DECEMBER 2013

heroes everyday EMPOWERING WYOMING DADS, STRENGTHENING WYOMING FAMILIES

THE DADS MAKING A DIFFERENCE PROGRAM IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE GRADUATION OF THE 2013 CLASS IN COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVING FROM SAGE TECHNICAL SERVICES, HELD OCTOBER 6, 2013. THEIR DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SUPPORT OF BEYOND-THE-RACK IS – IN A WORD – AWESOME.

ALUMNI WHO GIVE BACK

THANK YOU Jeremy Ward, Dustin

Percy, Jason Barner and Stuart Beck for contributing to the purchase

of new Dads Making a Difference community service t-shirts so future

groups can show up sporting a professional look and pride in the

program! Your contributions continue to be above and beyond, and all the

future dads will benefit from your generosity, pay-it-forward attitude, and

sense of community.

Congratulations to the following dads for their hard work and personal sacrifices to enter, struggle through and complete an elite vocational training and life skills course. 100% of these graduates are now working in high paying jobs. Graduates included: Gabriel Jacobsen, Scott Gentry, Patrick Grossman,Travis Kaus, Jonathan Krekorian, Robert Mills, Jan Muzzy, and Anthony Nevarez. Dads Making a Difference is a vocational training and employment program for low income fathers over the age of 18, who are interested in growing as parents and as members of the Wyoming workforce. The Dads program is 50% employment readiness and 50% personal growth - including but not limited to a 100% scholarship to vocational training,

parenting classes, individual counseling, group support, healthy relationship skills, financial literacy, leadership development, goal setting, and structured contingency planning skills. Additionally, each group plans and coordinates a community activity or fundraiser for a local nonprofit agency. These dads selected Bethel Ministries, whose willingness to assist ex-offenders in reentering the community and acquiring basic modes of transportation.

Bethel Ministries helps a great number of ex-offenders feel respected, supported, and capable of providing for their families. A 50/50 raffle was held in October of 2013 to benefit Bethel Ministries and help further their great works.

CDL graduation ceremony

We are family IN THE PAST 3 YEARS 100% OF

THE DADS WHO GRADUATED, FOUND WORK

AT A HIGHER WAGE. THEY SUCCEED

BECAUSE THEY TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.

Participants assist the annual Wyoming Homeless Collaborative PIT Count On January 22, 2014 volunteers across the state will support Governor Mead’s call to assist Wyoming’s homeless population by donating their time to participate in the annual Wyoming Homeless Collaborative Continuum of Care Point-In-Time Count. The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) federal office gives each state one 24-hour period to create a “snapshot” of their homeless population, which occurs each year in the month of January. The accuracy of the count is critical to applying for and receiving enough funding to adequately serve Wyoming’s homeless population statewide. Dads Making a Difference participants will volunteer to assist in this annual PIT Count by hitting the streets to count Laramie County’s population. This will be their third year to help out with this worthwhile event. Last year, one dad said, “When I was talking to a woman outside Wal-Mart, I had a hard time hearing how difficult it is for her family to start over after losing everything. It made me want to do more.” If anyone is interested in volunteering to count the homeless on January 22nd, please contact Deanne Widauf at dwidauf@cheyennecity.org to sign up for a time.

UPCOMING EVENTS DECEMBER 2013 • Monday, December 9, 2013, 5:30-9:30 PM, at

Sage Technical Services: A NEW CDL CLASS OF SEVEN PARTICIPANTS BEGINS!

• Friday, December 13, 2013, 6-8 PM, at Element Church: Xmas Shopping Event – by Invite Only – for low income families struggling to make Christmas happen for their children.

• Saturday, December 14, 2013, 6-11 PM, at

Moose Lodge, located at 1019 S. Greeley Hwy: CHRISTMAS BINGO FUNDRAISER, benefiting Father Factor in their desire to set up an on-site computer lab for low income fathers seeking jobs and obtaining legal assistance.

• Wednesday, December 18, 2013, 6-7 PM at the

Department of Transportation Auditorium, located at 5300 Bishop Blvd.: CDL GRADUATION, open to the public. Please show your support by attending this great event! Special thanks to the DOT for providing such a wonderful location.

JANUARY 2014 • Wednesday, January 22, 2014, 5AM – 8 PM at

Cheyenne Regional Medical Center: POINT IN TIME COUNT FOR THE HOMELESS. Dads participants will volunteer to hit the streets and count our county’s homeless population for HUD funding and other grants to help the homeless.

HOW A FITNESS CHALLENGE HELPS Over the years, the Dads Making a Difference program staff has noticed how the guys who work out together tend to… Work out together. Laugh together. Share stressful moments and handle them in a healthy manner together. Share tips to improve physical (and sometimes mental) health. Each time we start a new program, a new Fitness Challenge begins with the help of the YMCA. Our local YMCA is generous enough to help low income families with short term scholarships so they can stay healthy and enjoy free family activities while working through this employment program. A huge part of the DADS program is the extended support system most dads develop. A lot of male bonding occurs at the gym, and a lot of endorphin-induced problem solving occurs between sets. Last year, one of the dads lost 50 pounds during his welding program… and kept it off. Working toward a healthier body can be a big motivator for making other healthier changes in their lives as well. Some of the dads have said: “My daily workout is what keeps me motivated. Everything I’m worried about goes away for a little while when I’m at the gym. I learn something new every week. For a guy who never used to hit the gym, I’m lucky to have the other guys showing me new ways to improve.”