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Letter from the President/CEO
Building Bridges
The lives of children are improving through our community’s
investment in The Bridge. As we see our young people transitioning from
school to college, the workplace or serving in the military as adults,
we know the years of investment were a success. However, the need is
ongoing and even increasing as we see the pain and difficulties of many
children and teens who have not found their way to The Bridge.
We want to share some of our milestones with you.
•The
Bridgeworks Program increased our job training and job experience
component to over 100 youth.
•The
Bridge was one of 60 recipients in the United States of the Bank of
America Community Builder Award for its high performance in
strengthening the lives of children and youth in impoverished
neighborhoods
•Young people
enrolled in our six Bridge After school Programs increased their
attendance and achievement in school;
•In
September, two of our teens, a staff member and I traveled with Delores
Barr Weaver to Washington DC for the 10th Anniversary celebration of
the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Hillary Clinton was
among the honorees and the event’s special guest was Alexis
Bledel, star of televisions Gilmore Girls.
•Over 500
children participated in four summer camps.
•100
youth were employed through the Bridge Camps, Bridge Works, and our
partnership with Baptist, St. Vincent’s and Shands.
•A partnership
with UCOM extended our teen services to the Pine Forest area;
•Twelve
scholarships were awarded to Bridge graduates through the Bridge
Scholarship Fund including two $3000 scholarships.
We
are especially grateful for our partners and supporters in the
community. Thank you for believing that this long term, comprehensive
investment in children is a “bridge to the future.”
Sincerely,
Dr. Davy Parrish
President/CEO |
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