Each year, young people in our community face new challenges and go through new experiences; they are constantly evolving and changing, and no two young people are exactly the same. As a youth-serving organization, the Calgary Youth Justice Society (CYJS) strives to ensure we are meeting the emerging and changing needs of young people as they arise.
We want to remind our donors (and those considering donating) the importance of ‘making it monthly’. Having reliable monthly donations allows us to both plan ahead and meet youth where they are at in the moment. Things can change on a dime, and we do our best to respond effectively and efficiently.
This March, we spoke with one of our monthly donors, Trevor Lawrence (from Maple Groove Financial). We asked him a couple of questions about why he supports CYJS and why he chose to become a monthly donor.
Here is what Trevor said:
“CYJS is essential to me because a harmonious relationship needs to exist with our youth. In time, they will take the reigns and dictate all aspects of our society. When we do not keep our youth busy, they can start consuming their time with activities that could impede their future careers and success. The CYJS helps divert our youth from this path by introducing them to In the Lead, a leadership program, where they interact with well-intentioned adult volunteers who can set the example and be in their corner without bias, trying to fix them or imposing their personal views. The objective is to provide the youth with someone in their corner, a coach, a cheerleader, and someone to cheer them on through their life endeavours and be there for them when life throws a few curveballs. What is remarkable is that, as an adult volunteer, you get so much out of this program on the personal development front. You think you are setting the example, but you forget the diverse range of thoughts and perspectives the youth provide, as well as enthusiasm, humour, and great attitudes. As a volunteer myself, I take as much, if not more, from the youth and the CYJS leaders as I give. There is much to learn regarding understanding, emotional control, empathy, communication, and approach to interactions with anyone. This experience is invaluable to my character and ability to work with others.”
“I donate each month because setting it and forgetting it is easier to handle mentally than giving out that entire chunk at once. So, breaking donations down into small payments allows me to give generously and not get that strange icky feeling when I spend a lot of money at once. If you are considering donating, my advice as a financial planner is to start with what you can afford regularly. Work the donation into your budget, and if you ever feel you do not have enough, put down that third cup of Starbucks each week, problem solved.”
“The CYJS program profoundly impacts various individuals who interact with this marvellous endeavour. First, it can indefinitely alter the course of our youth, who may need slight adjustments to their life trajectory. Many youth were not dealt the most incredible hand when it comes to having strong support, if any, in their corner. It is an excellent opportunity for other youth to network and hone their social skills with adults. For volunteers such as myself, hanging out with our city youth and the class instructors is the highlight of my day. I walk away with so much insight and food for thought, and I cannot clearly articulate enough how much magic happens in these classrooms. I can, however, confidently tell you that I am a better person from this experience in all departments of my life. I learn valuable lessons in class and apply them to all my interactions. The big key is positivity versus negativity, which can only be achieved through practice. So what’s holding you back? A TV show, your couch, the unknown? Why not change it up and make a difference?”
– Trevor Lawrence, Maple Groove Financial
In the Lead Volunteer, Donor, and Champion
Thank you so much, Trevor. Your kindness, energy, and generosity is so inspiring – we are incredibly grateful to have you around.
Always remember – the big is in the little. Sometimes all it takes is one word, one smile, or a single moment to make a big difference in someone’s life. The same goes for our donors. All gifts, no matter their size, make a difference to our youth and our community. Every amount goes a long way in ensuring each young person is supported properly.
If you would like to set up a monthly donation and support young people in our community, please CLICK HERE.
