Long story short
The TYS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, established in 1991 to raise funds and find community resources to support a public agency, Tidewater Youth Services Commission, in its efforts to help at-risk and court involved youth grow into productive members of the community. Our public partner, “the Commission”, serves the cities of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Franklin, as well as Isle of Wight and Southampton Counties. These seven localities formed the agency in 1977 in an effort to coordinate needed services for the juvenile population, thus avoiding a duplication of services in the region. In 34 years of operation, the Commission has developed a broad range of programs and services and is now the primary resource for juvenile justice services in the region.
Together, we are Tidewater Youth Services.
Who We Are – Mission, Vision & Values
Our Mission
Our mission is to prepare at‐risk and court involved youth for productive lives in their communities by improving academic skills, teaching appropriate life and social skills, and fostering involvement in positive activities.
Our Vision
Our vision is a community where all youth reach their full potential without intervention from the juvenile justice system or the department of social services.
Our Values
Every young person has value and the potential for a bright future. We believe those who do make mistakes have the capacity to change and become productive citizens.
We are accountable to our donors for the gifts they have entrusted to us and for their faith in our mission, conducting all affairs of the TYS Foundation with integrity, both in terms of financial oversight and transparency and in the quality of the programming we support.