September, 2010 - CISCO Systems engineers conducted an onsite examination of equipment and proposed solutions, then donated $87,000 worth of state of the art phone equipment, a server and routers tailored to TFS's unique needs that they identified.  The equipment also comes with a 5-year technical support plan!  Installation and staff training will begin when funding comes through.  We are grateful to CISCO's Dennis Blankenship, who took the initiative once he saw firsthand TFS staff at work fulfilling the mission!

Teaming for Technology (T4T), a United Way service, provided refurbished computers and monitors for a fraction of what they would have cost new, instantly upgrading many of our aging computer systems.  Al Reynolds has been "super to work with" according to Kim McBride, TFS Finance Manager.  Al is a United Way Campaign associate, and shares the story of his experience long ago with a TFS credit counselor whose guidance changed his life.  A true TFS Fan For Life, who just changed ours for the better.

Committee member Dana Hughens matched one of her clients looking for a good cause with TFS.  Dana brought over Rogo "Security on the Go" executives Bjorn Norwall and Cyrus Chipman, who visited CEO Alice Lutz.  After learning about the agency, they got a real taste of the Time Together Supervised Visitation program as two kids squealed past them in the hallway on their way to visit their dad.  They are donating and installing state of the art security monitors and equipment for both buildings, increasing not only the security of clients and staff, but allowing us to monitor from anywhere and communicate in new ways.

Carolina Business Exchange (CBX) donated the materials and labor to install two new cubicles now situated in an underutilized Blue Ridge Road lobby space. We can now accommodate all our clients, staff and volunteers. Many thanks to Carolina Business Exchange for helping us handle the ever-increasing demand for our credit counseling services, and to Jill Thomas, CCCS staff, for making the connection with CBX.

There is a new art work on display in the 2nd floor waiting area at the Western Boulevard office.  Susan Jones, of S. Jones Illustration and Design, www.skjonesart.com, created a series with narrative of nine framed photographs of hands molding clay.  TFS therapist Deb Hunter was inspired by the piece, noting "It spoke to me as a poignant example of the change process. As TFS is in the business of helping people change their lives, I thought that this metaphor would be a powerful display at our offices."  The area is now known as "Deb's Corner," who asked the artist for permission to display it.