Help Teens Escape Poverty & Become Professionals

For the past ten years Step It Up, Inc. has worked to enrich the lives of youth in the Portland Metro area. It started with a vision and a passion to make a difference and fill a need missing for youth in our community. Former Executive Director and founder Linda McNeill responded to the need to prepare youth for the workforce and provide them internship opportunities and worked tirelessly to fulfill these needs. In large part the efforts of Linda and Step It Up were a great success as the lives of numerous youth have been touched and transformed.

Students searching for support in their desire to do more with their lives than they thought possible came to Step It Up and got assistance to  help them get jobs and enroll in college. We have seen first in their family high school graduates, first in their family college attendees, and new dreams and passions arise in the students we have worked with. A current student stated recently that “for the first time I am thinking about life after high school” – her first step to success. The outcomes of our youth are impressive:

•    100% graduate high school
•     100% attend college
•     35% are hired by their internship site

The needs of our youth have not changed much over the last ten years; students still do not receive all the training and encouragement they need from our schools or even at home. We can’t expect them to either. Students need to find encouragement from a diverse variety of sources; sources as diverse and unique as they are themselves. It has always been SIU’s desire to match this need.

This is why it is with great sadness that we must announce the closure of Step It Up, Inc. For a variety of reasons, funding being the most predominant, we are not able to continue with our mission. While it is the end of the road for SIU it is just the beginning for those whose lives have been touched by the generous work of our staff and volunteers. As we close this door we are confident that many doors will open for all of you.

Thank you for playing such a significant part of our journey. Without your generous support, Step It Up could not have made the positive impact in the lives of our youth for which we are proud.

Sincerely,
SIU’s Board of Directors
Dean Fortin
Carol Tatch
Marilyn Crilley
Justin Dernison

With the start of our after school program this month, we are again gearing up to help teens succeed. Raven, a new teen this year, had this to say about the opportunity:

“Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity by accepting me into the program. All that I hear about it from friends in it say that it is absolutely great and I'm really excited to be a part of it all. I sincerely hope that I will be able to achieve all that Step It Up has to offer. Again, I thank you so much for giving me the chance to join.”

Youth will begin working on workplace skills, exploration, and hands on experiences as they learn their talents, gain confidence, and work to achieve their goals. And our youth succeed: 100% graduate high school, 100% attend college, and 35% are hired by their internship site!

You have provided this opportunity for Raven and you can help provide opportunities for more youth by partnering with Step It Up for Global Giving's Bonus Day! On October 17th, Global Giving is hosting the last Bonus Day of the year, where your donations are matched 30% to "help teens escape poverty and become professionals" in 2012. With your matched donation, you are helping teens like Raven gain access to the resources and support they need to transform their futures!

Global Giving's Bonus Day begins at 12:01 a.m. EST on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 (9:01 p.m. PST on Tuesday, October 16, 2012) with donations receiving a 30% match. Matching funds go quickly though, so be sure to give early to help support teens like Raven achieve their goals!

Simply click on the link below to go to SIU's "Help Teens Escape Poverty and Become Professionals" project page on Global Giving and choose your donation amount:

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/help-teens-escape-poverty-and-become-professionals/

Our teens thank you for joining in this special fundraising day for SIU programs and thank you for your support!