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Press Releases:
MYCP Seeks Members
KEY WEST (443 words) -- Monroe Youth Challenge Program hopes to be a state role model for other similar grass-roots organizations to be the change in their communities. Life-changing Challenge Days, recently featured on Oprah, have been offered in Monroe County for the last seven years by funding from Monroe Youth Challenge Program (MYCP). All funds are raised through grants and personal donations. “What’s also important to matching funds is showing support in numbers of people,” said MYCP Chief Administrator Sunny Booker. MYCP has funding and now seeks new members to show support from community members.
Photo Credit: MYCP
Guardian Angel Rich Dutra-St. John using Coral Shores student Emmett Walsh of Key Largo at a recent Next Step training in Marathon to talk about how men’s hearts are conditioned through life.
As a collaboration between MYCP and the Monroe County School Districts, MYCP provides ongoing services to students in all Monroe County elementary, middle and high schools throughout the year. To date, MYCP has already serviced more than 6,000 students since Sept. 1, 2006. These students participated in one or more of the following programs: Challenge Day; school-wide assemblies; alcohol and drug reduction programs; bullying and violence prevention; hurricane preparedness and recovery; community learning-service programs; and leadership development. According to Randy Acevedo, superintendent of schools, “This partnership gives us a wealth of resources and opportunities for our students. I am committed to the school district’s mission: Student Success– Whatever It Takes. MYCP has proven that it supports our mission.”
The front page of MYCP’s web site has a link to membership with an application. “Our goal is 1,000 members by September 2007,” said Booker. So far, three people have signed up at the highest level for $250 each as Guardian Angels. “They are significant to mention because of who they are – and we’re honored to have them as true guardian angels,” Booker said. The three guardian angels are MYCP Founding Director Judy Greenman and Challenge Day Founders Rich Dutra-St. John and Yvonne St. John-Dutra, who were both featured on Oprah’s “High School Challenge” program Nov. 9.
The next level of support comes from the “Goody Two-Shoes” who each donate $100 while “Teacher’s Pets” give $50. Basic membership starts at $25 but student memberships are only $5. “Again, the purpose is not solely for fundraising, it’s to raise as much personal support from the community. Then when we present the effectiveness of our work others can easily see it is powerful to show outside foundations we have 1,000 community members who support MYCP and its mission in membership -- both in name and financial commitment,” said Booker.
Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information about membership or any other MYCP-sponsored program call MYCP Chief Administrator Sunny Booker at (305) 293-1400 ext. 53319 www.monroe.k12.fl.us/mycp.
