COMPLETING THE JOURNEY 2018

DECEMBER 2018

KEYS TO BE THE CHANGE, INC.

NEWSLETTER

www.keystobethechange.com

HELPING KIDS HELP THEMSELVES

OUR PROGRAMS

Drug/Alcohol Prevention

Anti-Bullying

Reading Literacy

Mentoring

Leadership

Wellness Promotion

BOARD O F DIRECTORS

President

Ebenson Michelin

Treasurer

Andrea Spottswood

Directors

Tara Whitehead

Elena Spottswood

Jorge Lopez

Sean Brandenburg

Bonnie Helms

CONTACT US

Executive Director

Heidi Golightly

541-974-4398

heidirgolightly@gmail.com

1208 Watson Street

Key West, FL 33040

OUR MOTTO

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."

-Fredrick Douglass

OUR MISSION

To provide programs, education, awareness and opportunities that

empower children, youth and adults to improve health, wellness, and skills for success in school and in life.

OUR VISION

A community where youth f

eel loved, respected and appreciated so they refrain from drugs, alcohol and violence and ultimately lead a healthy lifestyle.

A VERY SPECIAL

THANK YOU

TO OUR

PARTNERS IN PARADISE:

Monroe County

School Board

Key West High School

Coral Shores High School

Poinciana Elementary School

Poinciana Elementary Parent Teacher Organization

Gerald Adams Elementary School

HOB Middle/Elementary School

May Sands Montessori School

Montessori Childrens School of Key West

Sigsbee School

Sugarloaf School

Stanley Switlik School

Key Largo School

Keys Open Doors Foundation

City of Key West

Pat & Diane Croce

Wells Fargo

Historic Tours

America

Key West Police Department

Monroe County Human Services Advisory Board

Monroe County Coalition

Monroe County Sheriff's Office

State Representative Holly Raschein

United States

Coast Guard

Florida National Guard

Marriott Key West Beachside Hotel

Strunk Ace Hardware

Southernmost Coconut Castaways

Danger Charters

Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

Blue Heaven Restaurant

Outback Steakhouse

Banana Café

Fury Water Adventures

Tropic Cinema

Better than Sex Desserts

Blue Planet Eco Tours

First State Bank

Sunshine Scooters

La Grinote French Bakery

Key West Wellness Center

Amri Day Spa

Blue Macaw Restaurant

Key West Chevron

Paradise Tennis

Comedy Key West

Bottle Cap

Key West Yoga Sanctuary

Anahara Spa

Green Pineapple Wellness Center

VFW

Keys to Be the Change, Inc. is a 501(c)3

non-profit charitable organization.

Dear Friends:

Every year around this time, I reflect on the positive effects Keys to Be the Change has had on thousands of children, youth and adults in our community.

I am humbled that you have placed your trust in me to carry out the important mission of providing programs that build self-confidence and self-esteem while encouraging healthier lifestyles including refraining from alcohol, drugs and violence and bullying.

The MORE Literacy Program with Director

Carrie Helliesen along with many community volunteers
is improving the reading skills of our most reluctant readers every day in Monroe County. It is too early to give results but the enthusiasm is there!

The Farm to School Program is thriving county wide growing fish and plants with Aquaponics systems. Debbi Clem,our Director has fun every day teaching kids how to grow their own food and the importance of maintaining a healthy diet in both Tower Gardens and raised bed organic gardens.

FOOD FOR ALL! Jody Smith Williams has committed to creating a community garden in partnership with the

Florida Keys Outreach Coalition.

The

Kids Win Mentoring Program

thanks our amazing mentors from the Key West Police Department, the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Children and Families for
volunteering to meet weekly with at-risk youth and to be that positive role model in their lives. We are proud to say that our success rate for increasing grades and reducing truancy among at-risk youth in our community is 78%!

We cannot forget our Y

outh Leaders at both the high school and middle school levels. They are promoting positive peer-to-peer messages monthly, campus wide, to help reduce alcohol and drug use as well as violence and bullying in their schools. The Youth Leaders are also reading with "littles" three days a week to help make reading fun for those reluctant readers in our elementary schools.