her service, but even more grateful for her kind heart and her selflessness while going through a difficult time in her personal life.
Bill and Kathy DeMartino are the Goshen New Beginnings volunteers of the year. Bill and Kathy connected to Goshen when becoming a Connections Homes family. They were paired with Goshen New Beginnings youth Robert, and they were able to be a significant part of his life through prom, graduation, and navigating adult life afterwards. After opening a room in their home for him and mentoring him for three years, they joined the Goshen staff in traveling to Missouri to celebrate Robert’s graduation from Basic Training. Bill commented at the ceremony how much the team traveling to the graduation meant to Robert, saying that he “had to do extra push-ups because he couldn’t stop smiling.”
Nancy LaChance is the Goshen Valley Boys Ranch volunteer of the year. Nancy first connected with Goshen in 2016 while serving through Woodstock City Church’s Be Rich campaign. That day she was tasked with organizing the clothing closet, and since then she has led a group who comes to do the same task each month. This group led by Nancy has sorted and organized all clothing donations made to Goshen for 5 years. Additionally, Nancy has used her love of hiking to connect with and mentor boys at the Ranch during her time serving.
Sydna Lowe was the Development volunteer of the year. Sydna chaired the Brasfield & Gorrie Charitable Committee, which was responsible for hosting their fall fundraiser and providing over $330,000 to support Goshen Valley. This made Brasfield & Gorrie Goshen’s largest ever single-year donor. Additionally, Sydna took her paid time off in advance of the fall fundraiser to make sure everything was organized as well as possible. When speaking about the partnership, Sydna said that "Brasfield and Gorrie takes pride in doing things with excellence. We could not line up better with any other organization."
Kyla Cromer was the Community Engagement volunteer of the year. Kyla is the Cherokee County School Board Chair, and she also serves on the Goshen Community Council. Kyla has continued to prioritize initiatives that help the school system better serve foster youth, including bringing in a Goshen staff person to lead a training to all school counselors on Trust-Based Relational Intervention. Additionally, Kyla invited 21 guests to join her for the Evening with Goshen dinner fundraiser, the most guests brought by any one Goshen supporter. Kyla remarked after receiving the award that "Respect and love are what our kids need. They come to school wondering where their next meal is coming from. They come after hearing their Mom and Dad fighting. We see the pride on their faces at graduation. Lots of people have poured into these kids to get them across that stage."
Don Deaton was recognized as Goshen’s first ever Educator of the Year. Don is the lead physical education teacher at Teasley Middle School. For many years Don headed up our Summer Academy program- the daily recreation program our boys participate in during summer break. He has continued to go above and beyond at school to learn who the Goshen youth are in his class, and to do all he can to provide them with extra support and encouragement during the school day. Don shared with the Goshen staff after receiving his award, “I want you to know we support you. We know the trauma our kids have experienced. Kids need to know they are loved. You are the footprint and the hands of God in their lives - you speak Jesus."
Brasfield & Gorrie selects Goshen Valley as Nonprofit Partner of the Year
Brasfield & Gorrie selects Goshen Valley as Nonprofit Partner for their 2021-2022 Fall Fundraiser
After a month-long process which began with 13 nonprofit applicants, Brasfield & Gorrie has selected Goshen Valley to be their partner for their 2021 and 2022 fall fundraisers. This event and partnership have historically raised around $250,000 per year to support the chosen nonprofit’s mission.
As of 2019, Goshen launched a new program to target root cause issues surrounding foster care, providing mental health and therapy services to families at risk of experiencing a foster care placement in the future. This funding will allow Goshen Valley to scale this program and serve far more vulnerable families. 
Zach Blend, CEO of Goshen Valley, says, “This is an exciting time in the life of Goshen Valley. As our direct care work with Georgia’s foster children enters its 23rd year, we are equally excited about the positive influence we can also have through serving at-risk families preventively. The support raised by Brasfield & Gorrie and their subcontractors will fund the progression of Goshen Therapeutic Services throughout the state’s northwest region. Our intention is to continue to serve foster children within our three operating agencies to the very best of our ability while being mindful of the root cause matters that create the need for such services. Easy access to therapy, family counseling and other support services is the first step in that process.”
This year Brasfield & Gorrie instituted a new process to select their nonprofit partner of the year. Thirteen non-profits were invited to complete an application, and five were selected to present to a leadership committee. The group was then narrowed down to three, and an employee vote determined the winner. Goshen Valley received 53% of the employee votes in this process.
“In addition to the financial support our employees and trade contractors will provide, we will participate in service days on Goshen’s Ranch campus. We love getting our hands dirty,” said Brent Perkins, director of personal development at Brasfield & Gorrie. Perkins led the selection committee.
“At Brasfield & Gorrie we believe in building strong communities. We love being a blessing to others. Goshen’s work with boys in the foster care system, the therapeutic services offered to families, and their increasing focus on root cause education for families all line up with our values. We are excited to be a partner with Goshen Valley!” - Brent Perkins
Zach Blend compared residential foster care to running a construction business, but one where you can only build on the site of a previous catastrophe. “We do great work in residential care, but we also want to focus on root-cause. We want to stabilize families before the building collapses. This funding will allow us to expand our work in ways that will keep families strong before a foster care placement occurs. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Brasfield & Gorrie, and we are confident that many families will be strengthened and rescued as a direct result of this partnership.”
About Brasfield & Gorrie
Founded in 1964, Brasfield & Gorrie is one of the nation’s largest privately held construction firms, providing general contracting, design-build, and construction management services for a wide variety of markets. We are skilled in construction best practices, including virtual design and construction, integrated project delivery, and Lean construction, but we are best known for our preconstruction and self-perform expertise and exceptional client service. Brasfield & Gorrie has 12 offices and more than 3,200 employees. Our 2020 revenues were $3.9 billion. Engineering News-Record ranks Brasfield & Gorrie 22nd among the nation’s “Top 400 Contractors” for 2020. Brasfield & Gorrie is ENR Southeast's 2021 Contractor of the Year.
Goshen Valley Community Wellness Center
Goshen Valley Community Wellness Center
January 11, 2020 Ribbon Cutting
Goshen Valley Boy's Ranch held their ribbon cutting of the Goshen Community Wellness Center (The Well) on Saturday January 11, 2020. 135 community members who purchased bricks to help fund the facility joined for the celebration.
As guests arrived at The Well, crowds formed outside as people searched for their bricks among the 304 custom bricks at the entrance. After getting their free t-shirts and Chick-Fil-A, guests congregated in the gymnasium for a celebration ceremony. Evan Ingram welcomed the guests and thanked them for their donations. Rachel Blend prayed over the facility and those who made it possible. Zach Blend thanked all who made this facility possible. Matthew Moring, Goshen alumni and US Military Veteran, shared his gratitude for all those who are helping boys like him experience a home and a family.
As a surprise within the ceremony, the 2020 Goshen Spirit Award was presented to Paul and Julie Freudenstein. Paul has been a board member since the beginning of Goshen Valley, and his assistance was foundational to the construction of The Well.
To conclude the ceremony Goshen decided to mix things up. Since The Well could not have been built debt-free without the help of every person in attendance, Goshen decided to ditch the ceremonial giant scissors and give a pair of scissors to every guest in attendance. All at once, 135 guests who had purchased a brick and made The Well possible cut the ribbon together.
Goshen Alumni, Matthew Moring put it better than we ever could...
"Someone told me earlier that this building has limits. I don't see this (the Well) as a building. I see the heart of Goshen Valley here, and the heart of Goshen Valley does not have limits."
For decades to come, the Goshen Community Wellness Center will provide the foster youth at Goshen Valley Boy's Ranch with a place to play, to learn, and to grow. But more importantly, The Well will be a place for our kids to call home for the rest of their lives.
Goshen Valley would like to thank all who support our kids and made the construction of this facility possible. The youth who live at Goshen will be forever impacted by your generosity.
Goshen hosts 7th annual Cherokee Child Welfare Luncheon presented by Northside Hospital Cherokee
Goshen hosts the 7th annual Cherokee Child Welfare Luncheon presented by Northside Hospital Cherokee.
On Thursday Sept 19, over 275 community leaders in child welfare came together for the 7th annual Cherokee Child Welfare Luncheon, presented by Northside Hospital-Cherokee. This year’s event was headlined by Tom Rawlings, state director of DFCS, and we were also joined by Miss Georgia 2019 Victoria Hill.
Ike Reighard of Must Ministries opened the day with a prayer and an update on Must’s recent State of Hope grant. They were awarded these funds in an effort to service families preventatively, with the aim of fewer youth entering in to foster care.
Victoria Hill, Miss Georgia 2019, shared her passion for assisting girls in foster care, and told those in attendance how she plans to use her platform this year to help foster youth. Victoria then sang “A Horse with Wings,” a song she says could have been written from the perspective of a child in foster care. Victoria will be competing in the Miss America pageant on December 19th.
Zach Blend, CEO of Goshen Valley, then shared an update on Goshen Valley. He shared that Goshen has launched our fourth agency; Goshen Therapeutic Services. This agency is designed to strengthen and restore families through licensed, comprehensive therapeutic services. The aim of this program is to provide services both to families who have already lost their children to foster care, and also strengthen those at risk of losing their children. Zach also gave an update on the Goshen Community Wellness Center, set to open in November on site at Goshen Valley Boys Ranch, and shared the story of the 9 high school graduates from Goshen Valley in May 2019.
Brooke Ford, Director of Cherokee County DFCS, provided an update on our local DFCS office. Brooke shared that their after hours team is fully staffed, they have hired 18 new case managers this year, and that employee retention is an important focus for their team. Brooke also shared a video of their employees sharing stories of why they choose to live, work, and play in Cherokee County.
Tom Rawlings, State Director of the Division of Family and Children Services, shared about his work and priorities as the head of DFCS. He said his main goal in office is to improve the support of the frontline workers. He wants frontline DFCS workers to be seen as heroes in the same light as nurses, firefighters, teachers, and other professions are in the eyes of the community. He stated that this change will reduce turnover and improve safety and outcomes for the youth served by DFCS.
This year, 2 Goshen Spirit Awards were given to community leaders who have gone above and beyond to serve the vulnerable children of our community. The first was given to Deidre Hollands, former leader of Cherokee County CASA. Deidre served for 19 years and founded CASA in Cherokee County. She led the campaign to build the Children’s Haven visitation center across from Cherokee High School that serves to reunite and restore families. The second award went to Ronnie Reece who this year retired from a full career working security in the Cherokee County Court. Ronnie is a much-beloved member of our community who is highly deserving of this award.
The program concluded with all in attendance reciting Our Cherokee Commitment, a pledge recited at the event each year. Goshen Valley would like to thank all who attended and made this event such a success. More pictures from the event can be found on Goshen Valley’s Facebook page.
Guns and Hoses 5k
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Mandela Washington Fellowship Returns to Goshen
Last year, we had the incredible honor of hosting the Mandela Washington Fellows at the Ranch. We had an amazing experience and were thrilled about these new relationships (click here to read more). This year was no different. Hosting the Mandela Washington Fellows (MWF) at Goshen Valley Boys Ranch brought forth laughter, learning and life-long lessons.
The MWF program was founded by President Obama in 2014. It is now run by the State Department. Each year 200 African leaders age 25-35 are invited to come study in American universities for six weeks. The experience culminates in a week long leadership summit in Washington D.C. Because Goshen Valley is ranked as Georgia’s top child welfare provider, MWF wanted to come back to the Ranch for a day of learning about child welfare practice, teambuilding, and experience sharing.
When the MWF group arrived, we knew it was going to be a day of joy. We started the day with an informal meeting. Our Founder, John Blend, and our CEO, Zach Blend, shared about our history and stories. We then moved into our Team Building activities led by senior consultant Mike Angstadt. There was singing, dancing, storytelling and prayer. The MWF group left Goshen Valley equipped with new tools for both leading teams and providing opportunities for youth in need in their home countries.
The session then led to a hayride tour of the Ranch, where the MWF group was able to have a true southern lunch provided by Four41 South BBQ in each of the homes. In the homes, the groups interacted with our house parents and youth. Both parties were asking questions about cultures, interests, education, and language. We saw a group of African Leaders ministering to our youth, and in return, the boys hanging on every word they said.
In a world that can be filled with debates, arguments and differences, children and adults of different cultures came together to share their similarities and to learn about each other’s lives.
The joy shown among the youth and the African leaders is precisely the type of character the world needs to see. The picturesque way the groups interacted was simply beautiful. The African leaders high-fived the youth after a great shot on the soccer field and offered them encouragement. The youth and leaders sang songs together and strummed on the guitar. These are the types of moments that are etched deep within the memory of all who saw.
We hope you catch a glimpse of the day in the video shot by Chandler Elder. We are incredibly thankful for all vendors involved, Georgia State University for choosing to partner with us, and especially to the 25 Mandela Fellows who shared the day with us.
Goshen Graduates- Defying the Odds
- The statistics show that only 50% of youth in foster care will receive a high school diploma.
- Only 10% of former foster youth will attend college.
Graduating high school is an accomplishment to be celebrated for any teenager, but especially for youth in foster care. We want to highlight the youth in our care that have achieved this great milestone while being away from their parents and family support. We are extremely proud of each of them and the next steps they are making! Each graduate is attending college and continuing to grow with peace and purpose.
Your investment into Goshen Valley has made a way for these young people to succeed. Every gift given was utilized to surround them with the safety of a home, love of a family and hope for the future. We hope you enjoy seeing the fruits of your support!
If you would like to participate in the $50 for 5 campaign you can give a special gift in honor of our graduates below: