Our Website    |   More About Us    |   Our Sponsors    |   Volunteer    |   Last Month's Newsletter  
             
   

Aspiring Youth's 8th Annual Gala is Here!
On Friday, May 18th at the Houston Country Club

    
             
     
Are you ready? Aspiring Youth's 8th Annual "Reaching for the Stars" Gala is here!  Please plan to be with us on Friday evening, May 18th at the Houston Country Club as we honor leading community members for their contributions to at-risk youth. Pete and the Boys Western Band will be back to entertain us with swing country music as we enjoy a fantastic dinner and enticing silent auction. Attire will be “Boots and Suits” and/or cocktail, so polish those boots!
   
             
   
  • "Star for Youth" Award – Oliver Luck
  • "Corporate Star for Youth" Award – McConnell Jones Lanier & Murphy LLP
  • "Star for Girls' Education" Award – Judge Caroline Baker
  • "Community Star for Youth" Award – Missouri City Chapter of The Links, Inc.
  • Honorary Chairpersons - Charles and Jana Fay Bacarisse
  • Master of Ceremonies – Doug Dawson
  • Entertainment - Pete & the Boys Western Swing Band
   
             
   
             
   

Aspiring Youth Leadership Council
Holds National Junior Honor Society Induction

   
             
     

Each year sixth graders are inducted into the National Junior Honor Society of seventh and eighth graders. This year the Annual National Junior Honor Society Induction was held by the Aspiring Youth Leadership Council on April 26th. The symbolic light of knowledge and leadership was passed from the outgoing 8th graders to those 6th graders who had proven themselves worthy of this prestigious club during the past school year.

   
             
     
Guest Speaker Constable Victor Torino was there to inspire and motivate the students to stay on the pathway of success. He spoke about the importance of education and not talking back to parents; and he focused on talking to someone when they had problems and not letting peer pressure or drugs carry them away from school. His rapport with the kids was awesome. Proud parents were also in attendance, and hopefully lots of good influence went home that evening.
   
             
   
             
   
Aspiring Youth TAKS Olympics held on April 5th
   
             
     
Every year this proves to be an exciting and fun way to motivate the students to excel in the Texas Assessment Knowledge and Skills Exam. On April 5th, the Aspiring Youth After-School Program at John Marshall Middle School hosted the TAKS Olympics. The students are divided into teams of four to answer TAKS related questions in language, arts, and math. After rounds of elimination, the last two teams standing are ready to be crowned TAKS Olympians.
   
             
   
             
   
7th Annual After-School Partnership Fair on April 5th
   
             
     
This exciting event brought together educators, after-school staff, service providers as well as city and county-level resources in an effort to strengthen after-school partnerships across Harris County. Sponsered by CASE (the Cooperative for After-School Enrichment), the Mayor's After-School Achievement Program, and Washington Mutual, the Partnership Fair provides Aspiring Youth with a way to network with other after-school professionals.
    
             
   
             
   
The Missouri City Chapter of The Links, Inc.
   
             
     

The Missouri City Chapter is a Houston-area affiliate of The Links, Incorporated, an international service organization with a membership of more than 10,000 women of African heritage. The Ladies of The Links, collaborating with Aspiring Youth, sponsor many groups of Aspiring Youth students to attend Art Smarts events that focus on the Arts at the Alley Theater. The students gain exposure to playwriting, directing, choreography and more.

    
             
   
Above, from left to right:  Janice Character-Payne, Program Chair;  Evelyn E. Thornton, President,  and Donna D. Smith, Program Chair. You can visit The Links Web Site and the Texas Chapters here.
   
             
   
             
   
Brandi Lalanne has Joined the Team
   
             
     

In April, Brandi Lalanne joined Aspiring Youth as our new Office Assistant and the extra set of hands needed to keep things running smoothly during Aspiring Youth's 8th Annual Gala. While not working at Aspiring Youth, Brandi enjoys attending class at The Art Institute of Houston. With her free time Brandi focuses on helping others and settling in at a coffee joint to take down a cup of java with friends.

   
             
   
             
   
www.aspiringyouth.org
    
             
   
To see our previous e-newsletters please click here
   
             
   

Aspiring Youth's mission is to prepare at-risk youth to aspire to and attain their highest degree of success in school and in life. To fulfill our mission, Aspiring Youth focuses on the middle school years when children are transforming from childhood to teenagers. The choices made during the pre-teen years are the foundation for each student's future success.

Aspiring Youth supports the following events:

    
   


College for a Day
TAKS Olympics
Map to Success Contest
Summer Program

   
Ammons Scholarship            
Take A Student To Your Employment Program
Trash Bash Public Service
College Scholarship Essay Contest 		   
             
   
             
   

If you live in a city with a Randall's Food Store, Randall's will donate 1% of your grocery purchases if you enter the Aspiring Youth® number (number 5130) and use your Randall's card with your purchases. 

Kroger Food Stores will also donate 1% of your grocery purchases if you use the Aspiring Youth™ Kroger card with your purchases (please let us know if you would like for us to send you a card to use at Kroger).

Donations to Aspiring Youth® are tax deductible to the extent allowed for 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.  Clothing and small home items donations can be made by contacting Central Donations at 713-948-2828.

Thanks for being part of the solution!

   
             
   
             
    ASPIRING YOUTH OF HOUSTON
6250 Westpark Drive, Suite 217
Houston, Texas  77057
Phone:  713-334-3330
Fax:  713-334-3366
E-mail:  office@aspiringyouth.org
To make a tax deductible donation,
please click the link below.
   
              
   
   
   


Copyright 2007 Aspiring Youth®, All rights reserved.