I know it can be easy to become skeptical and think that your voice will not be heard but I hope you know that your voice really has made a difference! This year we were in serious danger of losing funding for Caring Communities and our Young Parents Program but thanks to you we still have both programs. Even with a terrible State budget we received no cuts to Caring Communities and a 15% cut to our Missouri Mentoring Partnership Program. We were able to hold onto to so much of our funding thanks to our board of directors who led the charge and then your calls, letters, and emails. When you see them please thank Senator Frank Barnitz and Representative Dan Brown who fought so hard to keep our funding in the State budget. With this good news I thought I would dedicate this Notes to one of these great programs: Young Parents. 

Hannah is a Police Officer!

	Young Parents Staff Celebrate Hannah's Great News!

If you were able to attend our ASK Event last October you may have remembered one of our guest speakers, Hannah. Well, after holding down several jobs, caring for a young daughter, and attending the police academy in Waynesville - Hannah did it! She received her police certificate at the end of June, turned 21, and was offered a job with the Waynesville Sheriff's Department. We are all so proud of Hannah and all of her hard work and so is Halie - Hannah's two year old daughter!

Make a Difference Awards

	Left to Right: Marilyn, Rose, Sharlene, Dr. Day, Robyn, and Nancy

Last month we also were able to thank some special people at our Mentor Mixer. This year we held the event at Benton Square - what a great place for a celebration. The MoSci Foundation won the Making a Difference Award for their generous contribution to the youth in the MMP program. Every year Delbert and Shirley Day present scholarships to our youth on behalf of the Foundation (Hannah was a recipient this year!). Youth are able to complete educational dreams because of MoSci's generosity.

Sharlene Morgan won our Above and Beyond Award in recognition of her mentoring. Sharlene wrote us an amazing letter thanking us for the award. "Throughout the years, in my professional life I have received many awards and recognitions, however, none could compare with the generous recognition you, Elizabeth and Owen bestowed upon me. I find it very gratifying to think that my few efforts might make a positive difference in several lives." Sharlene is modest. Her mentee, Elizabeth, has several challenges but Sharlene has stood by her in good times and bad. Elizabeth recently told Sharlene; "You are my backbone."

Congratulations to you for all of your work, and to Hannah,Sharlene, and MoSci. We are so fortunate to live in such a great community with so many caring and hard working people. I have more good news too. We are no longer coordinating a Youth Employment program but this means we are hoping to expand our Young Parents Program into Dent County. We met with three of our board members who live in Dent County. They helped us plan our first meeting in Salem (in August) to see if the community is interested in helping us implement the program. More news about this next month! Thanks again for all you do!

Warm Regards,