NYFS Taste of Northwest is a Sweet Success
We would like to thank everyone who helped make our 2009 Taste of Northwest fundraiser such a success. Together we raised over $21,000 in financial support that will benefit the programs and services offered by NFYS.
We would like to extend a special thank you to our event sponsors and participating restaurants:
Event Sponsors
Allegra Print and Imaging, Creative Catering, Land O’Lakes, Pioneer Press, Shoreview
Community Center, St. Anthony Park Dental Care, Western Bank
Participating Restaurants
Annona Gourmet, Axels, California Pizza Kitchen, Choco Latte, Creative Catering, Finnegans Irish Amber, Good Earth, Green Mill, India Palace, Jake’s Sports Café, Keys Café, Kozlak’s Royal Oak Restaurant, Little Venetian, Outback Steakhouse, Subway, Totino’s Italian Kitchen
We look forward to seeing you at our next Taste of Northwest event in 2010.
Now is the Time to Think About Your Year-End Gift
As we approach the end of 2009, we look back with pride and gratitude on the accomplishments of Northwest Youth & Family Services. With your help, we were able to touch the lives of over 4,000 youth families and individuals ranging in age from 3 to 100.
Despite our success toward developing healthy lives in our communities, we find ourselves faced with even more challenges, simply because more work has yet to be done and more dollars have yet to be raised to meet the challenges of these tough economic times.
In spite of the financial hardships that are placed upon us in the non-profit sector, NYFS remains committed to serving all area residents regardless of their ability to pay.
As you plan your year-end contributions, we hope that you think of the clients of NYFS and consider making a gift of cash, stocks, IRA accounts or a planned gift such as a bequest in your living will.
In the coming weeks, you will be receiving a year-end appeal request from NYFS. We trust that you will make a year-end gift that will help us maintain and deliver our needed health and educational services and community programs.
For more giving options, please visit our website at www.nyfs.org and donate online or call Adel Chamoun at 651-379-3421 or adel@nyfs.org
Discovery Center Grand Opening: Date Change
We wanted you to be among the first to know that we are changing the date of the grand opening of the new Kay Andrews Discovery Center from Oct. 8 to October 28.
We apologize for the inconvenience but we are making the change because nationally-recognized comedian Louie Anderson has agreed to make an appearance at our event. Anderson is making space for us in his busy calendar, and performing free of charge, because he values what we do and those who support us
Again, we’re sorry to change the date but we think you will find it worth the wait. The event will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Discovery Center, located right next to NYFS headquarters at 3490 Lexington Ave. N. in Shoreview.
For more information, please call Sandi at 651-379-3422.
Summer Youth Employment Program Can Last a Lifetime
Summer may be long gone, but the effects of NYFS’ Summer Youth Employment program should make a long-term impact on the lives of youth in our community.
NYFS hired 42 at-risk youth this summer through a stimulus grant offered through the Workforce Solutions center in St. Paul. Due to the difficult economy, many teens were out of work this summer and unable to gain valuable work skills they will need to compete in the work force. Teens with risk factors such as learning disabilities, homelessness and low family income were targeted for the program.
“NYFS was selected as a site to hire teens because we already had structures in place that were actively engaging at-risk and hard-to-employ teens,” says Tim Gusk, NYFS Community Programs Director. “Our staff worked hard in the late spring to notify school sources that were likely to make referrals. They set up partnerships with local agencies such as Roseville Community Education, the Fairview Community Center, Community Partners with Youth and Bridging, Inc., to create job positions that would benefit not only the youth, but also the employer.” NYFS also hired several youth to help with our summer day camp and senior chore programs.
Sixteen year old John Williams was part of a team of youth that assisted older residents in NYFS Senior Chore program. “I helped seniors,” he said. “We did things for them that they couldn’t do for themselves. It was kind of fun.”
Rose Taylor, John’s mother, also appreciated the program. “I’m a single parent and NYFS helped me help him learn a lot about how to keep a job and how to be responsible,” Taylor said. “I think this program is good for all youth.”
Gusk added that of the 42 youth hired for the summer, 40 of them successfully completed the program. “That’s a great average for kids with multiple risk factors.”
Williams adds that there is one thing he would have liked to change about the program. “I worked four days a week,” he said. “I would have liked to work five.”
Local Rotarians Help NYFS Landscape New Kay Andrews Discovery Center
Over 20 volunteers recently donated their time and talents to help Northwest Youth & Family Services install landscaping for the new Kay Andrews Discovery Center.
Leading the efforts were volunteers from the Mounds View-New Brighton Rotary, Shoreview-Arden Hills Rotary and Roseville Rotary. NYFS board members, staff and community volunteers also lent a hand.
Cindy Carlson of the New Brighton-Mounds View Rotary Club coordinated a matching grant provided by the three clubs and the Rotary District to pay for basketball equipment for the center and outdoor landscaping.
The 10,000 square-foot multi-purpose facility gives NYFS clients a much needed space for physical and mental wellness activities as well as youth and family events. The building will also be open to the general public for rental when not in use by NYFS programs. It is estimated that over 10,000 people will use the facility each year.
For more information about the grand opening of the Kay Andrews Discovery Center, please click here, call 651-486-3808 or visit NYFS on the web at www.nyfs.org.
Ragnar Relay Benefits NYFS
Twelve employees and supporters of Northwest Youth & Family Services’ NETS program (Northwest Educational and Therapeutic Services) recently completed a 195-mile run in the 2009 Great River Ragnar Relay. In addition to raising a few blisters, the team also raised $1,800 to support construction of the Kay Andrews Discovery Center. The NETS program, which provides services to youth with serious emotional and behavioral problems, will use the center extensively as part of their daily work with students.
“I think the main reason we decided to do this was to see if we could,” explains Jane Ojile, Milieu Specialist at NYFS. “It’s nice to know we helped raise a little money, ran even when we couldn’t stand and built a little more confidence in our souls.”
The overnight relay race covers approximately 195 miles from Winona to Minneapolis. Each runner on the relay team was required to run three alternating legs of 3-8 miles over a 20-30 hour period. Two support vans followed the team throughout the race.
All proceeds from the relay were donated to Kay Andrews Discovery Center Capital Campaign. We will be celebrating the grand opening of the facility on Oct. 28.
For more information about the program, or the grand opening, please call NYFS at 651-486-3808 or visit us on the web at www.nyfs.org.
Bank Cherokee Donates School Supplies
Over $100 in school supplies for low-income families was recently donated to NYFS through Bank Cherokee.
NYFS Community Social Worker Kim Prinson said the supplies were particularly helpful this year because so many families are struggling economically.
“Thanks to their generous donation, we were able to get school supplies to families that needed them and weren't able to afford them on their own or get them from another community resource.” Prinson added that all supplies were distributed to local youth.
NYFS Wish List
Have an item you don’t want anymore but that someone else might need? Check out the NYFS Wish List and see if your trash might become our treasure!
As part of our efforts to be fiscally responsible with all of our resources, NYFS staff has created a wish list of items that will help us do our jobs. The public is invited to donate an item directly to NYFS and receive a donation slip that can be used to record your donation at tax time. Any donation would be sincerely appreciated.
Our current needs include:
- Framed artwork for NETS (prefer a diversity theme)
- Treadmill (working and safe)
- Kitchen supplies (cutting boards, pots and pans, baking dishes)
- Canoe paddles
- Life jackets