Last week's Fabulous Friday was a great success!  In our activities area, we helped more than twenty 7th and 8th grade girls get ready for the Middle School Winter Dance.  We had 54 students sign in over the course of the evening- a new attendance record at MAYC!  We also had 8 mentors assisting- the afternoon would not have been fabulous without them!

Six volunteers survived the initial onslaught of nervous and excited junior high girls.  Before 3:15 seventeen girls had signed up to get their hair done!  Everyone pitched in valiantly; Barbara adeptly wielded the flat iron while peer mentor Seniors Sarah and Lexi drew upon show choir and past prom experience to create hundreds of gorgeous spiral curls.  Callie utilized  her irons expertly, and our one professional stylist, Beth, made girls feel gorgeous as she transformed their do's. 

_Meanwhile Senior mentor Emily painted nails, and I had a great time pretending to be a makeup artist when I wasn't being called away to deal with day to day details.  Overall, we were able to pamper more than 20 girls, helping each one feel special and look beautiful.  We had two boys ask us to flat-iron their hair as well, proving that girls are not the only ones who care about taking time to look good.

_I was so happy with the encouragement I heard each girl receiving as our mentors sincerely praised their unique qualities:  "Your complexion is so beautiful," "look at this gorgeous hair!" "you don't need to wear a lot of makeup because your eyes are so naturally stunning," etc.  What a joy to see these girls walk away with a little more self confidence and poise! 

A special shout out to mentors Liz and David who bravely held down the rest of the fort, making sandwiches, challenging others to video games and keeping an eye on computer usage and sign-in.

Friday was an inspiring, tangible example of MAYC's mission of showing God's love in practical ways through positive role models providing fun and productive activities in a safe social environment.  Thank you mentors!  Your hard work is effectively making a lasting difference in the lives of our teens!

_ Great things are happening on a daily basis at MAYC!  Over the course of the week, more than 30 trained mentors work with me to provide a positive place for 7th, 8th and 9th graders to socialize with peers and interact with our engaging volunteers!  We serve an average of 40 students each afternoon, and have seen more than 200 students at MAYC since we opened last March. We’ve heard from teachers and parents that MAYC has helped improve students’ school attendance, grades and social behavior.  We’re providing a safe place where students can be affirmed and encouraged regularly- something that this age group especially needs as they experience the precarious years of development between childhood and adulthood. 

 MAYC is in a critical phase of growth at the moment.  We’re a young organization, much like the junior high students we serve- in a precarious place of development between the initial inception of MAYC’s vision and the maturity and stability of a well-established non-profit.  As we work toward long-term sustainability we recognize the need for consistent financial support.

Currently everything we provide at MAYC is free to those who attend.  We want all students to feel welcome, and we realize that charging a fee may exclude the students who would most benefit from MAYC’s positive influence.  Consequently, we are turning to those who support our mission and asking, “Would you sponsor these students to ensure their success as well as the success of Milton Area Youth Center?”

That’s what it means to become a MAYC Hero! 

Those who commit to sponsoring a student for $20, $30 or $50 each month will receive a MAYC Hero card which entitles the bearer to great discounts at Milton businesses: 10% off at Charming B’s, Culvers and Dave’s Ace Hardware; $5 off adult haircuts at the Catwalk Salon; 15% off at Milton Family Restaurant to name just a few.  These businesses and others have generously shown their support of MAYC by offering these discounts.  Won’t you show your support by sponsoring students? 

Please consider becoming a MAYC Hero.  You may not be able to leap buildings in a single bound, have x-ray vision or develop spidey senses, but you will be making a positive difference in the lives of individual young people, their families and our community.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me using the form below if you would like more information.

Thank you for your continued support of our mission!

Pamela Thomas
(608) 436-3637
mayc.director@gmail.com


I'd like to hear more about becoming a MAYC HERO!  Please contact me with information about sponsoring one or more students at Milton Area Youth Center!