It takes $1,000 to graduate a student from a Simon Youth Academy which means the overall event will assist 275 more diploma-seeking at-risk youth. To say thanks and honor Debby, the mall team at Walt Whitman Shops had an internal fundraiser and raised $1,000 more. Between the event’s final total amount and the surprise honor, this will be one event she never forgets.

“My reaction was euphoria,” Debby said. “This event was the highest producing field event in the history of SYF, surpassing the former best event – our 2011 event. Since I founded this event for the company six years ago, the Northeast Region has raised over $1,000,000 with these Bowling Events. Add to that number, the donations from Bowling Events held around the company and it’s even more impressive.”

Debby said she is so proud to be a part of a company that supports a foundation with an inspiring mission. She said ensuring at-risk students who might be left behind due to social circumstances, are embraced, encouraged and guided to ultimately successful lives through education is very important.

“A significant part of my personal background has been to support education for all children. I am in awe of the power of a successful company that can motivate its employees to raise millions for the support of those students who cannot learn in a traditional environment.”

There were 390 people and over 170 companies represented at the Bowling for Education event which helped exceed the previous record. This comes during a year of milestones for SYF including 15 years of igniting hope, awarding more than $10 million in scholarships and graduating our 10,000th student.

In addition to this honor, Debby was recently awarded the Best of the Best Mall Manager award by Simon Property Group at this year’s Northeast Regional Meeting. Walt Whitman Shops earned the Ignite Hope award and Overall Fundraising Excellence award from SYF.

It is through the tireless efforts of Simon Property Group employees like Debby Weber that put the Simon in Simon Youth Foundation. We are very grateful for all the support we receive throughout the year at events such as this and we commend the Northeast Region for their help igniting hope.

Debby’s leadership in raising funds has literally helped SYF graduate 1,001 students!

Jorge was two years old when he was brought to the United States. His parents worked very hard to provide for him and his younger brother. Sometimes hot water or electricity was off, but he never thought twice about why because his family was happy. As he grew older, he noticed a difference between the other kids at school and him.

“I’d ask to go on class field trips or camps and be told no,” Jorge said. “I didn’t understand why the other kids could go but I had to stay at home. I realized as a teenager the reason was because of how my parents came to the U.S.”

For a short time, Jorge resented his parents. This is when he started asking the question, ‘What’s the point?’ If he wasn’t able to go on a field trip, how would a diploma change his life? It took him a year to get over these feelings.

“I was filled with frustration and feeling sorry for myself because of the situation instead of trying to figure out how I can succeed. The day I stepped into the Academy that changed. It was that day I decided I wanted it as opposed to everyone wanting it for me.”

Jorge credits the one-on-one instruction and working at his own pace as the primary factors keeping him motivated. He started seeing progress and helped him continue setting daily goals. The real lesson he was learning – I can do this. And he hasn’t stopped since then.

“Graduation is not the ending for me. I’m going to Glendale Community College and then Arizona State University to study engineering. I’m that much closer to my dreams, so I’m not going to waste time. I got this.”

Simon Youth Foundation is celebrating 15 years of igniting hope, graduating more than 10,000 students, and awarding more than $10 million in scholarships. The 23 academies in 13 states partner with more than 50 school districts and graduate students at a 90% rate. Learn more at syf.org.

These words are what Simon Youth Foundation seeks to hear on a regular basis. Ashleigh Ellis of Torrance, California received a Simon Youth Foundation Scholarship from Del Amo Fashion Center and chose to attend Chapman University in Orange, California. Ashleigh is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training and also wants to pursue a master’s degree in the field. She fell in love with the medical field in high school and combining it with athletics made it even better. She knew what she wanted but wasn’t sure how she could financially do it.

“This will help me attend a four-year institution and potentially become the first in my family to earn a degree. I am truly appreciative.”

Ashleigh said she will continue being active in community service on campus and work hard to achieve academic success. She was selected to be a part of Chapman University’s Emerging Leaders Program and also worked at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl (as seen in the picture above). She is expected to graduate in 2016.

In 2012, the Simon Youth Scholarships program announced $1.1 million in awards to 266 nationwide high school graduates like Ashleigh. These scholarships help ease the financial obstacle many face to attend higher education. Since the scholarship program was created in 2000, SYF has awarded scholarships valued at more than $10 million to more than 3,300 deserving young people. You can learn more about the scholarships at syf.org.

We wish Ashleigh and all scholarship recipients the best as they pursue their dreams.

The book study was part of the Knoxville Rotary Club six week book study program the Academy students participate in as a part of the history class curriculum. Justice Sharon Lee of the Tennessee Supreme Court came to discuss the book and bring her own father’s story of survival in a Nazi concentration camp after being captured during the war. It is one thing to read a book and keep a “distance” from the realities and atrocities experienced and hearing an account from someone with intimate knowledge of the subject matter.

“We’ve had several speakers come to speak to our students, but I’ve rarely seen everyone so engaged like they were,” said Kim Towe, Administrator at the Academy. “Her father’s story had so many pieces of knowledge the students could relate to on a personal level. She really captured and kept their attention the entire presentation.”

Justice Lee talked with the students about what her father went through after being captured and sent to a concentration camp. She described the deplorable conditions, lack of food and water, and watching people he would become acquainted with be dragged away, never to be seen again. One of the interesting points she talked about was how everyone at the camp came together like a family. They would encourage each other on difficult days, share what little food or water they had, and do whatever necessary to keep hope alive.

Relating back to some of the struggles the students at the Academy may have had or are having, Justice Lee tried to bring everything into perspective. Whether reading about history in a book or thinking about your personal history, you can learn from both successes and failures, and how you can apply them today.

About the book “Night” The book is an autobiographical account of life in the Nazi death camps. Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel takes his readers with him from his home, into the ghetto, on the transport, through Selections, into the concentration camps, on the Death March, and beyond. Reading this book gives one a deeper and more personal understanding of the Holocaust experience. Only with this understanding can one genuinely remember the Holocaust and thus help ensure it won’t happen again.

Students at Simon Youth North Coast Academy at Richmond Town Square Sears in Cleveland, Ohio under the direction of director Rena Wertheim, recently participated in several community service activities planned by Heidi Solomon, coordinator of Jewish Family Service Association’s Horvitz Youth Ability program.

Academy students assisted with birthday celebrations for participants at an adult day program at Park Synagogue Main in Cleveland Heights. They also participated in a blood drive, and volunteered in the kindergarten classroom at Mercer Elementary School in Shaker Heights. They partnered with JFSA in working with children with disabilities at Brush High School in Lyndhurst, and assisted students with disabilities at Orange High School in Pepper Pike.

At Memorial Junior High School in South Euclid, students explained that the choices they had made earlier led to the need to go to an alternative school, and they encouraged younger students to make better choices.

Simon Youth Foundation is celebrating 15 years of igniting hope, graduating more than 10,000 students, and awarding more than $10 million in scholarships. The 23 academies in 13 states partner with more than 50 school districts and graduate students at a 90% rate. Learn more at syf.org.

At the Crossroads

Do you ever have ‘what if’ moments? For example, what if you had made a different decision or went down a different path? For better or worse, your life would be completely different. Sonia Davis thinks about this on a regular basis. Sonia graduated from Simon Youth Judson Learning Academy at Rolling Oaks Mall, San Antonio, Texas in the fall of 2011, but was on a very different path 2009.

“Before I went to the Academy, I had been out of school for over a year and didn’t have very high hopes of graduating,” Sonia said. “There aren’t a lot of options out there for people without university, let alone a high school diploma. If not for the Academy, my life would have taken a completely different turn, probably for the worse.”

Sonia is not unlike many of the more than 10,000 graduates who have earned their diploma since 1998 in Simon Youth Academies across the United States. Her motivation and belief in herself dwindled when she dropped out of high school. These two areas were bolstered as soon as she began her work at the Academy.

“The most important thing I took away from my experience at the Academy is probably a renewed faith in myself. Going to the Academy and being able to graduate with a 4.0 GPA gave me the confidence to apply to some of the best International Relation Schools in the country and abroad.”

After she graduated with her high school diploma, she was accepted by Richmond American International University in London and began attending in the spring of 2012. She is majoring in International Relations with a minor in History. Her newfound courage has propelled her in a new direction towards success. She has several admirable goals professionally and personally.

“Once I get my Bachelor of Arts, I hope to continue my education here in the UK and get my masters degree. From there I want to move back to the states and take the Foreign Service Officer Exam and start a career in the United States Foreign Service. The Academy is by far the best decision I have ever made and I thank all the donors who gave me the opportunity.”

She credits her teachers with inspiring her to go after her dreams and see what happens. SYF tells students if they start here, they can go anywhere. Sonia Davis is another inspirational story, igniting hope at every turn.

Simon Youth Foundation is building great momentum in a year of milestones. The foundation is celebrating the 15th year anniversary, graduating more than 10,000 students, and awarding over $10 million in scholarships to students pursuing post-secondary education. Since 1998, SYF has maintained a cumulative graduation rate of 90% at 23 Academies in 13 states. Social Media is becoming an integral part of spreading the great news about students, graduates, teachers, administrators, Academies and scholarship recipients.

We need your help to continue the momentum by engaging in all of the mediums. SYF works with more than 80 partner school districts in serving at-risk youth who are in danger of giving up on their dreams. These students are overcoming abuse, tragedy, attention disorders, disease, drugs, the death of a loved one, teenage pregnancy and parenting, even homelessness. More than 10,000 graduates are now serving as role models to their peers and siblings, and refusing to become a product of their environment.

Help us exceed 2,300 Facebook Fans in honor of the 23 Simon Youth Academies.

Help us grow above 1,500 Twitter Followers in honor of the 15 years SYF has ignited hope.

Help us reach over 90 followers on Pinterest in honor of a 90% graduation rate.

Help us by spreading the word by subscribing to our blog and share the stories throughout your network.

2013 is a year of milestones – celebrating 15 years of igniting hope, graduating more than 10,000 at-risk students, and awarding more than $10 million in scholarships. Mall teams expressed why they support SYF’s nationwide efforts.

“The success stories of the kids SYF helps gives me goose bumps and brings tears to my eyes. That’s why I support SYF!” Adra Cohen, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Cape Cod Mall, Hyannis, MA

“Every youth deserves a chance and SYF makes that chance possible! Raising money for SYF as a Marketing Director is easy compared to the challenges a lot of at-risk youth face!” Sarah Bonds, Director, Marketing and Business Development, Tacoma Mall, Tacoma, WA

“I believe every child should have an opportunity to learn, to succeed and to grow for a happy life. I consider myself one who has been blessed and feel a responsibility in helping our youth understand the importance of education, the great feeling of success and the notion that you can be or do anything you put your mind to. I am honored to support Simon Youth Foundation in any way I can to support our children’s hopes, dreams and futures.” Denise Ipsen, General Manager, Newport Centre, Jersey City, NJ

“Seeing youth grow and have a chance to succeed makes the time devoted to SYF worth every effort. Every young person deserves to get a good start in life.” Steven Heim, CSM, General Manager, Northgate Mall, Seattle, WA

Dr. Durnil will also be presenting several Ignite Hope Awards to the Mall Teams who exemplify the components of “You are the Simon Youth Foundation.” Members of the Simon Youth Foundation executive team will be traveling to all of the Simon Property Group Regional Meetings over the course of the next few weeks telling the SYF story and thanking the Simon Property Group employees for all they do to promote and fundraise on behalf of the Foundation.

SYF takes pride in providing education opportunities that ignite hope in students, giving them the confidence to believe if they start here they can go anywhere their dreams take them. It’s humbling to see a corporate partner give a gift which will make dramatic differences in the lives of at-risk youth.

Chip Patterson founded AmeriPark in 1986 with a single parking location in Atlanta, Georgia. Since then he has assembled a close-knit team of over 1,500 people who handle more than ten million cars per year. AmeriPark’s repeat and referral business is the highest in the industry. They currently operate at over 150 client sites nationwide and were recently named to the 2012 Top 100 Workplaces by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Much like SYF Academy students, Chip had a dream and he seized the opportunity to make it come true. His gift fuels more success stories to be written and SYF is truly thankful for AmeriPark’s support.

Celebrating 15 years of igniting hope providing educational opportunities, Simon Youth Foundation has worked to help at-risk youth earn a diploma graduating more than 10,000 students at Simon Youth Academies. Similarly, SYF has awarded more than $10 million in scholarships to those needing financial assistance to pursue their dreams through post-secondary education. Sharett Brooks of New Orleans, Louisiana earned a Simon Youth Community Scholarship to attend the Dillard University of New Orleans.

Sharett said this was something she will never forget.

“The scholarship was certainly a reward for my hard work in high school, but it was a true awakening for me,” Sharett said. “I want to be hope for someone like me who may not be able to afford college, so I will be doing all I can to help those in a similar situation to me.”

Sharett completed her first semester with a 3.7 GPA and volunteered more than 100 hours in the community with at-risk youth tutoring and mentoring. She took that experience with her when she studied abroad in Ghana, Africa. She wanted to learn more about their culture to become an organic fashion designer. She wants to create clothing that doesn’t deplete scarce resources or animals.

“I want to give back to communities who are in desperate need for the simplest of necessities. SYF gave me the chance and I’m going to seize it.”