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Why I #GiveSwift - Grant Frailich

11/21/2017

I decided to financially support Swift because it's the happiest place on Earth. Fun really is just the start. I look forward to Swift year-round and, when I'm there, it's like every other problem in the world is just gone. On top of the pure joy, Camp Swift teaches infinite lessons to kids. From the counselors and staff constantly being positive (providing a self-confidence boost) to Shaboogie allowing kids to open up and share things they might not have ever shared before, I honestly can't think of any other organization that provides as much for as many people as Swift.

My rationale behind a recurring gift is that a small amount adds up over time. $25/week is not a huge sum of money. I am able to afford that even on a teacher's salary. However, over the month, that is $100 and over the year that becomes $1,200. My small sacrifice (literally one meal out/week) equates to a large sum of money over the long run. I've known Kaylie and Mike for a decade and I know that they'll be able to maximize the money I give. One of the biggest draws for me setting up the recurring donation was the idea that I knew exactly where my money was going ("$25 pays for art supplies for one Saturday")

I do this for Swift because Swift has repaid me ten-fold in experiences. Camp Swift is one of the biggest factors in me deciding to join Teach for America and become a teacher. This is because I've seen the impact that positive role models (like the counselors and staff at Swift) can have on a child. The joys, laughter and fun, mixed with the lessons and mentorship at Swift, is indescribable until you've personally experienced it.

I use lessons I learned at Swift daily in the classroom and I can't thank Swift enough for the memories and experiences they've provided thousands of kids over the years.

Grant was our first selfless selfie advocate for the 2017 Swift #UnSelfie campaign.
(Thanks, Grant!) Join the movement now by visiting the #GivingTuesday page!

Don't forget to tag us on any social platform and your #UnSelfie with #GiveSwift.

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Kids who Care Joins swift!

11/15/2017

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Swift Youth Foundation is proud to welcome Kids Who Care (KWC) to the Swift Family! For many years, Swift and KWC have worked alongside one another in the community with similar missions and serving similar students. Swift is happy to add the assets of KWC to our work through the knowledge and expertise of the former KWC organization. Swift is also excited to welcome KWC Foudner & Executive Director Barbara Greenberg and former KWC Board Member Mary Roaf, to the Swift Board of Directors to help guide the continued mission of Swift. Below, please read a letter from Barbara announcing the Swift acquisition of KWC.

Dear Loyal Supporter,

When we started Kids Who Care over 10 years ago our goal was to increase the academic success of students throughout Arizona in grades K-12. The greatest education challenges we addressed were decreasing the dropout rate (7.2%, second highest in the nation) and increasing student’s retention of academic skills, especially reading, writing and math. With your help we taught our students how to give back to their communities through Service-Learning projects; manage stress by learning coping skills; and practice daily habits such as getting as enough sleep, study skills, staying hydrated and eating healthy foods. We also empowered our students with exceptional mentoring skills. These programs and activities created students who thrived and progressed through school and on to graduation.

As time went on, we realized we could not continue this work without the help of other organizations in our community. Through hours of research, conversations and many meetings, Kids Who Care has decided to dissolve as an organization but continue working towards our mission with another local organization that has an aligned mission – Swift Youth Foundation.

Swift Youth Foundation provides year-round programs that uniquely pair school-aged youth with college-bound high school mentors. In addition to these ongoing programs during the school year, Swift offers a sleep-away camp for 5 days and 4 nights in beautiful Prescott, Arizona for all the youth whom participate in the year-round programming. College-bound, high school mentors become the encouraging counselors at Camp Swift to continue the positive mentor relationship that has been established during the school year. From school and through camp, the kids create a powerful alliance that turns both the campers’ and counselors’ worlds “RIGHT SIDE UP!” I am very excited about how the mission of Kids Who Care will continue on through the unique mentor mission of Swift Youth Foundation.

I am thrilled to announce that I have joined the Swift Youth Foundation Board of Directors and I hope you will join me and all of us at Kids Who Care as we continue our work through Swift. In the meantime, I would like to introduce you to Kaylie Marsh Medansky, our Executive Director at Swift. She will be your main contact there if you cannot reach me. I’ve known Kaylie for many years and believe she will carry on the work of Kids Who Care with great enthusiasm and excellence. To continue your financial support, simply go to the Swift Youth Foundation website www.swiftyouth.org/donate or mail to Swift Youth Foundation at 7950 E Acoma Drive, Suite 106 Scottsdale, AZ 85260.

Best regards and thank you in advance for your support,

Barbara Greenberg
Swift Youth Foundation Board of Directors

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programming update - Club swift

11/14/2017

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We are excited to continue with our lessons and appreciate your support and well wishes! Thanks!

For the past two months the Club Swift teens have been learning about self. They have been discovering their passions, values and goals and finding techniques to aid in celebrating themselves. All this self-exploration will help in understanding their leadership style and learning best practices in how to thrive within leadership roles in the future.

We currently have set short and long term goals and have defined failure. One teen said, “I absorb the failure, almost as though I am grieving it, and then I motivate myself to change my perspective and find a new way to achieve whatever it was that I failed at. Failure teaches you what not to do in the future.” At Club Swift we are supporting the teems to be authors of their own destinies, writing and shaping their future by being proactive, present, and authentic.
Encouraging each teem to create their own “box” instead of trying to fit into one, we want our teens to understand that each leadership style is unique and important and in order to truly thrive and succeed they must acknowledge their strengths and work towards building those up.

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Camp Swift 2018 Dates

11/14/2017

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Session 1
May 24 - Support Staff Orientation
May 25 - Counselor Orientation
May 26-May 30 - Camp Swift Session 1 2018

Session 2
July 30 - Support Staff Orientation
July 31 - Counselor Orientation
August 1-August 5 - Camp Swift Session 2 2018

Other Dates to Know
Pre-Camp Orientation - all counselors are required to attend one of the following dates:
May 6th: 1pm-4pm
May 12th: 9am-12pm
*Both pre-camp orientations are held at 17835 N 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85032

Don't forget to stay connected with Swift through the newsletter and be the first to fill out your volunteer application when they are released in February!

Wanna share this amazing experience with your favorite friends?
Share the Swift Newsletter with them!

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Why I #GiveSwift - Grant Frailich

Kids who Care Joins swift!

programming update - Club swift

Camp Swift 2018 Dates

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