FAMILY VICTORIES FROM YOUTH VILLAGES
• BACKPACKS PACKED, MILES LOGGED: CELEBRATING YOUR IMPACT
• HOW SWITCH YOUTH HELPED QUINCY REWRITE HIS STORY
• MENTOR SPOTLIGHT: SYDNEY HUNT ALSO
UPDATE
FROM YOUTH VILLAGES DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, WEST TENNESSEE
Dear supporters,
During this season of giving, we are reminded of the many ways our community has already contributed this year. From the generosity shown through Backpack Heroes to the energy and support poured into Youth Villages’ 43rd Annual YV5K on Oct. 4, we’ve seen the power of people coming together to ensure our youth are supported and successful.
I recently heard the story of one of our mentors, Sydney Hunt, and it spoke deeply to me about the true power of the Chris Crye Mentoring Program. I encourage you to read about her story in the newsletter.
Each year, our Holiday Heroes make the season special for the children and families we serve. There are many ways to get involved, whether shopping for a child, hosting a toy drive, making a monetary donation or volunteering in our holiday workshop. Every contribution makes a difference.
During this season of gratitude and giving, thank you for being a vital part of our work. Your support helps us build stronger communities, one connection at a time. Please feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions or to learn more about how to get involved.
Marcie Mulhern DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
WEST TENNESSEE
marcie.mulhern@youthvillages.org 901-251-4813
WEST TENNESSEE ADVISORY BOARD
Jon Wright, Chair
Ryan Ehrhart
Betsy Gilliland
John Goode
Ruby Hancock
Thomas Holmes, Jr.
Grace Johnson-Bann
Arianna Poindexter
Leslie Tate
Angie Ware
Christina Wiatr
NATIONAL BOARD
Mike Bruns, Board Chair
Mark Allen, Vice Chair
Fredrick Burns, Secretary
Gerald Laurain, Treasurer
Patrick Lawler, CEO
Tyrone Burroughs
Amy Crate
Jamere Jackson
Mike Keeney
Elizabeth Rose
Gary Shorb
Rev. Rufus Smith
Matthew Tarkenton
Kevin Thompson
David Tyler
Monica Wharton
Youth Villages is a national leader in mental and behavioral health committed to finding the most effective solutions to help children, families and young adults overcome obstacles and live successfully. Working through direct services, partnerships with innovative public agencies and advocacy, we collaborate to bring positive change to child welfare, children’s mental health and justice systems. Our 5,000 employees serve more than 47,000 children and young adults in more than 100 locations in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Youth Villages has been recognized by the Harvard Business School and U.S. News & World Report and was identified by The White House as one of the nation’s most promising results-oriented nonprofit organizations.
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TURNING SUPPORT INTO HOPE
Backpack Heroes provides school supplies for families; Youth Villages annual 5K raises funds for mentoring
For our donors and supporters at Youth Villages, we know your giving is year-round and never stops.
Over the last 20 years, the generosity of our supporters has shined bright for our annual Backpack Heroes campaign. The goal is simple: gather new backpacks and fill them with essential school supplies. The outcome: hundreds of students are equipped with the basic tools necessary for their educational journey, regardless of their economic circumstances.
BACKPACK HEROES
The need for Backpack Heroes grows each year, and our community rises to the occasion. This year, with your help, Youth Villages collected school supplies for more than 650 children and families in West Tennessee. Southern Security, our presenting sponsor, donated all the backpacks and supply bags for the campaign. Several businesses, families and individuals from across our region also pitched in by collecting school supplies, volunteering their time and contributing to our fundraising efforts.
YV5K
Our supporters continued their gracious giving in our 43rd Annual YV5K held in Memphis on Oct. 4. The race raises funds for our Chris Crye Mentoring Program, and more than 1,000 runners, walkers and joggers participated. The Chris Crye Mentoring Program changes lives by connecting young people in Youth Villages’ care with consistent, caring adult mentors. These relationships help youth build confidence, develop life skills and envision brighter futures. More than $97,000 was raised
The
from YV5K in support of mentor training, organizing group activities and providing resources to strengthen these vital connections.
After crossing the finish line, YV5K participants joined a lively post-race celebration featuring the band Walrus, food and family-friendly activities. Awards were given to top finishers and standout teams, including honors for fundraising, spirit and themed participation.
The overwhelming success of these two fundraisers are a testament to the power of our supporters. Because of you, both efforts were made possible. We can’t wait to see you again next year!
Southern Security team with stuffed backpacks.
Southern Security employees stuffed backpacks with donated supplies.
43rd Annual YV5K held in October included more than 1,000 runners.
PARTNERS LAUNCH
YOUTH VILLAGES’ INTERCEPT® PROGRAM MODEL IN TEXAS, WISCONSIN
YOUTH VILLAGES NOW SERVING IN 29 STATES
The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth recently launched Intercept services in Wisconsin’s largest urban area, Milwaukee County, home to the city of Milwaukee.
In Texas, implementing provider ACH Child and Family Services is serving children and families in Tarrant County, where Fort Worth is located.
TEXAS
Our Community Our Kids (OCOK), a lead agency in this Texas region, was awarded a two-year grant from Youth Villages to help launch Intercept. OCOK chose ACH, which has a history of excellent service to families going back to 1907, to be the implementing provider.
“ACH believes that, whenever it’s safe, children should be with their family,” said Stacey Ladd, program manager for ACH. “Intercept is a proven, effective, research-informed practice that provides a whole-family approach to building trust and well-being among children, parents, caregivers and siblings.”
To deepen our impact, Youth Villages established the Strategic Partnerships initiative to identify and support organizations that implement our evidence-based program models across the country. The first LifeSet partnership launched in 2016. Today, staff support 30 LifeSet and Intercept partners, and we have built a network of some of the most forward-thinking public agencies and innovative private providers in the country.
WISCONSIN
Services in Wisconsin are through a Youth Villages partnership with the Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services, which contracted with the Lincoln Center to provide Intercept. Founded in 1970, The Lincoln Center is a social enterprise organization that provides socio-emotional and mental health services through school- and community-based services.
“The Intercept program will be a great addition to the services offered in the Milwaukee area,” said Bridget Chybowski, DMCPS administrator. “We know when families can get the help they need at home and can work together, the outcomes are always better. We are eager to help meet the needs of our community.”
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOUTH VILLAGES PARTNERS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, REACH OUT TO STRATEGIC.PARTNERSHIPS@YOUTHVILLAGES.ORG.
QUINCY REACHES HIS POTENTIAL
Memphis Allies’ SWITCH Youth program is not just trying to reach teenagers who might be prone to finding trouble. Rather, the goal is to reach those most at risk for involvement in gun violence.
“Quincy,” age 17, met that criterion.
“He was very high risk,” said Addie Wright, a SWITCH Youth regional supervisor. “He had multiple gun charges.”
Yet, when SWITCH Youth Clinical Specialist Cedric Jackson first met Quincy, he saw beyond the charges and beyond his initial reluctance to trust these new people in his life who were trying to help.
“I saw the potential in him from day one,” Jackson said.
‘Support and structure’
Quincy was accepted into SWITCH Youth programming last March. Largely modeled after Memphis Allies’ SWITCH program for adults, SWITCH Youth engagement usually lasts at least 12 months. Participants have access to an outreach specialist, a life coach, a case manager and a clinical specialist — in this instance, that was Jackson.
“He’s very intelligent, very humble,” Jackson said of Quincy. “He just needed that support structure that we provide. I see that all the time with these kids. They’re begging for that support structure.”
Without it, Quincy emulated the examples in his world: family members and peers running in the streets, making fast money, and more than willing to make themselves armed and dangerous. Wright says Quincy was not a gang member, but those family members and friends who were affiliated held influence with him. His parents are no longer together, but his father was present in his life.
Addie Wright, SWITCH Youth regional supervisor with Memphis Allies
Cedric Jackson, SWITCH Youth clinical specialist with Memphis Allies
“We don’t see a lot of kids where the father is involved,” Wright said.
Still, Quincy put himself into bad situations. He dropped out of high school. He did not have a job. And he wanted the things his peers had gone out and taken for themselves.
“Driving his delinquent behavior was money… having nice things, having nice clothes,” Jackson said, noting that Quincy’s neighborhood is one of the most violent in the city. “He also has a new child and wanted to provide.”
Pursuing a different life
Through SWITCH Youth, Quincy enrolled in GED classes at HopeWorks, a faith-based nonprofit that uses education to help Memphians find sustainable work and escape poverty.
Jackson says Quincy did well with the GED classes and graduated from that program in November; Jackson and Wright attended the ceremony.
Still, along the journey, “he had a couple of setbacks,” Jackson said, noting that after coming off probation for a gun charge,
Helping continues on page 10
FINDING HOME IN CONNECTION
When she moved to Memphis, Sydney Hunt was looking for more than a new address. She was searching for a way to truly connect with her new city. That opportunity came through the Youth Villages Chris Crye Mentoring Program, where she became a mentor to Kyler. Hunt found not only a meaningful way to give back, but also a sense of belonging.
Her favorite part of mentoring is simple: spending time with her mentee.
“Being able to take the time just to hang out and connect is the most restorative part of my week,” Hunt said.
Over time, she watched Kyler open up. Their visits have become a safe space for laughter, creativity and growth.
One of their most memorable projects was working on crochet tapestries together. What started as a casual activity turned into a long-term creative journey.
“It’s been an investment in time,” Hunt said. “And [Kyler’s] been able
to master a new skill and create something she completely designed.”
The project has become a thread that ties their conversations together, even during phone calls, where they excitedly plan their next steps.
For Hunt, mentoring is deeply personal. It’s a way to support the next generation while also reconnecting with her own past.
“Being able to be the adult I needed when I was her age has been so healing,” she said.
She encourages others to consider mentoring, emphasizing how it builds bridges between individuals and communities. Her advice: “Pick a project that extends through visits,” she said. “It gives continuity, something to look forward to and a shared sense of accomplishment.”
And for those just starting out, she offers another piece of advice.
“This is not something you start alone,” Hunt said.
The support Hunt receives from Youth Villages Mentor Liaison Kowaisha Woodland and Kyler’s counselor, Jean Lake, has empowered her to be the kind of mentor Kyler needs.
Hunt didn’t just find a way to give back; she found a way to grow, heal and belong. Through Youth Villages, she’s not only helping shape a young life, but also weaving her own story into the fabric of a new community.
Make a difference in a young person’s life
In Memphis, we know the power of community. At Youth Villages, we’ve seen that power come alive through the Chris Crye Mentoring Program, which connects youth in our residential services with positive adult role models who show up, listen and make a real impact.
Many youth we serve have experienced trauma or are involved in foster care. They’re navigating challenges, but they’re also full of strength, creativity and untapped potential. All it can take is one steady voice to help them believe in themselves. That’s where mentors come in.
With just a few hours each month, you can help a young person in our care feel seen, supported and set up for success. Whether it’s grabbing ice cream, going to a Grizzlies or Redbirds game, or just checking in, your time means more than you know.
If you love this city and want to invest in its future, consider becoming a mentor. It’s a small commitment with a lifelong impact.
Sydney Hunt is a mentor with Youth Villages.
Gwendolyn, a Youth Villages Scholar and LifeSet participant, will graduate this December.
GWENDOLYN:
MY VOICE, MY JOURNEY
No child dreams of being in foster care. A loving, stable family is the standard we all hope for. But not every child is born into ideal circumstances.
I never imagined I would enter the foster care system. Both my parents are alive and well. Neither struggles with substance abuse. For most of my childhood, I was surrounded by family.
I lived with my mother until I was 9 years old. Then, she decided to leave the state and my two siblings and I moved in with my father. We stayed with him until I turned 11. After he abandoned us in a cold apartment, my sister and I moved in with one of her friend’s parents. My brother was placed in a foster home.
At first, I didn’t understand what it meant to be in foster care or how it would affect me. I officially entered the system after being abused by the friend’s parent — a trauma that continued for about a year after I turned 16. When the abuse was discovered, I was quickly removed from the home and placed with my 11th grade chemistry teacher, who was certified as a foster parent. While living with her, I finished my senior year of high school.
I consider that placement a “lucky draw.” Many young people are not as fortunate to be placed with someone they know and trust. I urge foster parents to be patient with the young people in their care. We’ve already endured so much. Feeling unwanted or disconnected from our biological families only deepens the pain.
My foster parent, or “lucky draw,” made sure I stayed connected to my siblings, and that meant everything. She also supported my goals and
helped me develop a healthier relationship with myself.
Although I remain connected with my family, navigating adulthood without parents is incredibly difficult. But with Youth Villages’ LifeSet program, I didn’t have to walk that path alone. My state caseworker encouraged me to join the program.
I met my LifeSet specialist shortly after turning 18, and she made my life easier. She helped me apply to colleges, find a car and access financial support for daily needs and college tuition. Most importantly, she was compassionate and understood the challenges faced by former foster youth.
This December, I’ll graduate from the University of the South with a major in politics and a minor in history. After graduation, I plan to work as a paralegal before attending law school. My goal is to become a constitutional lawyer and use my degree to advocate for change.
Youth Villages was a breath of fresh air for me, and it can be the same for others in the foster care system.
Caroline Yobak from Crane Co. presents a check for $5,000 from the company’s charitable giving campaign.
CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN
JAN. 1 – JUNE 30, 2025
INNOVATOR
$100,000+
Anonymous AutoZone
The Day Foundation
First Horizon Foundation
Hyde Family Foundation
Paul K. Brothers Jr.
Rev Living Trust
VISIONARY
$50,000 to $99,999
Jack and Betty Moore
TAG Truck Center
PILLAR
$25,000 to $49,999
Thomas W. Briggs Foundation, Inc.
LEADER
$10,000 to $24,999
C.H. Robinson
Mr. and Mrs. D. Bryan Jordan
Kroger Company
Lakeland Lions Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Martin
Memphis Area Association of Realtors
Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation
The PeyBack Foundation
Raymond James and Associates, Inc.
Southland Casino Racing
UHG
PROTECTOR
$5,000 to $9,999
Bluescope Foundation, N.A.
CN Railway Company
CTD Staffing, LLC.
Cummins
Evolve Bank & Trust
Michael and Sharon Goldstein
BUILDER
$1,000 to $4,999
The A.C. Wharton Group, LLC
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Allen
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust
Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club of Memphis
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Collins
Crye-Leike Realtors, Inc.
Mr. Mark Cunningham
Delta Dental of Tennessee
Karen Drewery-Kerkove
Eutopia Color & Extension
Specialty Salon
Ms. Natalie Garnett
Tanner Gordon
Green Frog Coffee and Grill
Mr. Wyeth Greene and Dr. Melody Greene
Susanne Hiegel
Idalia Roth Charitable Trust
Pamela Jackson
James Gattas Jewelers
Dr. and Mrs. Mark Jones
Mrs. Shawn Lawson
Mr. and Mrs. Danny Lee
Lewis Thomason Charitable Giving, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Loeb
Mr. Robert Longfield
LRK
Michael Morton
Doris and Charlie Pleas, III
Mrs. Carol Prentiss
Mr. John Price
Jordan & Katherine Purdham
Ring Container Technologies
Scott and Jean Ann Robbins
Ms. Joyce Sealand
Mr. David Shoemaker
Shoemaker Financial
Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Snider
Staci Taylor
Tennessee Jewelers Association
Ticket to Dream Foundation
James Todd
Trinity Baptist Church
Jim and Sharon Turner
United Way of the Mid-South
The UPS Store - Cordova
Mr. and Mrs. David Young
*If you made a contribution during this time (above $1,000) but it is not listed, please call 901-251-4813.
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Harvill
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Landau
KPMG - Memphis
Mr. Nathaniel Landau
SAVE THE DATE
PRESENTS
FEBRUARY 22 2026
FRIEND
$500 to $999
Linda Aljundi
Anonymous
AT&T
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bryce
Cigna
Benjamin and Pamela Clements
Data Facts, Inc.
Rebecca Duncan
Razan Hadidi
Mrs. Ruby Hancock
Mr. H. Larry Hilbun
International Paper Corporation
Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Lackie
Mr. Gerald Martin
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Ms. Donna Pearson
Mr. and Mrs. Sid Phadke
Crystal Pourciau
Power & Telephone Supply Company
Mr. Austin Rainey
Minje and Dr. Randy Ramey
Thomas and Laurie Rieman
Mr. and Mrs. Jon Wright
MEMORIALS
Jon Bargiacchi
Ms. Elyzabethe Riley
Percy Michael Corbett
Crye-Leike Realtors, Inc.
Mary Dearing
Crye-Leike Realtors, Inc.
Mrs. Carolyn Jackson Wills
Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Lackie
Kenneth Looper
Realty Title and Escrow Company, Inc.
Brent Manley
Harry Sullivan
Dana Morrow
Crye-Leike Realtors, Inc.
Leo Neyer
Crye-Leike of Arkansas, Inc.
Alan R. Pogue
Crye-Leike Realtors, Inc.
Carrie Porter
International Paper Corporation-
Mrs. Janice Plummer
Rebecca Leigh Reddin
Susanne Hiegel
Reid Sanders
Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Lackie
Jane Twist
Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Lackie
HONORARIUMS
Brian Mallory
Thomas Henze
Jennifer Masters
John Kruger
Olivia Vires
Ms. Virginia Bigham
Patrick Lawler
Mr. H. Larry Hilbun
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Acre
Across the Board Catering Actalent
Alma Del Jaguar Tequila
Athens Distributing Co.
Bari Ristorante e Enoteca
BDO
Ben E. Keith Foodservice
Bioventus
Black Men in White Coats
Blues City Café
Buffalo Soldiers Memphis
CarMax Memphis
Carnival Memphis
Char
Community Coffee
Crosstown Brewing Co.
Data Facts, Inc.
Dixon Gallery and Gardens
Erling Jensen
Ethan Thomas Events
Evolve Bank and Trust
Folk’s Folly
French Truck Coffee
Frost Bake Shop
Grind City Brewing Co.
Half Shell
Hog and Hominy
Hog Wild/A Moveable Feast
Huey’s
Kele Inc.
Leadership Bartlett
Magnolia and May
Magnolia Bend Grille
Mahaffey Event and Tent
Rentals
Margie’s 901 Ice Cream and Cakes
Marshall Steakhouse
Champions continues on page 10
McEwen’s
MoSH
Naval Support Activity
Mid-South
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Novel Memphis
Old Dominick Distillery
Omicron Delta Kappa
Fraternity
Paradox Catering
Patrick’s Neighborhood Bar and Patio
Pepsi Americas
Pfizer
Playa Bowls
Police Athletic League (PAL)
Raymond James
Ring Container Technologies
Silky O’Sullivan’s
Southern Security
Federal Credit Union
Strategic Online Systems
Stryker
Sunrise
Sysco Memphis, LLC
Tennessee Crown Distributing Co.
The Majestic Grille
The Orpheum Theatre Group
The Peabody Memphis
Trinity Baptist Church
Tsunami
University of Memphis
Athletics
Vanelli’s Deli
Villa Castrioti
Watkins Uiberall, PLLC
Waymar Gin House
Windyke Country Club
Helping continued from page 5
Quincy accepted a ride in a stolen car and picked up an added charge. The worst part was that Quincy knew the driver did not own the car and did not even have a driver’s license.
“We talked a lot about his decision-making, how he could have prevented that situation,” said Jackson, who believes the incident marked a turning point for Quincy. Just over a year ago, a good friend of Quincy’s was shot and killed. He was starting to see how life can pivot — or even end — in a second.
“He’s talked about being afraid to die,” Jackson said. “He wants to take care of his son and his own mom.”
His current plan: earn certification in a trade, probably welding, and get a job that pays above minimum wage.
“He wants different for his life… he wants more,” Jackson said of the mindset change he has seen in Quincy. “There are a lot of ‘Quincys’ out there.”
BECOME A HOLIDAY HERO
HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE
Make this holiday season extra special by spreading joy through gift-giving. Become a Youth Villages Holiday Hero today and brighten the lives of the youth we serve locally. With your cheerful donation, you can make a difference by helping fulfill their holiday wish lists. Help bring light to their world and give them a holiday they will never forget.
For more information or to make an online donation, please visit youthvillages.org/holidayheroes.
Youth Villages is a national leader in children’s mental and behavioral health whose mission is to help children and families live successfully.
YOUTH VILLAGES
TENNESSEE
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: Marcie Mulhern, Director of Development 3320 Brother Blvd., Memphis, TN 38133
3. RECOMMEND A GRANT FROM YOUR DONOR ADVISED FUND THROUGH YOUR FUND ADMINISTRATOR
When granting through your DAF, use this information: Tax ID: 62-1652079
Mailing Address: Youth Villages 3320 Brother Blvd., Memphis, TN 38133
Please contact Marcie Mulhern to let her know once the gift has been made.
4. GIVE A GIFT OF STOCK
Please reach out to Marcie Mulhern to receive these instructions.
YOUTH VILLAGES
3320 Brother Blvd.
Memphis, TN 38133
(Address Service Requested)
Youth Villages is a private nonprofit that serves more than 47,000 children and their families each year from offices in the following cities:
Alabama: Auburn
Arizona: Phoenix
Arkansas: Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Little Rock
Florida: Lakeland
Georgia: Atlanta, Douglasville
Indiana: Bloomington, Indianapolis
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Maine: Portland
Massachusetts: Boston, Marlborough, Springfield, Raynham, Woburn
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Washington, D.C.