CrossingsSpring 2013

With the help of local business, Youth Bridge is hosting its First Annual Bike Poker Run, Saturday, May 18, 2013. The theme for the event is: “Biking for Brighter Futures” which is a take-off on the agency’s theme of Building Brighter Futures.

Macadoodles in Springdale is the Presenting Sponsor with Signature Bank, Cox and 104.9 The X also providing in-kind sponsorship. Several local bike and sporting shops also have donated door prizes and other items for raffles.

The Poker Run will begin and end at Macadoodles in Springdale and will have card draw stops at Pig Trail in Rogers, Pig Trail in Eureka Springs and at Anderson’s in Hindsville. For more information, call Phil Bode at 479-899-7856.

Youth Bridge Hosts Poker Run to Raise Money for Shelter Boys and Girls Summer Programs

Youth Bridge is hosting its 6th Annual Starry, Starry Night ...Almost Van Gogh Art Challenge and Auction, Saturday, June 1, 2013, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the home of Denise and Hershey Garner, 3390 East Mission Blvd., Fayetteville. This is the 5th year Denise and Hershey have graciously hosted our annual art event. This year is even more special since it is part of Youth Bridge's 50th Anniver-sary activities for 2013. Tickets are $45 in advance and $60 at the door. Starry, Starry Night Almost Van Gogh is one of Youth Bridge’s signature events held each year to highlight the importance of Art Therapy as a key psychotherapy service that provides an emotional and creative outlet for many of Youth Bridge’s clients. Art Therapy can reduce stress, help build social skills and solve behavioral management issues.

Each year, celebrity artists are nominated to take the challenge and entries for amateur, youth, team and profes-sional divisions are solicited. Art is judged by a panel of judges and awards are given. Judging categories will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd place; a People’s Choice Award from the overall entries; and an overall “Most Creative Use of Materials”, “Best Use of Theme”, and “Craziest Entry”. Awards will be a combination of cash prizes, trophies, ribbons and gift cards among the four categories. This year’s celebrity artists include: Peter Lane, Walton Arts Center; Shawn Baldwin, EVP Sam's Club; Gary Head, President Signature Bank; Dr. Joel and Lynn Carver; Kay Pamer, CIO JB Hunt; Jeff Jeffus, Publisher Northwest Media; and Greg Mack, Matt Miller, Linda Sheets, and Christina Mariotti who are all local professional artists.

All art pieces will be auctioned off during the silent auction, which is a favorite of many who attend. New this year will be a live auction for selected artwork. The event includes adult beverages and heavy hors d’oeuvres, live music, a signature wine pull and special raffle items.

Youth Bridge is still seeking artists who would like to enter the Corporate Team and Youth divisions. We also need volunteers to help with the event. To volunteer go to (http://www.volunteersignup.org/EBP7D). Check out our web site under Starry, Starry Night for more information.

2013 Starry, Starry Night…almost Van Gogh Set for Saturday, June 1

Changing the lives of our youth by providing preventative services,counseling, and shelter that strengthen families and builds stronger communities.

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Youth Bridge celebrated National Safe Place Week, March 17-23, 2013, with a variety of informational and entertaining activities to help area children and teens find and recognize Safe Place locations. Youth Bridge is the administrator of the National Safe Place Program in Northwest Arkansas.

As part of its informational program, Youth Bridge hosted presentations to the Boys and Girls Clubs in Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers and Bella Vista. In addition, Youth Bridge shared Safe Place informational and promotional materials at the Jones Center and school districts.

Kids experience many difficult situations — problems at home, issues at school, trouble with peers, being locked out of the house, riding with an unsafe driver or being in a dangerous situation on a date. They also leave home to escape abuse or neglect, drug or alcohol abuse by family members or because they’re told to leave.

Sometimes, youth feel that they don’t belong and leaving home is often not a choice they want to make. Yet, national agencies estimate that between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away from home each year. Our Northwest Arkansas Safe Place Shelters need your help. We need money to expand the program to reach more youth and in-kind donations of new clothing, shoes, towels, twin sheets and other household items. Youth Bridge also is working to expand the number of Safe Place locations in Benton County and has recently signed up the Bentonville Police Department as the newest Safe Place partner. These expansion efforts are due to funding by the McKinney Foundation.

For additional information, visit www.nationalsafeplace.org or go to www.youthbridge.com.

Some 500 Northwest Area Boys and Girls Learn About Safe Place

Walmart and Sam’s Club Employees Volunteer at SheltersYouth Bridge’s 2013 volunteer program is already off to a great start with the help of local Walmart and Sam’s Club employees who volunteered to help at our Centerton Shelter as part of the Live United Volunteer Day and by donating Easter items for the boys and girls.

Youth Bridge attended two Walmart sponsored informational fairs in February and March where non-profits from around the area set up booths and shared information about their agencies. These Walmart Associates represent their work group and take back information to help decide

In February, Youth Bridge re-intro-duced its Peace-Out Texting Campaign aimed at college students and young adults. Last year 3092 youth were reached by Youth Bridge to help them with building a brighter future.

Donations help feed, clothe and provide outings, academic support, counseling and a safe shelter for area youth.

Donating by text is fast and easy: Text “Youth” to 20222, confirm your donation, and your donation will appear as a $10 tax-deductible amount on your phone bill. Data and other messaging rates may apply.

Youth Bridge Continues Peace-Out Texting Campaign Throughout 2013

what non-profits and activities they will sponsor in 2013. The fairs are also a great place to recruit volunteers. Volunteers are important to Youth Bridge because they take on work that otherwise might never be done, as well as provide in-kind donations and cash contributions as part of their corporate giving programs. Volunteers also help reduce operating costs by freeing up Youth Bridge employees to focus on those assignments where they can provide the best value to our clients.

In 2012, some 567 volunteers donated over $61,859 in value added services to Youth Bridge. The dollar amount is based on 2,794 volunteer hours at the new national average rate of $22.14 an hour. To volunteer, call Marti Nicholson at 479-575-9471.

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Coca-Cola Pack the Stadium for Kids Walk & Abbot Nutrition RazorFest, Saturday, April 20, 2013

Poker Run, May 18, 2013

Starry, Starry Night...Almost Van Gogh, Sat., June 1, 2013

Youth Bridge Month, August 2013

Cupcake Challenge, September 15, 2013

Breakfast Boogie, October 5, 2013

It's A Wonderful Life Gala, November 8, 2013

Holiday Giving at the Shelters, December 2013

Mark your Calendar

05Celebrating

years

to attend these Youth Bridge events and help us continue our mission to serve the youth and families of Northwest Arkansas. Youth Bridge Initiates Successful 2013

Spring Challenge Program

Youth Bridge Staff and Facebook Friends Donate Over $1,000 for Local Family

Many of Youth Bridge’s counseling and professional therapy programs are centered on public school calendars and activities in order to take maximum advantage of the availability of at-risk clients. One of our greatest challeng-es has been in finding creative ways to continue the much needed counseling and therapy during school holidays and breaks.

It is documented that at-risk youth tend to get into trouble when left unsupervised or alone during these scheduled school holidays or breaks. Special holiday challenge programs are a way to ensure clients continue to receive the professional help they need and also to help keep them supervised and active during these school breaks.

Spring, summer and holiday breaks are the times when Youth Bridge and other local mental health organizations offer alternative supervised professional counseling programs to at-risk youth. Many of these youth are already participating in active counseling and therapy programs. However, some of the clients who attend our school break programs are there because of special juvenile court orders or other professional referrals.

Youth Bridge recently completed its 2013 Spring Chal-lenge Program and helped more than 25 clients continue to work on their behavioral and other problematic issues.

Cox Awards Youth Bridge $25,000 Media Grant for 2013

Cox has awarded Youth Bridge a media grant valued at $25,000 to help the agency publicly promote its mission, services and fundraising events in 2013.

The value of the grant can be used to purchase in-kind production time and television advertising on the local Cox media network. Reaching the public and sharing information on Youth Bridge is a great way to get more people involved in donations and volunteering their time.

The call went out for help and Youth Bridge staff and Facebook friends were there. In less than 48 hours, Youth Bridge was able to collect and give a struggling family over $1,000 to prevent them from being evicted from their home. A 16 year old boy from the family is a current Youth Bridge client. He has four younger siblings: a14 year old, twin 12 year olds with disabilities and a 10 year old. The mother and father are working odd jobs and late hours to make ends meet and are desperate to keep their family together. The alternative was to split up the family and send them to different area shelters. There are a lot of ways to help people in need. But the act of kindness and caring exhibited by our staff and friends is what makes Youth Bridge the special place it is.

Sneak Peek( (

Sunday, September 15, 2013Sam’s Club Headquarters in Bentonville

Watch for other Activities in July and August

Administrative Building2153 E. Joyce Blvd. Ste. 201Fayetteville, AR 72703

Phone: 479.575.9471Toll Free: 1.800.628.2260Fax: 479.587.9392E-mail: development@youthbridge.comwww.youthbridge.com

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