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OUR MISSION
Falls Youth Initiative is a community-wide collaboration that seeks to motivate and equip individuals, organizations and their leaders to join together in nurturing competent, caring, and responsible children and adolescents through use of Search Institute’s 40 developmental asset framework.
Falls Youth Initiative is a 501c3 non-profit organization existing entirely on grants and donations.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers
President -
Vice President – Deb Stark
Secretary – Karen Bitzan
Treasurer – Amy Ignasiak (acting)
Board Members
Drew Dederich – St. Anthony’s Christian Formation Director
Joan Erickson – MF Comm. Ed. & Recreation Dept. Director
Julie Fullerton -- MF School District AODA Coordinator
Jill Hruz -- Tri-County YMCA Senior Program Coordinator
Pat Kashmerick -- CMH Community Outreach Coordinator
Theresa Rollefson -- Community
Kris Stabo -- MF Public Library Youth Librarian
Sgt. Mark Waters -- MFPD Comm. Services Unit Supervisor
STAFF Coordinator – Kathy Shurilla
Administrative Assistant – Amy Ignasiak
OUR HISTORY In May of 1996, Community Memorial Hospital, The Greater Menomonee Falls Committee and the Community Prevention Council invited Peter Benson, the president of Search Institute to speak in Menomonee Falls. His presentation of the asset message connected with many people in attendance who were inspired to organize a group called “Healthy Community Healthy Youth.” This group accomplished many good things in Menomonee Falls including hosting three youth summits, instigating the creation of the Teen Center, and the NIFTY youth leadership group.
In 2001, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation granted Healthy Community•Healthy Youth $30,000 to help formalize efforts. That allowed them to hire a part-time coordinator, set up an office, and increase asset awareness. At that time, the name was changed to Falls Youth Initiative - FYI for short.
Our goal for FYI is to bring the whole community together for youth- because Kids lives improve when the whole village works together. FYI is made up of many different organizations and individuals who network together to try to raise the level of assets for every young person in the village. Our coalition is made up of representatives from Community Memorial Hospital, the Police Department, the Menomonee Falls and Hamilton School Districts, MF village government, area congregations, MF Teen Center, MF Public Library, Tri-County YMCA, Great Blue Heron Girl Scouts, the MF Community Education and Recreation Department, area businesses and families. We are grateful to members of the Menomonee Falls business community - Jack Patrick Law Offices for legal assistance and St. Francis Bank for their in-kind donation of office space.
Falls Youth Initiative is also proud to sponsor the FYI Youth Council and leadership/service group for area youth. The Youth Council gives youth a voice in making Menomonee Falls a better place to grow up. We feel asset building is not a program -- it is a catalyst for connecting and empowering all sectors of our community for kids.
THANK YOU TO OUR PAST DONORS Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Ralph P. and Diane R. Cavaiani Fund
Amanda M. Lamp Fund
Franz and Virginia Bidinger Fund
St. Francis Bank
Community Memorial Hospital
Community Outreach Steering Committee
Nonprofit Management Fund of Waukesha County
Wal-Mart
Malkins Carpet
Department of Public Instruction
Townsend Foundation
Karen and Mark Bitzan
Wisconsin Energy Corporation Foundation
Northwestern Mutual Life
Menomonee Falls PTSA
Ralph and Gisela Bronner
Menomonee Falls Optimist Club
M&I Bank
Pat Kashmerick
Jack Patrick
North Junior High PTSA
Hanson Soft Water
Strosahl & Co.
AIS Group LTD
Schmidt and Bartelt, Inc.
Sue Morency
Chad Mueller
Cindy and Paul Sanders
Margie and Jay Wingender
James and Suzanne Jeskewitz
Joan Erickson
Shady Lane Green House
Keith and Diana Marty
Bank Mutual
Jim and Kathy McBride
Kohl's Department Store
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