South Shore Foundation Grant Supports Marion County Youth Leadership Team
July 2008

Funds for Youth Leadership Dr. Pat Bailey (center) of the South Shore Foundation Board shows the amount of a new grant for the South Shore Marion County Youth Leadership Team to Renee Myers (left)  and Randy Livingston (right), adult advisory board leaders. The $4,000 grant will help finance the yearlong program of leadership training for ninth-grade students in Marion County schools.

South Shore Marion County Youth Leadership Team has been granted $4,000 by its major sponsor, South Shore Foundation, for the 2008-09 activities, which begin in August. The team will have 21 ninth-grade students from three Marion County public schools taking part in daylong sessions about once a month in the school year to build leadership skills.

Renee Myers, co-chair of the adult advisors with Randy Livingston, said the program strives to motivate and train young leaders to take an active role in their schools and communities. Since forming eight years ago, more than 150 ninth graders have been trained in essential leadership skills, she said, which they use as they go through high school, college, and enter community clubs and organizations.

“We feel the program has proven its value to our community,” Mrs. Myers told the South Shore Foundation Board. For example, she said a former student led a Relay for Life team for her employer, raising money for the Arkansas Cancer Society. Another serves as an associate member of the Marion County Fair Board. Leadership team members have also achieved a high rate of college and vocational education enrollment and a much lower high school dropout rate than the state average.    

Additional sponsors are Entergy, the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Marion County Adult Leadership Team, and the three Marion County school districts. Donations throughout the school year from the schools, local businesses and individuals also help support the program, said Mrs. Myers.

During the yearlong program, students first develop personal and interpersonal skills. They learn teamwork skills, study civic responsibilities, meet civic leaders, and travel to the State Capitol at Little Rock. The ninth-grade students also learn about business and technology, careers, and job interviews. They undertake projects that benefit the community and they review their year’s activities in a graduation reception in May.

For more information about the youth leadership team, contact Mrs. Myers at the Marion County Extension Service office, (870) 449-6349, or click on "South Shore Youth."

South Shore Foundation is the charitable arm of NATCO, a family-owned, independent telecommunications company since 1951, serving six telephone exchanges in Marion and Boone Counties: Bull Shoals, Diamond City, Flippin, Lead Hill, Omaha, and Pyatt. For more information or for a grant application, call 1-800-775-6682.