Youth Enrichment Services (YES) recently received a $10,000 grant from the Lewis Family Foundation. These funds will be used to help support the YES Academy programming for Boston teens. These high-impact youth development programs – which include the YES Leadership Corps, College Prep Program, and Alumni Support Initiative – delivers leadership development, career exploration, college preparation, and post-graduation support services to 150 Boston teens annually. YES Academy programs are provided free-of-charge and underwritten by the generosity of foundations, corporations, and individuals.
In the YES Academy’s Leadership Corps program, teens build leadership skills, explore career pathways, and prepare for college through a unique curriculum that embeds learning through outdoor activities. Meeting weekly throughout the school year, teens in the Leadership Corps program participate in workshops, group trainings, and one-on-one sessions with YES staff. They also participate in outdoor activities – Downhill Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, and Outdoor Adventure – and serve as assistant instructors and positive role models to younger youth in YES’s sports-based programs. In addition, YES’s Alumni Support Initiative supports YES Academy graduates. Students receive quarterly check-ins from YES staff and assistance navigating challenges they may encounter throughout their college experience. With this initiative, YES’s goal is to help its young people not only get into college – but graduate from college – and foster strong, long-term relationships with alumni.
Financial support from the Lewis Family Foundation will help YES achieve its goal of increasing opportunities for Boston’s young people to participate in enriching and meaningful leadership programming that increases their readiness for college and careers and helps them realize their potential as student leaders.
About the Lewis Family Foundation: The foundation focuses on the Lewis family’s hometowns of Boston, MA and Kensington, NH as well as global village destinations of their travel company, Grand Circle Corporation, The Lewis Family Foundation seeks to empower young people, develop courageous citizens and leaders, level the playing field for educational and job opportunities, and create strong strategic alliances in collaboration of shared vision and goals. Click here to visit their website and learn more.
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