Mentorship is a hugely important part of what AACY and our volunteers do for our Caregiving Youth. If you've never considered being a mentee, or even if you've thought about it before, here are some reasons why you might want to give it a try! (Click to enlarge)

We are always looking for mentors to build a special bond with our Caregiving Youth and vice versa. Please contact our Volunteer Manager Amanda Levine: amanda@aacy.org, if you or someone you know is interested in learning more about this unique and important volunteer opportunity or gaining a mentor. Thank You!

AACY would like to thank one of our sponsors, PepsiCo, for their continued partnership and help with our events. Here, Randy Robles accepts a Certificate of Appreciation from AACY by way of our Activities Manager, Gaby Alvarez. Without partners and sponsors like PepsiCo, we could do very little to serve Caregiving Youth. Thank you for your help and we look forward to working with you in the future!

AACY and the CYP would like to give a special acknowledgment and thanks to the staff at Forest Hill Community High School, specifically to my CYP contact Mrs. Vielot and principal, Mrs. Rivera. Mrs. Vielot is a new point of contact this year and has been so helpful to me and our program – from making time to meet with me, always ensuring a safe place for me to hold my groups with the youth in our care and checking to make sure the table is ready for me to do my lunch and learn sessions.

I wanted to take the time to thank them for helping with a special request earlier this month. When one of our students was awarded a certificate of courage for sharing her story with the CNN Espanol, I reached out to Mrs. Vielot asking if we could call the student down during class with the Principal present to show our appreciation. However, they went ABOVE and BEYOND which made our youth feel so special and heard. Mrs. Rivera gathered the drumline, all the assistant principals, the youth guidance counselor and the CYP contact for this incredible moment. We walked down the hallway as the drumline played and walked into her class. Mrs. Rivera shared some wonderful words and we awarded the student her certificate. It was truly a special moment and the youth was embraced with hugs from all of us and cheers from her teacher and classmates. The American Association of Caregiving Youth would like to express our most sincere gratitude for your support, teamwork and all that you do for us and the youth we serve!

On February 28, 1953, Cambridge University scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick announce that they have determined the double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule containing human genes. The molecular biologists were aided significantly by the work of another DNA researcher, Rosalind Franklin, although she is not included in the announcement, nor did she share the subsequent Nobel Prize award for it.

On the morning of February 28, they determined that the structure of DNA was a double-helix polymer, or a spiral of two DNA strands, each containing a long chain of monomer nucleotides, wound around each other. According to their findings, DNA replicated itself by separating into individual strands, each of which became the template for a new double helix. In his best-selling book, The Double Helix (1968), Watson later claimed that Crick announced the discovery by walking into the nearby Eagle Pub and blurting out that “we had found the secret of life.” The truth wasn’t that far off, as Watson and Crick had solved a fundamental mystery of science–how it was possible for genetic instructions to be held inside organisms and passed from generation to generation.

When we mail in those old and/or used ink cartridges, Planet Green donates back to AACY!

Please contact dylan@aacy.org for more information.

Did you know that Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice?

Please consider signing up for the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY), as you do your shopping, and thank you for your support! https://smile.amazon.com

A reminder: please submit your Community Service Hours for the work you do at home!

February was a month filled with fun, happiness, joy, and knowledge. The Caregiving Youth Project hosted great activities and events for all of our youth to enjoy.

We had our annual Valentine’s Day Dessert Cooking Class. The students – made from scratch – brownies and strawberries filled with cheesecake. It was amazing & delicious, and everyone enjoyed thoroughly it. Our volunteer pastry chef, Carolyn Burie, donated the ingredients, materials, time, and her kitchen to make this event possible and it was a huge success. We hope you and your families were able to participate together and create some lovely desserts.

For our monthly movie night, we saw “Encanto." The movie was streamed to the comfort of your home so you and your family could have a great time watching it together.

We ended the month with a webinar hosted by our partners at Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services. They educated us on the “Effects of Social Media on Youth”. This was a great learning experience; parents were very pleased and happy to be able to be part of it.

During the month of March, we will have our traditional “Camp Treasure”. This is an overnight camp for 6th and 7th grade students who are new to the Caregiving Youth Project. We do fun outdoors activities like kayaking, fishing, archery and much more.

Keep an eye out for more of these fun activities and when they will be happening. The invitations for upcoming events are sent via email and text so be sure to sign up when you receive that invitation, as spots are limited!

Also remember to follow us on Instagram as @caregivingyouthproject and like & share our posts.

If you believe your parent/guardian or you are not receiving these texts, email Gaby@aacy.org or call 561-362-2532 to be added to the list.

We hope to see you at our next event!

Hello Caregiving Youth,

This month was filled with love and happiness as families, friends, and significant others gathered for Valentine’s Day and the Super Bowl. However, many individuals missed those who they could not see or are no longer with them. I hope you each engaged with this time of year in the best way you could, given your individual circumstances.

As the quarter begins to wind down, I encourage each of you to think about how far you have come and to be proud of yourselves. The goal of finishing the school year strong is becoming clearer with every day that passes. However, it can be overwhelming when the end goal is still a few months away. Break this goal down into smaller timelines. Maybe focus on finishing all your homework and staying on track until the end of the month or until Spring Break rather than focusing on the summer. Plan for 10 minutes a day to focus on something that will make you smile in the meantime. Stay safe and enjoy your Spring Break as it approaches!

I wish you all the best today and every day. Happy March!

- Ms. Rachel

It's that time of year, Juniors & Seniors! For many of you, College may be just around the corner, or perhaps you just want to get a head start? For more information on college prep, trade schools, and scholarships, please visit the scholarship page on our website or talk to your Family Specialist to find out what opportunities are available to you.

For our next Caregiving Youth Connect Event and more opportunities on the horizon. We will have more updates soon.