Agency Spotlight: Children’s Home Society
Children’s Home Society has been a Town of Palm Beach United Way partner agency since 1969. They protect and heal children by providing counseling, adoption, foster care and advocacy programs.
One program funded by the Town of Palm Beach United Way is Project 18 Mentoring. The Project 18 Mentoring program provides mentors for youth in foster care, ages 13-21, who need a trusted friend to guide them toward completion of their education and toward independent living. The program focuses on a quality mentoring relationship for at least 2 years that emphasizes educational achievement and the development of youth assets.
Meet Shirlenna
Shirlenna is a 17-year-old with significant medical challenges. She was matched with her mentor Gigi. The match has been ongoing for over a year, and Shirlenna has learned to advocate for herself academically and medically. Now, Shirlenna is asking the correct questions when she goes to doctor’s visits and knows how to ask for advice regarding her medical challenges. She is on target to finish high school on time, and plans to continue her education at Palm Beach State College.
How It Makes a Difference
The Project 18 Mentoring program is a one-on-one community-based mentoring program for youth in foster care, ages 13-21, in Palm Beach County. Mentors assist them with their independent living skills, education, personal and employment skills. The program recruits mentors for this program with the understanding that the commitment is for a minimum of 2 years. This allows guidance while the older youth transition to adulthood and independent living. The program adheres to a strength-based approach in the belief that youth at-risk have valuable strengths and can act upon them despite the tremendous challenges they face.
How You Can Help
To learn more about Children’s Home Society or to get involved please visit their website here.
Volunteer Spotlight: Tish Carlo
Our monthly Volunteer Spotlight recognizes Town of Palm Beach United Way volunteers who are passionate, inspiring and dedicated. They are individuals committed to transforming lives and who invest in our vision of building healthy and strong communities.
Tish Carlo has been a volunteer at the Town of Palm Beach United Way for the past 18 years and has served on our Allocation committee. We sat down with Tish to ask her a few questions about volunteering at the Town of Palm Beach United Way and what it means to her.
Week 73 of Action: National Thrift Shop Day
Some people believe that the concepts of shopping and saving money don’t go hand-in-hand. But nothing could be further from the truth! These days, blending the two ideas is not only simple but people prefer it. National Thrift Shop Day reminds us that we can also “pop some tags” in thrift stores and find amazing items at affordable prices.
LIKE US CONTEST
Want to win an Amazon Echo? Help us spread the word about the Town of Palm Beach United Way and you could be the lucky winner. Today marks the start of the 5th Annual Like Us Contest.
LIVE UNITED 