Please Donate Now
Kevin (pictured right, his story below) received the promises from Middle Earth. You have the power to help others just like Kevin! There are many children who face daunting challenges and difficult choices in their family life, school life, and social life. When a youth is misguided or left to make poor decisions, he won’t just feel the consequences today; he will feel them for a lifetime. But you can make a difference!
Less than 10% of our budget is used for administrative costs, so more than $0.90 of every dollar you donate goes directly to helping a child. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so your donation is tax deductible.
- $10 provides a youth a day of employment readiness and life-skills training
- $20 allows one youth a day in our after-school program which includes tutoring and club enrichment activities
- $25 provides a youth an hour of one-on-one mentoring, including positive recreational activities
- $50 offers a week of recreational activities for youth in one of our Community Youth Centers
- $100 provides 2 weeks of a girl’s or boy’s group for up to 10 at-risk teens who need additional support services
Kevin's Story
Kevin's father was gone, his mother struggled to make ends meet as a single parent of three kids, and school was tough. He frequently argued with his mom, and because he was alone and bored a lot, he was becoming involved in negative activities after school. Kevin was struggling to stay on task in school. He was acting up in class, not getting along with his classmates, and struggling with his schoolwork. Kevin didn’t feel like he had a lot of support – there were not many adults who seemed to care or understand him and he was beginning to fall short in his education. The trajectory of Kevin’s life was beginning an all-too-common spiral downward, and he had no idea how to stop it.
Concerned, Kevin’s teacher told him about Middle Earth. At age 12, Kevin started coming to our Community Youth Center after school. We helped him with his homework, offered fun things for him to do in a positive environment, facilitated conflict resolution among his peers, and kept him off the street. “We promised to keep you safe.” Promise kept.
We enrolled Kevin in our Outreach program that connected him to a mentor. Bill spent time with Kevin doing fun things, such as hiking, playing basketball, and going to the movies. During this one-on-one time, Bill talked to Kevin about his problems and offered guidance. As their relationship developed, Kevin valued Bill’s advice and began to look at his choices more closely. “We promised a caring adult to help guide you.” Promise kept.
Over time, Bill helped Kevin realize that, by making positive choices, he could change his life for the better. At Middle Earth, Kevin was taught life skills, such as cooking and budgeting. He also decided to engage in positive after school activities. He discovered he had great skill as a runner and joined the school’s track team. Kevin also joined a band where he could showcase his musical talents as a drummer. “We promised to teach you life skills and healthy habits.” Promise kept.
Kevin has become such a positive influence on his peers, we hired him this year to be a High School Helper in our after-school program for middle-school students. It was a valuable process for Kevin to apply and interview for the position, teaching him to negotiate the process of finding employment. He is now receiving valuable work experience for his resume and learning how to respectfully interact with supervisors and co-workers. “We promised to ensure you have marketable skills for your future.” Promise kept.
Kevin truly enjoys working with the kids in our after-school program. He feels like he was once in their shoes and is a good role model to demonstrate how making responsible choices can alter your life path. Kevin is excited to help these youth see their own potential. “We promised to give you the chance to help others.” Promise kept.
Kevin is currently a senior in high school due to graduate in June 2013. He hopes to pursue a career in music, and is quite gifted in that area. Kevin recently said, “Middle Earth led me in the right direction. Staff always (gave me advice about) the right things to do and helped me become a better person.” Kevin’s future is full of potential! Promise kept… thanks to people like you!