THOUGHTS FROM PRESIDENT & CEO
It’s hard to believe that the sun is already setting on the long days of summer. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating our high school seniors at our annual “Graduation Celebration.” I am excited to share with you that 96 percent of our seniors graduated high school this spring. Several were the first in their family to walk across the stage and receive their diploma. Let’s take a moment to let that sink in – the first in their family to earn a high school diploma. This is truly an example of overcoming barriers, breaking the cycle and changing the trajectory of their young lives.
It is inspiring to think that these young people are on a path to success which they had only dreamed about before. In fact, 76 percent were accepted or have enrolled in post-secondary education. Below you will read about one such recent graduate and his story of resilience.
With the new school year beginning, parents have been busy enrolling kids in classes and meeting new teachers. There have been trips to stores to purchase new clothes, backpacks and a plethora of school supplies. But, what does back-to-school look like for the kids we serve? Some enroll themselves. There are no trips to stores to get new supplies. Many of these kids are all alone. They have to think about where they are going to sleep at night and wonder where they will find food. Many of these boys and girls are facing issues no one their age should be dealing with and often times the last thing on their minds is school.
Enter Youth Services for Oklahoma County. With our help, and your support, these kids are given the same opportunities as others their age. They are provided food, shelter and clothing which enable them to focus on school and graduation. They learn about making good decisions and most importantly, they know someone cares about them and their well-being. These kids have a future thanks to the generosity of all who invest and support our mission.
Lives are changed every day because of your support and the talented staff at Youth Services. Thank you for
“Changing Young Lives”
with us.
Kami N. Kuykendall
President and CEO
