Fun...Food...Live Music....Art!  What could be better on a hot Friday night in Wyandotte County?  On Friday, July 11, art enthusiasts took in art shows at nine downtown Kansas City, Kansas locations - including Associated Youth Services - during July's "Follow the Dotte" Art Walk. 

Using recycled materials, flour, water, paint and a whole lot of imagination, AYS artists, under the direction of local professional artist, Steve Curtis of S2 Studios, crafted tribal masks as unique as their creators. 

Wouldn't it be amazing to learn robotics?  This summer, kids at AYS got the chance to do just that!  Thanks to Kimble Anders' foundation, the Running Back, Giving Back Foundation (www.rbgb38.com), and ITT Tech, AYS youth spent a day learning about robotics.

Kimble visited AYS' office in May to tell AYS youth and families all about this special program.  Many of our youth were surprised to learn that this amazing football player, who made three Pro Bowl appearances, also met with a lot of adversity when he was growing up.  He challenged and inspired our youth to dream big, work hard, and get involved.

It's amazing what 20 hard-working people can do in just 3 short hours!  AYS would like to thank the amazing volunteers from Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice and the U.S. Postal Service for transforming Home Ties Emergency Shelter into a bright, beautiful home on this year's United Way Day of Caring.  Check out these pictures to see the volunteers in action!

Beginning later this year, AYS is launching a quarterly Get to Know AYS breakfast hour.  In a quick 60 minutes, you will learn all about our five programs aimed at serving underprivileged youth in crisis.  You will also get a chance to meet AYS staff, our CEO, Dennis Vanderpool, and star students from our AYS Academy.  We'd love to tell you more about our amazing kids and learn more about you and your interest in AYS.  Check back later this summer to learn when we are scheduling our first Get to Know AYS Breakfast!

AYS celebrated Foster Care Awareness Month on May 17 by honoring and appreciating the hard work of our resource parents.  AYS' first annual Let Us Appreciate You conference was a one-day event that gave resource parents the tools they need to juggle daily tasks and take time out for themselves!

St. Mary's Adjunct Professor of Psychology, Lynette Sparkman-Barnes, Psy.D., showed resource parents how to recognize and meet their own emotional needs so that they can better meet the needs of the children in their care.

For more information about becoming a resource parent, contact Melanie Curnow at 913-831-2820 ext. 221 or email her at mcurnow@aysusa.org.  You can also read more about our resource program by clicking here.

AYS' 2nd annual Stack the Decks, which was held at the Overland Park Convention Center, raised awareness and thousands of dollars for AYS' five core programs, which serve nearly 5,000 at-risk youth each year. 

Over 150 guests placed their bets with "AYS Money," trying their hand at Lady Luck while playing poker, craps, roulette, blackjack and more.  In between games, guests had a chance to place their bids for one of more than 120 items.  One of the hottest items was the autographed basketball from this year's NCAA champions - KU.

AYS CEO, Dennis Vanderpool, thanked the guests and eloquently delivered AYS' promise to "never give up" on kids.  By the end of the evening, Stack the Decks grossed nearly $30,000 to help "stack the decks" in favor of youth in crisis.

Click here to see Stack the Decks pictures featured on the Kansas City Star's Community Faces Page.

Stack the Decks 2008 Sponsors

Four of a Kind
Jefferson Wells with the Wadella Family

Full House
Heavy Constructor's Union, Laborers' Local Union #663
IndyMac Bank
Laborers' Local Union #264
Lockton Companies
Service Management Group
Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, LLP

Party Captains
Bill Kriege
Deluxe Corporation
Stephanie Spilker
Dr. Tim Taylor, DDS
Joel Vaslow

2008 Fabulous Auction Highlights

• Four VIP tickets to the Dr. Phil Show with airfare from airTran Airways
• Two round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines
• Round of Golf for Three at Hallbrook Country Club
• Garmin Nuvi 200 GPS Unit
• IPL Treatment Package at Monarch Plastic Surgery and Skin Rejuventation Center
• Autographed KU Basketball
• A Romantic Night for Two at the Chateau Avalon
• Autographed copy of Tom Brokaw's New Book
• Two Tickets to the Kansas City Production of "Wicked" at the Music Hall
• iPod Classic 80G Silver
• Water Resort Pass to the Brand New CoCo Key Resort at the Sheraton Sports Complex
• Much, much more!