Calling All Volunteers –  Contact Cate@Skills4Living.org; S4L needs volunteers to:
1) Register families for 20-20 Power Workshops – 4 hr, weekday eves,
     weekends, no training required
2) Coach 20-20 PW families – 20-52 week max commitment, 3 hrs/week, flex
     schedule, training March 6 – 8am to 5pm
3) Instruct 20-20PW – 4 hrs/week for 20 weeks + reporting time, training
     March 6 – 8am to 5pm
4) Career Mentors meet with high school students and share life experiences –
     2 hours in March, June & July
5) Speed Interviewers for teens & adults in April, June & July  – no training
     required
6) Experienced Grant Writers needed now!

Thank You Fish City Grill and volunteers from Katy Taylor High School - Ellen Liu, president of Youth For Skills For Living and Rachael Sellers; from Victory Early College High School - Junior Alvarenga, Blanca Aguilar, Sirenia Cebrero and Joshua Brol and adult volunteers – Sara Cavazos, Sally Armitage and Olabisi Asenuga.  A big thanks to Edmond McGee, HP employee & 20-20PW instructor for initiating this event, Amy Cowan who managed it and to Scott Nietschmann, owner of FCG for his generous donation of $232 with patrons donating $245.  These funds support the Game of Real Life, helping teens learn about finances.  In addition to the money raised, we value the opportunity for our students to share their Game stories with the community.  They are amazing and we are so proud of them!

S4L Supporters – As you can see from this newsletter, as we increase the number of communities, families and high schools we serve, we need more volunteers.  Often employers seek meaningful projects to help the community.  If you have a community relations department, please give the name of the department head to Cate@Skills4Living.org.

Free Tax Return Preparation – If your family income is less than $50,000 a year, Neighborhood Tax Centers (NTC), formerly VITA, will prepare your return for free and electronically file it so refunds are quickly deposited in your bank account.  Trained tax professionals prepare the return.  There are 20 NTC in the Houston area.  Call 2-1-1 for a center near you.  Please share this info with your business associates and friends.

Annual Meeting – S4L hosted our Annual Meeting with more than 30 volunteers, collaborators and community leaders on January 15.  If you missed the meeting, we can email you the Annual Report, the presentation and results of the group discussions.  Email Amy@Skills4Living.org. If you want to discuss ways to bring our programs to hard working families and high school teens, please contact Cate@Skills4Living.org for an appointment.

FDIC Chairman’s Award For Innovation in Financial Education  – Last month we announced that Lorraine Decker and Skills For Living received this award.  Here is the link to YouTube to view the presentation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYU261oNKwU   We are excited to receive this recognition for the work so many of our volunteers and families have brought to the community.  Take a few minutes to view the video – you too will be proud to be a partner with S4L in helping to transform the lives at hard working families and at-risk teens!

YOUTH FOR SKILLS FOR LIVING launches the website www.Youth4S4L.org with the help of Y4S4L president, Ellen Liu, Vesta Satari volunteer programmer and Jason Matsumota of Online Interactive.  Teens, get registered and if you need tutoring, or want to set up a Y4S4L chapter at your school, contact Ellen at youth4s4l@gmail.com.

Game of Real Life – Businesses / volunteers we need your help. We need more than 100 career mentors and 60 businesses for the Game of Real Life. If you can help, please contact either Lorraine@Skills4Living.org or Amy@Skills4Living.org. If you know an outstanding potential instructor for the Game, please send their resume to Nibal@Skills4Living.org . Students email Fatema@Skills4Living.org to request registration.

THANK YOU EVERYONE for your generous support and year-end contributions. We are all working hard to help low and moderate income families and at risk teens become successful.  If you know an organization that needs our help or supports our mission, please contact Cate@Skills4Living.org.

Facebook & Linked-In Users – Join the Skills For Living page to keep current on upcoming events, activities and program information!

Registration open for 20-20 Power Workshops & Game of Real Life. – Call 713-782-9974 or email Tammy@Skills4Living.org  to register.

US Census2010 – As college students, Ken and I worked in the 1970 Census. It is important for everyone (legal or illegal) in America to be counted in the 2010 Census – it means money, government representation, jobs and opportunities to improve our lives. It is quick and secure and starts APRIL 1. If you are phoned about the Census before April 1, it is a fraudulent call, do not give out your personal information.
Interested in a temporary job (April to June)?  Go to www.2010censusjobs.gov or call toll free 1-866-862-2010 for information. Minimum schedule is 10 hours per week.