Youth Villages | WTN Newsletter | Fall 2023

FALL 2023

New

HEIGHTS FAMILY VICTORIES FROM YOUTH VILLAGES

VARSITY SPIRIT UNIFORMS ARE GENEROUSLY DONATED TO OUR YOUTH

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

• BECOME A “HERO” • LIFESET™ PARTICIPANT’S FUTURE IS SET • DONOR SPOTLIGHT: SARAH AND JON WRIGHT • TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH ATTEND CAUCUS TO DISCUSS THEIR JOURNEY

UPDATE

FROM YOUTH VILLAGES DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, WEST TENNESSEE

As we enter the season of giving thanks, it inevitably has me reflecting on all that I am grateful for. You, our community of supporters, have allowed us to impact so many lives in so many ways, and I cannot thank you enough for being a part of our work.

As I look over our last fiscal year that ended in June, I am proud to report that we served 6,460 youth and families and maintained our high program outcomes. However, there is still a lot of work to do to support children and young adults in West Tennessee.

In this edition of New Heights, we highlight some of our amazing supporters and focus on being a Hero for the children of Youth Villages. You’ll also meet Brandon, one of our incredible LifeSet Scholars. Our development team had the honor of spending the summer with him as our intern, and you will be just as impressed with him as we are.

As we expand our services and strengthen our impact in West Tennessee, we are actively recruiting more staff, volunteers, donors and foster parents to help us enrich the lives of those we serve. It will be a crucial year for growth in West Tennessee, and we could not do it without your past and continued support.

I hope you will consider looking for ways to make a difference. This newsletter is full of ways you can make an impact, but you can also reach out directly to me if you want to know more about ways to engage. Thank you for caring about those in the community who need you the most. You are a true force for families!

WEST TENNESSEE ADVISORY BOARD Jon Wright, Chair

Ruby Hancock

Desiree Allen

Thomas Holmes Jr.

Alex Boggs

John Paul Kavin

Preston Butts

Matt Johnson

Matthew Gabriel

Arianna Poindexter

Betsy Gilliland

Leslie Tate

John Goode

Angie Ware

YOUTH VILLAGES NATIONAL

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mike Bruns, Board Chair William (Bill) T. Giles, Vice Chair Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Secretary Gerald Laurain, Treasurer Patrick Lawler, CEO Mark Allen

Jimmy Lackie

Jes Averhart

Johnny Pitts

Fred Burns

Elizabeth Rose

Jennifer Bush

Gary Shorb

Amy Crate

Rev. Rufus Smith

Candace Steele Flippin

Matthew Tarkenton

Chris Hunter

Monica Wharton

David Tyler

Jamere Jackson

How are we doing?

Katie Jones DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT WEST TENNESSEE katie.jones@youthvillages.org 901-251-4813

We’d love to hear feedback from you, so we can continue to improve and give you content you enjoy.

Use this QR code to complete our survey.

YOUTHVILLAGES.ORG

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© 2023 Youth Villages, Inc. All rights reserved.

BRINGING SPIRIT TO OUR CAMPUSES VARSITY MAKES A GENEROUS INVESTMENT IN OUR CHEERLEADING TEAMS A cheer uniform is more than just clothing. It embodies the essence of cheerleading and the spirit of teamwork and creates confidence to shine in every performance.

Every thread woven into the fabric represents a cheerleader’s dedication and hard work. But cheerleaders at Youth Villages did not have true uniforms until Randal Dotson, a Varsity employee, and a volunteer’s excitement for the program turned into something much greater than anyone could have expected.

Thanks to a generous donation from Varsity Spirit, our cheer program received 60 brand-new, custom uniforms and pompoms for our cheerleaders. This incredible act of giving has lifted the spirits of our youth and made them feel like real cheerleaders. “The contribution that Varsity Spirit has made to this program extends far beyond cheerleading uniforms,” said Nicole Fannin, Youth Villages executive director of residential services.

“Many of these cheerleaders would never have had an opportunity to put on an actual cheer uniform. Varsity gave them an invaluable positive experience, one that will last forever.”

Avery Austin, sales and internal sales support representative at Varsity Spirit,

Avery Austin (left) and Becky Gennings (right) reveal the new Youth Villages cheer uniforms.

was key in executing the donation. She described perfectly what the sport can do for a young person. “I came to work at Varsity because of the impact it had on me growing up. Dance taught me patience and determination. It showed me the power of teamwork and steered my drive to be the best I could be. The lessons learned and the bonds created could forever impact their lives just like they impacted mine,” Austin said.

The uniform reveal was a surprise for our cheerleaders, and we brought team members from Varsity Spirit to our campus to help. The cheerleaders were told they would be doing a performance but had no idea they would be performing in new uniforms!

Curtains hid the uniforms as the cheerleaders entered the room, and when the curtains dropped, the uniforms and pompoms were proudly displayed. The room filled with cheers, tears and excitement from the cheerleaders, our staff and Varsity Spirit team members. Afterward, our cheerleaders changed into their new uniforms to perform. As stomps,

cheers and pompoms swished through the air, confidence radiated from our cheerleaders.

The donation also touched the team members at Varsity Spirit. “Varsity Spirit’s mission is to ‘Elevate the Student Experience.’ Witnessing the love, life and care that Youth Villages provides its children and families shows this mission in full practice,” Becky Gennings, SVP-strategic partnerships/community outreach at Varsity Spirit, said. “We are so blessed to be able to work alongside Youth Villages in any way possible and look forward to more special events.”

Youth Villages is extremely grateful for this donation that promotes inclusivity for our cheerleaders and helps to nurture a sense of belonging for the youth in our care.

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BEYOND THE CAPE What it means to be a Hero at Youth Villages

Often, when we think of a hero, we think of someone in tights and a cape, flying in to save the day. But at Youth Villages our heroes are just ordinary people who care about helping children and families live successfully.

There are many ways to be a hero for the youth we serve, and two even have the word hero in their titles: Backpack Heroes and Holiday Heroes.

As the summer break nears its end, the excitement and anticipation for a new school year begins. But for some families in our care, that joy is overshadowed by the financial challenges that the start of the school year brings. The escalating costs of education have become a burden for many, making it difficult for their children to start the academic year on an equal footing.

At Youth Villages, we believe every child deserves a great education, and our Backpack Heroes campaign is removing barriers that keep our youth from having a successful school year. We want our youth to be equipped to succeed and feel that we are there to support them through any challenges they may face. So, we ask for some heroes to step forward and help get a student ready for the school year.

The mission is simple yet profound: to gather new backpacks and fill them with essential school supplies, including notebooks, pens, pencils, calculators, rulers and more. The goal is to provide students with the basic tools necessary for their educational journey, regardless of their economic circumstances.

The community’s response to Backpack Heroes has been nothing short of extraordinary. Southern Security provided all the backpacks needed for the youth in our care. Families, businesses and Youth Villages employees enthusiastically contributed to the cause, all eager to play roles in making a difference. After the donation boxes were filled and picked up, the day arrived to stuff the backpacks with supplies. Staff from Southern Security gathered to sort and pack 650 backpacks, preparing to bring smiles and hope to the kids in the care of Youth Villages.

The impact of Backpack Heroes extends far beyond supplies. It communicates a profound message of care and belief in the potential of every child, empowering a child to be successful.

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“Having a new backpack and supplies creates a level of confidence that ‘I am valuable.’ Starting day one with everything creates a new slate

Patrick Hampton, Youth Villages development operations manager, at the Holiday Heroes Workshop.

for a child. It creates pride that they want to perform to the level of that newness. That first day of school sets the stage for them for the entire school year,” Youth Villages In-Home Program Expert Ashley Mills said.

As the school year moves forward and students work through their assignments, we cannot help but think of the most wonderful time of the year — the time when school isn’t in session. The holiday season is a magical time, and for the youth in our care, they feel and see the joy, love and spirit of the season through our Holiday Heroes campaign.

We are looking for volunteers to don their Santa hats and become Holiday Heroes. The campaign was born out of the desire to make the season brighter for these deserving young hearts. It is our wish that every child in our care has gifts to open, and this campaign touches the lives of countless individuals each year. In West Tennessee, Holiday Heroes provides gifts for more than 1,400 youth annually.

A youth with a gift at a Holiday Heroes party.

Holiday Hero Linzie Mullins’ adopted son Jesse took part in Holiday Heroes while living on campus. “Jesse lived in a residential facility for about five years, so he knows a lot about the Holiday Heroes. It’s like an early Christmas, and it makes them feel special that someone else that they don’t even know is thinking about them,” Linzie Mullins said.

The excitement begins with the creation of lists that encompass a diverse range of wishes from toys, books and sporting goods to simple necessities like clothing. Each wish list is a glimpse into the child’s heart, filled with hope and wonder.

Local businesses, individuals, families and organizations enthusiastically come forward as Holiday Heroes to sponsor one or a group of wish lists.

The Heroes take pride in brightening the lives of young individuals and making positive impacts in their communities.

“When Jesse came to live with us, he wanted to give back to Holiday Heroes. We signed up, and we went shopping and he helped pick out gifts.

We wrapped them and took them to the office together. That meant a lot to him, and it’s a fun way of giving back,” Mullins said.

Kaitlyn Kyle (left), Youth Villages community campaign coordinator, and Chloe Alexander (right), Youth Villages development coordinator, at the Backpack Heroes Stuffing Party.

Team at Southern Security with stuffed backpacks

The Holiday Heroes experience goes beyond gift-giving. It fosters genuine connections and brings the joy of the holiday season to a child that may have never experienced it before. Many sponsors can meet the recipients, sharing laughter and creating lasting memories. These interactions become the foundation of empathy, understanding and kindness and breaking down stigmas surrounding mental health.

Backpack Heroes donated school supplies

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LIFESET HELPS BRANDON REACH GOALS, ACCELERATE 5-YEAR PLAN For youth who experience foster care, the statistics are stacked against them in their pursuit of higher education.

Fifty percent don’t complete high school. Less than 20% enroll in post-secondary education. Only 3% of youth that experienced foster care earn a college degree.

Brandon is breaking through those barriers one at a time, and he’s on a journey that’s taking the opposite path of those percentages many foster youth fall into.

By his senior year, Brandon turned 18 years old and left foster care. He was seeking to live independently. “His last semester was a big struggle because his housing situation was so unstable,” Claudia said. “He was bouncing from place to place and experienced some depression from the unknowns during those transitions.”

A little more than a year ago, Brandon was walking across the stage and receiving his diploma from Middle College High School in Memphis. However, his climb to reach this accomplishment wasn’t easy. Throughout his high school experience, Brandon faced challenges, and the primary one was finding stable housing.

For the final months of high school, Brandon moved back in with his biological mother. For this move, Claudia said Brandon worked on his communication skills and learned to identify his support systems. “It was stressful, but I learned life balance and how to prioritize things. I was able to finish off high school strong,” Brandon said.

When he started high school, Brandon lived with a foster family in a suburb. He was able to attend because school was virtual at the time. When MCHS returned to in-person classes, Brandon’s housing issues arose.

After graduation, Brandon planned to continue his education at Rhodes College and begin the five-year plan for his future that included a stint with the CIA before chasing his political desires. However, before he started the fall semester, Brandon wanted to live independently. LifeSet — along with OUTMemphis and Rhodes College — stepped up to remedy this situation and provided on-campus housing for Brandon.

“It was a struggle for him when they went away from virtual,” said Claudia, Brandon’s Youth Villages LifeSet

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specialist, who began working with him in March 2022.

“Brandon had to find different ways to get to school.”

A year later, Brandon has his first two college semesters behind him, and he is on his way toward a degree in international studies and Russian.

“I loved my classes because I was able to choose them; that made me enjoy them more,” Brandon said. “One of my favorite classes was international relations. I loved my Russian classes too. I made some good friends, and I joined several clubs and organizations. It exposed me to different points of view, different ways of thinking.”

And what about his five-year plan? Well, it’s been accelerated — by quite a bit. Brandon’s timeline was to attend Rhodes, graduate, join the CIA and move into politics. That was until his national and regional foster youth panel appearances earlier this year. After those panels, a mentor floated the idea of Brandon running for Memphis City Council this fall.

“My original plan was to get into politics at the local level after serving in intelligence. But now, in running for city council, my plan has been moved up,” Brandon said. “I had no thoughts of running until my mentor, who is also my campaign manager, saw video of the panels I spoke on in Washington, D.C., and Nashville. I want to be that listening voice people can count on. I want to make a change.”

While preparing for his fall campaign, Brandon was busy with other endeavors during the summer. He was selected as a LifeSet Scholar and attended orientation. In becoming a LifeSet Scholar, Brandon can continue to receive LifeSet support and resources throughout his college career. He served as an intern in the Youth Villages development office.

“I helped with some volunteer events on campus,” Brandon said. “I enjoyed being around the kids.”

YOUTH VILLAGES WEST TENNESSEE

BY THE NUMBERS FY23

6,460

CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS SERVED

88%

AT HOME (WITH FAMILY OR LIVING INDEPENDENTLY)

92%

NO TROUBLE WITH THE LAW

To cap off his summer, Brandon took a birthday trip to Iceland in early August. Upon his return from vacation, he hit the ground running as he prepared for both his second year at Rhodes and a political campaign. He also has his eyes on future political ambitions.

“When I win (this election) and get sworn in, I’ll be serving on the city council for the next four years in addition to going to school,” Brandon said.

“My ultimate goal is to be nominated for Secretary of State.”

For more information about LifeSet, go to youthvillages.org/lifeset.

96%

IN SCHOOL OR GRADUATED

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TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH DISCUSS THEIR JOURNEYS AT U.S. SENATE CAUCUS ON FOSTER CARE

A

diverse group of young adults with lived experience in child welfare systems recently came together in Washington, D.C., to share their journeys and push for the services and support that all transition-age foster youth need.

The Lived Experience Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill was sponsored by the U.S. Senate

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Caucus on Foster Care and presented by Youth Villages. It was part of Foster Care and Mental Health Awareness months.

regional supervisor at Youth Villages; and Laticia Aossey, an Iowa state program coordinator for the foster care youth advocacy council, AMP (Achieving Maximum Potential).

Youth Villages is committed to helping transition-age foster youth get a good start to successful adulthood. The LifeSet program is the largest in the country helping transitionage foster youth and one of the only program models to have shown impacts on many parts of a young person’s life in a randomized clinical trial.

Washington entered foster care at age 15 and lived in five different foster homes. He described his time in care as a roller coaster. “I was able to use some of the downs on my ride that I call life to become passionate about changing the world. I’ve been able to meet officials to talk about how we can better the system for those who come after me,” Brandon said.

Participating in the panel were LifeSet Scholars Abby Nelson and Brandon Washington from Memphis, Tennessee; Julmonzhae Moore, a LifeSet participant from Kentucky; Ali Massengill, a former LifeSet participant and LifeSet Scholar who is now

The panel discussed the mental health support needed by those who experience foster care. “Going into foster care is traumatic,” Massengill said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re being removed from a negative environment, being removed from your biological family is a very traumatic event.”

That trauma can cause anxiety, depression and emotional and behavioral problems. Children and youth in foster care may have access to therapists, even regular sessions, but find it hard to trust and open

LifeSet Scholars and Youth Villages staff joined transition-age youth advocates in Congressional meetings on Capitol Hill.

up. Therapy may be more effective when they’re young adults. Aossey has direct care experience working with transition-age foster youth who experience mental health challenges. She said it can sometimes be very difficult to find providers with the experience needed to help young adults.

“You have to find providers who have specialized in working with foster youth, because obviously there’s a whole different set of concerns as opposed to young people who have grown up with consistent parents,” Aossey said. “It’s a challenge I’ve seen as a social worker. We need more people who have expertise in this type of work.”

The panel was moderated by Elina Morrison, a former North Carolina LifeSet Scholar and recent master’s degree graduate of the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy. She is now a federal policy intern at Youth Villages. After the panel, participants met with individual senators and staff to discuss their policy recommendations.

Memphis LifeSet Scholars Brandon Washington and Abby Nelson, left, in a meeting with Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s staff and Leticia Aossey, a transition-age youth advocate from Iowa.

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WEST TENNESSEE CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN JAN. 1 - JUNE 30, 2023 Boyle Investment Company CN Railway Company Tracy Crump Evolve Bank Gadomski Family Foundation Lakeland Lions Foundation Mr. Dick Leike Mr. and Mrs. Richard McKinley Mr. and Mrs. Chris and Carrie McLemore United Way of the Mid-South

Thank you to Carnival Memphis for visiting our campus again this year and presenting sports equipment for our children to use. Pictured: Carnival King Chase Carlisle, Carnival Executive Director Ed Galfsky, Youth Villages Director of Development Katie Jones, Carnival Board Member Dawn Graeter and Youth Villages Recreation staff member Kyle Wrushen.

INNOVATOR

LEADER

Anonymous Mrs. Wight Boggs Mr. and Mrs. Mike Bruns Cummins The Rose Foundation

F & F Construction Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Lackie Mr. and Mrs. M. Kevin McEniry

Burchenal Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Jay Harvill Jersey Mike’s Mr. and Mrs. D. Bryan Jordan Konica Minolta Business Solutions Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Martin Memphis Area Association of REALTORS Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation The PeyBack Foundation Ticket to Dream Foundation

PILLAR

PROTECTOR

AutoZone First Horizon Foundation

American Licorice Company Bluescope Foundation, N.A.

100,000

$

+

VISIONARY

50,000 to $99,999

$

25,000 to 49,999

$

10

$

10,000 to $24,999

$

5,000 to $9,999

$

BUILDER

1,000 to $4,999

$

Anonymous Employee Giving Allen & Hoshall Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Allen Amazon Smile America’s Local Independent Charities of America Amfas International Inc Mr. and Mrs. Gary Collins Crye-Leike Realtors, Inc. Data Facts, Inc. Delta Dental of Tennessee Downtown Memphis Commission Eutopia Color & Extension Specialty Salon Mr. Harry Freeman and Ms. Sara Ratner Mr. and Mrs. Michael Galante Ms. Natalie Garnett Michael and Sharon Goldstein Mr. Wyeth Greene and Dr. Melody Greene John Havercamp Idalia Roth Charitable Trust International Paper Corporation James Gattas Jewelers KPMG LLP Mr. and Mrs. Danny Lee

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Levingston Linkous Construction Co., Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Loeb Mr. and Mrs. Robert Loeb LRK, Inc. McWaters & Associates Realtors Ms. Victory Neal Nothing Bundt Cakes Orion Federal Credit Union PayPal Giving Fund Pfizer, Inc. Mrs. Carol Prentiss Mr. John Price Jordan Purdham Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rieman Ring Container Technologies Scott Robbins Ms. Joyce Sealand Mrs. Estelle Sheahan Signet, Inc. Tennessee Jewelers Association Tosh Farms Partnership Total Quality Logistics Trinity Baptist Church Mr. and Mrs. Jim Turner UPS Store #0614 Visa Giving Station Mrs. Dabney Wellford Mr. and Mrs. Jon Wright

FRIEND 500 to $999

$

John Bodford Ms. LaRose Coffey Ms. Tamika Dearman Mr. Nathaniel Denson Mrs. Karen Doss Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Gabriel The Goddard Foundation Mr. Josh Hall Ms. Wanda Harness Moss Foundation Mr. Zakery Parkey Mr. and Mrs. Sid Phadke Ms. Aleasa Rankin Mr. and Mrs. Tate Rush Mrs. Sara Shepherd Mrs. Jennifer Sims

BDO after a fun day of volunteering on campus Mark and Laura Snider James Stock Gerber Taylor The Walter Goga Fund Stephen and Wendy Williams

MEMORIALS Virgie Bracey Crye-Leike Realtors, Inc. Thank you to Brother for their donation of sewing machines through a partnership with The Sewing Machine Project. Our vocational program is excited for this new addition to its educational track.

Bill Lawler Mevin Key Jo Shaner Mindy Creech EDCO Title & Closing Services Deborah Longton Memphis Area Association of REALTORS Rosemary Shields Rex Womack Phil Trenary Giles Coors Patrica Walsh Judith Belisomo Quinton Woolridge Belz Enterprises The Belz Foundation

Tommy Yarborough Abby’s Estate Sales Joe Alonso Joyce Arscott James Bachmann Mr. and Mrs. John Barrios David Briggs Brooks & Mazzola Construction Company Matthew Byrne Dee Cannell Jeff Carrico Kathryn Carrico Jake Carrigan Mike Chambers Ms. Bernadette Cleary David Dawley Suzanne Degan

Mary Dolan Catherine Eakin Fleming Architects Scott and Traci Hager Donna Hansom Greg Harris Austin Hazelgrove Shannon Hopfinger Patty & Rick Hudson J.E. ALLEN CO Kimberly D Kupiszewski David Lockhart Cori Meares Renee Miller Todd Overhultz Sharon Rand Stacy Royalty Kristin Russell

Pamela Schnell Ms. Peggy Schrecker Mr. Brad Shapiro Braxton Smith Kyle Smith Mr. and Mrs. John Strange P&A Drywall Supply Cindy Tarsi Dean Updegrove Rebecca VanDeren Amanda Vanover Tonia Vasnetsova Leonard Walworth Romana Wendenon Doug White

Champions continues on page 12

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Champions continued

HONORARIUMS Jett Family Children Zakiya Jett Patrick Lawler Mr. and Mrs. H. Larry Hilbun Alison Montague Janice Faull Matt Smith Janice Faull Richard Shaw Mrs. Deborah Hester Virginia Wieck Claire Tenent Warren & Tammy Davis Pat Lawler Mr. and Mrs. Mike Williams Paul Ireland Mr. James Holland Robert and Judy Dawson Mr. David Dawson Servando Mireles Tucker Brock Stephen Moritz Lady B’s The Horton Family Lady B’s The Lambert Family Lady B’s

Top right: We love having the Tigers visit campus! Here is the Tigers women’s basketball team after an activity with our Rose Center girls.

At right: Sylvamo’s IT Department partnered with Youth Villages for its giveback event to provide bikes for 10 of our foster care and LifeSet youth.

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Join us and become a Holiday Hero for kids in our community this holiday season!

Sign up to be matched with a youth in our community or donate today!

COMING FEBRUARY 18, 2024

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DONOR SPOTLIGHT use the data to learn and make the organization better. This drives accountability and results in better outcomes for the clients Youth Villages supports.

Why do you personally support Youth Villages with your philanthropic investment?

Sarah and Jon Wright

WHEN SEEING LEADS TO GIVING HOW A VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY LED TO JON WRIGHT BEGINNING A GIVING FAMILY How did you become involved with Youth Villages?

I moved to Memphis in 2006 and learned about Youth Villages through a work service project. I was able to see first-hand the impact of the organization and was impressed by the work being done for youth in Memphis. As I learned more about the programs and services offered for youth in our city and across the country, I knew that I wanted to lean in and support the mission of empowering youth in our community.

What do you think sets Youth Villages apart in its work with children and families?

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Youth Villages places a huge emphasis on helping the whole family. When there is a child in need, they work with the entire family and not just the child. Second, Youth Villages has programs that support children at all stages from birth to early adulthood. For example, the LifeSet program places an emphasis on helping those who have aged out of foster care at 18 and supports their transition to adulthood by helping to secure housing and employment and building meaningful relationships. Another program that has the potential to make a huge impact on our city is Memphis Allies. Our local crime stats are staggering, and the program’s focus on intervention and prevention of gun violence has never been more important for our city. Finally, the focus Youth Villages puts on data is a huge differentiator. The organization tracks data points such as program impact to ensure that every donor dollar is maximized and used efficiently. The teams

Cities across the country are facing a growing number of challenges with our youth. As a community, we have the resources to make a difference for the youth in Memphis and around the U.S. Our family supports Youth Villages because we believe that the organization is in a unique position to make a difference in our city. The track record of Youth Villages’ successful programs sets the organization apart, and our community can trust that their donor dollars will have a direct impact. We ALL benefit from the services they provide our youth — whether you are a first responder, doctor, member of the local/state/federal governments or member of the business community.

Investing in our youth and helping them reach their full potential is not just beneficial to everyone in our community, but a moral responsibility we all bear.

Why should someone consider becoming more involved with Youth Villages?

I would personally challenge you to spread the word and tell others why you are involved. We all have our “why,” and your support is critical to the mission of Youth Villages. Imagine how much more powerful we would be if everyone found 3-4 more supporters just like you. More mentors, more volunteers, more financial resources lead to more children and young adults being served.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS WAYS YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN YOUTH VILLAGES’ PROGRAMS.

Make a Tax-Deductible Year-End Gift to Help the Youth We Serve!

1. GIVE A ONE- TIME OR MONTHLY GIFT ONLINE YOUTHVILLAGES.ORG/DONATE Select West Tennessee under the “Donate To” question.

2. SEND A CHECK WITH YOUR ONE-TIME GIFT MADE OUT TO YOUTH VILLAGES Mail to: Youth Villages Attn: Katie Jones, Director of Development 3320 Brother Boulevard Memphis, TN 38133

Questions about donating or designating a gift?

Contact Katie Jones, Director of Development katie.jones@youthvillages.org or 901-251-4813

3. RECOMMEND A GRANT FROM YOUR DONOR ADVISED FUND THROUGH YOUR FUND ADMINISTRATOR!

STAY IN TOUCH ONLINE

When granting through your DAF, use this information: Tax ID: 62-1652079

twitter.com/youthvillages

Mailing Address: Youth Villages 3320 Brother Boulevard Memphis, TN 38133

facebook.com/youthvillages

instagram.com/youthvillages

Please contact Katie Jones to let her know once the gift has been made.

4. GIVE A GIFT OF STOCK

linkedin.com/company/youth-villages

Please reach out to Katie Jones to receive these instructions.

YOUTHVILLAGES.ORG

youtube.com/youthvillages

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YOUTH VILLAGES

NONPROFIT ORG

3320 Brother Blvd.

Memphis, TN 38133

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

(Address Service Requested)

YOUTH VILLAGES

Youth Villages is a private nonprofit that serves more than 39,000 children and their families each year from offices in the following cities: Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, Mobile Arizona: Phoenix Arkansas: Little Rock, Searcy, West Memphis Florida: Lakeland Georgia: Atlanta, Douglasville Indiana: Bloomington, Columbus, Indianapolis Louisiana: Metairie Kentucky: Lexington, Louisville/Jeffersonville (Indiana) Maine: Portland Massachusetts: Boston, Marlborough, Raynham, West Springfield, Woburn Mississippi: Biloxi, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Jackson, Meridian, Tupelo New Hampshire: Manchester, Plymouth North Carolina: Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Louisburg, Raleigh-Durham, Waynesville, Wilmington Ohio: Worthington Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Tulsa Oregon: Bend, Portland, Salem South Carolina: Rock Hill Tennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City, Knoxville, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville, Paris Washington, D.C. New Heights West Tennessee is published by Youth Villages Prefer not to receive a printed newsletter? Email katie.jones@youthvillages.org or call 901-251-4813.

To also receive a digital copy of our newsletters and join our email list, sign up at youthvillages.org/stay-informed.