CYC ❤️ our mentors! Thank you for all that you do!
CYC hits a home run with Reds Day
Mentor Tamara Casey and mentee Zyair
Zyair experiences her first Reds game with her mentor Tamara Casey.
(Photo/Stephanie L. Smith)
Over 130 CYC staffers, mentors, and mentees descended upon Great American Ball Park for CYC's Reds Day on June 5.

The event was a celebration of the support and dedication CYC mentors give to the organization and their students.
 
For Tamara Casey, a teacher at Parker Woods Montessori in Northside, mentoring is an extension of what she already does in the classroom.
 
"It's a way for me to reach out to the community and reach other children," said Casey.
 
Casey's mentee is eight-year-old Zyair - who is also one of her students.
 
"I think my favorite part is giving [kids] new experiences such as today. [Zyair] has never come to a Reds baseball game," said Casey.


Demari Anderson, Karen Muller, Demia Anderson, and Vicky Bigelow enjoy the game from a great vantage point. (Photo/Stephanie L. Smith)
Kelijahna Sanders and mentor
Kelijahna Sanders made Honor Roll all four quarters during the 2015-16 academic year. (Photo/Stephanie L. Smith)
Students celebrate great success at CYC cookout

Summer kicked off with fun and games, and marked the end of a successful school year at CYC's annual cookout at Winton Woods on June 10.
 
Students recognized for making Honor Roll during the 2015-16 academic year were...


Mentor Jodie and mentee Poetri Walker
Jodie Rosen and Poetri Walker strike a pose with a living statue. (Photo by Stephanie L. Smith)
Cincinnati Opera gives musical adventure to area youth

The Cincinnati Opera provided a fun and accessible way for area youth to experience opera with a free performance of  Die Fledermaus on June 14 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.
 
The operetta was the featured event of the opera company's 26th annual Community Dress Rehearsal.
 
Written by Johann Strauss Jr., Die Fledermaus is a comedy about a scheming Vienna doctor ringing in the New Year by playing a joke - and getting payback - on his friend.
 
CYC was well represented by the event with 40 mentors and mentees in attendance. Before the performance, the group enjoyed activities by a magician and jugglers, and had photos taken with living statues. The night ended with lots of laughter and applause.

Volunteers are the heart of CYC!
CYC loves their mentors and appreciate all that they do, but with over 100 students still waiting on a match, there is still a need for volunteers. Please consider encouraging friends and family to join you on this life changing mission by talking about your experiences as a mentor, sharing our frequently asked questions about the mentor program and our volunteer application.

Thank you for making such a difference in the lives of children. CYC would not be where we are today without you!

Save these dates!
Sept. 24:   Tailgating and College Football Game at UC

Join CYC mentors and mentees as the Bearcats take on the Miami Redhawks at Nippert Stadium.

Oct. 13:   Dream Makers Celebration || Great American Ball Park

CYC's biggest event of the year celebrates all of our Dream Makers - students, mentors, staff, and patrons - and also raises crucial funding to support CYC's vital programs. For more information, click  here.

Oct. 22:   Pathways to Power Event at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (7th - 12th grade only)

Congress threatens to cut youth mentoring grant funds

Did you know that the U.S. Congress funds a youth mentoring grant program through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Program?

In fiscal year 2016, the grant received $90 million in funds, which are used by national and state mentoring organizations to develop and grow mentoring programs serving at-risk youth.

However, while the House and Senate funding committees voted to recommend continued investment in the program, their recommendations includes a budget cut of $15 million for fiscal year 2017.

MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership wants to keep funding levels at a minimum of $90 million. You can help support quality mentoring programs - like what is offered at CYC - by emailing your representatives and asking them to support MENTOR's initiative.

Kroger Community Rewards logo
Shop with Kroger and help CYC!
 
By enrolling in Kroger Community Rewards and using your Kroger Plus Card whenever you shop, local organizations like the CYC will be financially rewarded.

For more information about Kroger Community Rewards and to enroll, click here.
Cincinnati Youth Collaborative | 513.363.5200 | www.cycyouth.org
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