Kendrick Foundation Awards $15,160 to Youth First, Inc. to Support Morgan County Students
The Kendrick Foundation has awarded a $15,160 grant to Youth First, Inc. to strengthen the social and emotional well-being of students in Mooresville and Martinsville schools. This investment will help Youth First expand its highly impactful model of prevention to reach more youth and families in Morgan County.
In partnership with school districts, Youth First embeds Master’s level social workers to become specialized mentors for students and prevention coaches for parents and teachers. Youth First Social Workers build caring relationships, foster readiness for positive change, and boost resiliency along with other valuable life skills. Research shows these are the keys to preventing addiction, suicide, violence, school dropouts and more.
Kendrick Foundation President Greg McKelfresh sums up the Foundation’s motivation for supporting Youth First: “Children in Morgan County are our greatest asset in building a brighter future for this community. However, so many of them are struggling due to circumstances out of their control, whether it’s poverty, homelessness, addictions, mental illness, etc. We need solutions to help them and their families break these destructive cycles. We’re excited to partner with Youth First as they provide additional people and resources to tackle these issues head-on and build stronger, healthier and self-reliant families.”
“The Kendrick Foundation’s investment is critical to growing Youth First’s life-changing work in Morgan County. Working together, we can protect and heal the hearts of more young people and their families,” said Parri O. Black, Youth First’s President & CEO.
Youth First launches services this month at Paul Hadley Middle School in Mooresville with support from the Kendrick Foundation, Home Bank and the school district. Youth First began serving Martinsville’s Bell Academy in August with funding from the Lilly Endowment’s Comprehensive Counseling Initiative, the Governor’s Director of Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Enforcement, and the school district.
“Kendrick’s grant goes a long way toward helping match Home Bank’s $30,000 challenge gift, but we must still raise another $15,000,” said Black. “We invite all community members to support Youth First’s life-saving work.”
Gifts designated for Youth First in Morgan County may be made online at youthfirstinc.org/morgan or by mail to 111 SE Third Street, Suite 405, Evansville, IN, 47708. To learn more, contact Regional Development Officer Adam Novello at 574-286-3093 or anovello@youthfirstinc.org.
