New Heights Middle Tennessee Fall 2012

Vanderbilt MBA Golf Classic a huge success ... 4

Youth Villages named top small business ... 3

Family Victories from Youth Villages, Middle Tennessee

Equine-assisted therapy more than horsing around ... 8

Fall 2012

LENDING A HAND

Target, Dell (inset) spruce up group homes

Dell ProSupport honored with Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Award ... 6

A message from our CEO

MIDDLE TENNESSEE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL Bill Hamburg, Co-Chairman Betsy Walkup, Co-Chairman * Karen Baker Judy Caplan George Cate Jr. Tarsha Clemons Mary Cooper Vaughan DePillo

Investments in our community’s future It truly is an exciting time for us at Youth Villages.

In addition to recent expansions, we continue to solidify services in our existing locations and help more children.

That’s especially true here in Middle Tennessee. Our long-time corporate

Mary Grochau Julia Ann Hawkins Chris Kimler Brent McIntosh Elena Perez Laura Perkins Lisa Small Kevin Thompson Lele Thompson

partners like Dell, Target and others continue to devote their time, energy

Pat Wallace

and resources to help our youth. In fact, Dell and Target volunteers braved

Jeremy Werthan

our recent heat wave to beautify some of our group homes.

But that’s not all. Spring’s golf scramble with Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate

* Member of Youth Villages’ national board of directors

School of Management was a tremendous success. I don’t know what was more impressive — the full field for the tournament or the nearly 40 sponsors Those of you who have read stories about our children or worked with

YOUTH VILLAGES BOARD OF DIRECTORS

them in some capacity can begin to understand what they’ve been through.

Mike Bruns, Chairman

who helped make the first-year event a success.

Whether it is physical or mental trauma through abuse, neglect or something else, young people in our programs work extremely hard with our staff and

Bryan Jordan, Vice Chairman Jimmy Lackie, Secretary

counselors to move forward and be successful. In addition, the youth also

Paul Bower, Treasurer

need to understand their success is indeed a personal goal, but also a goal

Jim Barton Jr.

for the community. Volunteering and donating are ways in which our youth

Eric Bolton

understand their success isn’t achieved alone. Sure, they have to do the work,

Marietta Davis

but when you visit, mentor or support our youth, you provide them extra sup-

Nicholas R. Ehlen

port and show them there are people invested in their success.

Joanna Jacobson

Your investment of time and energy to young people we help is much more than that moment — it’s a small deposit that offers the potential of a huge return when our children succeed.

It’s something you can’t put a price on.

Thank you for investing in the future.

Rev. Robert Earl Jones Karole Lloyd Mark Medford Johnny Pitts Ray Pohlman Jennifer Queen Ronnie Randall Pat Ritz Michael Rose Matthew Tarkenton

Patrick W. Lawler Chief Executive Officer

Scotland Thede David Tyler

pat.lawler@youthvillages.org 901-251-5000 2

Patrick Lawler, CEO

Program Success As a national leader in the field of behavioral health, Youth Villages has measured outcomes of children and families participating in its programs since 1994.

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OHL LOGISTICS VOLUNTEERS AT WALLACE GROUP HOME

Outcomes

At One One-Year Year Post Post-Discharge Discharge

20 0

91% In school or graduated

40

81% No involvement with the law

60

83% At home with family

80

The graph above represents the status of Middle Tennessee youth at one year after discharge through December 2011. Figures include only youth who received at least 60 days of service and reflect a response rate of 54 percent.

A group of new volunteers from OHL came to the Wallace Group Home to teach the girls about watercolor painting. The Wallace girls learned how to paint landscapes, shadows and textures using salt and rubber cement.

YOUTH VILLAGES NAMED TOP SMALL BUSINESS IN THE SOUTH Business Leader recently named Youth Villages as one of the 2012 Top 300 Small Businesses of the South. Rankings were based on financial performance, business achievement and community involvement.

Regional events were held to honor the winners and Youth Villages was recognized at Nashville’s Top 300 Small Businesses

Greg Schott, Youth Villages Middle Tenneessee development manager, accepted the Top Small Businesses of the South award.

of the South Awards Dinner on June 26 at the Brentwood Country Club. Overall, Youth Villages was ranked No. 7 in Nashville and No. 36 overall in the South out of 300 small businesses.

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VANDERBILT MBA GOLF CLASSIC: On April 20, Youth Villages partnered with The Owen Golf Club, an association of Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University, to host the first annual charity golf tournament called the Vanderbilt MBA Golf Classic. Held at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, the Golf Classic benefited Youth Villages’ transitional living program of Middle Tennessee and The Owen Golf Club.

The Vanderbilt MBA Golf Classic was a full tournament with 120 golfers.

The event included 18 holes of challenging golf, contests, breakfast, lunch and door prizes.

“We are thrilled with the new partnership with the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University,” said Patti Bryan, Youth Villages Middle Tennessee’s director of development. “Owen is a respected entity in the Nashville community, and we look forward to projects with Owen in the future.”

We would like to thank all of the event sponsors, golfers, volunteers and contributors, including Panera Bread Company and Coca Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated for donating all the food and beverages for the tournament. Also, a special thank you to Vanderbilt Legends Club for hosting the tournament.

Thank you to our sponsors LEAD SPONSORS

TOURNAMENT CONTRIBUTORS

Panera Bread

Hospice Compassus

Amerigo - West End

Coca Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated

LPS Integration

Barnes and Noble Vanderbilt Bookstore

TEAM AND HOLE SPONSORS

MARS Petcare

Best Buy

Mike Bruns

Bongo Java

Betsy Walkup

Nashville Steel Corporation

Cheekwood

Cool Springs Imaging

Tri-Med Pharmacy

Dell, Inc.

Equity Solutions USA

Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP

Gaylord Entertainment 4

Geny Insurance

Dixon Golf George Malone - Hygen8

A HUGE SUCCESS

If you would like to be a sponsor or play in the second annual Vanderbilt MBA Golf Classic next spring, contact: Lyndsay Berry 615-250-7323 Lyndsay.Berry@YouthVillages.org

Thank you to our sponsors Jack’s Golf Shop

Target - Brentwood

Owen Marketing Department

Target - Hickory Hollow

Pancake Pantry

Tobacco Road Coffee and Smoke Shop

Pangaea - Hillsboro Village

Trace Atkins Band

SeeMore Putter

Trader Joe’s

SPECIAL THANK YOU Vanderbilt Legends Club TOURNAMENT VOLUNTEERS Best Buy

Shauna Malone - Cara Bella Creations

Uncle Classic Barbershop

Dell

Sole Mio

Vanderbilt Athletic Department

Panera

Swing Pal

Vineyard Vines

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DELL VOLUNTEERS WORK HARD THIS SUMMER AT WALLACE In May, a group of volunteers from Dell did landscaping and gardening at the Wallace Group Home. The volunteers followed up their hard work with a cookout for the Wallace girls and staff.

Dell organized an employment workshop

The girls from Wallace

Dell invited the Wallace Group Home’s

for the young adults in the transitional living

were also invited back to

girls to the Dell workout facility to learn

program. The Dell volunteers worked one-

Dell to attend an Adobe

about exercise and nutrition. The girls

on-one with the youth in the TL program on

Photoshop class taught

attended a kickboxing class, walked on

mock interviews, professionalism and job

by Dell volunteers on the

the outside track and learned cross-

shadowing.

basics of photo editing and

training exercises.

manipulation.

DELL PROSUPPORT WINS MARY CATHERINE STROBEL AWARD Dell ProSupport was honored for its outstand-

interview skills, learn

ing volunteer work in

about job opportunities

the corporate service

and gain more skills to

category at the Hands On

navigate and compete in

Nashville’s 26th annual

the job market.

Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

Dell ProSupport regu-

6

velop resumes, improve

In addition, Dell volunteers teach the young people independent

larly offers workshops at

living skills, computer

Dell’s Middle Tennessee

proficiency and informa-

facility that help Youth

tion for making healthy

Villages’ young people de-

lifestyle choices.

TARGET VOLUNTEERS ENDURE THE HEAT, HELP TALLWOOD Target sent more than 21 volunteers to do an outside project at the Tallwood Group Home on one of the hottest days in Nashville history with temperatures reaching a high of 108 degrees.

The group sealed the front porch and back deck, landscaped the yard and built a garden for the boys to tend to during the summer. Target also donated new lawn furniture for the home.

This is the second year in a row Target has volunteered at one of Youth Villages’ group homes in extreme heat. Thanks again to all of the amazing volunteers from Target!

Easy ways to get involved Sponsor an Adoption Party! Be

Sponsor a Group Home

Friend in Need. Don’t have a lot of

a part of the celebration when a

Activity. Help us give our group

time, but interested in making a big dif-

Youth Villages child finds a “forever

homes something fun to do

ference? You can help by participating

family.” We need your help to ensure

over the weekends by sponsor-

in our Friend in Need campaign, which

all of our children have a “going

ing an activity for one or all

provides emergency needs for the chil-

home” adoption party. You can help

three of our group homes. Ac-

dren and families in our programs.Be a

by sponsoring an adoption party

tivities can include going to the

“friend” and donate new or gently used

($75 per party) and all sponsors are

movies, going bowling, lunch at

items we request in the Friend in Need

encouraged to attend the celebra-

Dave and Busters or going to

emails for a child or family in need. The

tion to meet the child and their new

the Nashville Zoo.

emails are infrequent (every one-to-two

family.

months).

Contact Greg Schott at Greg.schott@youthvillages.org or Lyndsay Berry at Lyndsay.berry@youthvillages.org

7

THE BENEFITS OF HORSING AROUND Program helps children in foster care This spring, Youth Villages launched a new service activity called equine-assisted therapy for children in the Youth Villages Middle Tennessee foster care and adoption programs.

This is a fully certified and effective therapeutic activity for helping troubled children overcome life’s roadblocks by working with horses.

A horse mirrors human behavior and is a very forgiving animal.

Dede Beasley, M.Ed., LPC, licensed therapist, holds a long-time certification in equine assisted therapy. Sessions take place in her barn, LaceyRoo Stables, in Ashland City.

During the sessions, instead of riding the horses, the children work with the horses from the ground, grooming, feeding and learning how to handle, lead and interact with the horse appropriately and effectively.

8

Equine-assisted therapy is known for many benefits, including teaching improved communication and social skills, boundary setting, empathy toward others, self control and confidence, responsibility and accountability, problem solving and cooperation, honesty and trust and overcoming challenges in a nonthreatening atmosphere.

SUPPORT HELPS TEEN ON PATH TO SUCCESS

A

bout two years ago, in front of seasoned family counselors and social workers, Angelica told her story. Everyone hung on each word she struggled to get out, recounting years of neglect, drug use and homelessness.

Angelica stands outside at Austin Peay State University, where she is a junior majoring in biology. As part of Gamma Beta Phi, a community service honor society, Angelica and others planted flowers throughout the campus for the organization’s “Plant the Campus Red” initiative last year. In addition to taking a full classload, Angelica also works in the biology lab and has another parttime job.

Now, Angelica’s conducting

selection among different species of aquatic macroinver-

field experiments on the water quality in Milan, Tenn., a

tebrates, like mayflies and other small aquatic animals.

town that’s been unable to use its groundwater for more

She also recently returned from Belize, where she studied

than 70 years because of contamination. Her research, part

tropical environments and conservation as part of a study-

of a Presidential Scholarship she applied for and received,

ing abroad program.

will determine the change in the quality of the water over time as well as determining if there is a preferred habitat

She has two jobs and maintains a 3.8 GPA at Austin Peay State University.

You helped make this possible ...

“Education was the one thing no one

Your support of Angelica has allowed her to take advan-

could take from me,” Angelica said. “Studying and learning

tage of every opportunity. She plans to continue her educa-

became my way of getting away.”

tion through graduate work, and wants a career where she

She was admitted to APSU’s middle college, which allowed her to pursue college credits while in high school.

Angelica saw what her natural curiosity and intellect could offer. She always did well academically but never really thought much about it. At middle college, that changed.

She saw flyers for studying and taking classes abroad and thought, “I want to do that.” She saw announcements for the Presidential Scholarship and thought, “I want to do that.”

can make a difference. She’s an example of how you can make a difference.

“Before YV, I thought I’d go to college, get a job and let life play out however it would,” she said.

“But because of Youth Villages, I hold the steering wheel to my life. I get to determine what I want to do.”

YOUR DONATION SETS A TEEN ON A SUCCESSFUL PATH It costs $33 per day to provide transitional living services to one young person in Youth Villages’ Tennessee TL program. Your donations make a difference, helping these young people aging out of state custody get a good start on adulthood in the crucial years between ages 17 and 22. Donations support their efforts to find housing and health services, learn how to access transportation and meet their basic needs — things many of them never learned how to do. Counselors teach life skills like budgeting, menu planning and grocery shopping. They help young people learn the skills needed to find and keep jobs and set and achieve education goals.

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CHILDREN FIND FOREVER HOMES IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE TY

MATT

Ty was born

In state

with many life-

custody at 10

threatening

years old and

medical condi-

with Youth Vil-

tions.

lages since he

Because of

was 12, Matt

these condi-

required ex-

tions and his

tensive thera-

birth family’s

peutic efforts

inability to

to manage

provide the necessary care for him, Ty was placed in the

some developmental difficulties and behavior issues.

guardianship of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.

In January 2011, he was placed in the Youth Villages foster home of Pam and Jimmy, where he made sub-

His adoptive mother, Kim, met Ty while he was placed

stantial progress. Pam and Jimmy helped Matt take

in another temporary foster home. She believed she

the necessary steps to settle into a family environ-

was meant to be his mother, and couldn’t bear to see Ty

ment, where Matt got a true sense of belonging and

potentially moved from to home to home.

being with a family.

His medical conditions required special treatments, and Kim took the necessary steps to become a foster and adoptive resource home through Youth Villages.

On June 25, six months after Ty was placed in Kim’s home, the adoption was finalized.

Ty continues to require much medical care. But his

In March, Matt, 16, became the fifth child Pam and Jimmy adopted.

“Pam and Jimmy are remarkable because they have a genuine love and caring for all the children placed with them,” said Suzanne Jones, Youth Villages adoption specialist. “They have the gift of seeing, cherish-

forever mother, Kim, takes extremely good care of all his

ing and committing to the simple human value of any

medical, emotional and daily physical needs.

child who comes into their home and into their lives.”

Be a Holiday Hero Bring holiday joy to Middle Tennessee children by being a Holiday Hero and providing wish list gifts to the youth in our programs. For more information on how to be a Hero this holiday season, contact Greg Schott at greg.schott@youthvillages.org or 615-250-7262.

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YOUTH VILLAGES DAY AT VINEYARD VINES THURSDAY, SEPT. 20 Shop at Vineyard Vines in Green

JOIN OUR EFFORTS Become a force for families

Hills on Thursday, Sept. 20 and

There are numerous ways to help. Mentor,

mention Youth Villages to re-

foster parent, volunteer or financially donate to

ceive 10 percent off your entire

our programs. Your support can have a direct

purchase. Vineyard Vines will

impact on the future of the more than 450 chil-

also donate an additional

dren we help every day in Middle Tennessee.

10 percent of the entire day’s

Please call or e-mail Youth Villages to find out how to help.

sales to Youth Villages.

3310 Perimeter Hill Drive

CONTRIBUTIONS

Nashville, TN, 37211 615-250-7207

Thanks to our many supporters The following donors made gifts to Youth Villages between Feb. 15 and June 30, 2012. The board of directors and staff of Youth Villages gratefully acknowledge these thoughtful contributions.

If you made a contribution during this time but it is not listed, please call the Youth Villages Development department at 615-250-7207.

YV Leader ($10,000 to $24,999) Clarcor Foundation Joe C. Davis Foundation Catharine D. Smith Starbucks

YV Protector ($5,000 to $9,999) First Tennessee Foundation Jackson National Life Insurance Company Lynn and Ken Melkus Panera Bread Foundation Vanderbilt University

YV Builder ($1,000 to $4,999) Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund Mr. and Mrs. Richard Patton Walmart Foundation Mr. Christopher Young

Friend of Youth Villages (Up to $999) Mr. Andrew Antognoli Mr. Kevin Baker Ms. Donna Kay Brooks Buffalo River Ride Ms. Vickie Clasby Ms. Tarsha Clemons Ms. Mary Cooper Ms. Karen Couch Mr. R. Scott Davis Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan DePillo Mr. Robert Eisenstein Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Fluent Fort Campbell Area CFC Mr. Ronnie Frost C.R. Gibson Mr. Benjie Graham Mrs. DeeDee Hall Mr. Kirk Hanson HCA Caring For The Community HCA Health Care Foundation Ms. Linda Hollabaugh Ms. Temeshia Jordan Mrs. Anna LaCoste Mr. Brent Lautenschlegar Ms. Joanne Pulles McIlwain Mr. W. Yale Miller Mrs. Candace Paeper-Stone Mr. J. Fred Pilkerton Mr. John Pirolo Mr. Jordan Puryear Dr. Eric Raefsky and Ms. Victoria Heil Mrs. Michelle Schott Mr. Eric Smith Mr. Milton Sugai Mr. David Taylor Mr. Scott Tracey Ms. Shirley Troccoli Mr. Bill Wallace Mrs. Linda Ward Ms. Holly Wood Mrs. Veretta Woods Ms. Simone Wright Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Yu

Thinking of a planned gift?

There are as many different ways to support Youth Villages as there are needs for your support. If you are new to the concept of planned giving, please click Donate on www.YouthVillages.org and then go to the Planned Giving website for

Marler Stone

information on wills and bequests, gifts of appreciated stock, real estate, charitable remainder trusts, gifts of retirement assets, life insurance and charitable lead trusts.

Resources there include definitions, wording for wills, stories of how instruments are created and much more.

You may want to visit the planned giving calculator to see what a planned gift would mean in your unique circumstances. For more information, contact Marler Stone at 901-251-4820 or e-mail marler.stone@youthvillages.org.

Stay in touch online youthvillages.wordpress.com www.twitter.com/youthvillages www.facebook.com/youthvillages www.youthvillages.org

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YOUTH VILLAGES 3310 Perimeter Hill Drive Nashville, TN 37211 (Address Service Requested)

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID YOUTH VILLAGES

A private nonprofit organization, Youth Villages serves more than 20,000 children and their families from offices in the following cities: Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville Arkansas: Jonesboro, Little Rock Florida: Lakeland, Miami, Tampa Georgia: Atlanta, Douglasville Indiana: Bloomington, Jeffersonville, Madison Massachusetts: Arlington, Lawrence, Plymouth, Springfield, Woburn, Worcester Mississippi: Biloxi, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Jackson, Tupelo New Hampshire: Manchester North Carolina: Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Concord, Greensboro, Greenville, Pinehurst, Raleigh-Durham Tennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City, Knoxville, Linden, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville, Paris Washington, D.C.

New Heights Middle Tennessee is published by Youth Villages

Managing Editor: Greg Schott

Associate Editor: Chris Pennington Please e-mail greg.schott@youthvillages.org or call 615-252-7262 to have your name removed from our mailing list.

Founded in 1986, Youth Villages is a private nonprofit organization with a national reputation for offering the most effective programs and services to help emotionally and behaviorally troubled children and their families live successfully. The organization helps more than 20,000 children and families each year from more than 20 states and Washington, D.C. Youth Villages’ Evidentiary Family Restoration™ approach involves intensive work with the child and family, a focus on measuring outcomes, keeping children in the community whenever safely possible, and providing unprecedented accountability to families and funders. The EFR approach produces lasting success for children, with success rates twice that of traditional services at one-third the cost of traditional care.