Legacy Instruments of Change has enjoyed a 6 year relationship with youth, families, funders and partners in Fort McMurray and area, and 15 years in Calgary and surrounding areas. We have assisted numerous youth by supplying locally donated instruments, providing weekly individualized guitar and other music lessons and potential engagement in day long workshops…all through local schools and agencies that appreciate the incredible impact that music and long-term mentoring can have on a young person struggling with school and at high risk of leaving school early and/or potentially being drawn into criminal activities in the community – the unfortunate reality for many youth who leave school early is poverty, under employment, homelessness and as noted, involvement in crime…75% of adults in Canada doing time have only achieved an average grade level, of grade 7.
Prior to the fire we were preparing to pull the program out of Fort McMurray, primarily because we were having difficulty in locating a local organization to assume responsibility for the program. We were asked by community members to re- consider this decision so that we could continue to support young people through a very difficult time and to attempt to locate a local agency that would assume responsibility for the program.
Local donors stepped forward to fund the program including the United Way and the Municipality of Fort McMurray and our good friends from Fort McMurray Oilsands Rotary. These donors were very generous with their support, with 27 youth now firmly enaged in the program and 5 schools that assist us in connecting with qualifying youth, by offering space for the weekly lessons at no cost and assisting in any other way that helps youth to stay connected. This is very economical and it allows us to connect with youth where they live and ‘hang-out’.
As you are most likely aware the United Way of Fort McMurray fell short of their 2018-19 target resulting in our program not receiving funding for 2018-19 – a decision that basically forces us to close the program by March 31st, 2018, and to terminate 27 youth, who have come to rely on their weekly sessions, virtually immediately…in our 15 years of operations we have never been confronted by anything like this and we’re very concerned about how youth will be impacted by this decision. Our program has achieved phenomenal results since our inception, with 80% of youth staying in school and on a positive life path - that in the long run helps us all, both socially and economically…one youth who leaves school early can cost tax payers up to $16,000 annually in specialized community support services. For this and many other reasons it is imperative that we help our youth complete their education and to give them a chance of becoming successful and contributing adults – “an education is the one great equalizer that gives every kid a chance”.
Obviously this news is extremely disappointing, however there is a very dim light at the end of the tunnel…word spread fairly quickly about this circumstance and thanks to Dave Martin, our local coordinator and artist/mentor, we have been able to secure a portion of the funding necessary to keep the program moving forward until at least the end of June. We still require $6,000 of the $10,000 required to accomplish this short term goal and we will also endeavor to secure the minimum $50,000 necessary to support the program until June 2019…Legacy will continue to assist in fundraising through local and government sources and share all the information we have about running the Instruments of Change Program to the new sponsoring agency. Too much effort has gone into the program and we won’t quit on the youth of your community without a good fight…please help us help your kids!
If you can assist please contact us and feel free to send this notice to your friends, family members and through your personal networks.
Darryl Wernham, MSW
Chief Executive Officer
The Legacy Children's Foundation - Alberta
Prior to the fire we were preparing to pull the program out of Fort McMurray, primarily because we were having difficulty in locating a local organization to assume responsibility for the program. We were asked by community members to re- consider this decision so that we could continue to support young people through a very difficult time and to attempt to locate a local agency that would assume responsibility for the program.
Local donors stepped forward to fund the program including the United Way and the Municipality of Fort McMurray and our good friends from Fort McMurray Oilsands Rotary. These donors were very generous with their support, with 27 youth now firmly enaged in the program and 5 schools that assist us in connecting with qualifying youth, by offering space for the weekly lessons at no cost and assisting in any other way that helps youth to stay connected. This is very economical and it allows us to connect with youth where they live and ‘hang-out’.
As you are most likely aware the United Way of Fort McMurray fell short of their 2018-19 target resulting in our program not receiving funding for 2018-19 – a decision that basically forces us to close the program by March 31st, 2018, and to terminate 27 youth, who have come to rely on their weekly sessions, virtually immediately…in our 15 years of operations we have never been confronted by anything like this and we’re very concerned about how youth will be impacted by this decision. Our program has achieved phenomenal results since our inception, with 80% of youth staying in school and on a positive life path - that in the long run helps us all, both socially and economically…one youth who leaves school early can cost tax payers up to $16,000 annually in specialized community support services. For this and many other reasons it is imperative that we help our youth complete their education and to give them a chance of becoming successful and contributing adults – “an education is the one great equalizer that gives every kid a chance”.
Obviously this news is extremely disappointing, however there is a very dim light at the end of the tunnel…word spread fairly quickly about this circumstance and thanks to Dave Martin, our local coordinator and artist/mentor, we have been able to secure a portion of the funding necessary to keep the program moving forward until at least the end of June. We still require $6,000 of the $10,000 required to accomplish this short term goal and we will also endeavor to secure the minimum $50,000 necessary to support the program until June 2019…Legacy will continue to assist in fundraising through local and government sources and share all the information we have about running the Instruments of Change Program to the new sponsoring agency. Too much effort has gone into the program and we won’t quit on the youth of your community without a good fight…please help us help your kids!
If you can assist please contact us and feel free to send this notice to your friends, family members and through your personal networks.
Darryl Wernham, MSW
Chief Executive Officer
The Legacy Children's Foundation - Alberta
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