You can help change the life of a Teen!

As the Youth Director at the Auburn Valley YMCA, I’ve had the privilage of seeing teens lives changed through our staff and programming! I can tell you TONS of stories where teens have seen the world with new eyes, crossed cultural barriers and discovered skills and talents they didn’t know they had. BUT for the sake of space let me tell you about Antonia!

Antonia is currently in the 6th grade and had been coming to the teen center for a few months when we convinced her to attend the SPARK retreat! Spark is all about leadership and the theme was all about “being yourself”. After the first emotional workshop, Antonia stood out as a brave and bold girl who wasn’t afriad to say what she thought and felt. By the end of the weekend, Antonia had made an impression on every other camper and said that she had found a family at the YMCA. Everyone remembers how when she performed ‘Gangnam Style’ her face beamed with such joy and excitement! By the end of her performance, the whole group was up and moving like at a family celebration!

Our programs give teens the safety to not only explore who they are but present that to the larger group and feel accepted, loved and valued! I know Antonia’s life is changed because she feels that no matter how hard school might be or diffcult friends are, she can find help and support from her Y family.

Please join me in supporting the YMCA and helping to make a difference in our community and in countless other lives we will reach.