Dear Readers,
My name’s Christian, I am a current volunteer of GOFY. I was born and raised in Maryland. A true Marylander! Before I tell you more about myself, I want to give you great news! GOFY is finally a certified 501(c)(3) organization, our IRS tax exempt status was approved on December 9, 2015. We are doubly-excited and have begun the process of snooping around for funding opportunities!
Now, back to my story. When I look back at my life, I see the way I have grown academically. After years of considering myself an average student, I overcame the challenges of oral and written communication with the help of a mentor and academic advisor at University of Maryland. The moral of this short story: Everyone has the potential to strive for greatness, but only when each individual recognizes it first.
The reason I am part of GOFY is because of its mission. During my college days, I was a team leader for St. Camillus Church’s Still Searching Program which helped struggling young adults and provided them with guidance. Since then, I have been on the search for a similar organization, an organization I can join. And I think I have finally found it!
I heard about GOFY from the President, Gimie Doherty, whom I met at my current job. The overall mission and vision of the organization had me smitten and I joined it in a heartbeat. By joining GOFY, I can better serve my community and its programs will enable me to connect with youth whom I can motivate. Some of these programs include educational and career development for youths in need of a little extra support. The organization also supports its community and members, but more importantly, it provides more opportunities for the youth in the County. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to be successful.
We are always seeking new partnership in the community. If you feel like you want to make a difference or give back to the community, please take the time to explore our website and reach out to us. We provide opportunities to individuals who share the same vision in helping out the youth in the area such as volunteering and mentoring. We always welcome new ideas to improve our organization, so we value and appreciate any input or feedback.
GOFY always welcomes generous donations because it provides more opportunities not only for the youth, but also for the community. These donations are considered the seeds for a brighter future. To find out how to support GOFY’s mission contact the President at gdoherty@gofyouth.org. You can also make donations through our website; good thing is GOFY is 501(c)(3) certified. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
The year is soon to end and with a sense of accomplishment, but I am also envisioning the light at the end of tunnel, particularly for Montgomery County youth. We know that in a few more years there will be an increase in the graduation rates in the community.
I wish everyone a happy and safe New Year. We are looking forward to a new beginning in 2016.
Thank You,
Christian Salguero