This month, I will celebrate my 24-year anniversary with YESS. Or, as we say here “YESS-iversary.”
Looking back since my arrival in 1994, there are so many things for all of us to be proud of — the addition of supportive services beyond basic shelter, the relocation to The Steven N. Blank Variety Club Youth Center (1996), the addition of The Blumenthal Crisis Nursery (1999), the growth of the YESS Duck Derby as our signature fundraising event, achievement of national accreditation in 2010, recognition as a Better Business Bureau “Business of Integrity” award winner in 2011, and, of course, the significant shelter expansion, which we completed in 2015. That is a lot of growth and development in a relatively short period of time!
YESS is truly a leader in child welfare emergency services and we serve as a vital safety net in our community’s response to the needs of children. Our team, our facilities, our programs, our donors all reflect that position – every single day in everything we do.
And this position — this purpose — has never wavered. Today, we're providing a record number of shelter nights of care and counseling services. Through our work, YESS protects the children who need us, when they need us while empowering the families we work with.
Our focus and vision remain in caring for and holding onto the trust of kids, families, donors and our community. We honor the work of leaders who have built the foundation of YESS as we move our organization into the next chapters ahead. No doubt, we are in a wonderful position and it’s absolutely because of the team here at YESS and the support we have from you that allows us to remain focused on our important work.
We can never say “thank you” enough. Not just for your ongoing support and contributions, but for the ongoing belief and knowledge that we will always be here to serve and protect kids when they need us the most.
