CISNTblog

The United Way of Denton County has been a tremendous partner to Communities In Schools of North Texas.  Today, the volunteers of “The Youth Way” committee came to visit the CISNT program at Calhoun Middle School as a part of their overall annual appropriations process. 

The annual United Way of Denton County visit to our program is a milestone of sorts for me.  I joined CISNT January 2004 - today was my fifth meeting with this amazing group of dedicated volunteers.  The visit reminds me that the calendar has clipped off another year.  Time moves so fast.  Today, the annual United Way of Denton County visit served as a haunting reminder that as time marches on, the problem is getting bigger not smaller. 

Today, we shared with The Youth Way committee the sobering statistic that the number of “economically disadvantaged” students in the area has increased about 30% in the last two years.  This is a troubling reality that we struggle to communicate to the community each day.

Today, we shared with The Youth Way committee the growing need for more CISNT programs, a need that far outpaces the financial support CISNT has previously received.

Today, we shared with The Youth Way committee stories of success, amazing volunteer achievements, and the basic need for eye glasses, clothing, food, mentors…and students who are elated when they receive a mentor or get help from a CISNT Campus Manager.

Today, Joe Ader spoke passionately to The Youth Way committee of the commitment from the surrounding community to roll up their sleeves and make a difference at schools like Calhoun.

Today, CISNT board member, Sam Burke spoke about years of serving as a CISNT director and the need for more board members to rise up from the Little Elm commuity, the Denton community and the Alliance/Northwest community.

Today, I was encouraged that in spite of what sometimes feels like overwhelming odds, a few people can truly make a difference.

Today, I was reminded why I work at Communities In Schools of North Texas…

 There are literally hundreds of important causes and organizations to give to this holiday season across north Texas, why give to CISNT?  That’s the question I have been asking myself each time I get another letter in the mail asking for money from one of dozens of non-profit organizations and causes.  I hope it’s a question you are asking too…why should I give?

For the last several years, CISNT has taken great pride in the fact that we successfully generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial support for our dropout prevention programs that came from outside of the north Texas community (the US Department of Education, Texas Criminal Justice Division,  Texas Juvenile Probation are several examples).  We bring resources into the community - that’s value added! 

Local north Texas businesses were the first to step up to the plate and support CISNT’s programs.  Aramark, Cadbury Schweppes, Capital One Bank, Costco, Durham School Services, EDS, Hillwood Development, Medical Center of Lewisville, Northstar Bank, SHW Group, University Behavioral Health, Viewpoint Bank, Walmart,  among others have been longtime generous supporters of CISNT’s programs.

Now, we’re asking the north Texas community to step up to the plate and make a financial donation to support and help expand our great program.  Why? 

First, it is critically important to CISNT as we continue to pursue grants and donations from businesses and foundations that the north Texas community is “behind” CISNT.  The number of volunteers grows dramatically each year, the hours donated helping kids grows each year, clearly the community is investing time and energy now more than ever in CISNT.  Now it is time for the community to make a financial statement that CISNT must continue to grow - children who are at-risk of dropping out of school must be provided the resources they need to succeed.  We won’t do it for them, but we’ll be there, filling the gap with clothing, school supplies, academic mentors, tutors, free eye exams and free eye glasses - and by doing this we will have removed the obstacles that prevent them from graduating from high school - on time.

Even more important, CISNT and others who work with the growing population of children in Texas who will not graduation from high school without our help are shaping the economic future of Texas in the next 20 years.  You do the math, a historic number of high earning “baby-boomers” are retiring, while a historic number of students at-risk of dropping out of school are growing up in Texas.  When high school dropouts replace high earning baby-boomers on the state tax roll, the math is more than disturbing.  This generation of at-risk students must graduate from high school and go on to college.  The north Texas economy demands that they must or we’ll all suffer the consequences…

So, please make a donation to CISNT to support our work with students at-risk of dropping out of school.  We believe it is some of the most important work happening in north Texas…

On any given day, CISNT stands in front of groups to advocate for students who are at-risk of dropping out of school.  Well, actually we beg for help…  In the last 24 hours, CISNT has talked with Mayors, a County Commissioner, prominent business leaders, UNT faculty & students, chamber of commerce members, school board trustees and non profit leaders.  And this was a slow week!

CISNT had the pleasure of meeting with the Denton Young Professionals organization yesterday.  What an AMAZING group of emerging leaders!  One of their members has been mentoring a child for about a year.  His dedication to doing “whatever it takes” to help this boy succeed was inspiring to me.  And as is most often the case, the mentor wondered if he was really making a difference…he is.

I am encouraged that so many people are hearing the message about our growing “at-risk” population in Denton and Wise counties.  23% increase in the last year!  Even more exciting is the action people are taking to help meet the growing need. 

Before many of us even begin shopping for our holiday gifts this year, CISNT will have received thousands of dollars in donated gifts for CISNT students to receive this holiday season.  Students who will return to school in January without “their story to tell” if we don’t help.  If you haven’t already, please consider contacting one of our CISNT campus staff at http://www.cisnt.org/campusesserved.html and help provide an at-risk child a gift this holiday season…