|
Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services is ever transforming to meet the needs of the children we serve. Today, nearly 400 at-risk vulnerable children and their families recieve services at our 11 locations. Although most of our participants qualify for funding through the Department of Children and Family Services, Mental Health and Probation, these Federal, State and local dollars do not cover the complete cost of operating our quality programs. We must rely on the generous support of individuals donors, foundations and corporations each year to help us continue our life-transforming services.
In spite of the economic downturn, Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services has been able to continue to provide high quality programs and services. Our dedicated employees work even harder and our donors continue to increase their giving when possible. When someone asks me what services Ettie Lee provides, I explain it this way.
We work with vulnerable, at-risk youth who are not on a positive path to success. We offer an alternative. We strive to steer the youth to a more successful path. In order to do that we do not want to restore the lives of the youths we touch, because this implies that we want the youths to go back to a life that was not working. Instead we want to give the vulnerable, at-risk youth something that they have never had before - we want to transform the youth into good community members. And when this transformation, also includes the youth's family, the whole family is able to support one another in the proces and beyond.
During this past year we have seen many successes. Unfortunately, there were many who we were not able to transform. Our successes, however, have made it clear that we are on the right path to transformation and in the spirit of Miss Ettie Lee, we are committed to continuing her mission of Changing Lives, Saving Lives and Building Hope in the lives of the children and families that we serve. Sincerely, Clayton L. Downey President & CEO |