Youth Education Support
We say YES to education!
Youth Education Support (YES)
Provide programs and resources that engage youth, support education and foster an interest in lifelong learning.
Program Description: This program reflects the need to support youth in their academic journey. It speaks to the efforts to support students with homework, academic guidance, enrichment opportunities and nourishing meals. The YES Program is designed to provide a platform and opportunity for students to improve their performance at school.
Our Youth Education Support, has six key sub-programs:
- Treasure Our Youth Scholarship Program
- Meal Assistance Program
- Back to School Program
- Student of the month
- Turn Over Project
- College Road Trip
Treasure Our Youth
Scholarship Program
Through our Treasure Our Youth Scholarship Program, patron sponsors are able to choose from one of our donor levels which match the cost of tuition for one student per year. Sponsors will periodically receive information and photos from his/her student including academic progress evidenced by Quarterly Report Cards (QRC) and Annual Progress Reports (APR).
To do this properly, it requires real knowledge and expertise with our program directors and our academic advisors who have experience in the field of scholarship. Treasure Our Youth has developed policies and procedures necessary to fully implement our current or future scholarship fund program. At the same time, Treasure Our Youth realizes the importance of maintaining our charitable goals and objectives as well as maintaining the individual identity of our scholarship program.
Our Treasure Our Youth Scholarship Fund objectives are:
The Treasure Our Youth Scholarship Fund's first year goal is to award over $10,500 dollars in educational grants to 7 local students. In the following year, the budget is projected to increase to be able to award $12,000 in commitments to 8 students. The Treasure Our Youth Scholarship Fund will develop a reputation for creating innovative programs which address the educational needs of those youths in the local community.
The program will consist of the following areas:
Scholar Support Services
Treasure Our Youth believe that the financial commitment we make to our Scholars can be just as valuable as the programs and services we provide to them. With this in mind, Treasure Our Youth will implement a series of scholar support services designed to enhance and maximize our scholar’s high school/college experience. We provide a support system that many of our scholars are lacking at home. These support services include:
Scholarship Program
Through our Treasure Our Youth Scholarship Program, patron sponsors are able to choose from one of our donor levels which match the cost of tuition for one student per year. Sponsors will periodically receive information and photos from his/her student including academic progress evidenced by Quarterly Report Cards (QRC) and Annual Progress Reports (APR).
To do this properly, it requires real knowledge and expertise with our program directors and our academic advisors who have experience in the field of scholarship. Treasure Our Youth has developed policies and procedures necessary to fully implement our current or future scholarship fund program. At the same time, Treasure Our Youth realizes the importance of maintaining our charitable goals and objectives as well as maintaining the individual identity of our scholarship program.
Our Treasure Our Youth Scholarship Fund objectives are:
- to provide financial help to 7 youths, aged 12-20, who live in the local community, to access and succeed in higher education
- to provide continuing support for those who benefit from the scholarship fund
- to work in partnership and other stakeholders, including former beneficiaries, to achieve these objectives
- to empower youths to maintain a high level of excellence in the classroom
The Treasure Our Youth Scholarship Fund's first year goal is to award over $10,500 dollars in educational grants to 7 local students. In the following year, the budget is projected to increase to be able to award $12,000 in commitments to 8 students. The Treasure Our Youth Scholarship Fund will develop a reputation for creating innovative programs which address the educational needs of those youths in the local community.
The program will consist of the following areas:
- Program Creation – Treasure Our Youth establish programs that reflect our philanthropic goals and objectives. Our teams focus on local academic institutions and are fully aware of target populations and types of students that meet our specifications for giving.
- Promotion and Publicity – We distribute our scholarship applications to our target markets and create awareness of our scholarship program in a variety of media, including our website and social media. We will also work closely with the local school principal to ensure that qualified candidates are aware of our scholarship opportunity.
- Selecting Recipients – Our experienced program committee will review all applications with great care, and interview only the most qualified candidates. We ensure that all of our criteria are met, and that the most qualified applicant is the recipient of our scholarship.
- Disbursement of Funds – The scholarship seamlessly executes the transfer of funds to our recipients’ educational institution. We also manage the ongoing paperwork that confirms a student’s eligibility for scholarship funds.
- Our Annual Awards Reception – generates additional publicity and good will for our program by allowing us the opportunity to present our scholar with a medal and scholarship certificate in front of an audience of community supporters at the end of each school year.
Scholar Support Services
Treasure Our Youth believe that the financial commitment we make to our Scholars can be just as valuable as the programs and services we provide to them. With this in mind, Treasure Our Youth will implement a series of scholar support services designed to enhance and maximize our scholar’s high school/college experience. We provide a support system that many of our scholars are lacking at home. These support services include:
- High school/College Care Packages – Students with little or no support at home, high school/college can be a difficult and daunting journey especially in times of stress such as during midterm and final exams. These gift bags contain valuable products they can use during their high school/college career. These are quality products which are either donated to or purchased by The Treasure Our Youth Scholarship Fund.
- High school/College Makeovers – Treasure Our Youth will seek out the local beauty salon/barber shop, where Scholars have the opportunity to get haircuts, hair coloring, pedicures and manicures, new school clothes during the summer prior to their first semester in high school/college.
- School Physicals – Through a partnership with a local Hospital/Clinic, our Scholar will have the opportunity to have their physicals performed by a physician. In addition, they may receive any needed vaccinations or inoculations such as meningitis and tetanus.
- Treasure Our Youth Emergency Fund – The objective of the Treasure Our Youth Scholarship Emergency Fund is to provide a resource for our Scholars, whereby they can apply for additional financial assistance which will help them manage unexpected hardships and challenges such as sudden medical or travel expenses.
Meal Assistance Program (MAP)
Treasure Our Youth (TOY) knows that childhood hunger is a solvable problem and we recognize that a hungry child cannot not learn sufficiently. That’s why we are working to help end childhood hunger in local schools by surrounding kids with nutritious meals. TOY has created the Meal Assistance Program (MAP) to protect our kids from hunger in and out of school. These programs will also have long-lasting effects on academic achievement and health.
TOY Meal Assistance Program (MAP) is a year-round program that provides a nutritious morning and mid-day meal each school day to 30 deserving children who are not part of any meal program in the local community. School breakfast is a critical support for struggling families with limited resources and provides children a significant portion of the nutrition they need to learn and be healthy.
Summer Meal Program (SMP)
When school lets out, hundreds of the local community low-income children lose access to the school breakfasts and lunches they receive during the regular school year. The Summer Meal Program (SMP) helps fill this gap by providing free meals and snacks to children who might otherwise go hungry. The program is administered through the organization, local school, and local church. They can also help sponsor summer meal sites, which may be located at schools, recreation centers, houses of worship, and other places where children congregate. Sponsors receive a reimbursement for each eligible meal and snack served at meal sites.
Treasure Our Youth (TOY) knows that childhood hunger is a solvable problem and we recognize that a hungry child cannot not learn sufficiently. That’s why we are working to help end childhood hunger in local schools by surrounding kids with nutritious meals. TOY has created the Meal Assistance Program (MAP) to protect our kids from hunger in and out of school. These programs will also have long-lasting effects on academic achievement and health.
TOY Meal Assistance Program (MAP) is a year-round program that provides a nutritious morning and mid-day meal each school day to 30 deserving children who are not part of any meal program in the local community. School breakfast is a critical support for struggling families with limited resources and provides children a significant portion of the nutrition they need to learn and be healthy.
Summer Meal Program (SMP)
When school lets out, hundreds of the local community low-income children lose access to the school breakfasts and lunches they receive during the regular school year. The Summer Meal Program (SMP) helps fill this gap by providing free meals and snacks to children who might otherwise go hungry. The program is administered through the organization, local school, and local church. They can also help sponsor summer meal sites, which may be located at schools, recreation centers, houses of worship, and other places where children congregate. Sponsors receive a reimbursement for each eligible meal and snack served at meal sites.
Back-to-School Program
Treasure Our Youth Knows that many families in the local community live below the poverty line and their children arrive on the first day of school without the supplies they need to learn. Treasure Our Youth has created our Back-to-School Supplies Giveaway to deliver school supplies to students in need with the tools necessary to be successful in the classroom. Through sponsorships and donations, we can provide pre-assembled backpacks filled with school supplies during our Back-to-School Supplies Giveaway event each year.
Providing school supplies to children in need is one of TOY’s most important programs, because being successful in school starts with having the right supplies! Through our Back-to-School Program, each student will receives a new backpack filled with standard grade-specific school supplies. Every year, we distribute over 300 backpacks stuffed with everything a child needs to start the school year off right! The average cost of basic elementary school supplies for one student is $20 US ($3,095.06 JMD). The average cost of basic middle school and high school supplies is $40 US (or $10,832.71 JMD) per student.
Our program will:
Our standard middle and high school backpacks include:
Funding
The funding for our Back-to-School Supplies Giveaway varies by grade level. $20 per backpack covers the elementary level backpack and school supplies, packing materials and shipping (from U.S to JA). $40 per middle to high school backpack covers the backpack and supplies as well as packing materials and shipping. Donations are tax deductible as we are a 501-C3 non-profit organization.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Back-to-School Supplies Giveaway Event
This fun and memorable team building experience is a tangible way to connect our contributors to giving back locally. Our Giveaway Event is a great way to engage local youths. It provides a hands-on way for sponsors to connect with each other and the student recipients. We encourage sponsors to include personal notes and other age-appropriate items in the backpacks. Giveaway Events are offered annually during our Community Health Fair in the month of August.
Treasure Our Youth Knows that many families in the local community live below the poverty line and their children arrive on the first day of school without the supplies they need to learn. Treasure Our Youth has created our Back-to-School Supplies Giveaway to deliver school supplies to students in need with the tools necessary to be successful in the classroom. Through sponsorships and donations, we can provide pre-assembled backpacks filled with school supplies during our Back-to-School Supplies Giveaway event each year.
Providing school supplies to children in need is one of TOY’s most important programs, because being successful in school starts with having the right supplies! Through our Back-to-School Program, each student will receives a new backpack filled with standard grade-specific school supplies. Every year, we distribute over 300 backpacks stuffed with everything a child needs to start the school year off right! The average cost of basic elementary school supplies for one student is $20 US ($3,095.06 JMD). The average cost of basic middle school and high school supplies is $40 US (or $10,832.71 JMD) per student.
Our program will:
- Partner with various organizations and local businesses to channel participants into giving back to local students.
- Build customized online fundraising portals that is dedicated to engaging people to give back.
- 1 backpack
- 2 notebooks
- 1 folder
- 1 pack of pencils
- 1 pack of markers
- 2 pens
- 1 pack of crayons
- 1 eraser
- 1 pencil sharpener
Our standard middle and high school backpacks include:
- 1 backpack
- 3 notebooks
- 2 folders
- 4 mechanical pencils
- 2 pens
- 1 ruler
- 1 eraser
- 1 x 2-inch binder
- 2 packs of college rule paper
Funding
The funding for our Back-to-School Supplies Giveaway varies by grade level. $20 per backpack covers the elementary level backpack and school supplies, packing materials and shipping (from U.S to JA). $40 per middle to high school backpack covers the backpack and supplies as well as packing materials and shipping. Donations are tax deductible as we are a 501-C3 non-profit organization.
Sponsorship Opportunities
- Sponsors range from Individuals, small to very large companies, organizations, churches, local business and other youth serving groups. Donations cover the backpack, supplies, packing materials and shipping. Donations are tax deductible.
- Our hosted event is to fill backpacks for at least 300 students. Our minimum sponsorship level is $6,000 for 300 elementary backpacks or $6,000 for 150 middle-high school backpacks.
Back-to-School Supplies Giveaway Event
This fun and memorable team building experience is a tangible way to connect our contributors to giving back locally. Our Giveaway Event is a great way to engage local youths. It provides a hands-on way for sponsors to connect with each other and the student recipients. We encourage sponsors to include personal notes and other age-appropriate items in the backpacks. Giveaway Events are offered annually during our Community Health Fair in the month of August.
Student of the Month
The objective of the Student of the Month program is to promote success in and out of the classroom. We believe that for a student to be a well-respected citizen, they must be able to balance many different areas of life. They must exemplify outstanding characteristics both as a student and as a citizen of their community. The student must be able to handle many different aspects of student life while maintaining excellence in the classroom. This award is designed to nominate and select students who promote and take pride in the local school and in themselves.
Student of the Month Program celebrates individual achievements by sustaining a culture of learning that not only values academic success, but emphasizes positive qualities in youth such as their character, leadership, and citizenship. The Student of the Month program will elevate awareness of student contributions to their local community at large.
Criteria for nomination:
A local teacher, administrator, or guidance counselor may nominate a student for Student of the Month by filling out a form and submitting it to TOY each month. Teachers will select a ‘primary’ reason from the criteria listed below for their nomination and will also submit a written explanation supporting this reason. They will also have the opportunity to submit additional criteria to support their nomination. Each staff member can only nominate one (1) student per month, per grade level.
Criteria for nominating a student:
6th - 12th Grade
KDG - 5th Grade
The objective of the Student of the Month program is to promote success in and out of the classroom. We believe that for a student to be a well-respected citizen, they must be able to balance many different areas of life. They must exemplify outstanding characteristics both as a student and as a citizen of their community. The student must be able to handle many different aspects of student life while maintaining excellence in the classroom. This award is designed to nominate and select students who promote and take pride in the local school and in themselves.
Student of the Month Program celebrates individual achievements by sustaining a culture of learning that not only values academic success, but emphasizes positive qualities in youth such as their character, leadership, and citizenship. The Student of the Month program will elevate awareness of student contributions to their local community at large.
Criteria for nomination:
A local teacher, administrator, or guidance counselor may nominate a student for Student of the Month by filling out a form and submitting it to TOY each month. Teachers will select a ‘primary’ reason from the criteria listed below for their nomination and will also submit a written explanation supporting this reason. They will also have the opportunity to submit additional criteria to support their nomination. Each staff member can only nominate one (1) student per month, per grade level.
Criteria for nominating a student:
6th - 12th Grade
- Significant progress in the classroom
- Marked improvement in grades
- Outstanding grades
- Leadership
- Notable consideration towards others
- Outstanding attitude/disposition
- Community involvement/service
- Personal development
- Individual achievement
KDG - 5th Grade
- Displays excellent character
- Outstanding behavior
- Positive attitude towards others/learning
- Good citizenship throughout the month
- Demonstrates responsibility
- Respectful to peers/teachers
- Follows classroom/school rules and expectation
Turn Over Projects (TOP)
Turn Over Projects (TOP) is a dropout prevention program that recognizes middle and high school students who have demonstrated a marked improvement in school involvement and citizenship.
The TOP project honors a student at each grade level in the middle and high schools who have shown a dramatic achievement in at least two of the following areas:
Participants in this project may not have received positive recognition in the past. Therefore, it is TOY's goal that they be reached, motivated, and rewarded as they turn their lives around. The principals, with the input of guidance counselors and teachers will recommend a student in each grade level whose behavior and grades, attendance or citizenship have shown a marked improvement this school year (or from one year to the next).
Each Turn Over student and his or her parents/guardians are invited to the youth award celebration hosted by TOY. School principals, School Board Members, District Administrators, and members of TOY join in the celebration as each student receive a certificate. The Turn Over student's name also is engraved on a plaque proudly displayed at their school.
Turn Over Projects (TOP) is a dropout prevention program that recognizes middle and high school students who have demonstrated a marked improvement in school involvement and citizenship.
The TOP project honors a student at each grade level in the middle and high schools who have shown a dramatic achievement in at least two of the following areas:
- Attendance
- Attitude (marked by reduction in numbers of referrals)
- Grades (improvement in grades, not necessarily the highest grades)
- Citizenship (school involvement)
Participants in this project may not have received positive recognition in the past. Therefore, it is TOY's goal that they be reached, motivated, and rewarded as they turn their lives around. The principals, with the input of guidance counselors and teachers will recommend a student in each grade level whose behavior and grades, attendance or citizenship have shown a marked improvement this school year (or from one year to the next).
Each Turn Over student and his or her parents/guardians are invited to the youth award celebration hosted by TOY. School principals, School Board Members, District Administrators, and members of TOY join in the celebration as each student receive a certificate. The Turn Over student's name also is engraved on a plaque proudly displayed at their school.
College Road Trip
Preparation for college/high school is a cornerstone of TOY Education programming in order to increase college graduation rates among our community youths.
College Road Trip is not a class, but a complete package of services designed to help youths through every step of the college application process; it's a comprehensive, long-term program built on age-appropriate activities for youths ages 16-21 on their journey to college. Participation will involve college readiness, persistence-building activities and an introduction to life on campus.
Building on the academic preparation necessary for a successful transition to college, the College Road Trip also addresses the aspects of college life that are unfamiliar to many first-generation college applicants: dorm life, handling the stress of being away from home, applying for and managing financial aid and loans, and time management.
Counselors work with students one-on-one to find the right college for them, complete admissions applications, and explore financial aid and funding options. College tours and campus visits are also arranged so that students can be confident with the schools they have selected. At the end of this process, TOY will even help pay for testing and application fees!
Preparation for college/high school is a cornerstone of TOY Education programming in order to increase college graduation rates among our community youths.
College Road Trip is not a class, but a complete package of services designed to help youths through every step of the college application process; it's a comprehensive, long-term program built on age-appropriate activities for youths ages 16-21 on their journey to college. Participation will involve college readiness, persistence-building activities and an introduction to life on campus.
Building on the academic preparation necessary for a successful transition to college, the College Road Trip also addresses the aspects of college life that are unfamiliar to many first-generation college applicants: dorm life, handling the stress of being away from home, applying for and managing financial aid and loans, and time management.
Counselors work with students one-on-one to find the right college for them, complete admissions applications, and explore financial aid and funding options. College tours and campus visits are also arranged so that students can be confident with the schools they have selected. At the end of this process, TOY will even help pay for testing and application fees!