Youth Believing in Change is a safe haven for at-risk adolescents living in our neighborhood. Founded more than 10 years ago, this non-profit ministry provides students with an educational and spiritual foundation while challenging them to become leaders who will one day serve others.
Over the years, YBC has reached out to children and adults alike. Leonor Aguiar, a YBC staff member of seven years and a Lake Highlands resident, says she first learned about the organization when her daughter started attending the after-school program at the age of 7. With the help of YBC founder Vincent Gaddis, Aguiar was able to follow her passion of becoming a teacher. For her, knowledge is power, but the real strength lies in faith.
“The most important thing is spiritual teaching because most of these kids…I don’t think they know a lot about Jesus and God, and the ministry helps them a lot,” she says.
YBC offers more than a dozen events and programs for its youth, including a summer work program, life skills training program and after-school program. One of its most noted programs is the eight-week summer reading program.
Roughly 400 volunteers participate in YBC year-round simply for the experience. Bob Eckert, a Lake Highlands resident and YBC volunteer, spends hours every week tutoring students in math.
“I hope that not only do they do their homework but they understand the concepts behind their homework,” Eckert says. “The goal is to make them confident and self-reliant rather than relying on someone else.”
Eckert admits that he has always wanted to help a non-profit organization in some way, but never had the time until after he retired.
“These children need help, and they are wonderful kids, and if I could help them, there’s really no effort at all for me to do this,” he says.
Some of the funding for YBC comes from its annual Youth Bowling for Change Fun-rai$er happening this month (see sidebar).
“The goal of the fundraiser is to raise awareness about the impact we’re making in the lives of children and youth, to get people to bond with the kids and hopefully come back and volunteer, and to give to YBC so we can keep it going financially,” Gaddis says.
Rhonda Hardt, one half of The Hardt Group with Ebby Halliday, says she and her husband have personally sponsored the Youth Bowling for Change Fun-rai$er for years.
“It was my husband’s favorite ministry, and we believe in what they are doing. It’s great to bowl with those kids because they just have so much fun,” Hardt says.
Anyone can bowl, and there’s no fee, but participants are encouraged to give a tax-deductible contribution. YBC normally raises anywhere from $75,000 to $125,000 from contributions, but its goal this year is set at $150,000. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward the organization’s operating costs for the first quarter of 2007.
