Helping Hands for Harold
Eighty-seven-year old Roseville resident, Harold Freeberg, had a big problem. According to the City of Roseville, the house he has lived in since 1949 was in immediate need of a new coat of paint or he would face action by the city. He wasn’t able to do the job himself and he didn't have money to pay for someone else to do it.
While city officials needed to address the problem of an unsightly house, they also wanted to find a way to help Harold. They called NYFS Senior Chore Program Specialist Debbie Petersen.
“The city really wanted to make sure this guy found a way to get his house painted,” Debbie said. “So I made a few calls.”
The response was overwhelming, according to Petersen. “People want to help other people — you just have to get the information out there.” NYFS contacted Medtronic knowing that they had an active volunteer program. On Saturday, June 5, over 15 Medtronic volunteers converged on 
Howard’s house to scrape, prime and paint. The project was part of Medtronic’s Project 6 — a global volunteer program named after the sixth tenet of their mission: to maintain good citizenship as a company. All supplies were donated by the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches.
“He was overjoyed — he even offered to make lunch for the volunteers.” Petersen said, adding that Jimmy John’s and Green Mill generously donated lunches for the workers. “I don’t know what he would have done without them.”
For more information about the Senior Chore Program, please contact Debbie Petersen, NYFS Senior Chore Program Specialist, at 651-379-3451 or email her at debbiep@nyfs.org.
NYFS Leadership Luncheon Raises over $25,000 for Youth and Families
We at Northwest Youth & Family Services would like to thank everyone who attended and supported the 2010 NYFS Leadership Luncheon
. Together, we raised over $25,000 to support the healthy development of youth and families in our community.
We would also like to thank Ruth Bachman for her wonderful job as our replacement speaker and Marilyn Carlson Nelson for coming out to sign copies of her book even though she was under the weather with an acute case of laryngitis.
This event would not have been possible without the support of our 320 guests and our sponsors: Anchor Bank, Anonymous, CB Richard Ellis, Eide Bailly, LLP, ION Corporation, Lakeside Homes, Maguire Agency, Sandy Martin, Pioneer Press, St. Paul Kiwanis Golden K, Synovis Life Technologies and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans—North Ramsey County Chapter
And a special note of thanks to Wendell Maddox of ION Corporation for making a generous donation to help purchase and donate 320 books for signing at the event.
Your care, concern and generosity to this community are what make our area a great place to live, work and raise a family.
YET Program Helps Teen Turn His Life Around
My name is Matt Kline, you may have seen me working the register at Penny Pinchers Thrift Store during the day over the past few months. I wanted to take a moment to let you guys know how I got here. My story starts when I was 16 years old. I was a juvenile delinquent going in and out of jail every month. I was on probation with the coolest probation officer (P.O.) anyone could have. His name was Tim Hendricks. I was getting into a lot of trouble on probation. I was doing drugs and alcohol every day so my P.O. sent me to treatment.
After I got out I straightened up my life. My P.O. asked me if I would be interested in a job and I said “YES!” I got a job through Workforce Solutions at Penny Pinchers. As I started to prove to them that I was hard worker, my manager Donna Siech offered me a job working for NYFS, and that is my story. I started from a juvenile delinquent and turned into a hardworking man, thanks to: Tim Hendricks, Kelly Higgens, Donna Siech, Jo Sander, Jim Rider, and other NYFS employees.
St. Paul Foundation Grant will help Parents of Children in NYFS Discovery Initiative
NYFS is pleased to announce that it recently received $22,000 from the St. Paul Foundation to support parents of children participating in the Discovery Initiative.
The initiative works with at-risk youth and helps them build better connections with friends, family and the community while boosting academic achievement and decreasing risk factors such as drug and alcohol use and early sexual activity
With this additional funding, the initiative will have more resources available to strengthen parenting skills and improve the parent-child relationship. Research and past experience with youth supports the fact that young people are more successful when parents are more involved in their children’s lives and receive their own support as well.
By supporting the parents, as well as the children, NYFS is helping to ensure the long term success of the entire family.
NYFS Youth Make and Donate Blankets to Shelter for Women and Children
Just because you are getting help doesn’t mean you can’t give some, too.
Youth participating in NYFS’ Discovery Initiative, a program that helps disengaged youth connect with the community and their families, made and donated fleece blankets to Women’s Advocates, Inc., the first shelter in the nation for women and their children. Each child who comes into the shelter receives a blanket of their own.
“Our kids got a chance to walk around the shelter and ask questions about their services, staff and clients. It was a real eye opener” said Louis Carter, Discovery Initiative Coach.
Carter added that Discovery Initiative offers four community service projects each year. The next one will be in support of Feed My Starving Children in Bloomington.
NETS Program Receives Grant Funding for Art Therapy
Youth with severe emotional and behavioral issues will receive therapeutic art instruction at NYFS thanks to a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.
The $6,750 grant will support youth in NYFS’ Northwest Educational and Therapeutic Services program. NETS is a daily, year-round day treatment program for students in grade 6-12 who are struggling with severe emotional, mental and behavioral issues.
Students in the NETS program will participate in a week-long dance residency with the Zenon Dance Company. In addition to providing a much-needed outlet for physical exercise, students will work with the dancers to learn about creative and emotional expression. Since not all communication is verbal, therapeutic art gives these youth another way to express themselves and address issues and barriers to their long-term success.
NYFS Named Non Profit of the Year by Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce
Members of the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce recently named NYFS the “Non Profit of the Year at their Community Business Awards Gala.
“It was an honor to accept the award, but this is really an honor for all of us, says NYFS President and CEO Jerry Hromatka. “It recognizes the work of our board, staff, volunteers and donors who enable NYFS to carry out its mission of preparing youth and families for healthy lives.”
Hromatka adds that the 520-member chamber had several worthy nominees to choose from. “It was a very competitive field. I was surprised and honored that we won.”
We at NYFS would also like to thank and honor you, our generous donors and supporters. We couldn’t have won this award without your help. Together we’re changing the lives of youth and families in our community.
It’s Not Too Early for A Taste of Northwest
You may not be thinking about fall, but here at NYFS, we are busy planning for the biggest and best “Taste of Northwest” ever. Proceeds from this fundraiser are used to support our programs and services.
So while you’re out and about this summer, please consider donating a few items to our silent auction. All donations are tax deductible. Requested items include: sports memorabilia, theater and sporting event tickets, sporting goods, artwork, jewelry, children’s toys, bath & beauty products, gift certificates, quilts, wine or specialty beers, and themed baskets.
For more information, please contact Sandra Bahr at 651-379-3422 or email Sandra@nyfs.org.