REACH Youth Initiative

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ABOUT RYI

REACH Youth Initiative (RYI) is a non-profit organization that was founded to broaden the horizons of inner city youth with a focus on the Northeast side of Detroit—ages 5 – 18. We show them they can achieve any goal they set or become whatever they aspire to be. RYI encourages the students to always reach for the stars. By using the “village concept,” we promote the concept of family. It takes a village to raise a child, which we translate that to be, “raising a child is a combined effort, which requires community interaction and home reinforcement.” Children are our future and need to be molded into responsible and respectful human beings that give back to their community. REACH: Youth Initiative is determined to give the inner city youth the encouragement and support system they need to accomplish their goals and aspirations.

R.E.A.C.H. stands for:

R – Respect & Responsibility

E – Education & Entrepreneurship

A – Ambition & Achievement

C – Community & Careers

H – Health & Humanity

REACH Youth Initiative Components

REACH Days – A day of educational workshops, field trips and speakers/special guests.

Masquerade Soiree` (for kids) – A safe night for kids to enjoy games and entertainment.

READ Initiative – Local celebrities read books about African American or by African American authors.

Career Expo – A career day with speakers, resume and interview workshops, among other career related activities.

REACH Summer Camp – An opportunity for kids to escape to a stress free and relaxing environment away from their normal habitat. The children enjoy fun, athletic and challenging team building activities without TV and video games.

REACH Youth Initiative
PO Box 34454
Detroit, MI 48234
Phone/Fax: 313/559-4343
email: Ryikids2002@yahoo.com

To become a RYI kid, to volunteer or sponsor an event,
click on the Contact Us page.

Read about REACH: Youth Initiative (RYI) in the October 2009 subscriber issue of Ebony Magazine and the April 2010 subscriber issue of Essence Magazine. A special thanks to Ebony Magazine, Pine-Sol and Essence Magazine for the Unsung Hero Award, the feature stories and the donations. Thanks to the donation from Pine-Sol to RYI, we were able to have the annual Masquerade Soiree`(for kids), A Princess & The Frog Red Carpet Movie Premier and attend Winter Camp. RYI will continue to do great work in the community with the inner city kids.

RYI aspires to obtain a building on the Northeast side of Detroit. You can make a donation to RYI to assist us in that goal. The closest recreation center in this area has a senior citizen focus. Although there are several playgrounds in the area, there is no indoor recreation for the children in this area. Several of the recreations centers that once were, are now either closed or torn down or made into playgrounds.

Tickets are $10 each.
Tickets purchased online will be available at the RYI Will Call.

The kids will walk the red carpet with the paparazzi and do red carpet interviews.

Those who purchase at least two tickets to this event will be put in a drawing for a four (4) pack of tickets to see the Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Indians June 1st. You must be present to win.

Shrek Fun! Color your best Shrek with the coloring pages below and submit it to RYI (mail or email) and it maybe posted at the event.

Shrek Coloring Page1

Shrek Coloring Page 2

Shrek Stickers

VOLUNTEERS WANTED!!!

RYI is looking for volunteers to help with the 2010 events. If you would like to assist with RYI's 2010 events, complete the contact page and you will be contacted.

If you are a business would like to sponsor an event or students for various events,
contact RYI at 313/559-4343.

RYI IS GOING GREEN

That's right! RYI is helping Detroit "Go Green" while raising money at the same time for the inner city youth. We are collecting recycled ink and toner cartridges, used cell phones, lap tops, PDAs/Palm Pilots and iPods ongoing through out the year.

If you have a business or individual and would like to contribute or collect these items for RYI, contact us!

REACH: Youth Initiative Is In
The Detroit Public Schools (DPS) has a theme this year I'm In. Well, REACH: Youth Initiative is in! We are challenging the Detroit Metropolitan community!"

RYI is starting a Box Tops for Education and Labels for Education campaign for the entire DPS system. Now that we have Robert Bobb, the DPS Emergency Financial Manager, cleaning up the school system, it is time for Detroiters to step up.

How can you help? Call your local school or you may want to help a school you attended, ask them if they participate in the Box Tops for Education and Labels for Education Project and if they haven't signed up encourage them to sign up. They can raise 10's of thousands of dollars for their school with the assistance of the community, parents, students, local business and school staff. For more info on Box Tops for Education and Labels for Education visit RYI2002.org, Boxtops4edcation.com or labelsforeducation.com.

I would like to see this project headed by (for each school):
2 School staff members
5 community organizations
10 businesses
5 parents
10 students
3 churches

I am also issuing a challenge to the politicians in the area to help push this initiative.

LaShon Scott
REACH: Youth Initiative, Founder

Please pass this along to everyone you know. The movement starts with us. Add it to your face book and myspace pages.

Send-A-Kid to Camp

We went to Winter Camp at YMCA Camp Copneconic Feb 5, 6 & 7, 2010. Thanks to Ebony Magazine and Pine Sol donating $2000 and recognizing RYI Founder as an Unsung Hero at the Sister Speak Luncheon on Saturday, June 20, 2009, and a few fundraisers.

We will sell Hungry Howie Pizza Coupons for just $10 per card. You can order a pizza coupon online for just $10 per card and we will mail it to you, if you add $1 for shipping and handling or you can donate your pizza coupon to a needy family.