 |
 The Executive
Directors Vision
Daryl M. Woodard
As Executive
Director's and Founder of the Wayne County
Youth Outreach Program, Inc, now known as
Smart Choices for Youth, Inc., I do not
consider my position a job, but as my
mission in life.
Through each
of our initiatives, we have been able to
prove that prevention and intervention mixed
with "an ounce of love", still make a
difference in the lives of young people. |
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 Smart
Choices for Youth, Inc. formally known as
Wayne County Youth
Outreach Program, Inc. changed its name as
of January 1, 2005 because
of the expanded services we provide to
surrounding counties. Smart Choices
for Youth, Inc. has been dedicated to the
needs and services of at-risk and
disadvantaged youth in Wayne and Wilson
counties since 1989. In January
1990, the first component, the Governor's
One-On-One Volunteer Program, was awarded to
the organization as a statewide initiative.
Later, two after school programs, Project
H.E.L.P. (Helping Equip Little People) and
Operation L.O.V.E.
(Leaving Out Violence Entirely), were
awarded to Smart Choices for Youth, Inc.
through the Governor's Crime Commission.
Daryl M. Woodard founded Smart
Choices for Youth, Inc., since its inception
and has been Executive Director of the
organization since 1989.
In 1993, Smart Choices for Youth, Inc. was
awarded the prestigious
Gould-Wysinger Award from the United States
Department of Justice. (Note:
This organization was the only program
awarded this honor in the state of
North Carolina for pioneering after-school
programs). The next year, Governor
Jim Hunt visited the organization and
discussed appropriate initiatives for
juvenile delinquency prevention. Other
programs such as Project T.R.A.I.N.
(Training Redirecting Adolescents In Need),
and Project P.R.E.S.S. (People Reassuring
Effective Social Strength) were also funded
by the Governors Crime Commission to serve
youth in the Wayne County area.
Due to the success of programming for youth
and families in Wayne County,
SCFY was able to expand its borders to
Wilson County. In 1997, Project
U.N.I.T.Y. (Unlocking New Ideas Toward
Youth) was funded to address
young males in nearby Wilson County. Project
U.N.I.T.Y.'s success spurred
other programs in Wilson, NC such as Project
G.I.R.L.S.
(Girls In Real Life Situations), and the
Governor's SOS (Support Our Students).
Support Our Students is a statewide
initiative funded throughout North Carolina.
During the same time periods Wayne County
gained two new programs, Operation R.E.A.C.
H. (Reaching Each Child Holistically), and
Positive Peers Mentoring
Initiative. The Governor's One-On-One
Volunteer Program also gained an
Americorp Fellow to assist with mentor
recruitment in Wayne, Wilson, and Lenoir
Counties.
Currently the Smart Choices for Youth, Inc.
Inc., has continued its
intervention/prevention efforts in Wilson
and Wayne Counties. The agency
currently houses two full-time Governor's
One-On-One volunteer programs
and the Governor's Support Our Students
Program, both funded through the
North Carolina Department of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
In July of 2004, SCFY was awarded another
Governor's Crime Commission
Grant called Smart Choices to serve the
youth of Wilson County. Also, in August of
2004 SCFY was awarded a Mentoring Children
of Prisoners Grant from the
Department of Health and Human Services.
In the new millennium SCFY experienced some
very exciting changes and turn
of events for the organization. The
Executive Director, Daryl M. Woodard was
appointed to the
Governors Crime
Commission
and the North Carolina commission
on volunteerism and community service in
2000 and 2001. In 2002 the Governors
One-on-One Volunteer Corporations and
private institutions have also been
supportive of Smart Choices for Youth, Inc.
Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Coca-Cola,
Cisco Systems, and Wachovia Bank have all
assisted through matching grants and
donations. |
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