This is a letter we received from Executive Director Deb Cautley of the Youth Emergency Shelter Society after our 2008 Funding Allocations Ceremony.
April 6, 2009
REALTORS® Community Foundation
14220 – 112 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 2T8
Dear Friends,
The Youth Emergency Shelter Society would like to express our thanks for your donation of $41, 915.00. Your contribution enables us to continue our programs which assist young people who are striving to improve their futures.
You are helping young people such as Tanner. Tanner had a hard time trusting people when he first came to YESS – he had been manipulated and abused so badly by the people in his life, he just couldn’t let down his guard. He had a hard time managing his anger, and he didn’t get along well with the other kids. However, through the constant support of his Youth Worker at YESS, Tanner slowly opened up and accepted the help we offered. He entered the STAR program at YESS to learn life and employability skills. For the first time in his life Tanner had perfect attendance in a program, and eventually became the leader of the other kids. Graduating from the STAR program will give Tanner the tools he needs to be successful. And the support and genuine caring he’s received from YESS staff has given him a sense of self-worth and confidence to use these skills to become an independent young man.
The STAR (Strategies to Achieve Results) program is sponsored by Service Canada, a branch of the Federal Government. Support of the governments at all levels, other youth agencies, corporate sponsors, and especially the support of community members like you is what makes it possible for YESS to make a difference in the lives of the kids we serve. Thanks for sending our youth the message that the community values and believes in them!
Sincerely,
Deb Cautley
Executive Director
Youth Emergency Shelter Society (YESS)
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