2013 Buddy Application

admin — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 03:22:48 +0000

April 2013

Brandy — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 15:11:18 +0000

A Note from Jen

It’s crazy town in PFO! The calendar for 2013-2014 has been rearranged, flip-flopped and reworked. We are 18 days away from our big Dance and Visual Art Experience culminating event, HeARTbeat: An evening celebrating non-profit through Dance and Visual Art. We are 24 days away from opening, “All Shook Up”, at the Actors Theatre of Charlotte. We are ready to begin accepting applications for new teens, new advisors and new buddies. WE ARE BUSY!

It’s amazing to look back over the course of this year alone and think of how much we’ve grown as an organization. For years I’ve said to our staff, our teens and our parents, “We grow as we go”. And that statement, in this program year, couldn’t be more true. We will always strive to be better, do better and deepen the impact on the teens we serve. It is simply who we are.

In previous newsletter articles I’ve talked about Seed20 and the opportunity we had to refine a 3-minute speech that clearly articulates who we are, and why we do what we do. At a time when we are wrapping up this past program year and kick starting next, it only seems appropriate to share the final version with you all. When people wonder what in the world is PFO, this is what I will tell them…

From the mind of a teenager:
Why am I here? Why am I doing this? They’re looking at me. I can’t do anything right. I’m worthless. Sound familiar?

Hi, my name is Jen Band and I’m the Founder and Executive Director of Playing for Others or PFO.

Who Am I? Simple question – so hard for a teen to answer.

PFO empowers teens to truly discover who they are and then ask the vital question, “Now how are you going to give of that?”.

But Jen, this sounds like every other non-profit that works with teens. How is it different? –It’s all in the combination.

The program weaves together 3 main components: Leadership Training, Working with Children with Disabilities (which we call the Buddy Program) and Arts Experience.
In Leadership training teen serve on peer-led committees, such as the corporate sponsor team, which will secure 95% of our corporate funding.
In working with children with disabilities, teens pair up with a child with a disability and develop a relationship.
And finally placement in an Arts Experience.

At every one of these turns, teens are answering the question Who Am I?

Through Leadership training they say:
- I am accountable
- I am limitless
- I am making a difference

Working with children with disabilities:
- I am compassionate
- I am understanding
- I am someone who celebrate people who are different than I am

Arts:
- I am a risk taker
- I am talented
- I am successful

Teens create the culture, teens lead & teach, teens become the leaders they learn from.

As a current parent so eloquently put it, “PFO says to teens: Ok, you’re awesome and everyone here loves you. Now what are you going to do with it?”. We build them up (fully empowered) to do great things – both within the organization and outside it. The focus on self is really designed to help teens focus on others, with tremendous results.

I recently asked alumni teens “How do you see PFO working in your life?” every single one talked about taking risks and taking a stand. Emily started “Women in Finance” at Washington and Lee, Jamie volunteers teaching script writing to inmates, and Kaitlin is studying Music Therapy — all because of their experience in PFO. They are giving, serving and “Playing for Others”.

And now from the mind of a PFO teen:
“Why am I here? Because I matter. Well why am I doing this? Because I believe in it. They’re looking at me – yes they are – and they are beautiful…and worthy.”

Next Article Seeking Adult Advisors

Seeking Adult Advisors

PFO Advisors are part-time employees that guide teens as they answer two vital questions:”Who Am I” and then “How will I give of that?”. Specifically they are assigned to a committee of 12 teenagers.
Full job description here

Next Article Buddy Application Available

Buddy Program Application Available

Each year we seek 35-40 children with disabilities and their siblings to participate in our “Buddy Program”. Know a family that might be interested?
Application and information here.

Next Article New Teen Applications on website

New Teen Applications on website-DEADLINE: May 15th, 2013

We are ready to begin receiving applications from rising 8th-12th graders for our 2013-2014 program year.
DEADLINE: Wednesday, May 15th
Application and information here

Next Article Get your tickets for “HeARTbeat”-on sale now!

Get your tickets for “HeARTbeat-on sale now!

Tickets are on sale for HeARTbeat:
An evening celebrating non-profits through Dance and Visual Art.
Friday, May 3rd 8pm – Booth Playhouse
Purchase tickets here!

Next Article Tickets on Sale for “All Shook Up”

Tickets on Sale for “All Shook Up”

Tickets on sale for “All Shook Up”
Join us for “All Shook Up” at the
Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte

Thursday May 9th 7pm
Friday May 10th 7pm
Saturday May 11th 2 & 7pm

Purchase tickets here!

Next Article Note from Jen

Test

admin — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:41:40 +0000

blackhawk, pflugerville, tx

March

Brandy — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:39:45 +0000

Emily Yue

Brandy — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:51:19 +0000

Watch Emily Yue’s Monthly Blog Video for March

March 2013

Brandy — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:44:08 +0000

March 2013

Brandy — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:42:28 +0000

March 2013

Brandy — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:19:48 +0000

March 2013

Brandy — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:18:45 +0000

March 2013

Brandy — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:16:17 +0000