FORM 990,PART III, LINE 1 |
CREATED IN 1997, YOUTH ODYSSEY (THE ORGANIZATION) IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT BASED IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS DRIVEN TO ADDRESS THE RISING TIDE OF JUVENILE CRIME AND VIOLENCE; CAUSED BY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES CAUGHT-UP IN THE POVERTY-CYCLE. YOUTH ODYSSEY'S VISION IS TO UNCOVER THE BURIED POTENTIAL WITHIN YOUTH WHO HAVE NOT YET DISCOVERED IT IN THEMSELVES. IN DOING SO, DISADVANTAGED, AND UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH BECOME PRODUCTIVE AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. YOUTH ODYSSEY WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH THEIR MISSION OF INSPIRING, ENGAGING AND EMPOWERING DISADVANTAGED AND UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, LIFE SKILLS, AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURE. THEY PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS, HOUSING SITES, RECEATION CENTERS, YOUTH AGENCIES THROUGH ADJUNCT PROGRAMMING AND SERVE 800-900 YOUTH ANNUALLY. THEIR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO EFFECT SOCIAL CHANGE IN YOUTH BY PROVIDING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING AND POSITIVE ROLE MODELS WHO WILL STAND IN THE GAP FOR YOUTH. AS A RESULT, YOUTH'S RESILIENCE ATTRIBUTES WILL INCREASE AND RISK FACTORS SUCH AS JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, GANG VIOLENCE, DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, AND TEEN PREGNANCY WILL DECREASE. IN ADDITION, YOUTH WILL BE BETTER PREPARED TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. YOUTH ODYSSEY'S DIRECT SERVICES TEACH LIFE-SKILLS SUCH AS COMMUNICATION, LEADERSHIP, PROBLEM-SOLVING, GOAL SETTING, TRUST AND SELF-CONFIDENCE THROUGH TEAMBUILDING ACTIVITIES, ROPES COURSES,KAYAKING, CANOEING, ROCK CLIMBING, CAMPING, BACKPACKING, AND SO MUCH MORE. THE NEED FOR YOUTH ODYSSEY'S UNIQUE PROGRAMMING IS HIGH AND TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWING DEMAND FOR IMPACTFUL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THEY ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND SERVICES AND THEIR TEAM. REPORTS SHOW THAT YOUTH WHO COMPLETE YOUTH ODYSSEY PROGRAMMING HAVE A DECREASED NEED FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND INCREASED GRADES, ATTENDANCE, AND TESTING SCORES. THESE FACTS POINT TO THE SUCCESS OF THEIR PROGRAMMING, WHICH DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE WORKFORCE AND HEALTHY FAMILY AND SOCIETAL RELATIONSHIPS. YOUTH ODYSSEY IS IN A STRONG POSITION TO GROW AND TAKE MORE STEPS TOWARD ACHIEVING THEIR MISSION. |