Dear Friend of the YMCA,

There’s uncertainty in all of our lives, but for foster children like me, it’s a way of life. In my childhood, I lived in 10 different homes. I yearned for comfort, for some type of permanency, for a family, but it just didn’t happen. I became very anti-social and kept to myself. I also started getting into trouble, which scared me when I had to show up at court before Judge Broderick.

When I was 17, my foster mother enrolled me in the winter program at the Kalihi YMCA. I went to my first camp at YMCA Camp Erdman and slowly started making friends. I was surrounded by role models, who helped me open up and believed in my abilities.

The Y’s teen leadership programs gave me the confidence to enroll at UH—West O‛ahu where I am currently working towards a degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Justice Administration. My goal is to become a federal agent because I love investigation work and helping people.

My biggest passion in life is working with foster youth. I am proud to be the president of HI H.O.P.E.S. (Helping Our People Envision Success) youth leadership board. Our work helps Hawai‛i’s foster youth successfully transition into adulthood.

More than six years after I appeared before Judge Broderick, he attended a HI H.O.P.E.S. event. After I gave my speech, he came up and complimented me on my poise and leadership and I reminded him we first met in court. His support eventually led me back to the Kalihi Y, where I am now a part-time employee with the Y’s Ho‛okupa‛a program, working with teens to develop leadership and teamwork skills.

Through the Y, I found guidance and support. They’re a family that continues to help me socially, mentally and physically. I don’t know where I would be today if I didn’t let the Y into my life.

YOU CAN HELP MANY YOUTH LIKE ME BY GIVING TO THE YMCA’S TEEN DEVELOPMENT FUND TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR CARING,

Gernani

“I used to keep to myself, now I’m an inspiration to others.”

John Doe Street Address City, State Zip Code

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THE YMCA’S TEEN DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS BY MAKING A YEAR-END GIFT.

• CLUB MID – Through service learning, leadership workshops and excursions, middle school students engage on a journey to discover new things about themselves, their peers and their world.

• HO’OKUPA’A – Ho‛okupa‛a means “to remain steadfast,” and teaches teen leadership skills through the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, and provides health and wellness activities.

• INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE – An international exchange program, founded in 1960, between youth of the Honolulu and Hiroshima YMCAs to promote peace, goodwill and friendship.

• NO LIMITS – Leadership program, with an emphasis on college planning, nutrition and fitness curriculum.

• RAGGERS - The YMCA Raggers program/ceremony is for youth who want to make a commitment to their personal growth and be willing to be held accountable for it.

• STRIVE – Summer program designed to build leadership skills by planning and leading activities for younger children. Includes nutrition, fitness and value education components.

• TEEN AFTERSCHOOL – After school program focused on leadership and peer mediation, college prep courses, finance education and values discovery camp.

• YOUTH LEGISLATURE – An opportunity for state government to come alive to students. Students debate current state issues and write bills, concluding in a one-week mock legislature session.

About the Teen Development Fund

The Teen Development Fund was launched in 2008 and supports innovative programming and services to help youth make smarter life choices; cultivate the values, skills and relationships that lead to positive behaviors and encourage higher education and other life goals.

WHERE YOUR DOLLARS GO:

Thank you for your generosity. Your help will make a difference in the life of a local teen. You may give online at www.ymcahonolulu.org, or use the enclosed envelope.