Pajama Party Read Day for Afterschool Alliance’s “Lights On Afterschool”

Students celebrate Afterschool Alliance's initiative, "Lights on Afterschool" with a Pajama Party Read Day

YLLC students came to our centers cozy and warm in pajamas, some with their blankets and teddy bears.  That’s right.  YLLC threw a Pajama Party yesterday in celebration of Afterschool Alliance’s “Lights on Afterschool” initiative!  Students took a time off from their fall break to curl up and read a great book with their friends and enjoy some delicious pancakes.  Reading in their pajamas made reading that much more fun!

According to Afterschool Alliance, “one million Americans and more than 7,500 communities nationwide are celebrating the afterschool programs that keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families.”

We ask that you too celebrate afterschool programming in your own way, whether it’s through a donation, dedicating yourself to volunteering with students at YLLC or a local school or simply raising awareness about this critical initiative.

For additional pictures from our Pajama Party Read Day, visit our Facebook page.

YLLC Easley students tell us what they find valuable.

There is a question that we asked YLLC Easley students.  It’s not rhetorical, but may be philosophical in spirit.  It is a scenario question that has been asked time and time again, but is not quite likely to occur.  Do you need another hint?  It is a question that may spawn images of taking a yacht out for a cruise before coming home to sports cars parked in the garage of a mansion holding closets filled with designer clothing.  It is a question that provides those that are asked the ability to dream but also to evaluate worth.  Give up?

What would you do with one million dollars?

“What would you do with one million dollars?” is a question that appears surface-level at first glance, but actually asks those answering to ponder what they find valuable and worthy of an investment or purchase.  Oftentimes those who win a million dollar lottery go into debt, because they do not spend their money wisely.  These individuals simply go wild with a dreamy vision without truly evaluating life’s most important elements.  We asked YLLC Easley to tell us what they would do with a million dollars.  Let’s see what some of them had to say:

“I’d buy my mom a house.”

“I’d buy my grandmother, my mother, and my sister a car.”

“I would put some in my, my brother’s and my sister’s college fund.”

“I would buy lots of white chocolate candy bars.”

“I would donate to charity.”

“I would help my mom pay the bills.”

Did their surprise you?  Although I’m sure many students would go wild with their wildest fantasies, many of our YLLC students did not.  Perhaps the less you have, the more you learn to understand value.  YLLC students value education and responsibility.  We’d like to think that this is much to do with our programming with a mission aiming to nurture the child, strengthen the family and rebuild the community by aiding and supporting the educational, spiritual, moral and social development of at-risk youth.  However, it could also just be that they are simply very smart kids.

Dawn Totty Teaches YLLC Girls about Beauty from Head to Toe

When Dawn Totty found she was moving out-of-state and would be unable to attend the Women’s and YLLC Girls’ Benefit Luncheon on July 28th, she quickly thought of another way she could support our young, at-risk girls.  Totty, award-winning owner and consultant at The Head to Toe Woman Image & Fashion Consulting, taught YLLC girls about beauty, not only from head to toe, but also from inside-out.

Dawn Totty Teaches YLLC Girls About Beauty

Our Head to Toe Fun Friday became the first among several all-girls YLLC gatherings leading up to our luncheon.  As many Youth Life girls will be in attendance, they took time to ask Totty questions regarding wardrobe, hair, makeup, personal style, skincare and hygiene.  With over 25 years in the fashion and beauty industry, she wanted the girls to take away her greatest beauty secret:  Love yourself and smile.

If you plan on attending our summer luncheon, please keep Totty’s advice in mind; there just may be a YLLC girl who looks to you as their role model.  To register for our upcoming luncheon, visit ww.yllc.org.

For additional pictures of our “Head to Toe” session, visit our Facebook page.