Blog Post: ACYR Students Paying It Forward

Alexis Diaz, a senior at the Center of Excellence High School, one of the Arizona Call A Teen Youth Resources, Inc programs came up with a brilliant idea to give back to a cause in need. She picked Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) and recruited some classmates who felt the same way she did. Alexis called CASS to set up the process and made all the necessary arrangements for this project. When asked why she wanted to do this she stated, "I came up with the idea for the toy drive because I thought it would be a good way to give back to needy kids. I found a family shelter to donate the toys to. We got the word out by hanging up fliers and talking to people. When people knew what our cause was for, they donated toys. After a month the toy drive was over and we collected 150 toys for Central Arizona Shelter Services”.

Andrea Ready, Drop-out Preventions Specialist with the Youth Excel Project adds, "Alexis is a 17 year old single mother to one year old Felix Jr. She is a very quiet, focused and motivated young lady who knows she wants a better life for her son. Alexis plans to go to college after completing her academic requirements at ACYR”.

Since incorporation as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization in 1976, Arizona a Call-A-Teen Youth Resources, Inc. (ACYR) has been dedicated to providing an array of education, training and employment for in- and out-of-school youth and young adults. During the past 32 years, ACYR’s programs have helped change the lives and enhance the future of over 42,000 young people in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Throughout the years, our mission has remained the same – To transform lives, build futures, strengthen communities, and develop our greatest natural resource…Youth.

www.azcallateen.k12.az.us