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Kids at Heart 2015
Saturday, May 30th at 6 pm
Clunie Center Grand Hall at McKinley Park
601 Alhambra Blvd. Sacramento 95816
Invitations are going out in the mail next week for Kids at Heart 2015, but you can buy your ticket's online NOW! Why wait?! Go to: Kids at Heart 2015 Online. You can buy up to two tickets at a time online and can also donate to become a Patron, Bronze, or Silver Event Sponsor. More information about event sponsorships here.
Kids at Heart is our annual fundraiser to support our work with under-resourced youth and families. It's also a great time to introduce friends and co-workers to The GreenHouse, to enjoy a nice dinner and fun auction together, and to hear stories of life transformation and community impact. Many people have told us that it's their favorite event of the year! Join us!
We are currently seeking donations for our silent and live auctions. We're also inviting local businesses, foundations, congregations, and families to come on board as event sponsors. Help support a great cause!
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Left: Jocelyn teaches GreenHouse teens about her path to college acceptance. Right: Raul, Lola, Crystal, and Brayan after a meeting with newly elected District Three Council Member Jeff Harris at City Hall. Crystal is one of our new board members, and she, Lola, and Brayan all attend local colleges. Raul is a Junior at Grant High and a new member of our Leaders in Training team.
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We've begun focusing more intensively on college awareness and college readiness for our elementary students and teens. While we recognize that college is not for every student, numerous barriers exist for those low-income students who desire to attend college, yet who are the first in their families to seek that path.
Our staff and a board member recently met with a representative from College Track for insights into how to improve the college "pathway" for GreenHouse students. We've also been reading eye-opening articles about how critical a 4-year college degree is in today's economy. Most parents from this neighborhood would like to see their children go to college, but that pathway is often unknown and feels daunting.
College Awareness: We held a series of interactive workshops for our elementary students to familiarize them with the various colleges and universities in California. Staff and volunteers used interactive crafts to help them imagine holding a college diploma and cap and gown, and inviting them think about their interests as it relates to future careers. Our many UC Davis and CSU Sacramento volunteer tutors talk regularly with our kids about their positive college experiences. We hope to hold workshops for parents this summer about how to support their students in their college path.
College Prep: Our teens toured UC Davis in February and will tour Sac State on Monday, guided by Professor Diane Lee of the Child Development department. Highlihgt so far have been the pizza, free ice cream, and the idea that you can live with your friends in the dorms! "Super Volunteer" Christine Gruhn (Sac Waldorf School) reminded our teens in a workshop yesterday that college preparation starts as early as 9th grade and students need to be strategic about the classes they are choosing.
GreenHouse students have "caught the college vision" from staff and volunteers over our 14 year history, with 73% of our recent grads attending local community colleges or 4-year schools. We hope to increase that rate and ensure that all GreenHouse graduates have the support they need to not just start their college degree, but to follow it through to COMPLETION.
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Graduating Senior (Grant High School) and GreenHouse youth leader, Jocelyn Benitez, taught a workshop for our teens on the steps she took in applying for schools, searching for financial aid, and taking the SAT and ACT. Jocelyn was recently accepted to Sac State and CSU East Bay, and is waiting to hear from several UC schools.
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