Mary: A Former Foster Kid Gives Back in Adulthood

Mary Lee, a business development specialist at Youth Villages, was recently profiled on ABC 24 Eyewitness News in Memphis.

Mary grew up in foster care and now works to help kids in the system find forever families so they’ll always have a home, even in adulthood.

Read Mary's story at this link.

Be a hero for kids this holiday season

Holiday Heroes program provides gifts;
holiday cards support mentoring

The holiday season is a particularly difficult time for our children. Many can't go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas because of family problems or because they have no family at all.

"We want the children to experience joy every day," said Peter Abell, assistant director of development. "But holidays are especially emotional times for children in residential or foster care. Our Holiday Heroes let them know that someone is thinking about them."

Youth Villages ensures every child in our care receives holiday gifts, largely through the support of generous companies, organizations and individuals in our communities who donate money to help. You can help by signing up to be a Holiday Hero.

You can also help children at Youth Villages by purchasing holiday cards. Money raised through the sale of these cards supports Youth Villages' mentoring program. Your contributions enable Youth Villages to reach out and help thousands of children. In fact, your support enables Youth Villages to help more than 15,000 kids this year alone.

Learn about Youth Villages' impact in the 2009 Program Report, "Success in Black and White," being distributed this month.

The Winning Attitude

Like so many children taken into state custody because of neglect, Fred developed behavioral problems, coming to Youth Villages for foster care and residential services.

Youth Villages believes children are raised best by families. Our Intensive In-home counselors reunited Fred with his Aunt Shirley and assisted as they became a family through adoption.

This spring, Fred’s Youth Villages counselor was there with the family when Fred addressed his senior class as valedictorian. At Mississippi State University on an academic scholarship this fall, he’s also on the football team.

“He’s been an inspiration to me,” his aunt says.

He’s an inspiration to all of us.

Read more success stories in the Youth Villages 2009 Program Report: Success in Black and White.

Youth Villages loses great friend

The children, young people and staff of Youth Villages are mourning the death of philanthropist Clarence Day, a supporter of the organization since it began in 1986. Day died at the Regional Medical Center in Memphis. Day, who was 82, was fatally injured in an automobile accident.

"Mr. Day was a member of the Youth Villages family," CEO Patrick W. Lawler said. "He constantly challenged us to look ahead, to do more to help more children and young people. He proved that one person with an unwavering commitment can make a really big difference for children. He will be greatly missed."

Day's grants to Youth Villages touched many different projects and programs at Youth Villages; his challenge grants spurred construction of the Youth Villages Girls Center for Intensive Residential Treatment and the Operations Center. He was a co-investor for Youth Villages in the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation's Growth Capital Aggregation Pilot. The initiative helped Youth Villages secure $40 million to allow the organization to help 50 percent more young people over the next five years.

But Day's greatest legacy may be the Youth Villages Transitional Living program, which helps former foster children as they move into adulthood. The program, which has become a national model for providing home and community-based support for young people who age out of state custody, began in 1999 through a grant from The Day Foundation. Day continued to support the program in Tennessee and assist its expansion to other states. A $1 million donation in 2009 allowed Youth Villages to offer Transitional Living help to young people in North Carolina for the first time.

Since it began, the Youth Villages Transitional Living program has helped more than 3,000 young people transition to adulthood in Tennessee, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Georgia and Texas. Counselors in the program help young people find housing, continue their education, seek and keep employment and learn independent life skills.

"Current and former foster children in the United States have lost a unique and powerful advocate for their well-being and success in life," Lawler said. "Youth Villages has lost a dear friend, tenacious counsel and generous supporter.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to Mr. Day's family, his amazing granddaughter, Natasha Davis, who worked as a counselor and later as a business development specialist at Youth Villages, and the many others whose lives were touched by this great, generous man."

Panera Bread serves up fun

More than 2,000 Panera Bread associates teamed up in Nashville, Tenn., recently to help Youth Villages and its kids. During Panera's biennial national conference, teams of Panera volunteers and Youth Villages children took a day to enjoy a photo scavenger hunt on the grounds of Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, while other volunteers packed overnight bags of essential supplies for the children. See our photo gallery.

Jeff Harman, Panera Joint Venture Partner for Middle Tennessee and Nashville, said the goal was to have a day of fun with the kids. For Youth Villages children and Panera employees, it was a welcome break during the three-day conference. 

"Panera partners with a nonprofit organization in every market across the country," Harman said. "We invest in our communities by working with organizations with similar core values. At the national conference, we had 2,300 Panera people in town from all over the country and Canada mobilized to help an organization with the same sense of values."

Panera Bread's longstanding partnership with Youth Villages in Nashville began nearly five years ago through help at fundraising events. Harman serves on the Youth Villages Middle Tennessee Advisory Council, and, along with his wife, Melissa, is training to be a mentor.

"Panera furnishes breakfast and lunches for our fundraising golf scrambles," said Patti Bryan, Youth Villages' Middle Tennessee Development Director. "But Panera does more, including having cafes host mentor recruiting events and raising money for Holiday Heroes."

"This partnership has been very easy for us," Harman said. "I don't know if I've ever met a group so kind and selfless."

YV merger with Inner Harbour to help more children and families

To better meet the needs of children and families in the Southeast, the boards of directors of Tennessee-based Youth Villages and Georgia-based Inner Harbour have agreed in principle to a merger.

"We've been familiar with Inner Harbour's great work for many years," said Patrick Lawler, chief executive officer of Youth Villages, "and we're very excited to have them join the Youth Villages family. We feel honored to have this opportunity to bring two highly effective organizations together to strengthen services."

The merger is expected to be finalized later this year.

"This joining of these two great organizations will allow us to do more for children and families in the Southeast," said Ron Scroggy, chief executive officer of Inner Harbour. "This partnership is a great opportunity. First and foremost, we know that this will positively affect the children and families we serve in the region. It will also be beneficial for our dedicated staff, as well as our public and private funders."

Inner Harbour is one of the largest intensive residential treatment centers for children and youth in Georgia. Located in Douglasville, the private nonprofit was established in 1962 and has developed a wide range of residential-based programs. It serves more than 850 children each year with 350 employees and an operating budget of $21 million.

Youth Villages was founded in Memphis in 1986 and now helps more than 14,000 children and families in 10 states and Washington, D.C. It offers a wide array of research-based services, including intensive in-home services, residential treatment, foster care and adoption, transitional living services, mentoring and crisis services. The private nonprofit organization began offering intensive in-home services in Georgia in 2008. Youth Villages employs nearly 1,900 people and has an operating budget of $133 million.

Youth Villages Joins President Obama In Drive to Increase Reach of Most Effective Nonprofits

President's Social Innovation Fund Would Seek out Creative, Results-Oriented Organizations

Youth Villages CEO Patrick Lawler was one of a select group of nonprofit leaders invited to the White House Tuesday to hear President Barack Obama's call to increase the reach of America's most effective nonprofit organizations through public/private partnerships.

Earlier this year, Youth Villages was named by the White House as a nonprofit organization with "promising ideas that are transforming communities."

Obama used an East Room gathering to talk about his new proposals, which include a $50 million social innovation fund that will be used to spur public/private partnerships and investments in community nonprofit organizations like Youth Villages, which have programs that have been proven to work.

"We're going to use this fund to find the most promising nonprofits in America," Obama said. "Instead of wasting taxpayer money on programs that are obsolete or ineffective, government should be seeking out creative, results-oriented programs like the ones here today and helping them replicate their efforts across America."

Youth Villages was an early champion of research-based treatment approaches and helping troubled children and families in the least restrictive setting, especially through intensive in-home services. The organization has produced consistently high long-term success rates for the approximately 13,000 children Youth Villages serves each year. In 2008, 86 percent of the children who completed their program at Youth Villages were discharged successfully; data consistently show that 84 percent are living successfully in the community two years after discharge.

"We are pleased that the White House is recognizing Youth Villages as an organization that does what works and know that it's a tribute to our employees, foster and adoptive parents, volunteers, mentors and donors who have supported our organization over many years," Lawler said. "It also validates our decision decades ago to use effective treatment programs and devote significant resources to research and outcome evaluation."

Lawler has been CEO of the nonprofit organization since its formation in 1986. During that time, Youth Villages has grown from helping 50 children a year to touching the lives of more than 13,000 children and families in 10 states and the District of Columbia in 2008.

In 2006, U.S. News & World Report and the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government named Lawler one of "America's Best Leaders," along with financier Warren Buffett, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Teach for America CEO Wendy Kopp.

Live from the White House East Room

Youth Villages CEO Patrick Lawler is at the White House today for the President's remarks on "innovative non-profit programs that are making a difference in communities across the country."

Do Something that Really Matters

Medtronic volunteer Andreus Shannon works with a child at Youth Villages.

This summer, do something that truly matters. Be a volunteer or a mentor to a child who needs you, or donate some needed items to help a young person or family in need.

With just a few hours to spare this summer, you can bring smiles and lasting memories to children receiving help through Youth Villages. Whether it’s by volunteering at one of our one-time volunteer ventures; tutoring a child in math or reading; donating clothing, kitchen items, baby or children’s items; donating tickets to local events or attractions; organizing fun and educational activities for a group of children or establishing a lasting relationship with a child by becoming a mentor, you can make a difference.

“Our children love the attention they get from our volunteers,” says Aaron Keegan, development manager, Youth Villages. “It means so much to them when someone spends time with them for no reason other than that the person wants to. Just being there is what matters.”

A large number of children and families Youth Villages helps live at or below the poverty line. These children and families often depend on the kindness of others to enjoy cooked meals, send their child to school with a new backpack and needed school supplies, care for infants and take part in some of the great attractions and activities their city offers. Many of the children helped by Youth Villages have never been to the zoo, a water park, a museum or other cultural events.

Here are some easy ways to get involved this summer and make a difference:

Memphis Nashville Knoxville Tennessee North Carolina Massachusetts Mississippi Florida Atlanta Arkansas Dallas Virginia Washington, D.C.

In Memphis:

• Attend a one-time volunteer event
• Donate baby items, clothing for children of all ages, kitchen items
• Become a mentor
• Adopt a cottage
• Volunteer at one of our campuses or group homes with your business, a group of friends, church group or other affiliation
• Volunteer at the Ultimate 10K & 5K on Saturday at Davies Plantation by e-mailing: paulireland@att.net
  
  For more information on volunteering in Memphis, please call Aaron Keegan at (901) 251-4827 or send him an e-mail: Aaron.Keegan@youthvillages.org. To become a mentor, e-mail Emily.Stuart@youthvillages.org or call her at (901) 251-4813.
  

In Nashville:

• Sign up for e-mails highlighting urgently needed items in Nashville by sending an e-mail to Greg.Schott@youthvillages.org
• Donate school supplies & backpacks
• Tutor a child
• Become a mentor

To get involved or to find out about additional volunteer opportunities, e-mail Natalie.Lucas@youthvillages.org or call her at (615) 251-7323.

In Knoxville:

• Become a volunteer
• Teach a child a skill
• Become a mentor
• Donate baby items
• Donate clothing of all sizes, including shoes

To learn more about how you can help children and families in Knoxville, as well as young adults who have aged out of foster care, call Gary Johnson at (865) 570-2075 or e-mail him: Gary.Johnson@youthvillages.org.

Throughout Tennessee:

• Become a mentor to a child in foster care
• Donate baby items, clothing for children of all ages, kitchen items

To get involved, please call Aaron Keegan at (901) 251-4827 or send him an e-mail: Aaron.Keegan@youthvillages.org.

In North Carolina:

Make a difference for the children and families Youth Villages helps in North Carolina. E-mail Aaron.Keegan@youthvillages.org or call him at (901) 251-4827.

In Massachusetts:

• Donate household items for young adults who have aged out of foster care
• Donate school supplies and backpacks
• Donate free passes to family activities
• Organize a fundraiser

To find out how you can make a difference, e-mail mailto:Aaron.Keegan@youthvillages.org or call her at (781) 937-7931.

In Mississippi:

• Donate school supplies and backpacks
• Volunteer at our Jackson office

To learn more, e-mail Kristen.Burnett@youthvillages.org or call her at (601) 572-3724.

In Florida:

Would you like to make a difference with the children and families Youth Villages helps in Florida? Please e-mail Aaron.Keegan@youthvillages.org or call him at (901) 251-4827.

In Atlanta, Georgia:

• Donate household items for young adults who have aged out of foster care
• Donate school supplies and backpacks
• Donate free passes to family activities
• Donate toiletry items
• Donate bedding
• Donate all sizes of clothing, shoes, sneakers and socks
• Donate school supplies
• Donate kitchen items
• Donate cleaning supplies and vacuum cleaners
• Donate baby items, including car seats, diapers and wet wipes
• Donate non-perishable food items

To help, e-mail Carla Smith at (404) 320-2936 or send her an e-mail: Carla.Smith@youthvillages.org.

In Alabama:

• Donate clothing
• Donate baby items
• Donate family passes to local attractions
• Allow a teenager or young adult who is receiving help at Youth Villages to tour your business or college or to shadow you at work

For more information, contact Karen Bee at (205) 917-2941 or at Karen.Bee@youthvillages.org.

In Arkansas:

To find out how you can help our children and families in Arkansas, please e-mail Aaron.Keegan@youthvillages.org or call him at (901) 251-4827.

In Dallas, Texas:

To find out how you can help our children and families in Dallas, please e-mail Aaron.Keegan@youthvillages.org or call him at (901) 251-4827.

In Virginia:

• Donate school supplies and backpacks
• Donate clothing of all sizes
• Donate baby items, including clothing, toys, blankets and diapers
• Donate household items
• Donate family passes to local attractions and activities

To learn more about helping children and families in Virginia, e-mail Alexandra.Schumann@youthvillages.org or call her at (703) 516-6953.

In Washington, D.C.:

• Donate clothing
• Donate school supplies and backpacks
• Donate baby items, including clothing, diapers, etc.
• Donate hygiene supplies, including shampoo, soap, etc.
• Donate household items, such as cooking utensils
• Donate tickets to local attractions, museums, ball games

For more information on how you can best help the children and families Youth Villages helps in our nation's capital, please e-mail Jeanette.Cohen@youthvillages.org or call her at (703) 516-6951.

Reach out to a child and make a difference with foster care

The Tennessean: Tennessee Voices
By Mary Lee

Who would help me? That's what I was wondering almost 15 years ago. I was 12 years old and so scared when I entered the foster care system due to abuse and neglect.

I became one of the thousands of "older children" in Tennessee's foster care system.

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, the time to focus on the needs of children and honor the people who step up to help them. There is a desperate need for people willing to foster older children.

By becoming a foster parent to a teen, you may be the biggest influence on the person they will become. You can teach them how to live: how to cook spaghetti, balance a checkbook, or change a tire. They may discover their spirituality by watching how you live your life. Most of all, you'll show them what it really means to be a part of a family.

In these economic times, some people think they can't afford to foster. But there's a reimbursement to defray the cost of having an extra child in the family. Financial help can even continue if the child is adopted.

For a long time, I thought I would be on my own after foster care. Every six months, I would go before a judge. It was mostly a formality, but when I was 16, the judge asked: "Mary, what do you want for your life?"

My response, "I want what everyone else wants. I want a forever family. I want to be adopted."

I wanted a place to go home to during Christmas breaks, a dad to walk me down the aisle, and grandparents for my children. Life is so much more than just childhood. Adults rely on their families, too.

My adoption was finalized one week before my 18th birthday.

Many people stepped up to help me grow from a frightened little girl in foster care to a successful adult. There are thousands of teenagers in the Tennessee foster care system today. Just like me years ago, they are wondering who will help them.

It could be you. If you want to make a big difference in someone's life, reach out to a child in foster care now.

Mary Lee is a graduate of the Austin Peay State University and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. She is the business development specialist for Youth Villages' Transitional Living Program that helps former foster children transition to adulthood. E-mail: mary.lee@youthvillages.org. To find out more about how you can become a foster/adoptive parent or mentor, go to www.youthvillages.org/foster.