A campfire can change a life.  So can a field trip to the local beach or a trip halfway across the country to a camp tucked in the mountains of Missouri.  Each of these experiences offers new opportunities for the children we serve to learn about themselves and to realize how different life can be. They encounter hope as they get outside of the inner city, sometimes for the first time in their life.  

This summer, you have the opportunity to change a child’s life.  At Summer Jam, we’ll host 60 children daily for creative learning, field trips and fun recreation.  This year’s theme is “Broadening Your Horizons.”  You can sponsor a child for $350 for the seven-week program.  $50 will pay for a week at camp; $10 will allow one child to attend camp for a day.  That day could be the day they have that experience that will set their life on a different course.

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It's Volunteer Appreciation week! Didn't you know? Probably not. Which is why we wanted to make it a big deal—because it is! Your hours of service and devotion have not gone unnoticed. We're always grateful for you, but this week just gives us an excuse to throw some confetti, serve some cake, drink some coffee and cheer for YOU! Our impact in the Tamarind Avenue Corridor is greater because of people like YOU. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for partnering with us this year. 

We asked our volunteers why they volunteer at UYI and here's what they said: 

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What does love look like to you?  The other day love looked like a bag of McDonald’s food.  There’s not much healthy (I know!) or significant about a takeout bag from McDonald’s usually, but this bag was special.

DeAndre has been in our program for three years.  He has proven to be a constant challenge in many ways.  Often defiant, we know we’re confronting the fear and anger that comes from the fact that he lives in an unstable environment.

Michele, our 3^rd Grade Team Leader, has done an exceptional job working with DeAndre this year providing boundaries and predictability, which have helped with his behavior.  Well, a few days ago, DeAndre was having a rough day, and was acting out by kicking…a lot.  Michele asked him to stop, imploring him to “make good choices” (from our Dream Pledge).  It took a bit, but he got himself under control and kept himself together for the remainder of the day.

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When God called me out of golf nearly 25 years ago, I started ministering to young men in the detention center.  When I realized that most of the young men in jail came from the area around Tamarind Avenue, I felt led to go there.  From weekly football, food and fellowship, we’ve grown into an organization providing a wide-range of services to meet the needs the children and families have in this area.

As our commitment remains to West Palm Beach, God is leading us out once again to do more for this community.  In an amazing set of divine “coincidences”, a door has opened for us to go into a housing project, Stonybrook Apartments, in Riviera Beach. The new owners of Stonybrook are Christian business men who have a desire to see a transformation in the community they own.  They know that a change as radical as they hope to see won’t come from landscaping or renovations, but can only come with God changing hearts of the people.

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Dear Friend,

It is our pleasure to share with you Urban Youth Impact’s 2012 Annual Report.  In it you will read stories, see statistics and have the opportunity to review our financial position.  In everything, we hope you’ll be encouraged to see how your giving, prayers, and volunteer hours are working to change lives here in the inner city of West Palm Beach.  We are truly grateful for your support.  Without it, we couldn’t do what we do!

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