Launching Our Youth

This year, Colorado Youth at Risk (CYAR) traded coffee and croissants for breakfast to host a corporate leaders luncheon. The transition to noon was well received, as evident by the happy noise level of people catching up before lunch and then reverently listening to the poignant messages after the meal.

“This is a fun-raiser,” shared former CYAR Executive Director Hollen Ferrendelli about the gathering, which drew 250 people to the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Downtown Denver. Along with a celebration of key partners the event was a call for contributions. Enticing silent auction items made giving that much easier. Guests pondered signing up for an autographed Elway football, one among many intriguing options to bid on.

“We teach that resiliency is about recognizing challenges. It’s now our turn,” shared CYAR Board Chair Dr. Vance Bray as he talked honestly about the organization’s financial status. He emphasized CYAR current students remain its first priority.

He also acknowledged where the strength of the organization stems from: “Looking out, I am reminded of the true strength of this organization. It’s the mentors, board and staff. They are the heart of the organization.” He called upon people to give and then called up another speaker who spoke personally and poetically about CYAR.

“No one told me that this program would forever alter my life. No one told me it would be a catalyst in my life and that I would have a group that would pledge to stand by me through it all,” shared Jason St. Julien, a mentor and participant with CYAR.

St. Julien incorporated a quote by American author Anais Nin to further express his feelings: And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

“Make no mistake, CYAR broke me open in the most positive sense. I will be a life-long donor to its program and a champion of its cause. If you want your hand on the pulse of something greater than yourself, look to CYAR.”

KWGN Daybreak Anchor Tom Green, emcee for the event, commented that he’d been in broadcasting long enough to know not to follow such a moving address, so he quickly brought up the mayor. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock made a joke that his pastor just texted to tell him to invite St. Julien to stand him for him anytime.

The occasion also celebrated two entities key to CYAR’s success over the years. CYAR honored FirstBank as its Outstanding Corporate Partner and 16Ways Foundation as its Outstanding Community Partner.

Derrick Kelley, co-founder and president of 16Ways Foundation, turned and tipped his hat back at CYAR. “We have a great working relationship with them. They are a mentor for us,” said Kelley who flew in from Michigan for the event.

CYAR empowers teenage students to make life choices that positively impact their future through community-based mentoring and intensive training. CYAR aims to reduce the number of high school dropouts, match students with an adult mentor and provide students with a sense of the future and their place in that future.

For 21 years, CYAR has been successfully serving high school freshmen – an age many believe is too late to make an impact and too difficult to serve. Yet, the collection of stories, the undeniable high number of CYAR students who are graduating from high school, going on to college, and returning to contribute to their communities is as beautiful as the flowers – which were once tightly wound buds – of spring.