YSS News
Holiday Giving Program Need Your Help!
Every year Youth & Shelter Services seeks sponsors for deserving families for the holidays. Each family works with one or more YSS staff and has been identified as a family in need. This year we already have almost 150 families needing sponsors to make their holidays bright. This is almost a 50% increase in families from last year, so we are looking for more sponsors than ever. Individuals, families, groups of friends, organizations and businesses can all choose to sponsor a family. Sponsors are asked to determine what size family they would like to sponsor & then spend between $30-50 per family member. Sponsors are given the number of children in the family, approximate ages as well specific gift requests. Often requests include basic necessities such as diapers, laundry detergent and clothing. Sponsors are then asked to gift wrap and label all gifts with a special family code and deliver them to YSS by December 10th. YSS is also working with the following businesses and organizations to sponsor Giving Trees: US Bank (North Grand Mall & Downtown), North Walmart, Walmart Supercenter, Starbucks, St. Cecelia Parish, and VF Outlet in Story City. Anyone is welcome to select a gift-tag from one of these trees, purchase and wrap the gift, and return it either to that location or to YSS. If you are interested in sponsoring a family this year, or would like more information on our programs, please contact Teresa Glover at 233-3141.
First Lady Presents Governor's Cup Proceeds
Bill Leaver, President and CEO of Iowa Health System, the premiere sponsor for the 2008 Iowa Governor's Cup Race, and Iowa's First Lady Mari Culver recently presented $20,000 in proceeds raised by the charity event to Trish Harlow, center, Director of the Iowa Homeless Youth Centers. IHYC would like to thank the Governor and First Family, Iowa Health System, American Trust, Wellness Council of Iowa, and Fitness sports for sponsoring the event and for helping IHYC's goal to eliminate homelessness among children, youth, and young mothers in Polk County.
Mega kudos to Bernie and Linda White for being selected as the Outstanding Fundraising Volunteers. With support from Heartland Senior Center and Kiwanis, YSS nominated these two extraordinary volunteers for this well deserved recognition. They will be honored at a Philanthropy Day Luncheon on Thursday, November 13. If you would like to congratulate Bernie or Linda, go to bjwhite@iastate.edu.
We just wanted to remind you of the Prevention Policy Board’s upcoming meetings so you can get these on your calendars. We are back on our first Monday of the month schedule.
Monday, December 1, 2008, YSS Youth Activity Center, 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
Last year, 947 Iowa children were legally adopted through agencies such as YSS. Of the 6,794 children in out-of-home care, 1,276 or 18.8% are waiting to be adopted. If you or someone you know is interested in adopting a youngster, email Bambi at bschrader@yss.ames.ia.us or www.iowakidsnet.com.
Upcoming Events
Reggie's Sleepout Documents and Forms
Letter to Organizations Letter to Schools Letter to Businesses Letter to Faith Communities
Sample fundraising letter IHYC minor-consent
ReggiesEvent Participation1 ReggiesEvent Participation2
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The second annual Reggie’s Sleepout 2007 was a huge success. The Drake Football field was full of tents and boxes, all symbols of this community’s commitment to raise awareness of homeless youth. The great facilities, including the use of the Drake University Field House, the donated entertainment, and the huge group of over 150 volunteers all worked together to raise funds for Iowa Homeless Youth Centers and raise awareness in the community. Reggie’s Sleepout earned $92,309 from people who participated in the event and $46,154.50 in a match that came from Richard O. Jacobson Foundation.
We invite friends and family to experience homelessness in a fun and safe way by sleeping out at Drake football stadium. The third annual Reggie’s Sleepout will be held on Friday November 14 and we are inviting the community to sleep under the stars so kids can reach for them. To register, go to www.reggiessleepout.org to sign up to participate as an individual or as part of a team. You can also sponsor a sleeper or team. It takes many volunteers to make this event a success. Consider volunteering your time on November 14. Sign up online at www.reggiessleepout.org or print off the volunteer registration and mail or email to Nikki Dempsey, Volunteer and Events Coordinator, at 1219 Buchanan, Des Moines, IA 50316 or email at ndempsey@yss.ames.ia.us.
This year’s event is going to be amazing – We hope to see you there!
For those of you who would like to get more involved through volunteering or who would like to be involved in other ways, please let us know. Nikki Dempsey is the Volunteer Coordinator, and she can be reached at ndempsey@yss.ames.ia.us or 515-249-2225