CEO Message Jan 2014

Happy New Year! As we begin 2014 at Y.O.U. Inc. we re-commit to our mission to provide youth and families with opportunities to fulfill their potential and build brighter futures. We approach our mission each day with a high level of expertise and skill, and with a servant leader’s heart and focus. Every day, our talented leadership, management, service, and business staff join together to address complex personal, familial, social, and organizational challenges. Each of us contributes in our own special and unique way to fulfill our agency’s mission. Wherever you turn in our fine organization you will observe committed individuals who continually strive to learn more, do more, give more, connect more, and create more. Each day as CEO I see the profound effects of our organization’s service on children, parents, families, and communities.

During the holiday season, employees in all Y.O.U. Inc. programs were hard at work at their second jobs - secretly working as elves to make special wishes come true. Lenore Rust and Kelly Sullivan, who direct our Intensive Foster Care and Teen Parent Programs, respectively, once again led Y.O.U. Inc. staff and community supporters to create a vibrant holiday season for children in need. Our Adopt-A-Child program enlisted donations from more than 50 donors, including employees, individuals and corporations, as well as churches and schools. Our collective effort generated more than 3,000 gifts for children and families, and spread a lot of smiles and good will among the various communities we serve.

Bonnie Pulver, Assistant Program Director at the Wetzel Center, was once again instrumental as part of the Santa Foundation, ensuring children who receive Y.O.U. Inc. residential services are surprised with extra special gifts during the holiday season. Adopt-A-Child and the Santa Foundation are just two examples of the positive intention, commitment, and service of our staff.

This past fall, Charisse Murphy, Director of Y.O.U. Inc.’s Community Service Program, appealed to the Massachusetts Service Alliance to fund “Healthy YOU!” a public service opportunity for DYS-involved youth to give back to their community in honor of Martin Luther King. Successful in her effort, Charisse mobilized more than 50 youth and adult volunteers on Martin Luther King Day at the Assembly of God Church to assemble 1,500 health snack packs for elementary school students. Our Community Service Program staff and youth delivered “Healthy YOU!” packages to seven area elementary schools. What a great way to lead by example and demonstrate creative ways youth can positively contribute to their community.

Examples of this type of creative and thoughtful activity abound within Y.O.U. Inc. Please click here for more on Kelly, Lenore, and here for more on Charisse and be sure to circle back to our website each month as we feature new stories about our organization’s services, staff, and community supporters.

I wish you all a healthy and happy new year. Let’s make it a great one.