Family Building Blocks

Events and Fundraisers

Riverfront Family Fest

Saturday, Aug 7, 10 - 4

Riverfront Park in Salem

A free event for families with many activities including:

  • Kids Zumba hosted by the YMCA
  • Banana Man from Jamba Juice
  • Molar Man from Oak Park Dental
  • Crafts by Create a Memory
  • Free snacks from Organic Fresh Fingers
  • Fun entertainment by the police and fire departments

Get the details here


We hope everyone had a wonderful evening at Uncorked!

Held Saturday, May 15, 2010

Like a fine wine, the Uncorked Wine Auction gets better with age! That promise was fulfilled on May 15th with an exciting evening of fine wine, friends and philanthropy.

The Uncorked event was an incredible success, raising over $300,000 to directly support high-risk children and families in our community. Generous bidders and event sponsors banded together to create an unforgettable and electric night at the beautiful Zenith Vineyard facility.

A special toast to all the Uncorked supporters, donors, volunteers, guests, chefs, wineries and sponsors: You made this night incredibly special. On behalf of the hundreds of children we serve each year, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Uncorked 2010 Photo Gallery

Thank You

Gracie's Place
Dream Builders' Luncheon

Held April 14, 2010, Noon-1:00 PM


All of the families served at Family Building Blocks are at high risk for abusing or neglecting their children. The great news is that in 2009, 100% of the children at Gracie’s Place were able to live safely with their families. This “intended impact” is remarkable.

As the 360 guests at our Gracie’s Place luncheon heard, families we serve face a myriad of challenges – living in poverty, minimal education, family history of drug abuse, intergenerational child abuse, etc. The good news is that parents come to FBB voluntarily. They want to be good parents. They want to be self-sufficient. They want their children to have better childhoods than they experienced.

Research has shown that the first three years of life set the trajectory for the next 80 years. An infant’s brain is 40% developed at birth; by age 3, it is 85% developed. By investing in babies and young children, we can avoid the staggering costs incurred later when trying to repair earlier damage.

As a 16-year old inmate at Robert Farrell High School (in Hillcrest Correctional Institution) recently reflected to FBB Executive Director Sue Miller,

“I wish my parents had had the support of FBB. Maybe they would have stayed off drugs and out of prison and would have set a positive example for me as a kid. Then just maybe I wouldn’t be here today.”

Gracie’s Place supporters understand that fulfilling this longing is exactly what Family Building Blocks does!