The national resource for the support of children who are caring for
chronically ill, injured, elderly, or disabled family members.
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AACY End-of-Summer Picnic Brings Families and Staff Together |
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The end of Summer might not seem like something to celebrate, but for our Caregiving Youth and their families, our annual picnic was something to treasure! It was on opportunity for caregivers, their families, and our AACY staff to get together for an afternoon of entertainment, laughter, and camaraderie. A scrumptious banquet of goodies awaited them along with outdoor activities like crafts, ring toss, and sack races. The event afforded our participants a chance to bond and get to know each other better. In today's world, it's easy to feel disconnected as a result of our virtual interactions. The picnic gave families and AACY staff an opportunity to 'place faces' on our mission. |
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM DR. CONNIE |
We had good news from the Washington office of Congresswoman Lois Frankel - the recommendation from their office along with Reps. Barbara Lee (CA) and Bobby Scott (VA) to the GAO to conduct a national study on the prevalence and impacts of caregiving by youth was accepted. Let's work towards getting it expedited!
Roy Miller, President of American Children's Campaign has suggested that we initiate a FL Caregiving Youth Act. We agree and Rita Solnet of our AACY National Advisory Council has offered to help with its writing. Stay tuned!
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MEET ROBIN BERNSTEIN AND GAY & JEFF GORDON |
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Supporting and uplifting Caregiving Youth is a labor of love, and no one knows that better than our Honorary Chair for this year's Hearts & "Soles". Robin Bernstein (pictured, left) is not only the former U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic - she's also a former Caregiving Youth herself. Joining her as co-chairs for this fundraising gala are Gay & Jeff Gordon (pictured, right), both longtime advocates of at-risk youth. |
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'Saddle up' For Hearts & "Soles" 2022! |
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We need your help to make this year's Hearts & Soles a success! We are excited to be bringing our star-studded gala back this year in lively, Western fashion but we need donors and supporters like you to help us make this event as great as can be! Our proceeds will benefit programs and services for Caregiving Youth. This shindig is guaranteed to be a great time! Here are some ways that you can help support us with this event:
Save the Date & Spread the word!
- We are calling on all of our supporters to spread the word of this event, particularly to those who may have connections to legislators, educators, researchers, and healthcare professionals who could help our cause and may want to participate.
- If you would like a copy of the flyers and links for the event to share with your contacts, please reach out to our Communications Manager, Aimee DePalma.
- If you have potential guests that you would like to invite to this event, please reach out to us so that we can add them to our contacts list.
Buy a Ticket & Consider Becoming a Sponsor!
- You can purchase tickets for $200 a person by visiting aacy.org! You the option of purchasing drawing tickets for an extra fee, as well as a "Get-out-of-jail' free card for $25!
- Put your business in the spotlight! Check out our sponsorship form or contact Aimee for more information.
- Do you have a service or good you'd like to donate? Items for our silent and live auction are welcomed and needed! Please get in touch with us to find out more.
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Cariloop Partnership Empowers Caregiving Youth |
AACY believes in the spirit of partnership when it comes to empowering Caregiving Youth to balance their responsibilities and chase their dreams. With that in mind, AACY has partnered with Cariloop to do just that. Cariloop is a Caregiver Support company that pairs employed caregivers and their families with dedicated Care Coaches as they plan and manage the health and wellbeing of their loved ones. When they learned about AACY's mission, the idea of a partnership was a natural fit. Additionally, Cariloop has generously agreed to sponsor AACY's Hearts & "Soles" Gala this October 14th. We look forward to working with them in a greater capacity as we work to help Caregiving Youth balance their responsibilities and achieve their goals. |
A Special Thank You to All Our
2022 Hearts & "Soles" Sponsors!
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Psssst...there is room for more! Remember to check out our 2022 Hearts & "Soles" Sponsorship Form! |
AACY's work and mission was recently featured in an article for Boca Living Magazine's Charity Spotlight. In it, we shared our objective and hopes for our upcoming gala fundraiser, Hearts & "Soles".
We are so grateful for the recent coverage we have received from several different news outlets! See our most up-to-date AACY News, articles, coverage, etc. on our website! Additionally, make sure you follow us on our social media platforms to see our news coverage as soon as we post it!
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Here are a few ways you can support AACY!
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Attend our upcoming events
- Become a corporate sponsor
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Share AACY News with your legislators and representatives
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Invite the AACY team to educate others in your life and/or work
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Shop on Amazon! Please consider signing up for the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) when you shop on Amazon! Select AACY as your charitable organization and Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. Sign up today at smile.amazon.com
- Donate HERE
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Check out our Wishlist!
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AACY is pleased to announce the newest addition to our Board of Directors: Laura Suihkonen Jones! Originally from Connecticut, Laura lived and worked in New York City before making the decision to call Southeast Florida home in 1998. She has attended both the University of Hartford and Pace University and has worked in the aviation industry since 1982. She currently runs her own consulting business and is no stranger to caregiving. Mrs. Jones was a caregiver for her late husband, Jay Jones, who had Younger Onset Alzheimer's Disease. Though he passed away in March 2018, she carries on his legacy by raising awareness of this illness, as well as the difficulties that caregivers face. She has testified at legislative hearings and worked with the National Alzheimer’s Project Act. Mrs. Jones has also volunteered her time to substance abuse prevention and rehabilitation programs. She has two children, and enjoys gardening, bicycling, and Pilates in her spare time.
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AACY's Caregiving Youth Connect |
At the close of the 2021-2022 school year, 512 Palm Beach County caregiving youth were enrolled in the American Association of Caregiving Youth's (AACY), Caregiving Youth Project (CYP) needs-driven program. The CYP provides a plethora of services to the youth and their family, at school, in home and the community. The CYP focuses on providing supportive services so youth get well-deserved respite and know they are not alone in their caregiving situation. The CYP has been able to provide mentoring opportunities of which thirty-nine successful and blossoming matches are in place.
Over eighty students have received tutoring assistance from the program to ensure students are staying on track and being promoted to the next grade level or graduate high school. 45 of 46 seniors graduated this year with 90% reporting they will be going on to tertiary education. During the summer months, the Family Specialists continue to engage with the youth and family through home visits and follow ups. Scheduled sponsored in person and virtual activities such as: camp, Marlins games, workshops, and field trip activities etc. are provided and well attended by our youth who need a break and the special opportunity to just be a kid!
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AACY wishes you and your family a safe and happy Fall season! |
Please help AACY by making a donation to our laptops for students fund. We hope to be able to purchase laptops for students who do not have the privilege of taking them home and completing their homework. Your gift is 100% tax-deductible! Learn more here.
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Planning for the Year Ahead |
- Thanks to funding partners, we continue to directly serve Caregiving Youth in 35 Palm Beach County middle and high schools, in addition to students in 22 other local middle and high schools where the Caregiving Youth Project (CYP) has yet to expand to!
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Further the four pillars of the Caregiving Youth Institute (CYI): Connect, Advocate, Research and Educate
- Educate legislators to include Caregiving Youth in legislation and policy
- Support child caregivers in military families
- Develop the AACY Network of national partnerships & affiliates
- Create recurring revenue streams to support sustainability
This is just a few of the many tasks we are working on. We are excited to continue our work for AACY and all of the children and families we serve.
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We Are Most Grateful to Our Funding & Supporting Partners: |
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Our Current and Past Major Donors
You've helped make our work possible - thank you!
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AvalonBay Communities, BallenIsles Charities Foundation, Bethesda-by-the Sea, Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation/Baptist Health S. Florida, Boca Rio Foundation, Boca West Children’s Foundation, BOMAR Foundation, Charles & Joan Hermanowski Foundation, City of Boca Raton, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Hands on Tzedakah, J.M. Rubin Foundation, Leeds Endowment, Leslie L. Alexander Foundation, Lost Tree Foundation, McNally Family Foundation, Newell Brands Community Fund, Nonprofit Chamber of PBC, Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Palm Beach Country Club, Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, Quantum Foundation, Rotary of Downtown Boca Raton, Rotary Club of Palm Beach/Flagler, Soroptimist International of Boca Raton/Deerfield Beach, Season to Share, The Batchelor Foundation, The Gloria Estefan Foundation, The Goldberg Family Foundation, The Honda Classic Cares, The Jim Moran Foundation, The Schmidt Family Foundation, The School District of Palm Beach County, and the Walter & Adi Blum Foundation.
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