tcbusiness.com

45th annual Youth Guidance luau to raise funds for local children in need

LaKia Patterson, YG Group Leader and YG Students: Mariah’Ka, Genese, Naudiah, with Jenna Manfredi, YG Mentor Resource Manager

Aloha! Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy will hold its 45th annual Tropical Night Luau Friday, Oct. 7th, at the Boulevard Village and Tennis Club in Vero Beach from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Known by many as “Vero Beach’s Best Party of the Year,” this event will delight all who attend. Guests will be adorned with traditional Hawaiian leis upon arrival and will have the opportunity to meet children enrolled in Youth Guidance. The Luau will include an open bar, tropical buffet, dancing, an exciting live auction with spectacular prizes, and an unforgettable performance by Hiti Mahana Polynesia featuring a Siva Afi Fire Knife Spinning Finale.

Sponsorships for the Luau are available starting at $500, which includes two tickets to the event and promotion on event signage, social media, and marketing materials. Youth Guidance anticipates 180 guests in attendance this year.

Luau proceeds will provide life-changing mentoring programs for children and families with limited resources in Indian River County. Youth Guidance serves approximately 250 children and young adults ages 5-24 each year. Thanks to generous donors, all programs are made available free of charge, and the children receive a healthy dinner every night.

As Youth Guidance approaches its 50th anniversary, the organization’s strategic focus is to provide local children access to life skills, academic enrichment, and vocational training.

In October 2022, Youth Guidance will offer an eight-month pre-apprenticeship program, providing young adults ages 16-24 with six professional certifications and experience in five different trades: Welding, plumbing, electric, carpentry, and HVAC.

Other programs at Youth Guidance include afterschool tutoring, website design, gardening, cooking, bicycle repair, boat mechanics, sewing, and money management.

“The Tropical Night Luau is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about our mission and the programs that we offer at Youth Guidance,” Barnes said.

For more information on Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy programs and the Tropical Night Luau, visit www.youthguidanceprogram.org or call Executive Director Phil Barnes at 772-492-3933.

Frank & Sandi Lardani, Carol Braun & Mary Lewisy

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]

Sep. 9, 2022|

Youth Guidance receives grant from Bank of America to support workforce development programs

Twelve teenagers and young adults received their forklift certification as part of the Youth Guidance Pre-Apprenticeship Program.

To strengthen our community in the Treasure Coast, Bank of America is helping address barriers to basic needs, workforce development, and education by directing grant funding to Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy.

Bank of America recently awarded Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy a grant for $10,000. These funds will enable Youth Guidance to continue its workforce development and pre-apprenticeship programs for youth ages 12-24 living with limited resources in Indian River County.

Youth Guidance serves approximately 250 children, teenagers, and young adults every year. Through Bank of America’s grant and partnership, the grant will be used to provide youth ages 12-24 group mentoring programs that teach various life skills, including: culinary arts, sewing, bicycle repair, boat mechanics, and gardening.

The grant will also support the Youth Guidance Pre-Apprenticeship, the only pre-apprenticeship in Indian River County. Over eight months, youth ages 16-24 will learn five trades, including HVAC, welding, carpentry, electric, and plumbing. Those who complete the entire course will receive six professional certifications that will help them start a career in the trades.

“We are thrilled to partner with Bank of America to help prepare our youth for careers and explore the trades industry,” said Phil Barnes, Executive Director of Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy. “This partnership will play a key role in our efforts to provide local children and young adults with hands-on experience while earning professional certifications.”

Youth Guidance implemented the pre-apprenticeship for the first time from October 2021 to May 2022. Out of the 15 students who participated, 14 received professional certifications. Upon graduation, one student started his career as an apprentice electrician.

The pre-apprenticeship will start again in Fall 2022 in partnership with the Indian River County School District. Youth Guidance anticipates serving 20 students this coming year.

This grant is aligned with the bank’s broader efforts to advance economic opportunity and equity through health, jobs and reskilling, affordable housing, and small business. As part of those efforts, the bank has granted a total of $150,000 to 14 Treasure Coast nonprofits so far this year.

“Investing in this partnership is part of our approach to driving economic opportunity and social progress in Indian River County,” said Susan Rabinowitz, president, Bank of America Treasure Coast. “This grant is just one way we are deploying resources locally to help remove barriers to economic success and build a more sustainable community.”

In addition to its grant funding, Bank of America’s 243 Treasure Coast teammates pitch in roughly 2,900 volunteer hours yearly. With the constantly changing landscape, charitable grants and fundraising are critical to support the important work of our nonprofit partners.

Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy is dedicated to enriching the lives of Indian River County youth through mentoring relationships that inspire trust, self-esteem, and positive futures. Founded in 1973, Youth Guidance provides daily meals as well as one-on-one and group mentoring programs to children and young adults ages 5-24 with limited resources.

After school, students complete their homework under the supervision of trained Youth Guidance staff. Then they participate in group mentoring programs that include vocational training, life skills, and STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, arts, and math). All programs and meals are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the local community.

If you are interested in learning more about Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy or making a donation, please call 772.492.3933, or visit our website at www.youthguidanceprogram.org.

Sep. 2, 2022|

Okeechobee County Economic Development Corporation completes Junior Leader Skills Camp

Students toured the Okeechobee Livestock Market

The Okeechobee Junior Leader Skills (summer) Camp was originally identified as a special project by the Corporation, as this aligns directly with several key directives within the policom study: to support our local school district in introducing students to soft skills and workforce exploration at an early level.

This year, our program had a combined total budget of over $32,000 (locally solicited funds) and 95% of these funds were spent right here in our own community. 64 students completed the 8 day program and were required to present a final presentation concerning an area within the community they would like to see enhanced. The students who completed the program were also awarded a stipend to demonstrate "earnings for hard work". The two course instructors were awarded a stiped as well, courtesy of the Okeechobee County Economic Development Corporation, in an effort to support teacher engagement and retention.

Thank you to all of our partners, local businesses, organizations, and elected officials who helped this program become reality.

Students were able to visit the following local businesses:
Walpole Inc
Walpole Feed
Okeechobee Livestock Market
Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce
Brown Cow Sweetery
CareerSource Heartland, Okeechobee Branch
Staffords Salon
The Outpost
Hippie Days
Nutmegs

Special Tours:
Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioner Meeting
Okeechobee Clerk of Court and Comptroller
Honorary Judge Wallace Court Room, Mock Trial Simulation
Indian River State College, Dixon Hendry Campus
Indian River State College, Main Campus Tour

Guest Presentations:
CareerSource Heartland Soft Skills Workshop
Okeechobee County Fire Rescue
Panther Youth Program
Gary Ritter, Administrator to the City of Okeechobee
Local Entrepreneur and Business Owner Chad Stokes

The students were exposed to hands-on career exploration, through the lens of business leadership.

Here's what they learned:
Leadership Skills and Styles
Local Economy Drivers in Okeechobee County
Introduction to Local Government
Creating a Budget
Board of Directors Structure
HR Best Practices and Tips
Public Speaking
Business Presentations
Introduction to Soft Skills
Professionalism In Business
Contracts and Agreements
Local Small Business Structures
Customer Service
College Pathways + CTE + Degree Options
Business Retention and Recruitment

Thank you to our partner organizations:
The Education Foundation of Okeechobee
Children's Services Council of Okeechobee
Okeechobee County School District and Staff

Several students who completed the program were able to address City Council at their July meeting. Students and their parents expressed the impact of this program and articulated their desire to take their final presentations to the next level. The students gifted the Council Members with the program branded shirts to help generate community awareness. The Corporation is looking at dates to bring these students to the County as well.

Jul. 18, 2022|

Piper Aircraft selects local high school graduates to join manufacturing team

On May 5, 2022 Piper Aircraft hosted students from both the Vero Beach and Sebastian River High Schools for a tour and exploratory visit of the Piper Aircraft worldwide headquarters in Vero Beach, FL. Following the visit, Piper Aircraft coordinated interviews of several of the recent high school graduates and extended job offers to 84% of the candidates. The newly hired candidates are currently in the training process and will join the manufacturing and production control teams in the near future.

Piper Aircraft continues to actively recruit and hire personnel for positions throughout the organization in an effort to meet current and future production needs. With the robust nature of the marketplace and demand for both trainer and personal aircraft, Piper’s production for 2022 is sold out, with firm orders into 2024. For more information on current employment opportunities at Piper Aircraft, visit www.piper.com/careers.

About Piper Aircrafts

Piper Aircraft Inc., headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla., offers aviators throughout the world efficient and reliable single- and twin-engine aircraft and is the first general aviation aircraft manufacturer in the world to certify Garmin Autoland. The single-engine M-Class series – the M600SLS, M500, and M350 – offers businesses and individual’s elegant performance, value and a superior ownership experience. The Personal Class Archer LX and Archer DLX balance proven performance, efficiency, and simplicity in a piston powered aircraft. The Trainer Class Pilot 100/100i, Archer TX, Archer DX, Seminole and Seneca V aircraft form the most complete technically-advanced line of pilot training aircraft in the world. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. To learn more about Piper Aircraft, visit www.piper.com

Jun. 11, 2022|

Hope Lives Foundation presents $10,000 check to Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy

Pictured from left to right: Chris Robertson, Hope Lives Foundation Executive Director, Marilyn Wallach, Hope Lives Foundation Board Member, Phil Barnes, Youth Guidance Executive Director, Jim Freitas, Hope Lives Foundation Board Member, and Christann Hartley, Hope Lives Foundation Director of Finance.

Recently, the Hope Lives Foundation Executive Director, Chris Robertson, and Board Members, Jim Freitas and Marilyn Wallach, awarded a $10,000 grant to Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy. This grant is a memorial fund in memory of Kurt Wallach, who dedicated his time and efforts to helping those in need in Indian River County. By offering grants to smaller non-profit organizations, the Hope Lives Foundation strengthens and supports community organizations that serve on the Treasure Coast, North Palm Beach, and Okeechobee County.

“We are delighted to be a recipient of this grant,” said Phil Barnes, Youth Guidance Executive Director. “It will enable us to provide healthy meals and life-changing mentoring programs year-round for children in need living in Indian River County.”

Youth Guidance is dedicated to enriching the lives of Indian River County youth through mentoring relationships that inspire trust, self-esteem, and positive futures. Youth Guidance provides a safe place where students receive a healthy meal, homework assistance, and participate in one-on-one and group mentoring programs for free.

After school, students complete their homework under the supervision of experienced Youth Guidance staff and participate in group mentoring programs that teach life skills including culinary arts, sewing, vocational training, S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), recreational activities and more! The organization serves approximately 250 children every year.

If you are interested in learning more about Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy or making a donation, please call 772.492.3933, or visit our website at www.youthguidanceprogram.org.

Apr. 25, 2022|

Indian River Community Foundation awards grant to Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy

This donation will help Youth Guidance continue to develop innovative programs to help more children break the cycle of poverty and become contributing members to our local community!

The Indian River County Community Foundation, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Pickering presented a $40,000 check to Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy. The Indian River Community Foundation board of directors also took a tour of the building and learned of the many free programs offered to families with limited resources at Youth Guidance.

“We are so grateful for the generous support from the Indian River Community Foundation,” said Phil Barnes, Executive Director of Youth Guidance. “This will help us continue to develop innovative programs to help more children break the cycle of poverty and become contributing members to the Indian River County community.”

If you are interested in learning more about Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy or making a donation, please call 772.492.3933, or visit our website at www.youthguidanceprogram.org.

About the Indian River Community Foundation

Indian River Community Foundation is a vibrant nonprofit grantmaking foundation with a powerfully simple mission of building a better community through donor-driven philanthropy. The Foundation is in business primarily to help individuals and families to organize and carry out their charitable giving, and to partner with these generous donors to create and leave a charitable legacy. Since the Foundation’s establishment in 2008, the Foundation’s community of donors has grown to hold more than 200 named funds with assets of approximately $90 million. Altogether, the Foundation’s donors have granted more than $90 million from these named funds to support charitable organizations locally and around the world. Indian River Community Foundation is one of the fastest growing new community foundations in the country, and one of the most active grantmaking community foundations in the state of Florida. The Foundation has quickly become known as one of the most knowledgeable philanthropic resources locally. To learn more about the Indian River Community Foundation go to [email protected] or call 772.205.2977.

Youth Guidance Logo

Apr. 18, 2022|

The Mistletones deliver holiday cheer to local nursing homes

Credit: Sally Dillion, Idea Garden Advertising
VERO BEACH — For a 7th year, a local group of talented kids have kicked off their nursing home tour, bringing smiles to the residents with holiday songs. The Mistletones are comprised of musical theatre students from Charter High School and kids from St. Helen School.

On […]

Dec. 11, 2018|

5 programs hosted for children at Gifford center

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY- One of the special activities that Gifford Youth Achievement Center kids get to experience is spending time in nature thanks to the Indian River Land Trust and other eco-friendly organizations like the Environmental Learning Center. The children have a great time getting out of their regular routine by exploring the woods, […]

Oct. 25, 2016|