Communities for Alcohol-and-Drug-free Youth (CADY) was selected as one of nineteen local non-profit agencies to receive a grant from the MVSB charitable fund in 2013. CADY will use this $5000 grant to support the LAUNCH Youth Entrepreneurship Program, an employment program serving the youth of the Newfound and Pemi-Baker Regions.
CADY, Inc.’s LAUNCH Program is an innovative youth development program that combines workforce development training and substance abuse prevention strategies. Since its inception in 2005, the program has provided over 200 local youth with the education and skills needed to help them earn their first summer job and paycheck. Throughout the year-long program, youth participate in weekly skill-building workshops to develop life, leadership and other pre-employment skills. The program concludes with paid summer employment at Frosty Scoops, an ice cream shop, developed in collaboration with Alex Ray and the Common Man Family of Restaurants. In May 2012, the White House and Office of National Drug Control Policy selected the LAUNCH Youth Entrepreneurship Program to serve as its featured youth program for the National Summer Jobs+ Campaign.
“CADY’s community prevention work is purposeful, meaningful, and significant as is MVSB’s commitment to youth. The MVSB award of $5,000 will build life, leadership, and pre-employment skills throughout this academic year and culminate in paid summer employment for 20 local youth from June through August,” said Deb Naro, Executive Director of CADY, Inc. “This grant has opened opportunities for local youth to develop confidence and decision-making capacity, acquire new skill sets in real-world settings, and build the healthy community connections that help prevent substance use. CADY is very grateful to MVSB for building possibilities, potential, and promise.”
Communities for Alcohol- and Drug-Free Youth (CADY) is a regional community prevention coalition dedicated to working with schools and communities to prevent and reduce youth alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and to promote healthy environments and promising futures. The organization works to build youth resiliency and prevent the serious harms that arise from substance abuse. Teens ages 14-18 interested in the LAUNCH program can call 603-536-9793 or visit http://www.cadyinc.org for more information.
MVSB established the MVSB Fund in 1997 under the leadership of John Starrett who was then president and CEO of the Bank. Since then, 235 grants totaling more than $872,000 have been awarded to a wide range of environmental, social, educational, and historic projects throughout the Lakes Region and Plymouth area. Over the years, the Fund has supported literacy programs, after-school programs, environmental monitoring and education, restoration of historic structures, organizations that provide support for individuals and families in challenging circumstances, and equipment that helps save lives.
Photo Caption: (From left to right) Nancy Mardin, MVSB Branch and Business Development Manager presents a $5000 check to CADY, Inc representatives Tim Tyler, Restorative Justice Coordinator, Deb Naro, Executive Director, Linda Kaminski, Administrative Assistant, and Ann Stark, Data Coordinator.
