Date Set for NYFS President Farewell Party
Circle Feb. 5 on your calendars and plan to join us at Midland Hills Country Club for a fun and memorable evening in honor of our departing president, Kay Andrews.
So many of us owe so much to Kay and we felt that a celebration was just one way we could show our appreciation as she makes the well-earned transition to retirement. In the coming weeks and months you will receive updates on the transition process and a personal letter from Kay as well as a letter from our incoming president, Jerry Hromatka.
In the mean time, we invite you to follow this link and leave your notes of support and thanks on a special site we have created in honor of Kay and her accomplishments.
Capital Campaign
In addition to our historic change in leadership, we are looking forward to another significant change at NYFS: the construction of the new Discovery Center at our existing headquarters in Shoreview.
The 10,000 square foot, $2.3 million expansion will create a new, multipurpose facility that will give our NETS Day Treatment Program youth a much-needed space for physical and mental wellness activities, movement and art-based therapeutic sessions as well as youth and family events. The facility will also be used by youth and families in other NYFS programs during after school hours. When not in use by NYFS programs, the space will be open to the public to be used for community events. It is expected that over 10,000 people will use the facility each year.
“Children and young adults need to know that their community supports them; mind, body and spirit,” says Suburban Ramsey Family Collaborative Executive Mary Sue Hansen. “The Discovery Center will give youth the space they need to express their whole selves. It will give youth workers and therapist another venue in which to connect with children and youth.”
NYFS is currently raising funds for the project and expects to break ground in October 2008. While the funds will be used to create a building, incoming NYFS President Jerry Hromatka, notes that the most valuable aspect of the building will be the people who are served within its walls. “This is more than bricks and mortar,” he says. “It is a tool that will help staff have greater impact with youth, many of whom are hard to reach.”
For more information about the capital campaign and the project, please contact Jerry Hromatka at jerry@nyfs.org
New Look for NYFS
Sometimes we all need a little professional help.
In recent months, you may have noticed the new look of NYFS. Our updated logo, color scheme and overall design were recently created in partnership with Risdall Marketing Group in New Brighton. NYFS hasn´t updated its look in over 15 years and we were excited to engage the services of a design firm to help us create a look that reflects our mission, vision and values. We are thrilled with the results and hope you are, too.
We would like to thank Risdall Marketing Group for their generous contribution to this project. Initial response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive and we are grateful for the leadership and expertise of their staff involved in the design of our new NYFS brand.
If you would like to take a look at our newly redesigned brochures, please follow this link (PDF-2.6 MB).
Fall Rake A Thon Helps Seniors Prepare for Winter
Seniors in need of a little assistance with fall yard work can look to NYFS for help. On Saturday, October 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., our volunteers will spread throughout the NYFS service area to help older adults rake leaves, clean up debris and get ready for winter.
The event is offered through the NYFS Senior Chore Program which helps older adults live in their homes for as long as possible with dignity and independence. While the Rake A Thon is a seasonal event, seniors can sign up for year round help with regular housekeeping chores, lawn maintenance, snow shoveling and other services. For more information, or to volunteer for the Rake A Thon, please call Debbie Peterson, Senior Chore Program Specialist, at 651-379-3451.
Taste for Northwest Is A Sweet Success
We would like to thank everyone who made our Taste for Northwest such an overwhelming success.Together we raised over $21,000 in financial support that will benefit the programs and services offered by NYFS.
We would like to extend a special thank you to our event sponsors and participating restaurants:
Event Sponsors
Allegra Print and Imaging, Bank Cherokee, Creative Catering, Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon and Vogt, Land O´Lakes, Pioneer Press, Shoreview Community Center, Western Bank
Participating Restaurants
Cakes by Barb, California Pizza Kitchen, Creative Catering, Flame, Good Earth, Green Mill, India Palace, Jake´s Sports Bar, Keys Café, Kozlak´s Royal Oak, Little Venetian, Monterrey, Our Bar and Grille, Outback Steakhouse, Totino´s, Tria.
Our sincere appreciations also go to all volunteers who helped plan and organize the event.
We look forward to seeing you at our next Taste of Northwest event in 2009.
News You Can Use: Television Isn´t Always Bad for Children
It is easy to point to television as a prime reason why some children fail in school. Maybe a little too easy.
While it is always necessary to put limits on t.v. use, according to the National Institute on Media and the Family, some television can actually be beneficial. Studies have shown that children who watch carefully constructed, age-appropriate educational programs like Sesame Street do better on pre-reading skills than children who watched television infrequently or not at all. Another study revealed that youth who make smart viewing choices go on to high school with higher grades, are better readers, are less aggressive and place more value on academics.
While these findings point out the positive points of television, the same warnings still apply. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that total television time be limited to no more than 1-2 hours a day. And no television program can ever reproduce the benefits of reading to your children or grandchildren.
For more information about the effect of television and other media, on youth and families – and what you can do about it – please click on this link to the National Institute on Media and the Family.
NYFS Helps Teens Navigate Tough Job Market
In this economy, finding a job can be difficult, especially for teens with little or no real-world work experience. NYFS is addressing this issue through ongoing series of job search training seminars for teens that give youth a head start in the job market.
The seminars show teens how to find out about jobs in our area, fill out employment applications, create a resume and successfully interview for a job. While most participants are already enrolled in our Youth Employment Training Program or Discovery Initiative, the seminars are open to all interested youth.
“Each attendee gets to interview with at least 10 people who have questions and are ready to evaluate them and rate them on their performance,” says Jenn Scott, NYFS Employment Specialist at our Penny Pincher´s Thrift Store in Mounds View.
“It is the interview piece that really puts them ahead of the game in comparison to other youth who might be applying for the same job,” she adds. “We really prep them for selling themselves, dressing appropriately and having confidence and a positive demeanor. They have to do a lot of thinking on their feet – this is truly the best part of the seminar.”
For more information about the program, call Jenn at 763-783-3626.
Penny Pinchers Thrift Store and YET Program featured on CTV15
“A Tale of 10 Cities” an informative cable-access program offered through CTV 15, is featuring NYFS´ Penny Pinchers Thrift Store and Youth Employment Training program on the newest edition of its show. For a link to show times, please click on the following link or to view the program online, please click here.