Youth in Philanthropy Making a Difference for Child Advocates of Fort Bend  

On Saturday, February 3, twenty-three students from The George Foundation’s Youth In Philanthropy (YIP) Program helped Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) with several critical projects. YIP “Team Wildcats” sanded and re-painted benches for the porches at Child Advocates of Fort Bend, cleaned and sanitized the toys and surfaces in the Children’s Advocacy Center waiting room, worked on appreciation gifts for the agency’s volunteers and expressed their creativity on decorations for the agency’s upcoming “Off to the Races” Gala. They also went on a “behind the scenes” tour of the Children’s Advocacy Center and CASATM Program to learn about child abuse and ways they can spread the word to reach children and teens who may be abused and need help.

Members of Youth in Philanthropy’s “Team Wildcats helped with a variety of projects at Child Advocates of Fort Bend over the weekend. For more information about Child Advocates of Fort Bend and their services and programs, go to www.cafb.org or call 281-344-5100. For information on Youth in Philanthropy go to http://www.thegeorgefoundation.org/program/youth-in-philanthropy/.

“We love participating in the YIP Program. Not only do the projects that they do for us help us and save us money, I think we learn as much from the students as they do from us,” stated Child Advocates of Fort Bend CEO Ruthanne Mefford. “The benches they painted will not only brighten the porches but will make our building more welcoming for the children and families. Cleaning and sanitizing the playroom is a huge help so that it remains a safe and healthy place for children and their families. Their creative efforts with regard to appreciation gifts for volunteers lifts the spirits of our volunteers and their creative decorations dramatically transform the lobby of the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square for our Off to the Races gala.”

About Youth In Philanthropy (YIP):

The YIP Program, now in its 21st year, has been a community partnership with the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, Fort Bend County school districts, local businesses and the community-at-large. YIP enables junior and senior high school students from schools across Fort Bend County students to experience volunteer opportunities with area nonprofit organizations, allowing them to learn the important role that the nonprofit sector plays in the community. The partnership between YIP teams and the nonprofit sector also allows students to enter into the philanthropic mode by measuring their new knowledge and experience in volunteering to determine grant awards to be -presented to participating nonprofits at the completion of the program. In return for their service, some outstanding YIP participation are awarded higher education scholarships at a celebratory luncheon. For information on Youth In Philanthropy go to http://www.thegeorgefoundation.org/program/youth-in-philanthropy/ or contact Ammie Blahuta, Director of Special Programs for The George Foundation at 281-342-6109 or ablahuta@thegeorgefoundation.org.

About Child Advocates of Fort Bend:

Child Advocates of Fort Bend is a non-profit agency dedicated to ending child abuse by providing a voice, healing the hurt, and breaking the cycle of child abuse in Fort Bend County. Through its Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (CASATM), Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) and more than 200 trained community volunteer advocates, Child Advocates of Fort Bend improves the lives of more than 400 children each month and has served more than 14,500 children since opening its doors in 1991. Volunteers are needed to help in the agency’s Children’s Advocacy Center and in the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program. For information on volunteering contact Volunteer Recruiter Lauren Jordin at 281-344-5259. The agency’s Off to the Races Gala has been set for Saturday, May 5th at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square. For sponsorships or more information contact Lisa Moore at lmoore@cafb.org or 281-344-5108.