Youth Emergency Services Increases Student Impact with Qwest Foundation Grant

GILLETTE, Wyo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Qwest Foundation today announced a grant of $8,155 to Youth Emergency Services (Y.E.S. House) to fund the organization’s “Impact Mentoring” program. Impact Mentoring matches adult mentors to students at Y.E.S. House with the goal of becoming a strong adult role model through tutoring and homework assistance.

Over the next 12 months, Y.E.S. House plans to increase its number of adult mentors by 30 percent, and the Qwest Foundation grant will help recruit and train new mentors, as well as provide support supplies to current mentors and students.

“Y.E.S. House has the potential to positively influence students and encourage at-risk children to continue to learn, even in non-traditional family situations, and Qwest is dedicated to helping support this important work,” said Qwest Wyoming President Michael Ceballos.

The Y.E.S. House Impact Mentoring program was designed based on assessments of community needs in Campbell County, and primarily targets students who are at risk for dropping out of school, involved in criminal or delinquent activities or lack strong role models. Y.E.S. House estimates that:

• 90 percent of the children in the program are either expelled or suspended from school or have dropped out
• 75 percent are one grade or more behind academically
• 53 percent have at least one parent in prison
• 76 percent come from homes where substance abuse is a problem

“The stories of students at Y.E.S. House would break your heart, but tales of their resilience and desire to grow in their education would truly inspire,” said Sherilyn England, executive director of Y.E.S. House. “That’s why we place such a high value on community support, and are grateful to the Qwest Foundation for its help in matching our students with quality, caring mentors.”

About the Qwest Foundation:

The Qwest Foundation’s core principle is that investing in education provides lasting value for the future. The Qwest Foundation awards grants to community-based programs that generate high-impact and measurable results, focusing on pre-K through grade 12 education.

About Youth Emergency Services:

Y.E.S. House is a nonprofit community-oriented youth and family organization that serves the northeast Wyoming region and provides prevention, intervention and treatment services to youth and families in the area.

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