Each year, the Independent Electrical Contractors Association holds a Trade Show/Wire-Off/Chili Cook-Off, donating the proceed of the event to Phoenix Youth at Risk. The Electrical Contractors have helped us with wiring issues in our building and, if their journeymen miss class, they make up time by performing community service with Youth at Risk. We appreciate the partnership very much!

 

Last year, Intel Corporation celebrated its 40th anniversary. As part of that celebration, the Intel Foundation expanded the volunteer matching grant program to include employees' volunteer time at qualified non-profit organization.

 

Through this program, "The Intel Involved Matching Grant Program," Youth at Risk received a $10,000 contribution! Intel employees report their volunteer hours through an internal volunteer database. Nonprofit organizations then receive the equivalent of $10 per hour. Intel employee volunteers, who took the time to track their hours, enabled Youth at risk to receive the maximum allowable grant!

 

 

Eight graduates of our teen mentoring program, New Pathways, became high school graduates in May! Tavo Sastre and mentor Brenda Pulice attended the Carl Hayden High School graduation to celebrate with New Pathways Program alumni. Ana Robledo, Brend'a mentee, was chosen as the graduation speaker. She will be attending esthetician school and dreams of one day owning her own hair salon. Fellow graduate Estela Morales became a new mom yet, with the support of her family and mentor, graduated on time. She will begin Phoenix College working towards a degree in accounting. New Pathways alumni adding "high school graduate" to their list of accomplishments included Ana Robledo, Abraham Castaneda, Jesus Cordova, Anayeli Ortega, Griselda Vazquez, Laura Murillo, Maria Sanchez and Estrela Morales. Congratulations to all our high school graduates!

 

 
"Trust Fall" exercise at New Pathways launch retreat.

 

Our teen mentoring program, New Pathways, works to prevent troubled teens from growing into adults in trouble. The Program officially begins with a four-day intensive retreat experience. Recently, 38 teens participated in the retreat where they were challenged to confront their perceptions and begin to develop a vision of a different future. At the end of the retreat, each teen is paired with a volunteer mentor, someone who will become their consistent friend and advisor throughout the rest of the nine month program and often beyond.

 

On June 13, mentors and their matches from our homeless childrens' mentoring program, PALS (Positive Adult Leaders in Society), headed up to Jackpot Ranch in Camp Verde for a weekend of new experiences and fun. Activities included a water-relay, swimming, boating, educational wildlife encounters, a hayride, a petting zoo, and great camp foods! The group had fun making "s'mores", those gooey campfire treats made with graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows. Here Cyndee and her mentor Erin are just finishing up roasting the marshmallows. Dig in!