Youth At Heart Kicks Off Fall Program at
Mark Twain Elementary School
Mark Twain Elementary has opened its doors to the YAH after-school enrichment program. Twenty children remained after school September 22nd, to take part in the first week of activities which included high-energy games and an interactive lesson on the importance of following instructions and self control.
Jeneshia Hicks, the YAH activity leader, was elated to take the YAH kids Club to the school. She believes she will be able to reach many more students as a result of engaging the students on their school grounds immediately after school, while many await transportation home. Hicks will receive plenty of help instructing the children each week from Oral Roberts University interns and program volunteers. The ORU students will receive service learning while mentoring the children which is a win-win proposition for both the interns and kids alike.
The children will spend a second day each week receiving help with homework at another location--Christ United Methodist Church. Seventy percent of children that completed YAH tutoring last year improved in reading at or above their grade level. We are looking forward to similar success this year.
Youth At Heart Teens Tell Stories
About their Trip to Africa
They have been home now over three months but the impact of their trip to Africa still lingers for the six YAH teens who traveled to Uganda this summer to work with orphans.
Several times a month the teens have visited major trip sponsors to express their appreciation and to tell how their travel changed their lives. Recently the group spoke at a global outreach dinner at Asbury United Methodist Church. Jaylon Jackson told the group that his experience building a wall for a children's facility, and interacting with people from another culture, forced him to get out of his comfort zone. Jackson said his school counselor noticed he had matured remarkably over the summer, which he attributed to his Africa trip. Shawntrell Lowe said she gained a deeper appreciation for school after witnessing the difficulties the orphans faced to get a decent education. She said she is now making all A's and B's on her work in school this year because of her improved attitude, as a result of the trip. Exposing our youth to the world is indeed changing their response to life, making them more appreciative and determined to succeed.
Summer Highlights
YAH youth enjoyed a summer filled with a variety of activities. To begin, teens attended a leadership camp at Shepherd's Fold Ranch. The summer program's theme, "Celebrating Commitment," encouraged youth to be committed to self-discipline, integrity, respect for diversity, and service to the community. The youth were involved in numerous activities that promoted the theme, such as First Tee and First Serve character-building sessions, swimming and field trips. The summer culminated with summer camp and a picnic at Mohawk Park, sponsored by the Rib Crib Pigmen competitive team. YAH picknickers learned how to grill hamburgers, make coleslaw and decorate cup cakes.
In July, 66 children along with 12 teen counselors, traveled to Camp Tulakogee in Wagoner for the annual YAH Summer Camp. Happy campers commented: "Camp was fun! * Camp was the best thing! * I enjoyed the slide at the pool: it was the most fun I ever had! * Thank you for feeding us and making sure we did not get hurt. * "This was the most fun I ever had in my life!"
Mike Gonzales of Allstate Insurance Leads Kids in Right Choices Rally
Children from several apartment sites recently invaded the Comanche Park gym to take part in a Fun Day and Rally promoting "Kids Making Right Choices in Life." Children rotated to several learning stations in the gym where they engaged in games and activities that emphasized four character traits--self discipline, integrity, respect for diversity, and contributing to community. Mike Gonzales of Allstate Insurance Company spoke to the kids about how he must use these character traits on his job.
The Comanche Park Rally culminated a year-long program sponsored by The Allstate Foundation that taught over 500 children important tips on health, safety and proper decision making. The Allstate Foundation has partnered with Youth At Heart with this program for several years.
Uganda Humanitarian Project
Several YAH teens were invited to travel to Uganda with RAM, Inc. this summer, to take part in a humanitarian project for orphans. This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for our youth to travel across the ocean and help children whose lives have been devastated by the A.I.D.S. epidemic.
While in Uganda, our teens will build a wing block classroom to a school for orphans at the Watoto Child Care Village. They will also lead the children in a variety of enrichment activities.
Jaylon wants to go to Africa because he likes helping others--something he has done for four years as a YAH teen leader. Jaylon and the rest of the Uganda team are now completing service projects to prepare for their trip--from constructing homes for Habitat for Humanity to supervising children in after-school enrichment. The teens are also raising their own support--selling candy and sending out support letters.
Friends may help our teens raise their support by donating online at the Uganda Humanitarian Project button. Money raised will also be used to purchase the construction material for the building project.
5th Annual Youth At Heart
Charity Golf Tournament
Monday, July 11, 2011
The Golf Club of Oklahoma,
20400 E 141st Street, Broken Arrow, OK
Executive Sponsor - $5,000
Recognition at Awards Ceremony, 18 holes of golf for 2 teams (8 players), recognition on YAH website and facebook page, name recognition in event brochure, logo display on event banner, hole sponsorship with silk embroidered flag and 2 x 3 wooden sign
Hole Sponsor - $2,000
One foresome, recognition on YAH website and facebook page, name recognition in event brochure, logo display on event banner, hole sponsorship with silk embroidered flag and 2 x 3 wooden sign
Youth/Community Sponsor - $1,000
Name recognition in event brochure, logo display on event banner, recognition on YAH website and facebook page
Golf Team - $800 - one foresome
Individual - $250 - one player
SCHEDULE OF GOLF EVENT
8:30 a.m. Registration, Continential Breakfast
10:30 a.m. Shotgun Start
11:30 a.m. Catered Lunch by El Chico
3:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony, Dinner by the Golf Club
HOLE IN ONE PRIZES
- Chance to win a Lexus at Hole #5
- Chance to win a Moody's Diamond at Hole #17