"We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men." ...Herman Melville

The Children's Home Society of West Virginia is truly 'connected'. The pages of this annual report bring to life the work of more than 300 professionals, who individually and collectively, seek a better life for children. They are 'engaged'...with children who have no one to protect them, with foster parents who offer shelter in a troubled life, with adoptive families that provide a permanent caring home, with state decision-makers that create governmental security and with our communities that supply villages of support.

A classic example of this engagement came during the summer at our Annual Founders' Day activity at Heritage Farm in Huntington. A crowd exceeding 325 shelter children, foster and adoptive families with their children, regional and state political leaders, staff and interested citizens gathered as our hosts Mike and Henriella Perry opened their farm for a day filled with education, food and fun. This was a real connection, evidenced by the smiles shown by children and adults, alike.

A drive across West Virginia will find the Children's Home Soceity in practically every county. From Wheeling to Welch, Martinsburg to Morgantown or Huntington to Hinton, children and families are being positively affected by this caring organization. And, every day our agency leaders are engaging our state government and business leaders to create a better environment for our children.

We urge you to peer inside this annual report. Take note of the activities, the support and the numbers. Each statistic represents a point of engagement, an opportunity to change a child's life for a better tomorrow. This is a society of individuals who have come together for a common cause. It is a society that has room for those who would join...community volunteers, foster parents, those seeking adoptions, and fund raisers. These are the people that we cannot thank enough as they give their time, expertise, money and other resources that continue to make this institution the state's leading advocate on bahalf of kids. This is a large family seeking to bring a better world to our children, but there is much room and many needs. We swould welcome you at our next family gathering to become connected and, as Herman Melville wrote, one of our thousand fibers.

Chairman	Chief Executive Officer

The Promise of Our Vision - 6,954 children and families benefited from Children's Home Society care in 2008 - 2009.