Coatesville Youth Initiative hopes to draw attention from consumerism to nonprofits
Dreading that post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping? The Brandywine Health Foundation and the Coatesville Youth Initiative (CYI) are suggesting a better option: participating in #GivingTuesday, a day devoted to giving back.
#GivingTuesday on Dec. 3 is a campaign to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season, celebrating and encouraging charitable activities that support nonprofits. It offers a counter narrative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, reminding people that the spirit of the holiday giving season should be about community – not just consumerism.
One way to give back is to help jumpstart the Coatesville Youth Initiative’s 2014 ServiceCorps Program. ServiceCorps is an acclaimed eight-week summer employment and development program for Coatesville youth between the ages of 14-18. It offers a life-changing opportunity for its participants, who gain invaluable work experience through local businesses and nonprofits, have opportunities to serve and connect with their community, develop life and leadership skills, and earn a summer income.
In the past three years, over 120 teens have provided nearly 30,000 service hours in our community through this program and have become inspired and poised to carry the Coatesville community toward a positive future, a foundation news release said.
“Without the Coatesville Youth Initiative ServiceCorps program I don’t really know where I would be right now. I know that I wouldn’t be as confident and outspoken as I am…The Coatesville Youth Initiative gave me courage, skills that I will use, great friends, strength, hope, but most of all it gave me a family,” said Nelson Negro, a 2013 Summer ServiceCorps participant.
To bring even more awareness to the #Giving Tuesday campaign, the CYI Game Changers Leadership Council will be hosting a bake sale at both the 9/10 Center and the 11/12 center at Coatesville Area High School after school on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The public is invited to stop by for some holiday treats and support the Coatesville Youth Initiative.
Supporters can also make a donation online by visiting http://www.razoo.com/story/Coatesvilleyouth-Initiative-Summer-Servicecorps-Jump-Start-Campaign or www.BrandywineFoundation.org.
