When they rise,
we all rise.
Together, we can impact the future of our cities and neighborhoods by helping at-risk youth.
 

SECOND CHANCES CAMPAIGN

AS THE DIRECTOR…

I made plenty of mistakes as a teenager.  I was lucky enough to have a large support system to help me navigate the hard parts of growing up.  Teenagers are still figuring it out.  I know  mistakes can be the opportunity to learn and grow into the best version of yourself.  I believe in second chances and look forward to doing my part to make opportunities for the youth in my community.  

 

Sarah Wray
Executive Director, Tidewater Youth Services Foundation
Resident of Portsmouth

AS A BOARD MEMBER…

“The route to adulthood is a journey. For many youth, this journey is difficult, filled with overwhelming obstacles. Over the past ten years, I’ve had the opportunity to watch Tidewater Youth Services provide much needed support to ensure that one mistake doesn’t derail a youth’s path to a bright future. Tidewater Youth Services is here to help our youth and their families…with community support, we can do so much more!”

 

STUART HAWKINS
Board Chair, Tidewater Youth Services Foundation
Resident of Virginia Beach

AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER…

“Tidewater Youth Services takes on the challenge of youth that the rest of us would probably just as soon ignore—youth that struggle with emotional and behavioral challenges that sometimes lead to expulsion from school, loss of family connection, and sometimes to incarceration or worse.

These are our “throw-away” kids—the youth that we’d rather not have to think about. As someone who has spent a career educating and working with teens, I would be the first to admit that they can be difficult to love…But not walking away is exactly what they need and is exactly the void that TYS fills. Sometimes what these youth most need is some guidance and support in developing skills that they never acquired.”

Together We Can Foundation – Smart Transitions
Virginia Beach, VA

Words FROM THE FOUNDATION

April Focus: Teen Mental Health

April Focus: Teen Mental Health

TYS storiesRising in the Wrong Direction: Rates of Mental Health Struggles for Teens Jenny Hodge Executive Director, Tidewater Youth Services Foundation Resident of PortsmouthApril 2, 20202020 was an incredibly hard year for a lot of teens and families in our...

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Tidewater Youth Services Foundation
Nurturing Potential.  Creating Opportunities. Instilling Hope.