Youth Villages | MTN Newsletter | Fall 2021

FALL 2021

New

HEIGHTS FAMILY VICTORIES FROM YOUTH VILLAGES

MEET THE NEW YVSCHOLARS WE’RE EXCITED TO WELCOME FIVE NEW YOUNG PEOPLE TO THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

• BACKPACK HEROES • YOUTH VILLAGES GOLF CLASSIC • DONOR SPOTLIGHT: MILLEN FAMILY

UPDATE

FROM YOUTH VILLAGES REGIONAL DIRECTOR This new fiscal year continues to be full of challenges and successes, yet we are so grateful for our staff, volunteers, donors and foster parents who continue to support our important mission of helping children and families live successfully in Middle Tennessee.

Meghan Markie, Chair

Shannon Lapsley

Elaina Brintnall

Shannon Millen

Scott Brisson

Dominique Haywood Miller

Charlie DeJonge, Intern

Sarah Mickle

Aylin Ozgener

Paul Dent

Chris Patterson

Vaughan DePillo

Helen Roudi

This year was a record-setting year for Youth Villages in Middle Tennessee:

Jason Egly

Bailey Saunders

Sara Eatherly

• We provided service to 7,634 children and young people through our continuum of care.

Tony Sharpe

Meredith Forehand

Lisa Small

Matthew Gann

• We finalized 173 adoptions, giving Middle Tennessee children forever homes and families.

Beth Jones

Tiffany Bellafant Steward

Nate Kenney

Shayleen Stuto

Kim Lapidus

Michelle Warren

• We engaged 2,694 volunteers completing 3,188.5 hours of service with a total value of $ 91,000 to the organization.

• We provided more than 1,411 children and young people with a new backpack and school supplies during Backpack Heroes.

• We raised nearly $80,000 for LifeSet at the annual Youth Villages Golf Classic in June.

• $1.2 million dollars was raised to support Middle Tennessee programs this fiscal year, primarily funding our LifeSet program and capital improvements to area group homes.

We have a lot to look forward to this year, including the Our Family Campaign (OFC), Youth Villages internal employee giving program that nationally raises more than $1 million for our programs each year. Also, we expect to provide gifts to more than 2,500 local children and young people during the holidays with our signature Holiday Heroes campaign.

Lastly, we want to thank you, our amazing volunteers, donors and supporters who continue to give your time, effort and dollars to help our children live successfully. We truly could not have done this without you.

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YOUTH VILLAGES MIDDLE TENNESSEE ADVISORY BOARD

Brittany Farrar REGIONAL DIRECTOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE PROGRAMS brittany.farrar@youthvillages.org 615-250-7322

Youth Villages is a national leader in children’s mental and behavioral health, committed to building strong families, delivering effective services and significantly improving outcomes for children, families and young people involved in child welfare and juvenile justice systems across the country.

Founded in 1986, the organization’s 3,300 employees help more than 32,000 children annually in 23 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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MEET THE NEW YVSCHOLARS MIDDLE TENNESSEE WELCOMES FIVE NEW YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE YVSCHOLARS PROGRAM TO GIVE THEM THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THEY NEED WHILE PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION.

Giada

Martina

Miah

Jala

Tiffany

Middle Tennessee State University

Nashville State Community College

Austin Peay State University

Tennessee State University

Austin Peay State University

Youth Villages created YVScholars to support qualifying youth in our LifeSet program in achieving their educational, vocational or technical skill goals.

These young people have exited the child welfare system

YVSCHOLARS SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES 48% 33 3% %

without any support and face many challenges including the cost of post-secondary education. The goal of the program is to provide a path for these young people to graduate from higher education and vocational training programs.

More than 95 percent of young people who have experienced foster care never even enter college, and only about 3% of youth who age out of the foster care system ever graduate from a four-year university.

This program aims to improve these outcomes by providing support and assistance to ensure these young people have the resources they need to be successful.

Once accepted into the program, YVScholars commit to:

YVSCHOLARS GRADUATE FROM HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS*

• Participate in the program for a minimum of two years to successfully complete educational, vocational and service goals.

NATIONAL FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATE FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING PUBLIC COLLEGES**

• Maintain at least part-time employment (15 hours per week) and submit a monthly budget.

YOUTH WHO AGE OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM EVER GRADUATE FROM A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY**

* Graduation rates for the YVScholars program ** Data is measured by the graduation rates from community colleges, four-year schools and technical programs.

• Enroll for a minimum of 12 credits each semester and maintain at least a passing C grade average during each grading period.

• Complete a total of 20 community service hours every six months YVScholars continues on page 9

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A group of volunteers from Jackson® helped fill backpacks for our kids.

BACKPACK HEROES HELP YOUTH PREPARE FOR SCHOOL The program provided new backpacks and school supplies to more than 1,400 local children.

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Backpack Heroes is an annual backpack and school supplies drive which provides essential items for youth enrolled in our services during the back-to-school season.

Nearly 90% of the youth we serve come from low-income families and cannot afford proper school supplies or backpacks.

“When our families cannot afford basic needs, it is harder for kids to be successful in school,” said Jenn Cougill-Harris, assistant director of Middle Tennessee programs.

The goal of Backpack Heroes is to supply the children in our services with the items they need to be successful for the school year. This year, we had many companies and volunteers donate backpacks and school supplies including Crye-Leike, donating 520 filled backpacks and TechnologyAdvice donating 200 filled backpacks.

Backpacks continues on page 9

Thomas & Company

ANOTHER RECORD SETTING YEAR FOR GOLF

YOUTH VILLAGES GOLF CLASSIC PRESENTED BY THOMAS & COMPANY RAISED NEARLY $80,000 FOR THE LIFESET PROGRAM, A BRIDGE FROM FOSTER CARE TO INDEPENDENT ADULTHOOD.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Youth Villages Golf Classic held on June 28 at Legends. The sold-out event engaged 30 corporate sponsored teams to participate in a shotgun style tournament, contests and a silent auction to raise money for the LifeSet program.

Since 1999, LifeSet has helped provide young adults with the tools they need to realize their own amazing potential.

Specialists work weekly with these young people to help them reach their goals regarding education, employment, housing, relationships and general life skills.

Golf continues on page 6

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Golf continued We saw this success firsthand this past spring when 89 young people in LifeSet graduated in Middle Tennessee.

Most of the graduates received their high school diploma, something only 58 percent of youth who have experienced foster care achieve compared to 84 percent of youth nationally, according to Youth Today.

We even celebrated a college graduation! RaDawn graduated from Austin Peay in May with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She will be pursuing her master’s degree in Criminal Justice this fall.

LIFESET MEETS YOUNG ADULTS WHERE THEY ARE TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE VERSION OF SUCCESS.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

LIFESET SPONSOR

YVSCHOLAR SPONSOR

CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN

MIDDLE TENNESSEE PROGRAM SUCCESS ONE YEAR AFTER DISCHARGE AT HOME

NO TROUBLE

IN SCHOOL

WITH FAMILY

WITH THE LAW

OR GRADUATED

98%

98%

95%

HOLE SPONSORS

Includes only youth who received at least 60 days of service and reflect a response rate of 45% (2,482 out of 5,510).

“Being in LifeSet helped me with my goal of completing my education, especially when the odds were against me ... It also helped me become a responsible adult.”

RaDawn LifeSet participant

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EVENT SUPPORTERS

EVENT CONTRIBUTORS

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR IN JUNE OF 2022.

Become a Holiday Hero SPONSORSHIPS

This year, Youth Villages will help more than 6,600 children across Middle Tennessee. Many of them need someone to become their Holiday Hero.

1,000

$

GROUP HOME HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

3,000

$

HOLIDAY CELEBRATION FOR ALL THREE NASHVILLE GROUP HOMES

5,000

$

LIFESET HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

10,000

$

LAST MINUTE KIDS SPONSOR

25,000

$

HOLIDAY HEROES PRESENTING SPONSOR

50,000

$

HOLIDAY HEROES TITLE SPONSOR Lyndsay Wilkinson, Asst. Dir., Development & Communications lyndsay.wilkinson@youthvillages.org | 615-250-7278

youthvillages.org/holidayheroes 7

THE MILLEN FAMILY IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

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Tennessee natives Ryan and Shannon Millen have been long-time supporters of Youth Villages.

Shannon currently serves on the Middle Tennessee Advisory Board, and prior to that she worked for Youth Villages in the foster care program after graduating from Belmont University. Shannon now works for UKG (formerly Kronos), and Ryan works in IT for Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

The family has been committed to Champions for Children (donors at the $1,000 level and higher) over the last three years.

Ryan and Shannon Millen, live in Brentwood with their son, Cooper, and their goldendoodle, named Sam.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT How did you first become involved with Youth Villages?

I worked for Youth Villages from 2007-2008 as a foster parent recruiter and trainer. While working there, I was really drawn to the mission and the work. Ryan learned about Youth Villages through me and has been a huge supporter ever since.

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

I appreciate the diverse programs Youth Villages offers to assist children and families by helping to prevent kids from going into state custody, caring for kids while in custody and assisting young people as they transition out of custody (either going back home or entering independent adulthood).

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

YVScholars continued Currently, Youth Villages has 135 scholars across the country and 23 of these scholars are right here in Middle Tennessee enrolled in the following area schools: Vanderbilt University, MTSU, Austin Peay, Tennessee State University, Lipscomb, Nashville State Community College, TCAT, Volunteer State and Genesis Barber School.

YVScholars, a privately funded program, continues to have a need for support as we have more qualified applicants wanting to be in the program than funding will allow. Donations to the program ensure that every scholar has 24/7 access to a counselor; educational resources, such as technology devices and school supplies; and guidance in learning the life skills needed to succeed as an adult. If you are interested in learning more about supporting the YVScholars program in Middle Tennessee, contact Rae Hummell, rae.hummell@youthvillages.org.

Since working at Youth Villages, I was able to see first-hand what a great organization it is, and I wanted to continue to support their important work in the community. This organization changes lives!

Backpacks continued

How do you support Youth Villages of Middle Tennessee?

“For many of our young people exiting foster care and entering college, a laptop is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity and one that our youth cannot afford,” Cougill-Harris said. “We are seeing a growing need for laptops as they are needed to access online courses, complete schoolwork, participate in class discussion, and also for job searching, submitting applications, and attending virtual interviews and job fairs.”

My biggest support comes from serving on the Middle Tennessee Advisory Board, but I also make regular financial contributions, support all fundraising events including their annual golf classic, and support the annual campaigns including Backpack Heroes and Holiday Heroes. Something as simple as purchasing backpacks or holiday gifts can make a huge impact.

Why should someone consider becoming more involved with Youth Villages?

Youth Villages is a great organization that is based in Tennessee but serves children and families all over the country. There is a need for more help and support for these kids, especially the children in the foster care system and the young people exiting foster care. Both these populations have limited resources and need a lot of assistance. Youth Villages does an excellent job at not letting these kids fall through the cracks!

For the second year in a row, we saw a growing need for laptops for our young people going to college or technical school.

During the campaign, Middle Tennessee raised more than $50,000 to provide laptops to young people going to college, thanks to a challenge grant from a local family foundation. Every day new youth and young adults come into the care of Youth Villages. For more information about funding laptops for our youth, contact Greg Schott, greg.schott@youthvillages.org.

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MIDDLE TENNESSEE DONORS JANUARY 1 TO JUNE 30, 2021 Advisory Board visits River Run Farm Members of our Advisory Board and their families spent the afternoon at River Run Farm in West Nashville with the boys at the Tallwood group home to learn more about the farm, interact with the horses, and pick berries in the garden. The River Run Farm partners with the Nashville group homes to provide monthly outdoor programming for each home to learn more about gardening and working with animals.

LEADER

BUILDER

Mr. Dan and Angela DePriest Genesco, Inc. Joe C. Davis Foundation Ruth Q. Davis Foundation

Anonymous AON Corporation Mr. Kevin Baker Bullseye Compliance Peter Candelaria DentaQuest Care Group Exchange Club of Donelson/Hermitage Mrs. and Mr. Meredith Forehand GEODIS Mr. and Mrs. William Hamburg The HCA Foundation Icon Mechanical, LLC The Jewish Federation of Nashville & Middle Tennessee Journeys Shannon and Ryan Millen Mr. Chris Patterson RC Mathews Contractors

10,000 to 24,999

$

$

PROTECTOR 5,000 to $9,999

$

The Arbor Rouge Foundation Change Healthcare Genesco, Inc. George and Teresa Lukis Family Fund Junior League of Nashville Mrs. Aylin Ozgener Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Speyer Ms. Carolyn Smith Ticket to Dream Foundation

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1,000 to $4,999

$

*If you made a contribution during this time (above $1,000) but it is not listed, please call 615-250-7200.

Renasant Bank Mr. David Reynolds Riley Warnock & Jacobson PLC RJ Young Helen and Rod Roudi The Stratton Foster Charitable Foundation Mr. Richard P. Shaw Mrs. Kendra Teasley Mr. Rick Thomson Thomas & Company Triumph Bank UBS Veristor Luke Wilkinson

HONORARIUM AND MEMORIALS Jonathan Davidson Maryalee Niess The Stroud Family Kristin and Kevin Williamson Jim Thomas

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

EVENTS

JOIN OUR EFFORTS

BECOME A FORCE FOR FAMILIES Mentor, foster parent, volunteer or financially donate to our programs. Your support can have a direct impact on the future of the hundreds of children we help every day in Middle Tennessee.

GET INVOLVED October 2021 For the fifth year now, the Nashville Film Festival created an original song with the Wallace girls group home as a part of the Livin’ Reel project. The project connects local artists and producers to community youth to create an original piece of art.

This year, the Wallace girls, with the help of local artists and producers, wrote and recorded the song “Breaking Free” which will be featured at this year’s Nashville Film Festival in October.

Support Youth Villages Rae Hummell, Director of Development rae.hummell@youthvillages.org | 615-250-7207

Donor advised fund or represent a foundation Greg Schott, Assistant Director of Development greg.schott@youthvillages.org | 615-250-7262

Fundraising events or becoming a corporate partner Lyndsay Wilkinson, Assistant Director, Development and Communications lyndsay.wilkinson@youthvillages.org | 615-250-7278

Volunteer opportunities Julie Abbott, Community Development Manager julie.abbott@youthvillages.org | 615-250-7266

December 2021 Holiday Heroes annually provides wish list gifts for local children and young people during the holidays who might otherwise not receive gifts. The campaign is driven by companies, volunteer groups and individuals who sponsor and shop for our children during the holidays. This year, we expect to provide gifts to 2,500 local children and the support of the community will be essential.

To help a local child or family during the holiday visit youthvillages.org/holidayheroes.

STAY IN TOUCH ONLINE twitter.com/youthvillages facebook.com/youthvillages instagram.com/youthvillages linkedin.com/company/youth-villages youtube.com/youthvillages

YOUTHVILLAGES.ORG

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YOUTH VILLAGES

NONPROFIT ORG

3310 Perimeter Hill Drive Nashville, TN 37211

U.S. POSTAGE PERMIT 1324

(Address Service Requested)

YOUTH VILLAGES

Youth Villages is a private nonprofit that serves more than 32,000 children and their families each year from offices in the following cities: Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, Mobile Arkansas: Jonesboro, Searcy, West Memphis Florida: Lakeland Georgia: Atlanta, Douglasville Indiana: Bloomington, Columbus, Evansville, Indianapolis, Jasper, Jeffersonville, Madison Louisiana: Metairie Kentucky: Lexington, Louisville Massachusetts: Boston, Marlborough, West Springfield, Raynham, Woburn Mississippi: Biloxi, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Jackson, Meridian, Tupelo New Hampshire: Manchester North Carolina: Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Louisburg, Raleigh-Durham, Waynesville, Wilmington Ohio: Worthington Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Tulsa Oregon: Bend, Portland, Salem Tennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City, Knoxville, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville, Paris Washington, D.C. New Heights Middle Tennessee is published by Youth Villages Prefer not to receive a printed newsletter? Email cynthia.vanelli@youthvillages.org or call 901-251-5000.

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