This summer is going to be the busiest ever for YouthQuest, so we’re pleased to have Bria Toussaint working with us for the next six weeks.
Bria, who will graduate from Spelman College next year, has already accomplished a great deal in the field of youth-focused nonprofits.
She is the Co-Founder and CEO of GRL-PWR, a 501(c)(3) organization that empowers young girls through activities that promote self-esteem, goal setting and service to others.
During the first half of this year, she took part in an exchange program at Stanford University, where she worked with law students and professors to develop creative outreach solutions to the problem of human trafficking.
Bria and Royal bring GRL-PWR to SCYCA
Bria came aboard as our summer intern just a few days ago, but her connection to YouthQuest dates back to her time at Freedom High School in Chantilly, Virginia, where she and classmate Royal Phillips created GRL-PWR. They entered their project in the 2012 Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition and won the first-place prize of $1,000 provided by YouthQuest.
Our Co-Founder and President Lynda Mann was one of the contest judges that year and was so impressed by Bria and Royal that she offered to help them take GRL-PWR to other states. The Foundation sent them to the South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy in May, 2013 to teach a group of at-risk young women to be GRL-PWR mentors.
Bria’s summer to-do list includes assisting with our 3D ThinkLink classes for a Boys & Girls Club summer camp in Fairfax County, preparing for our annual charity golf tournament and VIP Reception, supporting 3D ThinkLink immersion lab week and teacher training, and delivering rewards for backers who made pledges to our successful 3D ThinkLink curriculum project on Kickstarter.
We’re confident Bria’s internship with us will be a mutually beneficial experience. She’s gaining valuable hands-on experience in the day-to-day operation of a nonprofit organization and we’re gaining valuable insights from a smart, enthusiastic young woman who’s already making her mark in the nonprofit world.
“It was a grand day for America’s at-risk youth,” says YouthQuest Foundation Co-Founder and President Lynda Mann.
The 8th Annual Challenge at Trump National Golf Club in Potomac Falls, Va., on Aug. 12 was YouthQuest’s most successful fundraiser ever.
“The weather was great, the event was great, people really enjoyed themselves,” says Lynda.
After watching a trick-shot performance by the always-entertaining Brad Denton, 115 golfers headed out for a shotgun start on Trump’s challenging Championship Course.
“It was the largest field of golfers we’ve ever had and there were more new sponsors than in previous years,” says YouthQuest Secretary Bill Hall.
Fetch makes his tournament debut
One sign of the growing community support for our tournament was the presence of Fetch, the big, floppy-eared mascot for the Loudoun Hounds baseball team of the independent Atlantic League. While Fetch and his handlers from the Hounds greeted players on the 1st tee, representatives from the North American Soccer League’s Virginia Cavalry FC manned the 18th. This is the first year we’ve had the Hounds and Cavalry as tournament sponsors.
Both teams are part of VIP Sports & Entertainment, whose vice chairman is Joe Travez, a valued partner in our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education initiative. He’s the CEO of Prototype Productions, Inc. in Ashburn, which hosted a tour in June for the students in our first 3D printing class. Mr. Travez’s message to the teens from Maryland’s Freestate ChalleNGe Academy during their visit was inspirational and we hope to make PPI an integral part of our expanded STEM program.
The money raised through the golf tournament helps us provide academic and vocational development, infrastructure support and life-enriching experiences that give troubled teens the opportunity to fulfill their potential. Thanks to our supporters’ generous contributions, we will be able to reach many more students with our 3D printing project. We’ll also promote the growth of GRL-PWR, the girls’ empowerment program that came to our attention through our sponsorship of the Loudoun Youth Step Up competition.
Bill, who chairs the golf tournament committee, says what our guests learn about YouthQuest during the event makes a strong impression. He recalls one player from Hewlett-Packard telling him: “This is the kind of stuff we need to be supporting. This I can see makes a difference.”
Besides contributing to a good cause, players come back year after year because “it’s just a fun tournament,” says Lynda.
Washington Redskins alumni Mike Nelms, Roy Jefferson and Mike Bragg sign a football for Destination Cellars CEO David Keuhner and his son, Jaden.
“The celebrities are always a big hit,” adds Bill. “One guy said ‘I’m a great Redskins fan, so try to put a Redskin with me,’ which we did.”
The Washington Redskins alumni are perennial favorites. Executive Director Jerry Olsen, Charley Taylor, Jimmie Jones, Mike Nelms, Roy Jefferson, Mike Bragg and Ravin Caldwell were on this year’s tournament roster.
Adding some sports diversity to the field of golfers, we also welcomed former Major League Baseball pitcher Pete Schourek, along with retired Major League Soccer goalkeepers Mike Ammann and Mark Simpson. Both used to play for DC United and Mark is now director of soccer operations for the Cavalry.
Pete Schourek in action
We were also honored to have Fairfax City Chief Dave Rohr playing again this year, in addition to other local first responders. Representing Fairfax County Fire & Rescue were Deputy Chief Michael Reilly, retired Deputy Chief Glenn Benarick and retired firefighters Rand Gaber and Oliver Skinker.
After a sun-and-fun-filled day on the course, everyone cooled off at a reception and awards ceremony at the Trump National clubhouse.
Our Director of Training and Volunteer of the Year, Tom Meeks, demonstrated 3D printing and GRL-PWR Co-Founder Royal Phillips spoke about our partnership.
3D Systems Director of Social Impact Leanne Gluck accepted our Additive Manufacturing Strategic Partner Award. The company’s support has been essential in the development of our 3D printing project. It provided the hardware the students use and hosted a tour of the plant where the Cube 3D printers are built.
Community Partner Awards went to the NFL Players Association and Washington Redskins Chapter of NFL Alumni, Inc., along with Michael Garcia, operating partner of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in McLean, Va., which hosted the tournament’s VIP reception on Aug. 8. Ritzert & Leyton, PC sponsored the VIP reception at Fleming’s.
Loudoun Youth CEO Jared Melvin putts on the 1st green as Lynda Mann and Roy Jefferson watch.
The Foundation also awarded grants to Luke’s Wings and Loudoun Youth’s Step Up.
Luke’s Wings is a nonprofit organization that provides flights for families to visit wounded American servicemembers who are hospitalized or in rehabilitation. YouthQuest understands that separation can be a serious risk factor for children in military families, especially in times of crisis. By bringing families together, Luke’s Wings helps reduce the risks for kids.
The Step Up contest challenges Loudoun County middle and high school students to become leaders by identifying problems in their communities and developing solutions. YouthQuest is pleased to renew its sponsorship of the competition.
The Trump National staff deserves an award, too, for their quick response to anything we needed. All of our tournament participants were treated to a first-class experience.
“We love having our event at Trump because their staff makes us look really good,” says Lynda. “They just make it happen.”
There’s just one thing that would make our signature fundraising event better, says Lynda. That is if Donald Trump’s busy schedule allows him to accept our invitation to play in the 9th Annual Challenge at Trump National on Aug. 11, 2014.
YouthQuest President Lynda Mann with GRL-PWR Founders Bria Toussaint and Royal Phillips
YouthQuest partners Bria Toussaint and Royal Phillips are starting their sophomore year at Spelman College after a busy summer spent spreading the word about their girls’ empowerment nonprofit, GRL-PWR.
The YouthQuest Foundation sponsored their trip to the South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy, a school for at-risk youth near Columbia, where they trained a group of to be GRL-PWR mentors. Bria and Royal said it was a valuable experience for them, as well as for the Cadets.
In this video, they describe what they did during the weekend training session in South Carolina.
GRL-PWR began in Loudoun County, Va., where the program Bria and Royal developed as students at Freedom High School won first place in the 2011-12 Loudoun Youth Step Up competition. Our Co-Founder and President Lynda Mann, one of the contest judges, was so impressed that she offered to help take GRL-PWR to other states.
Besides planting GRL-PWR’s seeds in South Carolina, Bria and Royal have started a chapter at Spelman in Atlanta.
The YouthQuest Foundation has teamed up with GRL-PWR founders Bria Toussaint and Royal Phillips to expand their girls’ empowerment program.
The Foundation connected Bria and Royal with the South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy in Eastover, where they spent last weekend teaching a group of female Cadets how to build self-esteem and be positive role models. Now that these at-risk teens are familiar with the curriculum and class activities, those who choose to continue with the program can work with Bria and Royal to become official GRL-PWR mentors for younger girls.
South Carolina is the third state to get a taste of GRL-PWR.
It started in Virginia three years ago when Bria and Royal were students at Freedom High School in Loudoun County. They had been through challenges that are common to at-risk youth, including low self-esteem, poverty, divorce, domestic violence and family tragedy. At age 16, Bria went through the ordeal of confronting her father’s murderer in court. Instead of becoming victims of their situation, Bria and Royal bonded and created a program to help other at-risk girls. GRL-PWR won first place in last year’s Loudoun Youth Step Up competition, which our Foundation sponsors. Step Up gives teens the opportunity to develop solutions to problems they see in their communities.
Encouraged by the recognition from YouthQuest and Loudoun Youth, Bria and Royal turned GRL-PWR into a nonprofit organization and set their sights on reaching more girls. As freshmen at Spelman College in Atlanta, they launched a GRL-PWR class for 5th and 6th graders at a charter school. They’re starting a program on the Spelman campus to train students to be mentors for younger girls.
The YouthQuest Foundation will continue to help Bria and Royal take GRL-PWR to Youth ChalleNGe academies in states from coast to coast.
