Northminster Learning Center - Youth Life Foundation of Richmond

Mission
Youth Life Foundation of Richmond operates Learning Centers to
develop leaders by making long-term investments in children from
at-risk communities.
Vision
Nurture the Child, Strengthen the Family, Rebuild the Community
Board Members
Mary Venable, Chairman
Taylor Bates, Vice Chairman
Johanna Linkenhoker, Treasurer
Leigh Peterson, Secretary
Heather Goodlett
Matt Lorish
Jon Regrut
Candy Buchanan
Rudy Garcia
Dell Claiborne
Donald Richard
Daniel Johnson
George Wigginton
Staff
Heather Goodlett
Katharine Hunt
Corinne Tucker
Kate Illian
Leahna Sullivan
Amber Hartman
Bethany Marcelle
Charity Smith
Erin Brown
Jasmine Lowery
Ayanna Woodberry
I wanted to meet her beautiful little girl, but I picked them up from a
part of the city riddled with gunfire. We returned to get her possessions,
and she moved in with us. After a week, she entered a shelter with the
hope of a better life for herself and her daughter.
I am happy to report that, just four months later, she has her own apartment, a safe place for her child as she graduates from a CPN program to
become an assistant nurse; and she happens to live less than a mile
from me and right across from Delmont! We are excited to start up a
women’s group this summer with at least 2-3 other young women who
began this journey with us back in the summer of 2003. It brings new
meaning to our mission statement which includes the words LONGTERM INVESTMENT.
Dear YLFR Supporter,
I have been reflecting on what a long-term work it is that we do in the
inner city, non-profit world! Youth Life Foundation of Richmond was
founded in 2002 and the first Learning Center – Delmont LC began in the
summer of 2003. There were only 10 students that summer, and one of
them was a rising fifth grader named Shaphana. Through the years,
Shaphana and her family have become special to me. Putting Shaphana
through a nursing class in middle school - having her family at my wedding and first baby shower - helping Shaphana’s mom through addiction. It has been a unique and robust relationship. I absolutely love this
family!
A couple of years after losing touch, I felt impressed to reach out to
Shaphana through Facebook. Things were tough, she said. Though she
had had the joy of becoming a mother, she had no job and no definite
home for her and the baby. She was struggling to find hope.
Phayzon is another example of a student we have known since he was a
pudgy third grader. He is now a tall, strapping 18-year-old young man
with a deep voice. He still struggles to find his way in this world, but
whenever he has a decision to make or is going through a difficult time,
he reaches out to my husband. He recently told Raymond that he was
the closest thing he had to a father figure.
That touched Raymond’s heart and gave him even more encouragement
to go back to our newest Learning Center on Thursdays to mentor Kemari, a second grader who is beginning this journey with us. I love that
Kemari lives on our street; and although he does not have a father figure at home, Raymond faithfully meets with him weekly. One of our
board members also lives two doors down from Kemari; and so begins
another long-term investment.
Thank you for taking this journey with us. Your financial gifts and time
spent with our students are making a long-term difference in the lives of
over 90 children in the Northside of Richmond, Virginia!
Heather Goodlett
Founder and Executive Director, YLFR
Introducing:
Northminster
Learning Center
Our newest Youth Life
program, the Northminster Elementary Learning
Center, is wrapping up its
first school year. With a
new location and a new
group of students, it has
been a rich year building
new relationships. The
vision for a third elementary center came from a
desire to reach and impact more families in the
Northside. Over the years,
as Youth Life’s community
connections began to
grow, it became apparent
that there were more students to invest in and more volunteers who
would want to make that investment. So on September 8th, we parked
the bus outside of the beautiful new site and walked 13 students in for
their first taste of the Youth Life program.
one by one our Learning
Center spots were filled
by eager students.
Little did we know that
our students’ initial enthusiasm to attend the
Learning Center would be
a reflection of the committed, big-hearted personalities that would
bond together by the
Spring. The dedication
from the students and
their families has provided opportunities for rich
growth this year and we
are impressed by the
ways they have adapted
to YLFR’s program. Each
student has shown improvement in their academics and character skills. They have demonstrated kindness, love, and
patience towards each other, and have welcomed with open arms each
volunteer that has walked through our doors.
The group has enjoyed building relationships with weekly mentors, as
Opening a center is not an easy task! We had big needs and a short time well as participating in traditional Fun Friday rewards, the very special
to fill them. Thankfully Atlee Community Church had the ideal spot to
Christmas with the Redskins celebration, and other unique opportunirun our Center , right downstairs from our Remix program. We also had ties that come with being a Youth Life student. We have bonded over
a huge amount of support from the Youth Life contributors as we
birthdays, movies, hayrides, Thanksgiving meals, and Christmas surprisstepped out into this new adventure. We were blessed by the financial es! In this year, our center has laughed and cried together, learned diffiand material donations that made it possible for the center to open.
cult lessons, served those who were in need, made lots of loving cards
Every one of our needs flooded in as the opening date got closer: a mini- for our mentors, played countless games of “Simon Says,” memorized
bus, refrigerator, playground, backpacks and supplies were all provided Bible scriptures, and even danced! It has been quite the inaugural year
by generous individuals. And as these practical needs came together,
at Northminster!
Zi’Quon standing on their front porch. Not only was he happy to see
them, but he was anxious to claim his promised spot in the Learning
In February, Youth Life celebrated our students at the annual “I Have A Center. Thankfully there was still one opening, so his mom quickly filled
Dream” event. ZiQuon Irving opened the night by reading a poem by
out the paperwork. ZiQuon was thrilled, but he was missing his $20 fee
Langston Hughes. In a room of over 200 people, ZiQuon confidently
to join. Determined, ZiQuon spent the next few days mowing lawns to
stepped in front of the microphone and, as if he had done this hundreds cover the total fee and handed over a crumpled twenty dollar bill from
of times, recited the poem. As he finished the final line, “Will you dream his pocket. Finally, in mid-November, ZiQuon found himself sitting with
with me?” the crowd erupted with cheers and ZiQuon beamed his dim- a mentor at the Learning Center.
pled smile and proudly walked off the stage. In the audience, ZiQuon’s
“fans” cheered the loudest: his mother, siblings, aunt, mentors, neigh- ZiQuon has been a joy to have at Northminster! The 5th grader brings a
bors, and many others who care for ZiQuon’s dreams. His mom turned strong leadership presence and respected voice among our newest
to his Youth Life teacher and said, “He has grown so much this year, I
group. ZiQuon also has a big heart and a sensitivity that is seen in the
am so proud of him!”
way he looks out for the youngest students. Like all kids, ZiQuon has his
days where his attitude may be off, he doesn’t want to complete his
ZiQuon has a special connection to our newest center. He is a student at work, or he gets frustrated at the academic accountability, but he conthe Northminster LC, but even more, he was a big motivator to open it! tinues to return and seek out what is best for him. Recently his mom
When Heather Goodlett and another board member, Taylor Bates
reflected on his time at Youth Life, saying there has been a big improvemoved onto the same block in the Northside, they were warmly welment in his self-control and grades at school since joining the program.
comed by a friendly, outgoing boy. He was engaging and endearing,
She observes, “he has slowed down and takes time to listen to others.”
hard not to love. As time went on, his connection with these families
ZiQuon has always been driven towards what he wants, but now he is
grew and he began to hear about Youth Life and the Learning Centers. also demonstrating care for the needs and feelings of others.
He had always struggled in school and as he listened to stories about
the daily academic support, ZiQuon said, “this is what I need!” The con- We are so grateful to have students like ZiQuon who are eager to grow.
nection with a neighborhood boy was a reminder of the greater need to The families of our students have enthusiastically committed to Youth
provide more opportunities for students to attend Youth Life, so the
Life and constantly express gratitude for this opportunity for their chilleadership brainstormed together about growing our Learning Centers dren. We are comand told ZiQuon that they would save him a spot when it happened.
mitted to these students and families
As the pieces came together for a new center to open, one by one our in the Northside
14 spots for students began to fill. But surprisingly, the once eager and and we look forenthusiastic ZiQuon was suddenly nowhere to be found. With 13 spots ward to dreaming
filled, we opened the doors of the center and focused on connecting
alongside them as
with those students. Two months passed and the center was up and
they grow in abilirunning smoothly. Routines were set, mentors and students were build- ties and confidence
ing relationships, and all the kinks in the drop-off schedule had been
throughout the
worked out. In November, the Bates’ doorbell rang and they found
years!
Student Spotlight: Zi’Quon
2014 Expenses & Income
2014 Expenses (Unaudited)
2014 Income (Unaudited)
Individuals - 33%
Delmont - 31%
Highland Park - 20%
Northminster - 8%
LC Remix - 20%
Administrative - 8%
Fundraising - 13%
Special Events - 27%
Foundations - 17%
Churches - 15%
Corporations - 8%
Other - less than 1%
7th Annual Darrell Green Celebrity Golf Classic
Charlene Veltri-Jones
Everett Fox
Geroge Mason Mortgage—$10,000
New York Life Shah Investments, LLC—$10,000 Joe Dunn
George Wigginton
Family Practice Associates—$5,000
Thompson Hospitality/Creative Color—$5,000 GFH Insurance Agency & Les Brown
Gobble and Jarrelle LLC
Richmond Masonry Company/Biringer
Mark Newfield
Builders—$5,000
River City Recycling (2)
Anne Marie Hensley ADH LLC—$3,000
W.V. McClure, Inc T/A Main St Homes—$2,500 R.J. Smith Concrete, Inc. (3)
Stephen Carroll
Sports Clips at Gayton and Gaskins—$2,500
Capital Closing, Inc.
Ernst & Young—$1,000
Wolseley Industrial Group Ferguson Enterprises
Daniel Johnson—$1,000
Bio-Cat—$250
Sponsors
Hole Sponsors—$500
Team Sponsorships—$1,500
Base Camp Realty—John O’Reilly
Belfor USA Group, Inc.
Bon Secours Family Center
Brandto Marketing
Costen Floors
Mark Newfield
Window World of Richmond
Bates Orthodontics
Mitchell Wiggins & Company, LLC
Pamela Diemer
Cowan Gates
The Steele Group
Beverage Cart Sponsors—$500
R.J. Smith Concrete, Inc.
Bates Orthodontics
Virginia Automatic Door Company
Essex Concrete Corporation
In-Kind Giving
Billy Gray—Trophies and Pictures
Brickhouse Diner—Lunch
Pepsi—Beverages
Pearson—Insurance and Cars
Panera—Breakfast
Commtronics—Radio
Frontline Exhibits—Display Board
Mentor Spotlight: Mr. Jon
“Is Mr. Jon coming today?” This is a question
that our Delmont teachers hear almost daily.
Jon Regrut and his wife Stephanie are mentors
with Youth Life. Jon works with our elementary
school kids at Delmont and Stephanie has
moved up to Remix with her now, middle school
mentee. Mr. Jon mentors the Morris boys. The
Morris family was one of the first families to be
a part of Youth Life almost 10 years ago. Now
Sha’Quan, Mi’Aun and Arh’Maun (5th, 2nd, and
1st grade), all work with Jon who comes one to
two times a week to spend time with the boys.
They play football, jump on his back, talk about
school, their dog, Jesus and making homemade
biscuits with him and Stephanie. There are two
amazing things about Jon’s relationships to the
Morris boys. First, he can really talk to them.
These sweet boys can often have a lot of walls
up, but Jon has come to be a person in their life
who is consistent in love, discipline and care.
They don’t just adore him and Stephanie—they
trust them. They listen to them. They open up
to them. Second, it’s not just during the week
that the Regruts pour into the Morris boys. Jon
and Stephanie have started to take the boys to
church with them on Sundays. Afterwards they
play on the playground and sometimes make
brunch together. They invite them into their
home and have been invited into the Morris’
home. They do life with these kids. Jon and
Stephanie have become consistent models of
love, grace and care for these boys both at the
Learning Center and outside and it shows.
Partner Spotlight: Northside Church of Richmond
The initial connection between Northside Church and Youth Life Foundation happened before Northside Church was born. Northside Church's
pastor, Matt Lorish, heard Katharine Hunt speak at another church before Northside Church had been planted; so when Matt was looking for
local organizations to partner with after Northside Church began, Youth
Life Foundation was a natural choice. The two organizations share core
values of being gospel-centered and Northside-focused, and both seek
simplicity and depth in their work. Northside Church's desire to serve
the community in few but thorough ways, rather than many surfacelevel ways, lined up well with Youth Life Foundation's vision of longterm, holistic investment in a relatively small number of families in one
community.
mentors from Northside Church has allowed LC Remix to turn the corner
towards having each student who attends consistently have at least one
mentor!
Northside Church supports Youth Life Foundation in other ways in addition to mentoring. The church itself is a monthly financial partner. Some
members sponsored students for LC Remix's fall retreat. Others are
leading electives such as basketball and printmaking. One hosted a visit
at his non-profit from a group of students doing a Careers Exploration
elective in which students visited a variety of workplaces to learn about
different careers. Northside Church recently began a neighborhood outreach for middle-school girls called Young Women's Academy and invited Youth Life students, several of whom have been attending regularly.
This year, Northside Church's partnership with Youth Life Foundation
has grown significantly. The number of mentors has increased from four Youth Life Foundation is grateful for Northside Church's investment and
to twelve - not high numbers, but significant in proportion to the size of volunteers, not only for their presence but also for their unified energy
Northside Church, which has fewer than 100 members. This influx of
to love and willingness to learn from our students!
Student Participation Averages
Learning
Center
Delmont
Elementary
Highland Park
Elementary
Northminster
Elementary
Spring 2014
26
14
n/a
Summer 2014
28
13
n/a
Fall 2014
24
14
14
Volunteer Averages
Learning
Center
Spring 2014
Summer 2014
Fall 2014
Delmont
Elementary
Highland Park
Elementary
Northminster
Elementary
64
39
n/a
6 interns
4 interns
n/a
37
24
29
LC Remix
Middle/High
We are so thankful for our
partner organizations:
Americorp
Atlee Community Church, Northminster Campus
16
Bryan Innovation Lab at The Steward School of Richmond
Capital One Technology for Good
35
Characterworks Theater
Christmas with the Redskins—Darrell Green Foundation
23
Church Hill Activities and Tutoring (CHAT)
Cru at Virginia Commonwealth University
Derbyshire Baptist Church
GReat Aspirations Scholarship Program (GRASP)
LC Remix
Harvest Renewal Church
Middle/High
Hope Church
29
Hope Thrift
Increase International Ministries
5 interns
Landmark Property Services
Mechanicsville Christian Center
18
Mitchell Wiggins and Company
Movement Church
Northside Church of Richmond
Northside Outreach Center (NOC)
Pulmonary Associates of Richmond
Redemption Hill Church Community Groups
Taylor Bates Photography
The University of Richmond Bonner Center for Civic Engagement
The University of Richmond Kappa Delta Theta Sorority
The University of Richmond Kappa Delta Pi
The University of Richmond School of Professional & Continuing Studies
The University of Richmond Women’s Swim Team
Veritas School
Virginia Mentoring Partnership
West End Assembly of God
Young Life
Individual Donors
Shelby & Rachael Abbott*
Mohammed AlHamin*
Thomas & Edith Allin*
Robert & Joyce Asher
Charles & Lynn Baker
Johnnie & Teresa Barr
Lindsey Barr*
Stephen & Carol Bashore
Robert & Alexa Bates
Sheldon & Taylor Bates*
Eugene & Betty Bernshausen
Greg & Catherine Bergethon
Allen & Katie Bowman
Warren T. Bowman*
Hayden Braxton
Matt & Mary Lou Bristol
Les & Connie Brown*
Mavis Brown
Michael & Sara Brown*
Bobby & Gwendolyn Buchanan
Candace Buchanan*
Peter & Sara Bunn
David Burchard*
Mary Burdge
James & Jenni Cane*
Kevin & Meghan Capehart*
E.C. Carver
Thomas & Nancy Chewning
Karen Christophersen
John & Pamela Cobb*
Richard & Nancy Collins
Kevin & Stacy Connolly
Andrew & Mary Hampton Cook
Cecilia M. Cortner
Barry Dai*
Christopher & Genevieve Daniel
Brittany Davis**
E. Causey & Margaret Davis
Shirley K. DeRoco
Matt England & Liz Donohue*
Richard & Marsha Dunlap
Lori Dzierzek
Jon & Kelli Eaton
Tim & Laura Edmisten*
Kiere & Mary Beth El-Shafie
Candice England
John & Carol Esterhai
Mark & Cindy Fero*
James Fifield*
Bill & Rita Francavilla
Rudy & Catherine Garcia*
Raymond & Heather Goodlett*
Stephanie Gossett*
Rayshawn & Tiffany Graves*
Daniel & Cait Gritsko*
Lawrence Gumprich
Aaron N. & Becky Hartman
Marion & Patricia Helmlinger
Victoria Hicks
John & Nancy Hines
John & Bethany Hong*
Walter & Julie Hope
Carol House
Graham & Laurie Howell
Bernard Hunt
Katharine Hunt*
Paul & Elizabeth Hunt*
Stephen & Genevieve Hunt*
Norman & Nancy Illian
Dave & Naomi Jackson*
Daniel & Meredith Johnson
Ethel Johnson
Hyo Kang*
David & Zelma Kangas
Thomas Kazas
Michael & Cortney Keebaugh*
Dan & Dana Kleinschuster
Laverne & Katherine Koczot*
Hannah Konowitz
Karl & Victoria Kuester*
Edmund Kurtz
Abram & Sarah Landes
Harry & Virginia Lavin
Thomas & Donna Leaver**
Doug & Laurie Lebold
Davis & Ann Lee
Grace Leonard*
George & Johanna Linkenhoker*
Al & Michelle Llorens*
Gregg & Anne Marie Lodes
Opal Loring
Matt & Kellie Lorish
Andrew Lyell*
Craig MacIvor*
Adam & Kerrissa MacPherson*
John Madison
Richard & Stacy McGrath
Grace McLain*
Barbara & Shauna McMahon**
Peter & Mary McNamara
Colin & Sharon Morris
James & Nancy Mountjoy
Peter & Bevin Murchie
Dan & Marilyn Nase
Christopher & Emily Nelson*
Gail A. Neubauer*
Dale Nowery
Gregory Olson*
Bobby Parks
Tyler Perry
Terren & Leigh Peterson*
Alex Pham
Don & Julie Piche
Ryan & Cara Pick*
Monica Pitrelli
Catherine (Cassie) Price*
Lon & Mary Ann Rademacher
Jon & Stephanie Regrut*
Donald & Maggie Richard*
Brian & Kristin Richardson*
John & Deborah Ritz
Mignon Robinson*
Gilbert Rosenthal
C.C. Rotelli
Barbara Russ
Marla Ryland
Katelin Saalfeld*
David & Anna Scaggs**
Verne & Donna Schneider*
Rick & Carly Schofield*
Joshua Sennett*
Ira & Billie Seybold
Alice Sheridan*
James Sherman
Daryl & Stephanie Shetterly*
Andrew & Melissa Sikes
Jeff & Kristen Singley*
Mark Smith*
Anthony & Shauna Smith
Corrie Spoon*
Jonathan & Cary Sorah
Charlotte Tate
William & Erica Taylor*
Michael & Sharon Thaler
Judy Thudium
Alan & Debby Todd
Timothy & Anna Tonn*
Donald & Karen Tucker
Don & Linda Turner
Tracy Van De Putte
Edward & Susan Van Dolsen
Jerry & Mary Venable*
Brian & Tonya Venuti*
Remie Verougstraete
Kyle Wade
Andrew & Elizabeth Walker*
John-Mark & Meg Walker*
Kimberly Walker
Oscar & Beverly Walker
Michael & Karen Wasch
Darrell & Catherine Waugh
Mark & Amelia Wehunt*
Stephen & Stacey Weir
Austin & Wendell Welder*
Erica Whiting
Joseph & Nicole Wiegold*
George & Jamie Wigginton
Desmond & Vivienne Williams**
Gary & Whitney Williams*
Jason & Katie Williams
Robert Winn
Hunter & Mary Clayton Wood
Francis & Adrian Woods*
Everett & Kirby Worthington
John & Ruth Worthington
Eric & Katrina Young*
*Monthly Partner
**In Memory of Rackham Goodlett
Foundations, Trusts
& Corportations
AmazonSmile
America’s Charities
Barnabas Foundation
Bon Secours Health System
The Bosworth Fund
The Clark Family—Bank of America
Clementine
Coleman A. Hunter Trust
Community Foundation of
Tennessee
Des Plaines Trust Fund
Dominion Foundation
First Eagle Investment
Management
G.F.H. Insurance Agency, Inc.
GlaxoSmithKline Foundation
Goldman, Sachs & Co Matching
Gift Program
JustGive
Landmark Property Services
Live to Serve LLC
Loughin Family Charitable Fund
Merck Partnership for Giving
Motorsports Charities—RIR Cares
Network for Good
Property Investment Advisors, Inc.
RECO Foundation
Renaissance Charitable Foundation
Schwab Charitable Fund—
Richard & Susan Randolph
The Community Foundation
The Idea Center
United Way Combined Federal
Campaign
United Way Local Government
and Schools
University of Richmond Bonner
Center & Kappa Delta Pi
VMware Foundation
Churches
Atlee Community Church
City Church of Richmond
Clover Hill Assembly of God*
Commonwealth Chapel
Fairfield Presbyterian Church
Grace Community Presbyterian*
Harvest Renewal Church*
Hope Church*
Mechanicsville Christian Center*
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Northside Church of Richmond*
Oreland Evangelical Presbyterian*
Redemption Hill Church*
Third Church
West End Assembly of God*
*Monthly or Quarterly Partner
Get Involved!
What can you do to help?
Volunteer: Give 2 hours a week to mentor one of our students.
Intern: Spend 7 weeks with us teaching this summer.
Serve: We need board and committee members.
Donate: Become a monthly or yearly partner.
YLFR
PO Box 15202
Richmond, VA 23227
Or give online via Paypal at
www.ylfr.org