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Some of the best ideas are the simplest: SKY (Simple Kindness for Youth) proves that point. SKY is a local non-profit whose only goal is to help area youth with the seemingly small things that often make a big difference in a child’s life.
SKY’s mission is to help young people build and maintain their self-esteem by providing means to access basic needs, enable them to feel accepted by their peers and enable access to educational activities and community participation.
Grants of up to $150 per student are made based on requests from local teachers and other professionals working with families. Sometimes all that is needed is a new pair of athletic shoes that might be just out of reach of the family budget. Or a partial payment of camp fees to allow a budding musician to spend a summer break at a music camp.
One SKY success story is Justin Parker who first attended PJ Olsson’s Rock Camp in 2012 through a partial scholarship from SKY. Justin had taught himself to play the drums by watching YouTube videos and really wanted the opportunity to get some formal music training. With SKY’s help he got just that, and continued attending for the next three years. The experience he gained as a musician has allowed him to follow his passion and now Justin is the drummer in the band Melodie Rooker and the Loud Boyz, touring the southern states, and thankful for that one Simple Kindness for Youth grant that got him started on his path.
If you’d like to contribute to the SKY Fund at Keweenaw Community Foundation, or if you’d like more information, be sure to visit the KCF website at keweenawgives.org.
