Bridging the Gap FALL 2013
Administrative Building 2153 E. Joyce Blvd; Suite 201 Fayetteville, AR 72703
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Phone: 479.575.9471 Toll Free: 800.628.2260 Fax: 479.587.9392 E-mail: development@youthbridge.com www.youthbridge.com
HOLIDAY GIVING Youth Bridge would like to say Happy Holidays and thank you to all of our supporters who have made a difference in the life of our youth. Please check out our Online Giving Tree located on our website, www.youthbridge.com. View the “wish lists” of our residential youth or donate monetarily. Online Giving Tree donations will be accepted through the end of the year!
You Can Make a Difference!
With the Federal Government
young women experience homecoming for pate in the giving season. Youth Bridge
shutdown, Youth Bridge was impacted dur-
the first time through their generous dona- will participate in this national event by
ing October with the loss of grant funding for
tions; and the media helped communicate offering several holiday giving opportuni-
our transitional living programs for homeless
our problems through their targeted media ties including an online giving tree on its
young adults 18-25 years, our homeless
coverage.
youth 16-18 years, our emergency shelter in
While we are not totally back
Centerton, our school lunch programs, and
where we need to be, we are making pro-
our outpatient intensive family services pro-
gress one small step at a time. As we move
gram. We lost more than $100,000 in fund-
into the holiday season, I encourage all of
ing and had to furlough 42 employees.
you to keep our families and our youth in
While this was a very emotional
City:_______________________________________ State:________________ Zip Code:________________________________ I pledge $_________ to the Youth Bridge Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program (or other areas _________________)
Enclosed check made payable to Youth Bridge, Inc. (Tax ID # 71-0387126)
Please bill my credit card
Visa
Master Card
Discover
American Express
one time
monthly
quarterly
annually for $____________
Name on Card: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Billing Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ City:_______________________________________ State:________________ Zip Code:________________________________ Card Number: ____________________________________________ Expiration Date: __________________________________ Card Security Number: __________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________
w w w.y o u t h b r i d g e . c o m
youth.
To participate, please visit our
online
giving
tree
at
www.youthbridge.com, or donate $10 by texting the word YOUTH to 20222 (messaging and data rates may apply) to change the lives of our youth in need.
time for us, we were able to make it through
in #GivingTuesday, December 3rd, the With your help, we can further our mission
with staff perseverance and public support.
Tuesday after Thanksgiving. We hope this to make a difference in the lives of an at-
Our board of directors helped our furloughed
global movement, a first of its kind, will
staff families; Central States Manufacturing
harness the collective power of a unique
put together food baskets for these families;
blend of partners, charities, families, busi-
our administrative team took furloughed
nesses and individuals to transform how
days themselves; the public helped three
people think about, talk about, and partici- Strengthen Families
risk youth and their families. Sincerely, Scott Linebaugh, Executive Director
Build Stronger Communities
Name: _________________________________________________ Phone:___________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________________________________________________
your thoughts and prayers and participate
website to benefit homeless and runaway
There’s nothing like the power of social media to help unite people for a specific cause. Thanks to a powerful Facebook plea, three young ladies from the Youth Bridge Bell House got to attend their very first formal this year. And not only did they get to go to the homecoming dance…they did so in style. Thanks to the overwhelming outpouring of support we received, these ladies had their hair cut and colored the week before the dance, received dresses, jewelry, purses and shoes, had manicures and pedicures, as well as makeup and hair done the day of the
PROJECT HOMECOMING
event, had a professional photographer take pictures of them, and enjoyed a great dinner all as a part of their Cinderella evening. A HUGE thank you goes out to all those who helped make these girls’ dreams come true: Premier Concepts, Tramps Day Spa, Prom & Bridal Gallery, Donna Buell, Raney Photography, Misty Mills at Freshair Salon, Dillard’s, Josh and Bek Phelan, Rob, Dana and Megan Morrison on behalf of Grace Point Church, Amber Curtis, Kelly Penn, Jessica Henley, Jennifer Stabach, Teresa Campbell, Megan Dunlap, Lilia Bohlman, Katie Colunga and Katie Jenkins.
*Please note* The “It’s a Wonderful Life” Gala has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 13th, 2014. For more information, visit www.youthbridge.com.
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RED CARPET CUPCAKE CHALLENGE This year’s Cupcake Challenge was intense! It started with a Manly Man Cupcake Challenge whereby contestants entered their “manly” cupcake on Facebook and voters selected their favorites. Top prize went to Alana Hale for her Buttery Bacon Cupcake garnering nearly 500 online votes. The final challenge was held in September at the Sam’s Club Home Office with
BELL HOUSE RIBBON CUTTING
celebrity judge Chris Hanmer, winner of Bravo’s “Top Chef: Just Desserts”. Nearly 300 attendees converged at the final challenge to taste delicious cupcakes and watch competitors vie for awesome prizes. Kim Duhamel won the amateur division (as well as the People’s Choice Award) and Andrea Castro placed top in the professional division.
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On Wednesday, August 28, the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting to dedicate the Bell House in honor of former Youth Bridge employee Billy Bell. The Bell House is a transitional living program for female clients from 16 to 18 years old. The facility offers eight long-term beds and 24/7 supervision and counseling. Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan presented a proclamation to honor Youth Bridge and the 50 years spent dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk youth.
Chris Hanmer & Shawn Baldwin at the 2013 Red Carpet Cupcake Challenge
Winner of Amateur Division and People’s
Power 105.7’s Tim
50 Years of Youth Bridge “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” —John F. Kennedy #GivingTuesday, December 3rd—text the word YOUTH to 20222 (messaging & data rates may apply) to donate $10 to assist a homeless or runaway youth this holiday season, or visit the online giving tree at www.youthbridge.com.
Choice Awards, Kim
& Jeff speak to
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
Duhamel and son,
Chris Hanmer
Max
The “It’s a Wonderful Life” Gala has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 13th, 2014. For more information, visit www.youthbridge.com
On Tuesday, August 15, we had a Back to School celebration for the youth at our Benton County Emergency Shelter (BCS) in Centerton. We had a cookout, the stylists from Spa Esthetiques provided free haircuts (pictured below) and the Ben & Jerry’s truck came out to give ice cream to the kids.
Many improvements are being made at our BCS facility in an effort to make the clients feel more comfortable during their time spent at Youth Bridge, as well strengthen the healing process by making them feel special.
Highlands Church in Bella Vista built new shelving, makeup stations and storage cubbies for the girls’ common area of BCS as well.
BALL CORPORATION CAN CHALLENGE Ball Corporation recently completed their aluminum can drive to raise money for programs at Youth Bridge. Through combined efforts, a total of 967.6 pounds of aluminum cans were collected. That was an increase of 133.6 pounds over last year’s collection! All in all, that converted into $532.18 dollars for Youth Bridge, which Ball Corporation has generously offered to match! A huge thank you goes out to Mike John, Roger Breshears and all of Ball Corporation!!
We recently had a group from the Walmart Innovations Team (pictured above) come out to BCS and paint the common area of the boys’ side and help freshen up the landscaping.
2013 BACON BOWL A crowd of over 500 people came to the inaugural Bacon Bowl presented by Petit Jean Meats, which was held on the grounds of the Northwest Arkansas Mall on Saturday, October 26, 2013. The Bacon Bowl featured professional competitors testing their culinary skills in creating the best bacon dishes featuring Arkansas’s own Petit Jean Meats bacon. The best overall baconinspired dish will be representing the Bacon Bowl at the 6th annual New Orleans Food Fest held in the world famous French Quarter that draws 30-
40,000 food lovers annually from around the world. In addition to the baconinspired food competition, the
Dallas Cowboys Grill Team and Master Griller, Randy Lann, was on-hand to offer grilling demonstrations. Reality TV star Adam Poch, “The Heavy Metal Teddy Bear,” from Big Brother 13—who might be the biggest bacon fan on earth due to his recent baconthemed wedding—was in attendance as well. It was a very successful first-time event and we look forward to having it grow to become a fun food festival which drives tourism to Northwest Arkansas and awareness of the Youth Bridge mission.
The 2013 Bacon Bowl winners were as follows:
MENTORING PROGRAM
Best Overall Dish
Afterthought Bistro & Bar with their bacon-wrapped meatloaf—Judge’s Choice & People’s Choice (pictured)
Entrée Division
Café Nibbles with their Delta Belta sandwich—Judge’s Choice Mezza Luna with their baconwrapped chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese and drizzled with truffle oil and sage broth—People’s Choice
Dessert Division
Farrell’s Lounge with their pumpkin and bacon bar with maple cream cheese frosting—Judge’s Choice & People’s Choice
The three bedrooms for our female clients at our facility recently received makeovers from groups who participated in our Adopt a Room Project. The renovations included painting, new bedding and décor items, as well as treats for each of the girls.
This past summer Youth Bridge and Benton County Juvenile Court developed a new mentoring program for at-risk youths who are currently on probation in Benton County. Judge Tom Smith heavily advocated for this program to be established within his juvenile courtroom, after serving as a court-appointed child advocate for many years and witnessing the undeniable success adult mentorship can have on a child’s future. He had often seen the same kids consistently passing through the juvenile and family court system, and eventually ending up on probation—or worse—in the prison system once they reached adult-
The youth in the program are between the ages of 10-17 and must be referred through their probation Our mentors show these youth that officer, who knows the child and they care about their future, and his/her family situation, and feels believe in their potential. Mentors this program would be of great benmeet with their mentee once a week efit. We at Youth Bridge provide the for an hour throughout the six mentor with the support necessary month long program. The mentor for a successful mentorship. We program is community-based; have monthly “mentor support” meaning that mentors can take their meetings, group activities, and biyouth throughout the Northwest monthly trainings with Division of Arkansas community. Our current Youth Services on working with atmentors have enjoyed taking these risk youth. These trainings have youth on fishing trips, to museums, been particularly helpful because to local universities, and out for ice many of the kids in the programs cream; however, time is often best are coming from backgrounds of spent listening and sharing advice. poverty, abuse and neglect. hood. We are trying to put an end to that cycle.
We are currently seeking compassionate adult mentors who are interested in changing the lives of Benton County youth. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact Allison Sheaffer, Mentor Program Coordinator (pictured) at 4798 7 7- 9464 or em ail asheaffer@youthbridge.com.