Making Connections, Building Futures

YSS is celebrating 45 years of service to youth and families across the state of Iowa. Founded in 1976 by Dr. George Belitsos, YSS has grown from a single youth shelter for adolescents to over 40 programs serving tens of thousands of people every year. We are so proud of the work being done by our clients, employees, and volunteers. None of which would be possible without the support of our beloved donors. Thank you all for giving your time, talent, and treasure in service of others.

As we recognize this milestone and look forward to the next five years, we are announcing a campaign to create one million connections. One million intentional and substantive interactions that create hope and opportunity.  Connections in the areas of health, self-sufficiency, education, and safety. YSS has established metrics across the agency defining and measuring connections. Over the next five years, we will be tracking and reporting on our progress. But it’s bigger than just us.

We are asking the people of Iowa to join this movement and invest in their communities by making connections.

Now is the time to reach out, make connections, and build futures. Just as a single cell released the virus destructing millions of lives around the world, today we commit to making connections to release the power of possibility and build futures for youth and families.

Start today. Get to know your neighbors, purchase a meal for someone, say thank you to the tired store clerk, smile at strangers as you pass. What else can you do?

• Request a YSS car magnet here and join the movement! Look around and hopefully you’ll see that YSS supporters are everywhere. And we need more people just like you, so share your passion with the hottest magnet around.
• Donate $45 (or $450 or $4,500)
• Volunteer! Connect with a child and become a mentor, help in the office, join a committee, participate in an event. There are so many ways to help!
• Join us in our work by applying for a job with YSS.
• Write a heartfelt letter of appreciation to YSS employees and clients, who work so hard to make these critical connections and build a better future for us all.

It doesn’t take much to connect with another person – a smile, a wave, a kind word, a coffee – and yet the impact can be transformational. Join the movement today and help us fulfill our goal of one million connections. We believe by making connections, we will build brighter futures.