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Leadership Students Give Back to the Community

Venture Academy students raise more than $1000 for Women’s Center Youth & Family Services

 A check for $1,426 and a box of toys were presented to the Women’s Center Youth & Family Services by the Venture’s Outstanding Leadership Team (VOLT) students on Jan. 11.

“We want to give back to the community,” Chris Stites, senior at Venture Academy Family of Schools (VAFS) said. “The community does so much for us.”

The VOLT raised the funds by hosting a 5K Fun Run on Dec. 18. Stites said that the VOLT students had been thinking about a fundraiser to benefit the community since the beginning of the 2015-16 school year. On top of the cost for the running, people also donated money, Stites said.

Women’s Center Youth and Family Services Marketing and Development Director Kate Macek accepted the check and toys, and said that she was really impressed with the success of the run, especially being the first time that the VOLT students organized a community fundraising event.

“For a first year event, that’s really impressive,” Macek said.

Stites said that the students chose to donate the money to the Women’s Center Youth & Family Services because they offer services that directly affect the youth of the area. 

Macek said that the donation will help with the operations of the shelter. 

“This money will help support the safe house and shelter for homeless and runaway youth,” Macek said. “For youth with no place to go, this is an important resource.” 

Every year about 130-140 youth stay at the Women’s Center Youth & Family Services shelter, Macek said.

“I encourage you to be ambassadors. You can be the eyes and ears of our community,” Macek said to the VOLT students.

Macek presented the students with a gift as well. A bag of green light-up bracelets were passed around the classroom as Macek explained that November is Runaway Youth Awareness Month and green is the awareness color. She explained to the students that although November has passed they can still wear the bracelets to bring awareness.

As Macek gave thanks and left the classroom, the students wore the green bracelets proudly. 

Posted: 1/14/2016