YOUTH FOR CHRIST
Lifting up a generation of lost kids to find...
MORE HOPE MORE WHOLENESS MORE FAITH
Youth for Christ Miami reaches young people everywhere, working together with the local church and other like-minded partners to raise up lifelong followers of Jesus, allowing them to realize their God-given potential.
“There’s no way to say everything Youth for Christ means to me. YFC staff really pushed me to be a better version of myself, especially through Christ.”
-CITLALI, AGE 21, ALUMNA
“Youth for Christ helped me grow as a person, helped me through my depression, and helped me get closer to God.”
-ANDRES, AGE 22, ALUMNUS
2021/2022
In our 73-year history, since 1948, Youth for Christ Miami has served more than 200,000 youth through the many changes in our great community. Fast-forward to today, and the mission of Youth for Christ is even more urgent as God is being pushed out of our communities, our schools, and especially our families. Our unwavering commitment to be “Geared to the times yet anchored to the Rock” allows our team to share God’s loving message of hope and redemption to young people throughout the decades. Youth for Christ meets Miami’s youth where they are, in ways they understand. The lonely teen, who normally eats lunch alone, gains new friends and acceptance in our Campus Life programs. The despondent youth, who feels all is lost in a cold, bare cell, finds hope in Christ through our Juvenile Justice programs. A hard-working mother finds joy as her daughter has a safe and nurturing place to be after school, where she learns valuable life and leadership skills through our City Life KIX programs. And instead of turning to gangs, young men and women harness their talents and passions through break dancing and Hip-Hop in a positive way for God through our Catalyst Hip-Hop programs.
Unchanging Mission: Billy Graham was the first employee of Youth for Christ, when it was founded in Chicago in 1944. Today, Youth for Christ has chapters in over 100 nations. Youth for Christ Miami is one of the largest chapters in the U.S.
By partnering with local churches, schools, leaders and families, together, we are lifting up our youth to ease their troubles and become lifelong followers of Christ. We are passionate about raising up young leaders in Christ who will serve the future of our city. We hope you will join us in this awesome mission. There is no greater cause, no greater need and you have the power to make a big difference for God’s Kingdom.
JOYFULLY TAKING THE BATON Have you ever met someone and instantly, they become one of your favorite people ever? That’s what happened to me nine years ago when I met Bonnie Rodriguez. Only, little did I know that as the years would pass, she would become one of my heroes along with the entire team of faith-filled leaders at Youth for Christ Miami. Since then, I’ve been able to personally meet many of the wonderful youth being served, visit ministry sites, rappel over a large building to help stop youth violence and hear the powerful testimonials at annual banquets. I’ve seen the hope, joy and purpose Youth for Christ gives our kids and the deep sense of fulfillment donors and volunteers get by being such an important part of these life-changing transformations.
Now, I have the huge honor and privilege of being handed the baton to continue expanding Youth for Christ in our community and helping teens reach their God-given potential. To me, this is the mission of my lifetime, and one that I am overjoyed to take. But I truly need your help. With hundreds of thousands of youths to reach at a time when life is so difficult for them, we need to come together as a community to give them the support they deserve. I would be thrilled to have you join me in His mission. By sharing your time, treasure and talent, your gifts will have a profound effect on furthering God’s Kingdom. Please consider joining us. I would love to sit with you to share the many ways you can make a difference in a teen’s life. It could become the mission of your lifetime too! Tia Diaz-Balart Executive Director Tia@miamiyfc.com
• Florida’s youth suicide rate has risen more than 50% over the last decade • 1 in 3 teens meet the criteria for anxiety disorder by age 18 • Self-harm among pre-teens has tripled • Homicide is the third leading cause of death among young people • 1 in 3 youth report feeling sad and hopeless • 60% of students report being bullied “You kind of feel like, what’s the point?”
-VICTORIA, A MIAMI 13-YEAR-OLD
LIFTING OUR YOUTH FROM THIS...
TO THIS... “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
-JEREMIAH 29:11
IN A CAMPUS LIFE, YOUTH FOR CHRIST SURVEY OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN OUR PROGRAM: 94% feel less anxious or depressed 76% have hope for future and purpose in life 67% have increased self-esteem and happiness 63% have more and better friendships 59% have less desire for alcohol or drugs
MINISTRIES
Youth for Christ is the top resource in Miami for those who want to help youth reach their God-given potential. Our Christ-centered organization is made up of humble, Spirit-filled leaders who continuously seek to improve their approach to ministry with joy, health and excellence. We launched a bold 5-year plan in 2021. By 2025, our goal is to annually serve over 4,000 youth ages 11-19 through our county-wide programs. Each year we will identify and engage 1,500 lost youth in authentic, Christ-sharing mentorships.
WE WILL ACHIEVE OUR GOALS BY: • Engaging the next generation of youth in ways they need and want most • Raising up adult and young leaders • Supporting families and our community • Partnering with churches and like-minded organizations
CITY LIFE KIX
shares the love of Christ with under-resourced youth and their families, empowering them to change their community for Christ through after-school programming.
CATALYST HIP-HOP
provides a safe and positive venue for youth involved in the Hip-Hop culture to break dance, DJ and emcee, while connecting to the positive message of Jesus Christ.
CAMPUS LIFE CLUBS
provides a fun, social environment, where middle and high school students consider God’s great love for them and how it impacts their relationships, decisions and self-worth.
JUVENILE JUSTICE OUTREACH
serves high-risk youth, helping them build a firm foundation for life through mentorship, life-skills and faith.
CLOUD MINISTRY New Initiative
meets youth where they spend hours day and night... online. Through our brand-new Cloud Ministry, our team works to bring hope through Christ’s message.
4,000 Youth served annually
150
Volunteers and staff serving
Weekly programs
Base o Do f C vo n o lu
at ra ions nt s
ard
LOST KIDS TRANSFORMED BY JESUS
Bo
nd Fou nd G a
31
ly ate n o si the ng ry o
ion mp ha and rs ers e nt
Partner churches and organizations
Staf f sha pas ri st
52
on Str
g
2%
20%
6%
6% 5-YEAR TOTAL
YEARLY BUDGET
13.4 MIL GOAL
2%
7%
54% 2,020 4,000 1,800 3,500 1,575 3,000 1,100 2,500 900 2,000
1%
BOARD AND STAFF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairperson – Althea Harris, President, Harris Global Vice Chair - Calvin Babcock, The Babcock Company Treasurer - David Smith, Managing Partner, Finance Performance Consulting Secretary - Will Erwich, Sr. Vice President, Northern Trust Darrell Smith - Wealth Management Advisor, Merrill Lynch George Brown – Retired, President, The Green Companies Jim Kern – Kern Companies Neil Eskolin – Retired, MetLife Ray Fernandez-Andes - CFO, Next Level Aviation
CAMPUS LIFE
Dwayne Eslick April Lovins Chris Jeong Eddie Otero Julieta Vasquez Natalie Gomero Marcksenson Dumelle (TIU Intern)
CITY LIFE KIX
Stacy Morales Ace Arechar Gaelle Demonsthene Isaac Morales Jakeria Carr Joab Dumornay Jorge Perez-Prado Jules Altidor Kathy Johnson (TIU Intern) Macrina Perez Mary Ann Perez-Prado Venia Cadet
JUVENILE JUSTICE Ronnie Lillard Glenn Craig Angel Terrero
CATALYST HIP-HOP David Arnaez Fabian Movilla Javier Alfaro Joy Torres
ADMINISTRATION
Tia Diaz-Balart Amy Villatoro Bonnie Rodriguez Delna Elisme Eli Gomero Johanna Ralsten-Cox Phyllis Webber Sean Lopez Sonia Lopez Sonia Rehder Suly Ashe Willie Rodriguez
SISTER ORGANIZATIONS
Youth for Christ Ft. Lauderdale
Kristen North Lynn Ginter Martin Urquizo
Youth for Christ Haiti
Godwin Altidor
COUNT ME IN! I WANT TO BRING HOPE, WHOLENESS AND FAITH TO THE NEXT GENERATION. “I don’t need a successor, only willing hands to accept the torch for a new generation.”
- BILLY GRAHAM
YOU CAN INVEST IN THEIR FUTURES THROUGH:
• Cash • Stocks and Bonds • Real Estate • Life Insurance • Trusts • Bequests • Gifts-in-Kind
TO SEND A GIFT, YOU CAN... • Scan this QR code with the camera on your phone • Donate securely online at www.miamiyfc.com • Mail a check payable to Miami Youth for Christ P.O. Box 561101 Miami, FL 33256-1101 • Call our office: 305-271-2442
Audited financial statements are also available on our website at www.miamiyfc.com. If you have any questions about making a gift to YFC, please call 305-271-2442 or email at info@miamiyfc.com
THE LORD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER AND SO DO WE! Heartfelt gratitude to our cheerful, generous givers — individuals, corporations, churches and foundations — from the thousands of young people whose lives are being transformed. Youth for Christ Miami strives for financial integrity and fully meets the standards of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Complete audited financial statements are available upon request. YFC Miami is a registered 501(c)3 and is a chapter of YFC/USA and member of YFC International.
Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables Mercedes-Benz of Cutler Bay
City Life KIX are funded in part by:
GIVE LIFE TO YOUR STORY
“If we are going to touch the people of our communities, we too must know their sorrows, feel for them in their temptations, stand with them in their heartbreaks. Jesus Christ entered into the arena of our troubles, and He wept with them that wept and rejoiced with them that rejoiced.”
- BILLY GRAHAM, FIRST EMPLOYEE OF YOUTH FOR CHRIST IN 1944