|
|
|
FAMILYNATION
SUCCESS STORIES
Our services offer youth and young adults
opportunities to participate in the world around
them. Whether they want to play in sports,
learn a musical instrument, participate in a club,
develop a new skill or become involved in activities
that support their personal growth, and may not be
afforded by them due to social, economic or
environmental challenges; we assist in making these
programs available. Our services can be as
simple as providing equipment and mentors or as
complicated as finding reliable transportation to
every event. We are bridge builders. We
meet the needs of those who cannot meet those needs
for themselves.
|
|
These stories
presented here are the experiences of FamilyNation
and our volunteers. Actual names are not
provided simply out of respect for the youth and the
families.
TAYLOR
One night Taylor
spent the night at a friends house. He
loved going there, but during the night, he
found himself depressed and frustrated with how
his life was going. He was pacing outside
and there beside the garage was a can of
gasoline. He thought to himself, "Just a
small fire." Within minutes that small
fire consumed the backyard of his friends house.
He frantically used his jacket to extinguish the
flames. What was he thinking?! After
the fire was out, his shoes and jacket burned,
he crawled into bed. The next morning, "Mom" as
Taylor usually called his friend's mother,
frantically woke everyone up. "What
happened to the yard. We could have been
killed." Taylor looked at his hands.
He knew. She turned to him, aware of his
posture and demanded an answer. "I don't
know." Mom, angry and worried, considered
calling the police department and having Taylor
arrested for arson. But, then, she decided
to ask, "Why?" After more than an hour of
discussion, Mom realized, Taylor needed help,
not a jail cell. He was a lost, frightened
kid with a difficult home life. He had
wanted to play football since he was little, but
because of his circumstances, football was not
an option. So, she contacted the football
coach and several members of FamilyNation and
parents in the community, and together, they
provided equipment, transportation and a
cheering section. Now, years later, Taylor
is a high school senior, has a part-time job at
the local grocery store and is college bound.
Not only did he inspire a change in "Mom," he
inspired a change in his community. Since
that day, Taylor has become well loved and
thought of in his small town. He is quick
to volunteer and always has a fast smile for
everyone he meets. Has his home life
changed? No, sadly, but how he manages the world
and who he will become has.
JASON
Jason was
charming and loved girls. He had a winning
smile and a powerful confidence. However,
Jason liked trouble. He almost found
enjoyment at causing trouble or fighting and
then telling elaborate lies to see how far he
can take the ruse. By the time Jason
was 18, he had lost his opportunity to graduate
with his class and all of his friends moved
forward. He was angry and lonely.
Working at a local restaurant with no
foreseeable future, Jason made a decision.
That night, after several beers, he
went out with his buddy and robbed the
neighborhood home of a friend who was out of
town, taking several thousand dollars in
electronics and personal items.
Several days later, after his arrest, a pastor
spoke with Jason and referred him to our
organization. FamilyNation worked with the
young man to find out what his passions were.
It was discovered that Jason had come from a
difficult background and surprisingly, he loved
working with kids, but always felt that he would
be ostracized by his friends and foster family.
FamilyNation found Jason a mentor who empowered
him with a new self-respect and self-confidence
while assisting him in completing high school.
Currently Jason is a member of the United States
Armed Forces in Iraq and has plans to finish
college and become a youth counselor.
|
|
FamilyNation is committed to
providing an inclusive and
welcoming environment for all
participants of our programs and
to ensuring that our
organizations decisions are
based on individual need.
Consistent with this principle,
it is our policy not to
discriminate in offering access
to our resources, programs and
activities on the basis of race,
color, gender, national origin,
age, religion, creed,
disability, veteran's status,
sexual orientation, gender
identity, or gender expression.
This policy ensures that only
relevant factors, such as
genuine personal need are
considered and that consistent
standards of conduct and
performance are applied when
determining who we accept as a
program recipient. |
|
|
|
HAVE A YOUTH IN MIND? |
|
CLICK HERE TO MAKE A
REFERRAL
719.465.2001
  |
|
|