Dear Friends,
This is the first newsletter of a new chapter in our history. I'd like to introduce myself as the new President of the Spirit of Youth, the baton having been handed to me by our last President, Gary Dartnall OBE, in January 2010. We have a new Advisory Board which is bringing fresh ideas, energy and commitment to our mission. The new group is working alongside our two existing Board Members, Michael Laine, Treasurer and Herb Chase, Director at large.
Spirit of Youth was founded by my late husband, Dennis Storer OBE, who with the help of the British American Business Council LA, kindled and gave life to this idea in response to the LA riots of 1993. I want to keep alive the spirit that moved Dennis and his colleagues to create this Foundation. We are pleased to be able to continue their work in honor of their dedication to the young people of Los Angeles and Great Britain.
Spirit of Youth is a grass roots charitable organization that is trying to make life better for underprivileged youths. Each year a dozen teens are chosen to participate in this program. They are exceptional students who demonstrate leadership qualities, ability to adapt and succeed, and have intellectual curiosity. The students undergo a rigorous and multi-layered selection process demonstrating their unique qualifications. They are rewarded by flying to Great Britain (typically it is their first time in a plane) and spending two weeks immersed in cultural as well as fun activities. Prior to their sojourn, the students are required to attend orientation sessions that acquaint them with some British history and geography, landmarks and attractions. They are also reminded of some of our history and how our government functions.
Won’t you help us give these teens a life-changing experience? There are many youngsters in our area whose lives could be drastically altered by this kind of experience, but we are limited by our resources. To provide the necessary funds, we depend on donations from the community plus an annual fundraiser which we hope to have later this year. We ask you to help us by sharing your talents and investing your time. We will need auction and raffle items as well as sponsorships for food and beverages. Our next newsletter will inform you of the venue and date of this exciting event.
We are working very hard to produce a program for the next group of young people to visit the UK in 2012, called "LA 2 GB". Won’t you help us make a difference in the lives of these disadvantaged youths?
We provide you with an easy way to donate to our fund via PayPal, by simply clicking on the button on the sidebar. We are also using social networking with Facebook and Twitter, to reach out online and spread the word.
Thanks for taking your time to learn more about us.
Warm regards,
Dorothy Doyle-Storer
President, Spirit of Youth Foundation
