Vero Beach, FL (December 1, 2021) …Members of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation recently awarded Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy a grant for $11,289. These funds will enable Youth Guidance to help underprivileged children in Indian River County embrace Mardy’s Six Healthy Habits through targeted activities that promote nutrition, physical activity, and positive behaviors.
The Mardy Fish grant will support several initiatives at Youth Guidance, including culinary arts, gardening, swimming lessons, pickleball, dance, paddleboarding, surfing, kayaking, skating, and horseback riding. These activities will be offered in conjunction with community partners including PickleBall University, Paddles by the Sea, Sherwood Farms, Community Church, and more.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation to help Indian River County children stay active and healthy,” said Phil Barnes, Youth Guidance Executive Director. “This grant will unlock so many opportunities for our kids – from learning how to care for horses to cooking a healthy meal and sharing it with their families.”
Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy is dedicated to enriching the lives of Indian River County youth through mentoring relationships that inspire trust, self-esteem, and positive futures. Founded in 1973,
Youth Guidance provides daily meals as well as one-on-one and group mentoring programs to children ages 5-24 with limited resources.
After school, students complete their homework under the supervision of experienced Youth Guidance staff and participate in group mentoring programs that teach life skills including culinary arts, sewing, vocational training, recreational activities, S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) and more! If you are interested in learning more about Youth Guidance, please call 772.492.3933, or visit www.youthguidanceprogram.org.
About Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation
Founded in 2007, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation collaborated with Pelican Island Elementary School providing enrichment and tennis programs. These programs provided a safe environment for children to participate in such activities as tennis, dance, gardening, sports, and art. The Foundation is now stronger than ever, with the recruitment of new leadership, the addition of more volunteers and advisers and a new, heightened commitment and partnership with schools, teachers, families, and community. Our vision is to inspire and transform the lives of all children by supporting and developing healthy and positive youth development programs. Currently, MFCF supports over 2,400 children throughout Indian River County, Florida by funding after-school exercise, nutritional and enrichment programs in a safe environment to prepare them for healthy, productive, and successful lives. The Foundation introduced the “Six Healthy Habits” in 2012 which are Get Sleep; Drink Water; Exercise Daily, Eat Healthy; Brush and Floss; Make Friends. If you would like additional information on the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, visit their website at www.mardyfishchildrensfoundation.org.
