Family Victories from Youth Villages, Middle Tennessee

How effective is Youth Villages?

Holiday Heroes

In-home program helps daughter return home

Jasmine’s difference

Transitional Living program supports

new adulthood

ALSO INSIDE:

Youth Villages named one of best nonprofits to work for

Save the date: Golf Fore KidsRep. Cooper visits Nashville office

A MessageFrom Our CEO

Mike Bruns, ChairmanJim Parrish, Vice ChairmanPaul Bower, TreasurerJimmy Lackie, SecretaryJim Barton Jr.Eric BoltonJoyce BroffittKenneth CampbellLewis HollandJohn HutchinsJoanna JacobsonRev. Robert Earl JonesBryan JordanKen MayMark MedfordJohnny PittsRay PohlmanJennifer QueenRonnie RandallMatthew TarkentonDavid TylerBetsy WalkupGeorge WhitePatrick Lawler, CEO

Bill Hamburg, Co-chairmanBetsy Walkup, Co-chairmanKaren BakerJudy CaplanGeorge Cate Jr.Mary CooperVaughan DePilloMary GrochauJeff HarmanJulia Ann HawkinsChris KimlerElena PerezPeter PowellLisa Steiner SmallLele ThompsonPat WallaceJeremy WerthanVicki Willett

Youth VillagesBoard of Directors

Employees, volunteers make a huge difference

Everyone has a chance to make the most of their opportunities, facing each day with a goal to help others and leave something positive behind. Whether it is grand or a subtle, indirect approach, a special type of person makes an effort to do it each day.

Part of what makes Youth Villages special is that so many of our dedicated staff view each day that way. Their attitude makes us a special organization, one that is proactive in its efforts to help others. And it’s contagious – more want to help as word gets out. In fact, there is a story in this newsletter highlighting Youth Villages being named one of the 50 Best Nonprofits to Work For in 2010 by the NonProfit Times.

Employees were surveyed across the organization, answering questions about how well Youth Villages plans and takes care of employees. Do they enjoy working with their co-workers? Are there opportunities for advancement, and more.

It’s an honor to achieve this national accolade, and it speaks strongly to our mis-sion and values – we’re committed to helping children and families.

Our volunteers, donors and fundraising events are also part of what makes Youth Villages great. This newsletter highlights our Middle Tennessee volunteers who sup-port our children during the holidays and shows how help with our Transitional Living program is empowering young people like Jasmine to successfully transition to adult-hood.

Read about Angela, who is living with her mother now and thriving after going through our in-home services program.

Each day, we have the opportunity to help foster another successful life. Each day, we can take a small step to help another. In Middle Tennessee, our volunteers and employees’ small steps are helping thousands of children grow into successful young adults. And I thank you for the steps you take in helping us and helping children.

Youth Villages CEO Patrick W. Lawler

Patrick W. LawlerChief Executive Officerpat.lawler@youthvillages.org(901) 251-5000

Middle Tennessee Leadership Council

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Jasmine entered Youth Villages’ Transitional Living program to get sup-port she wasn’t receiving from family.

She was unemployed out of school. She lacked the life skills to manage money, find a home and a job.

Crystal Jacobs, a Transitional Living specialist who has been with Youth Villages more than three years, began working with Jasmine in September 2009. Jasmine made quick progress by first establish-ing a support network. In October, she learned during a Panera Bread Co. event about possible employment there. Panera is a corporate giving partner with Youth Villages in Nashville.

Jacobs worked with Jasmine on her interviewing skills and they role-played the interview.

Jasmine was hired, and does everything from cashier to working the dining room and everything in between.

“Jasmine is great,” said Jerry Robinson, manager of Panera Cafe in downtown Nashville. “If she’s not helping customers, she is always trying to find something to assist with. She is self-motivated, very outgoing and friendly.”

Jasmine also plans to attend summer classes at Nashville State to resume pursuing a college degree.

“I love Crystal and the Transitional Living program,” Jasmine said. “It has helped me so much. I can call whenever I need help, and Crystal is always there.”

Program SuccessAs a national leader in the field of behavioral health,

Youth Villages has measured outcomes of children

and families participating in its programs since 1994.

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The above graph shows that one year after being discharged from Youth Villages’ services, young people served in Middle Tennessee are most likely to be home with their family, have no involvement with the law and are either in school or graduated from high school. Services include in-home services, foster care and community-based group homes in Middle Tennessee.

The NonProfit Times and Best Companies Group have named Youth Villages one of the 50 Best Nonprofit Organizations to Work For in the United States.

The annual survey and award pro-gram was designed to identify, rec-ognize and honor the best places of employment in the non-profit sector.

The 2010 list of 50 Best Nonprofit Organizations to Work For was chosen in a two-part process.

The primary part, which made up 75

percent of the evaluation, consisted of a randomized employee survey. The survey allowed employees to rank their organizations in eight key areas, including leadership and planning, cor-porate culture and communications, work environment, relationship with supervisor and pay/benefits.

The second part consisted of evalu-ating each organization’s workplace policies, practices, philosophy, sys-tems and demographics.

Youth Villages and the American

Heart Association were the only two nonprofits in the Top 50 with more than 2,000 employees.

“This is a great honor for Youth Villages,” said Patrick W. Lawler, chief executive officer. “Our employees are on the front lines every day, helping children who have sometimes suffered from abuse and neglect, and have very challenging mental health issues.

“On our residential campuses, they are responsible for meeting children’s needs 24 hours a day; through our in-home and community programs, coun-selors respond at all hours to families in crisis. It’s inspiring to know they gave our organization such top ratings.”

Jasmine finds needed support in Transitional Living program

YV one of best places to work

More than 650 children receiving help through Youth Villages’ foster care and residential programs, along with fami-lies helped through intensive in-home services and young adults participating in the Transitional Living program, had much to celebrate in 2009 thanks to generous donations from Holiday Heroes in Middle Tennessee.

“We thought last year couldn’t be topped,” said Patti Bryan, develop-ment director of Youth Villages in Middle Tennessee. “But once again, we were overwhelmed by support from the com-munity.”

Many local organizations, including Healthways, Bridgestone Firestone, Turner Universal, NFIB, AT&T, Dell and

Unity Hair Salon, provided more than money - they

also helped make the holidays a happy

time for many young people.

More than 500 Healthways employees volun-teered, and students from St. Edwards,

Grassland Middle, and

Father Ryan High School

helped out by wrapping gifts.

“Because of the sup-port we received, we were

able to give more donations than ever before, including some last-minute gifts,” Bryan said. “We can’t thank every-one enough.”

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Middle Tennessee children, community celebrate holidays

Middle Tennessee organizations stepped up to help Youth Villages during the holidays by helping to ensure more than 650 children receiv-ing help through Youth Villages’ foster care and residential programs, along with families helped through intensive in-home services and young adults participating in the Transitional Living program, received Christmas gifts. Holiday Heroes in Middle Tennessee include Healthways, Bridgestone Firestone, Turner Universal, NFIB, AT&T, Dell and Unity Hair Salon.

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More than 500 employees from Healthways in Franklin, Tenn., volunteered their time and money to become Holiday Heroes by going on a shopping spree at local Walmart stores to purchase gifts for more than 200 young people with Youth Villages. Young people received such gifts as Mp3 play-ers, books, clothes, bicycles, board games and more. Monetarily, Youth Villages in Middle

Tennessee was able to give more donations

than ever before.

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Family is tough.Years ago, Angela’s

parents divorced and her father re-married.

There was a lot of conflict and strife through-out the process, and it affected Angela in many ways. She was depressed, she ran away from home and she hurt herself. She spent a year in foster care. Upon discharge, she decided to live with her biological mother.

Jennifer, Angela’s moth-er, is proud of her daugh-ter. She should be. A sophomore in high school, Angela is doing well and in some honors classes. She plays on the soccer team and is a squad leader in her school’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. But Angela hadn’t lived with her mother for some time.

“At first, it was a big adjustment,” Jennifer said. “I wanted to give her everything, but that wasn’t reasonable.”

Youth Villages Family Counselor Alexa Roney worked with Angela on

communication skills, making good choices and anger management. She worked with Jennifer on parenting skills and offered support. She worked with both on establishing self-confidence and trust.

“Jennifer needed to implement structure and establish safe boundaries,” Roney said. “Each of them has an extensive history, and they found a way to communicate without pushing one another’s buttons.”

Angela has been with her mother since August.

One morning an argu-ment between mother and daughter about something unimportant escalated into almost shouting, and Angela began to panic. Jennifer was able to com-fort Angela and diminish her heightened anxiety because of the argument. She reminded her daugh-ter that her mother was there.

Today, Angela is thriv-ing. She’ll be going to her school’s prom this spring as well as a formal military ball.

“I’m growing and

developing into my own person,” Angela said. “I’m becoming more self-confi-dent and I’m able to make good choices.”

Her troop of friends frequently visits her home, and Jennifer is getting ac-customed to cooking and helping out. But Angela also helps out with chores around the house. She helps care for Gabby, 5, her younger sister.

“We’re both learning and growing together,” Jennifer said. “I’m thankful for Alexa’s help. I’m happy Angela has come home.”

Learning, growing together

Youth Villages Family Counselor Alexa Roney, left, with Angela, Jennifer and Gabriel. Angela, center, spent a year in foster care before being reunited with her mother. Both Angela and her mother had to learn how to communicate with each other as well as establishing productive schedules and behavior. They recently discharged from in-home services.

After time in foster care, daughter and mother build trusting relationship

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Wanting to be somebody...

Growing up takes time, persis-tence and maturity. People do

not just learn everything in one day. Be-fore one can run, one must walk, and before one can walk, one must crawl. This is true for any situation. For me, being a computer software engineer is not only my dream, but also something I have striven to make a reality. From a young age, I have only had one reliable factor: school. Placed in foster care when I was 11, I did not know what to do or who to trust. My homes changed quickly, 14 times over the next five years.

The faces of people I knew stuck with me, but those were just memories; the people left just as quickly as they entered. I changed schools a lot, and although it was a struggle to keep up in my classes, it was the one thing I could focus on.

School was my constant. If I was scared, I could read a book, close my eyes, and imagine myself there. If I wanted to go somewhere new, instead of having to ride for miles in my DCS worker’s car, I could dive into George Orwell’s 1984.

Life as a child can definitely be confusing. Life as an adult can be even more confusing. I believe the hardest part in one’s life is when they are stuck in between being a child and an adult, trying to figure out just who they are.

Most people go through a stage while they are young where they try to decide what they want to be.

If I could write a list of the attributes that would most resemble me, the top thing on my list would be a good leader and somebody with the passion and motivation to make sure nobody stood in their way.

I may not have always shown these qualities, but they have always been inside of me, something constantly keeping me on track.

I was only 9 when first I saw Apollo 13, but I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to be one of those brilliant people who figured out how to fit a square into a circle. I wanted to multiply numbers that were imaginary and cre-ate an algorithm to tell a computer what to do.

Since that day, I have spent hours and hours researching what a computer engineer does. I have taken computer, math and science courses, while mak-ing enormous effort to learn everything behind the scenes of the wonderful world of engineering. I have a pas-sion to learn and a desire to be taught everything and anything.

My life has been very challenging at times, and I have chosen to make the

best of it. Although I have had many struggles,

I am blessed. I have the capability to think, to dream, and to make goals that I wish to achieve. I have the power to achieve those goals.

While pursuing my education in computers I have met plenty of people who are employed by a company such as Dell, but also give back to the com-munity. They sponsor programs where young adults in difficult situations can be shown things they may not have known because of their circumstances.

For example, I once went to this thing where Dell toured us through the building showing us all the different jobs people had and all the interesting things about the company.

They showed us how to create re-sumes on computers and even showed us their new and secret accessories that were going to be coming out in 2010.

This was definitely one of those times where you could use the term “broad-ening someone’s horizon.” I want to be an engineer, but I also want to give back to the community.

I do not want millions of dollars; I do not want fancy cars. I want to be able to say, “I did it.” I want to enjoy the simplest pleasures in life starting with the freedom to be who I want to be. I want to graduate high school and make a future for myself.

People who grow up “in the system” are said to eventually become a drug abuser, end up in jail, or some other heartbreaking statistic. I want to show the world that I refuse to be another number, another case.

I want to show the world what I can do.

Autumn is making straight A’s in school and also works 25-30 hours a week at a restaurant. She wants to pur-sue engineering as a career. With her permission, Youth Villages is reprinting a cover letter she wrote in applying for a pre-engineering program.

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A STATELY VISIT IN NASHVILLE: U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper recently visited Youth Villages’ Nashville office. Cooper, center, is pictured with Youth Villages employ-ees, left to right, Middle Tennessee Development Director Patti Bryan, Crisis Services Director Carla Babb, Chief Operating Officer Lee Rone, Cooper, Program Development and Community Support Director Caroline Hannah, Director of Nashville Programs Amanda Futral, Government Relations Specialist Kelly Miller and Middle Tennessee Director Charmaine Kromer.

Thompson begins Leadership Council internshipA Nashville resident of 10 years, Lele Thompson is a national accounts manager at Valutec

in Franklin, Tenn. Thompson also spent nearly a decade in retail and marketing, with such diverse roles as director of sales at the Loveless Cafe, sales manager at Nashville locations of Banana Republic and marketing consultant for Jaguar North America, Mini USA and Ford Motor Company. Thompson stays involved in the Nashville community by volunteering at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, co-chairing the Chukkers for Charity Car Show benefiting The Rochelle Center and Saddle Up in 2009 and 2010, as well as serving on the advisory com-mittee for the Young Jacksonian Society benefiting Andrew Jackson’s home, The Hermitage. She is happy to join Youth Villages as an intern after completing her classes in the Young Leaders Council. She has a Bachelors of Business Administration degree in marketing from the University of Mississippi.

Register now for the Youth Villages Middle Tennessee Golf Fore Kids tournament at President’s Reserve at Hermitage Golf Course on Oct. 4. Last year’s tourna-ment was a huge success, and this year’s will be even better. For infor-mation, call Youth Villages’ develop-ment department at 615-250-7207 or e-mail natalie.lucas@youthvillages.org.

SAVE THE DATE – OCTOBER 4th ! 5th Annual Golf FORE Kids in Middle Tennessee

Hermitage Golf Course President’s Reserve 3939 Old Hickory Boulevard, Old Hickory, TN 38138

11 a.m. – Delicious Lunch from Panera

Noon – Shotgun Start

Tournament proceeds will benefit the young people in Youth Villages’ Transitional Living program and the LIFT mentoring program

Your day of fun will include:

J Awesome Mulligan Package Closest to the Pin Contest Hole In One Contest Guess the Distance Contest Putting Contest Live Entertainment Appetizers by A Catered Affair Silent Auction Giveaways at the Holes

S Sign me up for the 2010 Youth Villages Golf FORE Kids in Middle Tennessee Tournament!

___ $10,000 Presenting ___ $5,000 Leadership

___ $2,500 Corporate ___ $1,500 All Inclusive

___ $1,000 Intermediate ___ $150 Individual Player Business/Individual Name: __________________________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________ City: ______________________________________________________________ State: _______ Zip: ____________ Phone: ______________________________________________ E-Mail: _______________________________________ Signature __________________________________________________________________________________________ ________ I cannot be a sponsor this year, but would like to make a donation of $_______________________________

Please charge to my AMEX/MC/VISA # _____________________________Exp. Date___________3 digit code ____ Enclosed is my check made payable to Youth Villages.

Please send to:

Youth Villages Golf FORE Kids 3310 Perimeter Hill Drive

Nashville, TN 37211

For additional information, please contact Greg at 615-250-7262 or greg.schott@youthvillages.org.

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Harvard study lauds Youth Villages

The

Harvard

Business

School

recently

completed

a case

study that

examines Youth Villages’ growth

and impact as a national leader in

the field of children’s behavioral

health in the last decade.

Written by HBS Professor Allen

Grossman, Catherine Ross of the

HBS Global Research Group and

William Foster, a partner at the

Bridgespan Group, the case study

explores Youth Villages’ innova-

tive treatment approach, use of

research in program development

and targeted growth strategies.

The case on Youth Villages

was written for inclusion in a new

course at HBS called “Leading and

Governing Highly Effective Non-

profit Organizations.”

“Youth Villages is a highly effec-

tive organization with quality lead-

ership and a proven approach,”

Grossman said.

The complete case study is avail-

able at harvardbusiness.org.

A Catered Affair hosts Year of Giving

Pictured above, left to right, are Amber Frye, Pat Wallace, Judi Davis, Natalie Lucas and Vaughan DePillo.

At left, stand-ing left to right, are Chaise Wallis, Gretchen Dorman, Mary Cooper and Pat Wallace. Sitting are Helen Johnson and Beverly Smitchens.

At right, Jasmine, left, poses with Youth Villages’ Joanna Dixon and her baby.

Pictured above, left to right, are Renee Sloan, Darrell Fluent, Pam Fluent, Constance Smith-Burwell, Trina White, Betsy Parham and Steven H. Meriwether.

A Catered Affair recently hosted a dinner for Youth Villages to recognize its volunteers, supporters and donors. As part of its Year of Giving campaign, A Catered Affair donated space, food, music and beverages to this event.

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$20,000+Healthways Foundation

$10,000+Joe C. Davis FoundationHCA Health Care FoundationPanera Bread

$5,000+Hawkins Charitable Lead Trust

$2,500+Dale Family FoundationMrs. Elise Steiner and Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Small

$1,000+The Atticus TrustMary N. Wade, Lucile J. Nelson, DeeDee J. Wade, Mary Fall WadeDr. M. Catherine Dundon

E. B. S. FoundationMr. and Mrs. Bill PhillipsTelecom Pioneers TN Chapter #21The Temple Congregation Ohabai SholomTri-Med Pharmacy Service LLCMs. Betsy Walkup

$500+American General Life & Accident InsuranceBridgestone Americas Holding Inc. HouseholdCapitol Consultants Inc.DellMr. and Mrs. Jerald DoochinMr. and Mrs. F. Miles EzellJeff HarmanPatricia and Rodes Hart FoundationMr. J. Reginald HillMrs. Heloise KuhnNFIBMr. Steve Oden

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance CompanyMr. David B. Taylor

Other GiftsMr. & Mrs. Hunter AtkinsMrs. Lynn E. BerardMr. Richard BiggsMs. Barbara BittlesMs. Louisa BowersMr. & Mrs. W.A. Bryan IIIMr. & Mrs. Thomas CatoChapman & Rosenthal Title Inc.Ms. Karin CobleMr. Vaughan DePilloMr. & Mrs. Joseph DillinghamMr. Duncan EveMr. and Mrs. James FishelMr. Jason B. FoleyMr. Richard A. FowlerMr. and Mrs. L.Wilford FuquaMrs. Jennifer GonzalesMr. Horace H. Granbery

Mr. Christopher A. GrissomMr. and Mrs. Earl GrochauBilly and Caroline HamburgReverend Anthony HayesHCA Caring For The CommunityMs. Victoria Heil & Dr. Eric RaefskyMrs. Barbara JonesMr. and Mrs. Scott H. LacosteMr. Brent LautenschlegarMr. Terry MacKayMr. Ronnie MarshMr. Francis A. MartinMr.& Mrs. Ken MelkusMr. William W. Moschler Jr.Mrs. Pam Mueller-FluentNissan North America Inc.Mrs. Cathy OwsleyMr. and Mrs. Christopher PattersonMr. J. Fred PilkertonMr. C. ReavisMr. Joseph M. Roberts IIIMs. Sara L. RossonDr. Charles E. RuchMr. Todd SchottSigma Gamma Rho SororityMr. Eric SmithMrs. Judy StocktonMs. Ann ThomasonMr. & Mrs. DeWitt Thompson IIIDr. Richard TomichekMr. Scott TraceyTri-Med Pharmacy Service LLCMr. Jason VettorelMr. William J. Wade Jr.Ms. Patricia WallaceWalters Art MuseumReid WardWarren InsulationMs. Betty O. WilliamsonMr. Philip Zaretzki

ContributionsDonations Thanks to our many supporters

The following donors made gifts to Youth Villages between July 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2009. The board of directors and staff of Youth Villages gratefully acknowl-edge these thoughtful contributions. If you made a contribution during this time but it is not listed, please call the Youth Vil-lages development depart-ment at 615-250-7207.

In Honor ofMrs. Susan R. BerryJ. Fred Pilkerton Jr.

Jaala, Bobby and Reagan CoxCandy and Bill Phillips

In Memory ofEmmett “Chuck” DawsonLynn E. Berard

Dick HayesMary and Earl Grochau

The following honorariums and memorials were made to Youth Villages between July 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2009. The board of directors and staff of Youth Villages gratefully acknowledge these thoughtful contributions. If you made a contribution during this time but it is not listed, please call the Youth Villages development department at 615-250-7207.

Honorariums and memorials

The Nashville Predators Foundation recently donated $2,000 to Youth Villages.

Planned gifts are charitable gifts that can benefit you and your loved ones today and the children of Youth Villages in the future. There are many options to make strategic planned gifts.

To learn more about making a planned gift to Youth Villages, please contact Development Director Patti Bryan at 615-250-7207 or at patti.bryan@youthvillages.org.

Remember Youth Villages in your planned giving

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Founded in Memphis, Tenn., in 1986, Youth Villages has built a national reputation for offering the most effective pro-grams and services to help emotionally troubled children and their families. The private nonprofit organization provides a fully integrated continuum of services, including residential treatment, in-home services, foster care and adoption, mentoring and a transitional living program for young adults aging out of foster care.

Please write to Youth Villages’ Nashville office if you wish to have your name removed from our mailing list.

New Heights Middle Tennessee is published by Youth Villages

Managing editor: Greg Schott

Associate editor: Chris Pennington

YOUTH VILLAGES3310 Perimeter Hill DriveNashville, TN 37211(Address Service Requested)

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage Paid

A private nonprofit organization, Youth Villages serves more than15,000 children and their families from offices in the following cities:Alabama: Anniston, Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, MobileArkansas: Jonesboro, Little RockFlorida: Lakeland, Miami, TampaGeorgia: Atlanta, DouglasvilleMassachusetts: Lawrence, Woburn, WorcesterMississippi: Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Jackson, TupeloNew Hampshire: ManchesterNorth Carolina: Asheville, Charlotte, Concord, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Hickory, Pinehurst, Raleigh-Durham, WilmingtonTennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City,Knoxville, Linden, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville, ParisTexas: DallasVirginia: Arlington, RoanokeWashington, D.C.

Attn: Development Office3310 Perimeter Hill Drive

Nashville, TN 37211

www.youthvillages.org