LIFE 2016 — Momentum

July 12, 2016

This year our students had the life-changing opportunity to attend the LIFE 2016 conference in Kansas City, MO.

Christian Speakers – Our students had the incredible opportunity to hear words of life and wisdom from some of the most inspired Christian leaders of today. Francis Chan, Jefferson Bethke, John Stumbo, and Tim Meier all spoke Spirit-filled words of life and wisdom into our teens.

Christian Artists – Jordan Howerton Band, Trace Bundy, Micah Bournes, Justin Flom, About A Mile, Sojourner. God has gifted each of these people/bands with awesome talent! We were so blessed to have had the opportunity to experience their gifts and talents throughout the week at LIFE.

Seminar Speakers – All of our teens had the opportunity to choose from a variety of speakers during two separate sessions each day on a variety of topics that are relevant to the struggles and issues they deal with today. Topics included: Reading the Bible as a narrative, Creative writing as a spiritual discipline, What are you going to be when you grow up? Christ, Creation & Science….Do we need all three? As well as some more controversial topics, like: Loving my gay friend, Climbing out of the black hole of depression, Between broken and beauty; the story of former stripper, Harmony Dust. These speakers were incredible. No matter where our teens are in their walk with God, there was something for them each day to learn.

Renew the City Community Service – Our students took an afternoon to serve in the community as well. Hey spent hours cleaning out a tree row, cutting and dragging brush, picking up garbage and working alongside other teens to help restore a Kansas City park area to its former glory! And it was hot!!

Momentum 5K – Our teens had an opportunity to run a 5K. The funds raised went toward the ministry of a brand new C&MA church that will launch in Kansas City in 2016.

Beyond Ourselves, LIFE Offering – Our teens also had the opportunity to give to help others. The LIFE offering was taken this year to help Syrian Refugees. Our teens learned about the struggles and hardships these refugees are facing and how their sacrificial giving can help.

From one of our students:

“Life meant to me a lot of things. It showed me lots of new things and challenges that I need in my life. It also showed me that there are people like me out there, teens struggling with there faith. Life meant that I could be myself around total Jesus freaks like me!!”

Our students have so many fun memories from this trip! Goofy and silly ones from our long bus ride, fun times with friends, making new friends, as well as serious, life-changing memories about how God used this time to speak to their heart, give them a new direction, or convict them of something in their life that needs to change. This trip may well have been a changing-point in a teen’s life, a commitment that will lead to lasting change and faith in Jesus.

ServeCamp 2016

June 16, 2016

Summer started off with a bang with our first event of the season…..ServeCamp 2016! We had 42 students who came together to serve Penns Valley. There were many projects to do, from hard labor to cooking meals for deserving families, everyone had a job to do and they did it well! We had great worship, speakers and team-building time at Krislund Camp. We loved serving our Penns Valley community — we wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!

1st Annual PVYC 5K/10K Walk/Run

May 21, 2016

Saturday, May 21, 2016 was the 1st Annual PVYC 5K/10K Walk/Run. We had over 55 runners & walkers despite the cold and wet weather! Thanks to everyone who volunteered and ran/walked to support PVYC!!

Centre PACT Awards $1637.50 to PVYC

May 17, 2016

Four local non-profits received a combined total of just over $5,000 in grant money from a group of high school students in Centre Foundation’s new program, Centre PACT – Philanthropic Actions Created by Teens.

“Since September, these amazing students have rolled up their sleeves and learned about philanthropy in a very hands-on way, learning everything from granting to fundraising,” said Molly Kunkel, Executive Director at Centre Foundation. “They have made such an impact, and in the areas that really speak to them. It’s been so inspiring to watch these young philanthropists grow during the course of this program.”

After creating their own grant application process and putting out a request for proposal, the students reviewed the applications. Finalist organizations received a site visit from a cohort of the students so that they could view the program up close, see the impact, and ask the staff questions.

“The grant application process and site visits allowed the students to learn more about the nuts and bolts of granting, as well as provided them with a window into how non-profits operate,” explained Kunkel.

The students began the year with a $1,000 granting pool provided by Centre Foundation, but quickly realized their appetite for impact was much larger. So, they began a prospecting campaign that ultimately raised $4,025 from 18 community supporters.

“The students’ dedication to expanding their impact was commendable, allowing them to make grants to all four of their finalist organizations,” said Kunkel.

Students, parents, community supporters, and non-profit representatives were on hand for a check presentation party, which also marked the end of the program’s successful pilot year.

Jaia Clingham-David gave an overview of the Centre PACT program year. Then, Zoe Small presented the first check to Centre County Library & Historical Museum’s Lisa Erickson: $687.50 for a collection of LGBTQ books and college preparatory materials.

Joey and Nick Feffer presented $1,187.50 to Theresa Mast of Centre County’s YMCA for the Moshannon Valley’s “Aspire Program,” an alternative physical education credit course for students who are bullied or cannot otherwise complete gym class and do not want to receive a failing grade.

Bella DiNallo and Wylie McCullough presented $1,512.50 to Marissa Vicere of the Jana Marie Foundation for their Resilience Training program, which teaches students and adults how to identify unhealthy stress levels in adolescents and make healthy recommendations.

Hope Bodenschatz presented $1,637.50 to the Penns Valley Youth Center’s Darren Narber. The funds will help PVYC continue to provide a fun, safe, and welcoming place for teenagers to come after school, receive homework help, provide physical activity, healthy snacks, and build relationships with peers and adults.

High School students from across Centre County are encouraged to apply to join the Centre PACT program, which aims to give participants a hands-on, student-led look at philanthropy, as well as learn about themselves, each other, and Centre County. Fall recruitment will begin as schools reopen in the fall. For more information, please visit Centre-Foundation.org or contact Irene Miller, Development & Events Coordinator (814.237.6229 | irene@centre-foundation.org).

Centre Gives Event at the Round Barn

May 3, 2016

PVYC partnered with Centre Foundation during this year’s Centre Gives event. PVYC hosted an informal dinner event at the famed Round Barn in Centre Hall. Friends of PVYC came out to this historic icon for a picnic style dinner and to donate $25 or more. We had no idea this event would raise over $28,000.00 for the Penns Valley Youth Center! If you gave to PVYC during this event, thank you, thank you, thank you! We were blessed beyond all we could ask or imagine!

The Results Are In!! Benefit Auction 2016

April 20, 2016

This year’s event was a huge success! It was a great night of fun and laughter as the community came out to support the Penns Valley Youth Center.

Event Donations: $31,005 (this includes business and family sponsorships paid to date, silent and live auctions, and in-kind donations on the night of the event)

New Or Increased Monthly Donations: $4,800 annually ($400 per month in new giving)

New Or Increased Annual Donations: $1,500

Total Attributable Benefit Auction Giving: $37,305

In addition, we received seven pledge cards for the CentreGIVES event on May 3rd, totaling an additional $2,925.

Each of these monies go to support the operations of PVYC, from buying all of the great food that is served each day, keeping the facilities functioning, providing scholarships to students who can’t afford to participate in camps and retreats, etc. Each dollar raised is used to support the mission of providing hope, worth and friendship to 6th through 12th graders in Penns Valley.

Thank you to each of you who helped out, donated, attended, prayed for or participated in some way! Without your efforts and contributions, PVYC wouldn’t be possible!

PVYC 5K/10K Run/Walk 2016

March 30, 2016

Join us Saturday, May 21, 2016 for our 5k/10k Run/Walk through beautiful Penns Valley. The 5k will be mostly flat out and back along Sinking Creek. The 10k will circle Georges Valley with some challenging hills thrown in at the half-way point. Both distances will begin and finish near the Old Gregg School in Spring Mills and proceeds will benefit the Penns Valley Youth Center, providing a valuable After School Program for our local youth.

AWARDS: • 1st Place Female • 1st Place Male • Best Outfit • Three deep medals in each age groups for the 10K and the 5K in both male and female categories • Largest Group (High School Sports Teams, Youth Groups, Community Groups – $250 to be given back to the organization!) • Door Prizes

Registration opens at 8:00am, Race begins at 9:00am

Click HERE to register today!

Get In The Game 2016 Dodgeball Tournament & Community Showcase Event

March 19, 2016

Saturday, March 19 was a day for dodgeball! The 2016 Get In The Game Dodgeball Tournament and Community Showcase event was a huge success. We had over 200 students participate, with 22 teams whose members ranged from 5th through 12th grade. Every student received an event t-shirt thanks to several businesses and churches that contributed to make the event possible. We also had over 34 Organizations, Businesses and Churches throughout the community come and showcase what they are all about during the event. Winning teams won “champion-of-the-event” t-shirts, and gift cards to local businesses. Students who participated in the community showcase part of the event were entered in a drawing to win Beat headphones, a Fitbit or an Ipad Mini. More than 40 volunteers and support from the community made this event possible. A big thank you to all of the event sponsors:

Penns Valley Youth Center (PVYC)

Penns Valley Area School District

Grace United Methodist

Fellowship Bible Church

Grace United Church of Christ

Calvary Penns Valley

Penns Valley Community Church

Centre Hall Lions Club

East Penns Valley Ministerium

St. James United Methodist Church

Millheim Original Italian Pizza (OIP)

PVYC Open Mic Night & Art Show

March 5, 2016

We have some talented teens in this valley! Saturday, March 5th many of our students came out to showcase their artistic abilities. Several of our students took to the stage to play music or sing, while others participated in the art show by displaying their various works of art in sculpture, painting and photography. Winners of the art portion were awarded a private art lesson with local artist, Karl Eric Leitzel from Green Drake Gallery in Millheim and a private photography class from professional photographer, Meagan Jepson as well as gift cards to community businesses.

PVYC Annual Benefit Auction 2016

February 5, 2016

Friday, April 8, 2016 — Save The Date!

You never know what destination may await at the 2016 PVYC Benefit Auction! Each year we fund many of our PVYC programs directly through our Annual Benefit Auction. This year promises to be the biggest and best event yet! While the night will be filled with laughter and heart-warming stories of lives that have been changed through the work of PVYC, this work cannot continue without you and your generous support! Pack your bags and join us as we travel to destinations unknown without ever leaving the Valley!