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Aspiring Youth Students Visit
the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

   
     
Aspiring Youth and The Links continue to partner and bring great activities and cultural enlightenment to B.C. Elmore Middle School; and on Sunday, February 10th, Aspiring Youth students participating in Art Smarts, had the opportunity to visit The Museum of Fine Arts for the opening ceremony of the “Eye on Third Ward” exhibit. This exhibition is a collection of photographs taken by students from Jack Yates High School under the direction of Ray Carrington.
   
             
     
Our Aspiring Youth students were honored to attend this event and meet with the Jack Yates student photographers. Mr. Carrington talked to the students about his class and what it means to be successful and productive. He explained to them the importance of hard work, and through example that is how the Jack Yates students were able to have their photography on display.
   
             
   
             
   

Aspiring Youth Adds
Peace Jam Leaders and Ambassadors Program

   
             
     

Aspiring Youth of Houston is excited about adding the Peace Jam Leaders and Ambassadors programs to their after-school programs to be implemented beginning in February 2008. After going through adult sponsor training with Jamie Parker, the Affiliate Coordinator of Peace Jam at the University of Houston Chapter, Aspiring Youth staff is set to start the program at the Marshall, Kirby, and Jackson middle schools.

   
             
   

The Peace Jam curriculum teaches youth about the stories of the 12 Nobel Peace Laureates and how they can apply those stories to their character and community development. The new curriculum has been a great success in the past in building their awareness of issues related to peace, violence, social justice, and oppression. In March Aspiring Youth is looking to take deserving students to the Greater Texas Peace Jam Conference with Betty Williams at the University of Houston campus.

    
             
   
             
   

A Tribute to Our Supporters at Ammons Law Firm

   
             
     

Aspiring Youth of Houston is privileged to be the recipients of the kind philanthropy of Chris and Rob Ammons. Chris and Rob take an active interest in our organization, and have provided major gifts for the last two years. These generous donations have allowed us to continue to provide services to those kids who are so in need of a helping hand.

   
             
   
In addition, they have also sponsored full, four year scholarships to four Aspiring Youth alumni, giving these youth an incredible gift: the chance to break away from their multi-generational cycle of poverty and work toward a brighter future. On behalf of all those students and the staff of Aspiring Youth, our sincerest thanks to the Ammons.
   
             
   
             
   
Aspiring Youth "Map to Success" Winners
   
             
     
This January and February Aspiring Youth students from Marshall Middle School participated in our annual "Map to Success" Poster Contest. Students are asked to visualize what they think "success" looks like and how to get to that concept of success. After the students decide on an idea, they then transfer that idea to poster board. Winners of the "Map to Success" Poster Contest receive ribbons and trophies.
   
             
   

   Winners were:   1st PLACE – Alicia Montalvo,   2nd – Chris Lopez,    3rd – Melinda Kline

    
             
 
 
             
   

Have Your Car Washed by Aspiring Youth Students

   
             
     

This Saturday on February 16 th, Aspiring Youth students will be hosting a Car Wash between 10 AM and 2 PM at Burger King (713-695-2741) on 4639 Irvington Blvd, Houston. The students and their chaperons expect to have a wonderful time and would love to see you there!

   
             
   
This event is held to raise money for a trip to Disney World; and the best National Junior Honor Society students from Marshall Middle School, who participate in our Aspiring Youth After-School program, will win a trip to Disney World at the end of the school year.
   
             
   
             
   

Staff Update – Richard Scott Bays Joins Aspiring Youth

   
             
     
Aspiring Youth is very lucky to have Scott Bays join us; and each day after his own school, Scott goes to our Marshall Middle School After-School Program to help the kids with their projects and to supervise with sports such as soccer and kickball. Scott says that he likes “helping kids stay out of trouble and stay focused on school”, and that the job “helps me learn how to cooperate with kids.”
    
             
   
Scott is a junior at Memorial High School where his favorite subject is English, his favorite food is pizza, and his favorite drink is Gatorade. He plans to attend LSU, Louisiana State University, after graduating from high school.
   
             
   
             
   
Aspiring Youth of Houston’s Donors’ Thank You Corner
   
             
     
Aspiring Youth of Houston would like to thank our many donors in 2007 for giving to our organization for the present so that we may prepare our youth for the future. We believe that a helping hand at the right time can make a lifetime of difference, and It is our many donors that make the Aspiring Youth After-School Program possible.
   
             
   

We thank Abrams Scott & Bickley, Arthur Baird, Baker & Hostetler, Bernard Weingarten, Brenda Peters, Brett Hamilton, Bruce Hurley, Charles E. Bacarisse, City of Houston, CRC Foundation, Cyndi Frederick, Dannenbaum Engineering, David & Karen Cecil, David & Tracy Wegner, David and Annette Tripp, David K. Oelfke, David Nelson, Debra Ibarra Mayfield, Desmond Carter, DMJM Aviation, Donald & Lois Terry, Doug & Puddie Pitcock, Doug Dawson, Elly Terpening, Fred & Kellye Williams, George Mitchell, Gloria Sanderson, Greenberg Traurig, Gulf States Toyota, Gus Blackshear, Harris County Sports Authority, Houston Certified Public Accountants’ Helping Schools, Hughes, Watters & Askanase, James Meredith, James Robertson, Jane B. Owen, Jazreel Lee & Dominic Yap, Jeff Love, Jefferson T. Frazier, Joe & Nina Brown, John Mouer, John P. McGovern Foundation, John T. Shelton, Jonathan Lack, Judge Caroline Baker, Judge Joseph 'Tad' Halbach, Julie Baumgarten, Karen Davis, Katherine Lyons, Kelly-Ann Clarke, Kenneth Simon, Larry Harris, LegalPartners L.P., Lenoir M Seelhorst, Lisa Massey and Donna Tomlinson of Houston Young Lawyers Association, Locke, Liddell & Sapp, Margot Cater, Marilyn M. Biles, Mark & Janice Singleton, Mark Woolfolk, Mary Luck, McConnell Jones Lanier & Murphy LLP, Michael Donaldson, Michael Wilson, Mike & Carolyn Mann, Missouri City Chapter of The Links, Morgow Barsi, Port of Houston Authority, Power & Frost, Raymond McCall, Regina Rogers, Rick & Jan Bays, Robbie & Gary Raker, Robert B. Hurley, Ron Denis, Roy Huffington, Safeway Incorporated, Sharon Murphy, Shell Oil Company, Shirley and John Meredith, Silver Eagle Distributors, Sofia Adrogue, PC, Spindletop Charities, Strake Foundation, Susan & Larry Kellner, Susan Pennebaker, Suzanne Kupiec, The Ammons Law Firm, LLP, The Children's Fund, The Henley Foundation, The Powell Foundation, The Shelton Foundation, The Texas Financial Group LP, The Williams Companies, Thomas Pradel, Union Pacific Foundation, W.P. Zivley, Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber, William & Stephanie Smith, Williams, Kherkher, Hart & Boundas, LLP, World Oilman's Tennis Tournament, Yetter & Warden, LLP, Zarine Boyce, Zinn Petroleum Co.

   
             
   
             
   
www.aspiringyouth.org
    
             
   
See our previous e-newsletters
   
             
   

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.

   
              
   
   
   


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