All Categories - Young Women Of Promise, Inc.

Meet Dillon Ward - 2023 Teens and Kids Who Care Award Recipient

1/8/2023

Dillon Ward

Parents/Guardian:
ReGina Smithwick

My name is Dillon Franklin Ward, I am 18 years old and a student at South Central High School. I’m an AVID student with dreams of becoming an engineer and getting my master’s degree at Virginia State University. I've attended the University of South Carolina Partners for Minorities in Engineering and Computer Science Technical Workshops for 3 summers. Plus I have finished my 3 years of engineering classes at South Central.

I'm a big fan of marvel and enjoy watching superhero movies, my favorite is any Spider-man movies. I am a caring person, my main goal every day is to make at least one person a day laugh. This is just a bit of personality; I only hope to grow and learn as I get older.

Name of Organization/or School:
South Central High School

College Aspirations:
To attend Virginia State University and get a Masters degree.

Summary of Volunteer & School Activities:
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; Something2Somebody

What motivates you to serve?
I like being able to help brighten someone else’s day.

How has your work touched the lives of youth and others in your community or school?

I helped to keep others fed.

Do you have a personal motto? Or Bible verse that guides your life? Make one person smile everyday.

Describe your family: My family is hard-working and loving.

What advice would you offer to other youth wanting to serve?
To just go for it!!!

Meet Franklin Ward, Jr. - 2023 Teens and Kids Who Care Award Recipient

1/8/2023

Franklin Ward, Jr.

Parents/Guardian:
ReGina Smithwick
Name of School:
South Central High School

My name is Franklin D. Ward Jr. I am 18 years old and a senior at South Central High School. I am a theater kid and have been in theater all my life. I love to sing, write stories plus I am a gamer, I often enjoy giving back to the community and conducting public service for those in need. My future dream is to become a senator so I can make a difference in the government from the inside out. A fun fact my favorite color is red.

College Aspirations: Fayetteville State University

Summary of Volunteer & School Activities:
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; Something2Somebody

What motivates you to serve?
I have a desire to serve the world and help people in need.

How has your work touched the lives of youth and others in your community or school?

I think my work has left a positive impact on their lives.

Do you have a personal motto? Or Bible verse that guides your life?
Serve others before you serve yourself.

Describe your family:
My family is fun and strong and determined people.

What advice would you offer to other youth wanting to serve?
Don’t think, just do!!!

Meet Jaleah Taylor - 2023 Teens and Kids Who Care Award Recipients

1/8/2023

Jaleah Taylor

Parents/Guardian Jasper and Cynthia Taylor

Jaleah and Jasmine Taylor received a $200 mini-grant award from Young Women of Promise for their Loving Through Giving community service project which was held on Saturday, January 14, 2023.

Name of Organization/or School: Kinston High School

College Aspirations: Graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing

Summary of Volunteer & School Activities

Varsity Cheerleading
Part of 5 Clubs (HOSA, Anchor Club, SGA, Drama Club, and National Honor Society)
Volunteering through feeding, coat drives, food drives, many fundraisers, blood drives, many donations, etc.

What motivates you to serve?

Knowing that I put a smile on people's faces, motivates me to keep going in the work God has blessed me to do. It has a positive impact in my life to keep going knowing I also made an impact in others.

How has your work touched the lives of youth and others in your community or school?
My work inspires people to learn and interact, which increases achievement and growth, and improves academic fulfillment. Just seeing it in their faces lets me know I made some type of impact.

Do you have a personal motto? Or a Bible verse that guides your life?
Psalm 46:5

Describe your family: (parents, siblings, etc.)

My family is very much loving, supportive and motivates me to be the person that I can be. They're always here for me if I need them. Very thankful for them.

What advice would you offer to other youth wanting to serve?

If you have a strong desire to serve but are afraid to, I advise you to come out of your comfort zone and go for it. You will eventually get the feel of serving and you’ll feel better as a person just because you went out your way to make an impact in someone else’s life. You would not regret serving within your school and community. I also advise you to join clubs!

Meet Jasmine Taylor - 2023 Teens and Kids Who Care Award Recipients

1/8/2023

Jasmine and Jaleah Taylor received a $200 mini-grant award from Young Women of Promise for their Loving Through Giving community service project which was held on Saturday, January 14, 2023.

Meet AMEXCAN at Pitt CC - 2023 Teens and Kids Who Care Recipients

1/8/2023

AMEXCAN at Pitt CC Student Organization

The AMEXCAN at Pitt CC Student organization received a $200 Mini-Grant from Young Women of Promise to support the following project:

The AMEXCAN at PCC student organization hosted it’s first Friendsgiving and Loteria event on November 30, 2022. The purpose of the event was to promote unity amongst the campus community as well as to highlight and celebrate the Latino/Hispanic culture. Students gathered from the PCC community as well as from the PCS Early College High School and ECU’s AMEXCAN student organization. During the event, students were able to fellowship with other students, enjoy traditional Latin and Hispanic cuisine and be entertained by Latin music. It was certainly an evening filled with thanksgiving and joy. The students were able to share information about this new organization and formally invited students to join the organization.

How many young people (ages 5-25) participated as leaders, planners, and/or volunteers? - 78

How many adult volunteers participated as leaders, planners, and/or volunteers?
8.

How many people were directly helped by your project(s)? 80 +

How many people were indirectly helped by your project(s)? 10+

What results did the activities achieve or what changed because of the project(s)? (Include numbers of specific project outputs if possible.)

This event provided an opportunity for minority students to gather and celebrate culture. It also highlighted a sense of presence and self-awareness. Comments were heard such as:
“ I didn’t know this many Hispanic students were even on campus.”
“When can we do this again.”
This is the gateway to something great. In the future, this organization will plan and deliver community service activities as well as educational and personal development opportunities in the PCC community.

Meet A'Niyah Grant - 2023 Teens and Kids Who Care Award Recipient

1/8/2023

A'Niyah Grant

South Central High School - Winterville, NC

Parents:
La"neika & Shon Bruinton

College Aspirations:

I am unsure as to where I would like to attend college at this time, but have been accepted to several HBCU’s. My career path is geared toward working in psychology and forensic science in order to become a criminal profiler. I plan to attend a 4 year college for my bachelors and then further my education with a masters degree in my major. I also desire to minor in business to obtain a degree so that I may one day own my own business which will allow me to do more within the community.

Estimated number of service hours:

Over 250 hours between school and clubs that I participate in.

Summary of volunteer and schools activities

Boys & Girls Club- Keystone Club (President)
FBLA- Winterville Food Bank
National Honors Society- Child Care, Clean up, schools events, etc.
Yearbook staff- Co Editor in chief
GSA
Marching Band- Color guard

What motivates you to serve:

My family motivates me to serve. Growing up, most of my family worked in the helping profession. Due to that, I saw giving back throughout my life starting at a very young age. Through their influence I fell in love with serving my community, because making a difference is important to me. Being able to join clubs and organizations in my community has allowed me to see many aspects of how I can serve and assist in the many cries of help that I see. I have learned that there is so much that can be done if we just come together as one. I want to be able to make a great impact and real change.

How has your work touched the lives of youth and others in your community or school

I have seen great impact in programs that I have implemented especially at my local boys and girls club. I have worked with youth whom especially during the pandemic felt as if they had no one to talk to. Many expressed feeling like they had no one fighting for them to succeed, and needed a safe space to express and work through those emotions. We created a safe space allowing them to make mistakes, learn from them, and grow in the end. I feel like my impact has created upcoming leaders and scholars in my community. In addition, I also created a cheer squad that further assisted in providing an outlet for self expression and creativity.

Do you have a personal motto or bible verse that guides your life

“Every day the sun don’t shine, but that’s why I love tomorrow”
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35 NLT)

Describe your family

I come from a blended family with many personalities and strengths. My family is made up of educated individuals, entrepreneurs, hard workers, goal setters and leaders. They are also loving, caring, understanding, givers and honestly the funniest people I have ever met!! They support me in all my decisions and help me better understand the rights and wrongs of life. As my aunt would say, “this mess ain’t no joke” meaning life comes with it’s challenges. I am glad to have my family and would not trade them for the world! :)

What advice would you offer to other youth wanting to serve

GO FOR IT!! Community service gives you a joy you never knew you needed. The smile on people’s face and the support you will get from your peers makes everything worth it.
Do as much as you can! You don’t have to be Mr Beast to give back to the community. You can give small things like canned goods to the food bank or something that most of us have a lot of which is time. Volunteering at the food bank, homeless shelter, or even at school is still supporting your community. A little goes a long way!

Meet Y'Anna Rivers, 2023 Teens and Kids Who Care Recipient

1/8/2023

Y’Anna S. Rivers

Parents/Guardian: Sherrell Rivers

Name of Organization/or School:
Warsaw Elementary School

College Aspirations:
Attend college pursuing a doctoral degree to become a neurosurgeon

Estimate Number of Volunteer Hours for 2022:   over 100

Summary of Volunteer Activities
DKY Family Farm, school events/concessions, Warsaw Parks & Recreation, assisting elderly neighbor, delivering packages to rest home

Activities:
National Beta Club, Girl Scouts, 4-H, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Softball, First Missionary Baptist Church Youth Choir & Sunday School, KEMBA Youth member, Battle of Books, Future Teacher Program & Miss Veterans Day Queen 2022-2023

What motivates you to serve? I like helping others

How has your work touched the lives of youth and others in your community or school?
My work in my community has touched the lives of others because I am setting a positive example and other youth look up to me.

Do you have a personal motto? Or Bible verse that guides your life?
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

Describe your family: (parents, siblings, etc.) Mother: Sherrell Rivers

What advice would you offer to other youth wanting to serve? I would advise other youth to always set a good example even when you don’t think others are watching.

2023 Teens and Kids Who Care Recipients

1/2/2023

Our Teens and Kids Who Care program provides recognition and mini-grants to local youth to perform youth-led service projects in the community.

We will recognize outstanding youth service at the 2023 MLK Day of Service celebration on January 16, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Temple of Zion International Ministries located at 1012 Dickinson Avenue, Greenville, NC.

Teens and Kids Who Care nominees are:

Janae Brown, Kinston High School (Lenoir County)
A’Niyah Grant, South Central High School (Pitt County)
Courtney Murphy, Farmville Central High
School (Pitt County)
Y’Anna Rivers, Warsaw Elementary School (Duplin County)
Jasmine and Jaleah Taylor, Kinston High School (Lenoir County)
Dillon Ward and Franklin Ward, South Central High School (Pitt County)
Derrian Wilson, Kinston High School (Lenoir County)
and
AMEXCAN at PCC, Pitt County Early College

Program Re-Launch on 2023 MLK Day

12/11/2022

We are looking forward to presenting our Teens and Kids Who Care student recognition program on January 16, 2023 as part of our MLK Holiday Celebration.

Please click on this link for more details.