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ProjecTruth - Telling The Truth To Youth

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Contributed by: Bob Kuebler YWAP on 10/26/2007

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Youth With A Purpose

ProjecTruth - Telling The Truth To Youth

On October 25, 2004 The Holy Cross Youth Center opened under the direction of Youth With A Purpose. That day was the beginning of a partnership between Holy Cross, YWAP and an organization called ProjecTruth. This story is a brief chronicle of that history making alliance.

The Holy Cross Youth Center is located on 7th Street on Buffalo's West Side. The area has been referred to as "World War III" by the Buffalo News. It has been an area of poverty, gangs and teenage pregnancy.The community centers in the area were closed because of lack of funding. Youth had nowhere to go and nothing to do. Many young people have died. Others have gotten pregnant. Some went into hiding with drugs and alcohol. Many stole to support their lifestyle. The community didn't know where to turn.

Father David Gallivan, the Pastor at Holy Cross had a vision of a youth center that would serve the needs of the community. Dr. Judy Vogtli. the Director of ProjecTruth had a desire to reach more young people with a positive life changing message. Youth With A Purpose is an organization that specializes in relationship building in the community. The needs of the neighborhood dictated the services that this new partnership would provide.
A new "Collaborative Umbrella" was created to help the families of the area.

While Fr. Dave, Holy Cross and YWAP provide many relationship building opportunities, this story is primarily about ProjecTruth. Many thousands of young people and their families from all over Western New York have been affected in a positive way by ProjecTruth. Their message is grounded in a character education program that focuses on abstinence from sex until marriage. The ProjecTruth Mission states that: " The programs mission is to present convincing, effective, positive rationale for abstinence until marriage in all settings that impact an adolescents life including family, schools, healthcare organizations, faith communities, and community centers." They have succeeded in a historically significant manner. Since 2001, they have been influencing over 30,000 young lives in 8 counties in Western New York.

Nationally known speakers have been brought in to speak to large crowds at the Canisius College Koessler Athletic Center and at area schools through teen rallies and school assemblies. Over 100 young people from the West Side of Buffalo voluntarily walked into a Catholic Church to watch a drama that portrayed the positive side of abstinence from sex until marriage. Poster contests, music contests, a speakers bureau, a dance team, a drama team and a conflict resolution program are only the tip of the iceberg in listing the creations of ProjecTruth. Schools call back year after year to continue the relationship that ProjecTruth has with their students. They see the benefits in their students. All of the programs are supported by research that is evidence based. The curriculum almost seems to reflect the wisdom of the old proverb that says: "If you give a child a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a child to fish, you feed him for a lifetime." That may sound like a fish story but the people who have been involved in the ProjecTruth message are hooked.

Great programs come and go, great people make programs grow. ProjecTruth has been under the leadership of Dr. Judy Vogtli since 2001 and they are growing.She has a knack for hiring good people and a passion to see kids become strong in making good choices. A good program will not have a lasting impact without good people. The educators at ProjecTruth believe in what they are teaching. They go into schools and community centers and form relationships with the young people they serve. Lori Cilano is an educational supervisor who looks for the best in everyone around her. Either she rubs off on them or they rub off on her because the results are outstanding.The office staff is a very creative and caring group of people that go above and beyond the call of duty. Debb Fucina is the leader of this bunch who always seem to be going the "Second Mile." She does more than anybody could ever ask of her. Kelly Bigaj and Cyndi Dietrich are two fantastically giving ladies that benefit greatly from Debb's leadership. Dave Hargrave is an abstinence educator who puts the same amount of passion into working with one youth as he does with a whole classroom. Janice McGovern is an educator in schools as well as a relationship builder at Holy Cross. She cooks up a hot meal with love and feeds kids wisdom at the same time. Candy McCulloch is an educator who is a favorite with the young people at the Youth Center. She is a counselor and a mentor at the Center. Lori Ricupito covers the SAPAC Program (Substance Abuse Prevention and Counseling)as well as counseling and mentoring. She wears more hats then we can fit here. Ellen Page lives and breathes the ProjecTruth message with a passion that is contagious. She recently lead a group of girls in an abstinence ceremony that had many people smiling through tears. Tina Jones is an educator with a heart as big as the message itself. She gives the ProjecTruth message along with her heart, the youth trust her with their hearts. Bev Ruhland is a star who shines over the students in the Southtowns. There are many more dedicated people serving youth under the banner of ProjecTruth.

Our youth need the truth that ProjecTruth provides. Oh, and just in case you are wondering why you should wait until you are married to have sex, here's a couple of reasons. STD's - there are over 31 sexually transmitted diseases.Some are deadly, some are incurable and some cannot be prevented by wearing a condom. A condom does not protect the heart. Loss of self respect and and self esteem .An untimely pregnancy will change your future and may not be fair to the child who is about to be born.Having sex before marriage may have negative effects on future marriage. These are only a few good reasons to avoid premarital sex.

The only 100% fool proof way to avoid disease, unwanted pregancy or emotionally devastating consequences is abstinence until marriage.

We will devote a future story to the benefits of abstinence.
To learn more about ProjecTruth, please call 332-3910.
http://www.projectruth.com

YWAPBuffalo
YOUTH WITH A PURPOSE
ALL CHILDREN ARE GIFTED
345 7th Street
Buffalo, New York 14201
716-830-8240
ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com
Check out our blogs at: http://buffalo.yourhub.com/~YWAP

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Submitted By: Beverly Ruhland

posted on 10/31/2007 @ 8:43:40 AM

Rated Story

This was an absolute great "PR" article for ProjecTruth! Wonderful lead-in for the staff you mentioned when they go to their schools. There will be no doubt as to their purpose, commitment, or love for the youth.

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Submitted By: Judith Vogtli Durham

posted on 10/26/2007 @ 6:18:12 PM

Rated Story

Thank you for your kind words about the mission, goals and staff of ProjecTruth. It is rare to fine someone with such enthusiasm, zeal and commitment to the welfare of our youth. We need more adults with such faith in the young....Dr. Judy

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Submitted By: Debb Fucina

posted on 10/26/2007 @ 5:10:50 PM

(Not Rated)

Thank you Bob for all your kind words. You left one some very important things out -- YOUR enthusiasm for helping kids get on the right track, YOUR drive to getting kids to listen, YOUR dedication to the youth of WNY; especially the ones at Holy Cross who I know desperately rely on you for some "structure" in their lives. We are very blessed to have you on our "team". ~Debb~

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Showing 1-3 of 3 comments