Homeless Youth Connection (HYC) has received a $250,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to help ensure youth, ages 13 to 21, experiencing homelessness receive the basic resources they need to stay in school and complete their education. The AZ Department of Education reported that at any given time, more than 8,000 homeless youth (grades nine through 12) are living in Arizona and more than 2,300 are considered unaccompanied youth. These students face numerous barriers to education, keeping many of them from completing high school or achieving post-secondary education.

“Many of us have never had to wonder where our next meal may come from or where we’ll sleep at night, but these are very real concerns for youth facing homelessness,” said Renee Parsons, president and executive creative director of PXG Apparel. “By providing these basic needs, HYC is able to remove some of the burdens on these students so they can refocus on their education and their future.”

HYC’s Empowering Youth For The Future (EYFTF) program is a comprehensive social services program that provides youth experiencing homelessness with housing, basic needs, case management, and support with their education. Through the EYFTF program, HYC helps youth implement plans that will stabilize them, move them forward, promote individual accomplishment, and avoid homelessness in the future. The grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will directly support this program and HYC’s mission to eliminate barriers to graduation for youth experiencing homelessness, creating lasting solutions for a successful future through community support and increased awareness.

“We are so grateful to The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation for providing HYC with the resources to offer authentic youth engagement and positive youth development, so that youth experiencing homelessness will succeed and reach their greatest potential,” said HYC Chief Executive Officer Dawn Bogart.

HYC uses an innovative approach to helping youth experiencing homelessness stay in school and complete their education by meeting them “where they are.” The EYFTF program engages high-school-aged youth experiencing homelessness in trauma-informed, client-led, strengths-based interventions. Youth Coaches work together with these young people to identify their needs related to academics, health, housing, hygiene, employment, and independent living skills. Youth then identify their strengths and goals and partner with their Youth Coach to establish an actionable plan. In a collaborative partnership, Youth Coaches engage with their youth and stand on the sidelines offering compassionate encouragement while each youth chases their dream.

“More than just meeting current needs, HYC is stepping in at a critical time in these students’ lives and helping break the cycle of homelessness,” said Bob Parsons, PXG Founder and CEO. “Sometimes, a little help can make all the difference.”

About The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers support to nonprofit organizations successfully working to empower, educate, nurture and nourish people during what is often the darkest time of their lives. Founded in 2012 by philanthropists and business leaders Bob and Renee Parsons to provide hope and life-changing assistance to the country’s most vulnerable populations, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers critical funding at critical times to those in need. The Foundation’s giving is driven by the core belief that all people – regardless of race, religion, roots, economic status, sexual orientation or gender identity—deserve access to quality healthcare, education and a safe place to call home. Follow @WeDealInHope on social media or visit TBRPF.org, to learn more about partner organizations and the important work being done in the community.