Letter to principal

Dear Administrator,

Thank you for your interest in bringing the Save America's Youth program into your school. Save America's Youth is an outreach program of Freedom Village USA, a home for troubled teens located in Lakemont, New York.

Save America's Youth teams travel to public and private schools across the United States and Canada with a presentation of powerful singing and real-life stories of former troubled teenagers. These young people have found hope and freedom from substance abuse, violence, permissiveness, suicidal thoughts, and various other problems that led them down a path of self-destruction.

Because of their own experiences, the Save America’s Youth team members know the pain and hopelessness that many young people are facing today. Now they are able to share the answer for their lives with others who may very well be in the same situation that they once were in. We have learned over the years that nothing is more effective than teens reaching out to teens. Their presentation is powerful, because it is real!

Even if it appears that these problems do not exist in your school, personal testimonies like these could be the very thing that prevents a student from making a tragic or fatal choice. A recent USA Today study revealed that 67% of 2000 teenagers surveyed said, “I feel like my life is hopeless…I have nothing to live for.” Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens 15 to 19 years of age. Sadly enough, millions of teenagers admit to using marijuana, cocaine or alcohol regularly. We are all too familiar with the end results when a student’s anger, hatred and hopeless feelings erupt into violence.

Freedom Village is a Christian based ministry and we will refer to ‘God’, only with your permission, and ‘Jesus’, only at your request. Please know that we work within the boundaries and guidelines of any school we enter into. In your school we will offer some guidelines for making the right choices.

Our financial goal for an assembly is approximately $300-500 per school. We realize that not every school is able to meet this goal, but we do ask that you help us with a donation, seeing that we are a non-profit organization. If a donation is not possible, we do not let the lack of funds within a school deter us from coming. Also, the length of an assembly is designed in accordance with each school’s time frame as well as their needs.

Now is a difficult time in America to be a teenager. Through the Save America's Youth assembly program, we want to remind every student that there is hope and an answer for any situation they find themselves in. We want to do everything possible to help keep them from making wrong choices.

Thank you for your consideration in bringing this program into your school. If we can answer any questions or be of any help, please feel free to call us.

Sincerely,

Sarah Siegfried
Save America's Youth

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What we're about

Save America’s Youth would like to help you:

¨ Eliminate Violence

¨ Reverse Depression

¨ Stop Suicides

¨ Instill True Self Worth

¨ Instill Clear--Evidenced Message of Hope!

Imagine your students seeing, hearing, and feeling HOPE! For 21 years Freedom Village has been the last resort for thousands of the most profoundly troubled teens in the U.S.A., Canada and the world. With these kids a success rate of 20% would be commendable, and 40% would be unbelievable.

Dr. Fletcher Brothers, the founder and director of Freedom Village, has maintained a miraculous
85% success rate.

No, Dr. Brothers has not discovered a revolutionary new wonder drug or shock therapy; rather he has found the secret to victory over today’s overwhelming challenges in some eternal truths. “These principles,” says Dr. Brothers, “were once the ‘norm’ in the United States and Canada because it was upon these basic fundamental principles these great nations were founded.”

With a team of Freedom Village graduates, Dr. Brothers has created Save America’s Youth. Save America’s Youth will be conducting general assemblies in your area wherein they will sing and share their personal ‘tragedy to triumph’ stories. They will tell your students how they have overcome emotional, physical and sexual abuse, conquered drug and alcohol addictions and escaped depression and hopelessness.

We’ve learned that nothing in this world is more powerful than kids talking with kids. The teenagers that we bring into these assemblies know your student’s pain, shame and hopelessness and yet today are living victorious lives.

Our groups will share some keys to making

"RIGHT CHOICES" "WRONG CHOICES"
1.Good Friends and Healthy Influences 1.Wrong Friends And Destructive Influences
2.Healthy Self-Worth 2.Violence/Crime
3.Good Character 3.drugs/Alcohol
4.Proper Goals 4.Suicide
5.Positive Attitude 5.Low Self-Worth
6.Caring For Others 6.Hopelessness
7.Determination And Education 7.Quitting School

The presentation shows the students that there is hope for the future and encourages them to make wise choices. Each program attendee receives a card with these keys to making right choices and wrong choices, along with a toll free hotline for counseling!

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We have selected these young people to share their lives with you from our Save America's Youth team. These are just an example of the powerful stories experienced at a Save America's Youth presentation.

Look Who's Talking

Jeannette - Feeling the effects of violence and divorce at home, I grew into a very rebellious and permissive young girl. Having been thrown out of several different schools, I began to live a very permissive life filled with drugs, alcohol and unhealthy relationships. I found myself involved with a 32-year-old drug dealer and pregnant at the age of 16! Not knowing what to do I had an abortion. I became the person I said I would never be! After leaving home, I had no life! I had come to "the end of myself." I decided to turn my life around. I am married now to a wonderful man who loves me for who I am, not what he can get from me. We kept ourselves pure the whole time we were dating, and I can definitely say it was worth it. I found real love, and a real life. If I can do it anyone can.

Brian - I was brought up in a good home, but when I was 13 years old my parents separated very unexpectedly. I took it pretty hard because I never saw it coming. I began acting up in school, and started smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol in middle school. To make a long story short my drug habit progressed to a $100 a day heroin addiction! I soon found myself in many rehabs. I had lost control of my life to drugs, and had hit rock bottom. I finally admitted myself into a hospital and went through the most painful five days of my life. Coming off a $100 a day heroin addiction was like being hit by a truck! I began to cry thinking my life was over, but I decided to try and get myself back on track. I started making the right choices and started doing right. I learned how to have character and be a man. It takes a real man to stand up for what is right instead of conforming to peer pressure. I am a changed guy, and it all started with one right choice after another.

Kelly - Growing up in a good home with two parents who loved me I never thought that my life would end up in shambles. I had everything a child could dream of having, but the "strict" rules, or so I thought, that were placed upon me only made me feel locked up with out a key. I thought I knew everything I needed to know to keep myself right, but the hatred that I had inside me was so intense I could not bear it. I turned to suicide, depression, anorexia, drugs and rock music all in search of an answer. You might be asking the question "How could a good kid end up like that?" The truth is that all over America and Canada "good kids" are going bad. They find themselves trapped because they try to do right, but they never seem to get anywhere. I learned that I needed to start standing up for what was right no matter what the cost. It was hard, but in the end people started to respect me and I have now become a leader for right. My message is to those kids who have a good life. Don't turn away from what you know is right. Make right choices now and you will be amazed at the difference you can make in other people's lives.

"What Do Other Schools Have To Say About Our Program?"

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Recommendations

BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
(Boston Middle School Academy)

I am writing to thank Save America's Youth for their performance at our school on February 5, 2003. The presenters sang beautifully and discussed their personal life stories with honesty and courage.

Through song and dialogue these young adults discussed their individual intense struggle with drugs, alcohol, and mental illness. They discussed family issues, peer pressure, and their feelings of hopelessness. They discussed how they were able to turn their lives around when it seemed impossible.

Our school is an alternative school for 6th ,7th, and 8th grade students that have been unable to maintain in a regular public school setting due to behavioral difficulties. Save America's Youth was able to relate well to our students and held their full attention for the entire presentation. This was impressive!

Save America's Youth was moving and very real for our students. Thank you for your creative approach in reaching the adolescent population and providing them with hope and inspiration. I highly recommend their visit to all schools. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me.

FLUSHING, NY
(Rachel Carson Intermediate School)

Save America's Youth presented their performance in my school on Friday, October 25, 2002. I would like to take this opportunity to express how pleased I was with the program.

The presenters were well organized , polite, articulate and related well to each audience of 7th, 8th, and 9th Graders. The format was very appropriate since it combined not only real life testimonies to which the students could relate, but also inspirational music which supported the theme.

I have already begun to speak to my colleagues in the city about Save America's Youth. Enclosed is a personal check to support your continued efforts.

Please extend my thanks and appreciation to all the young people who presented at my school. They are an inspiration to all of us. God bless you in you in your work.

BURLINGTON, N.C.
(Broadview Middle School)

I would like to speak briefly on behalf of Freedom Village USA. This group of young people uses their actual life stories to inspire young people. Each of them has endured suffering and responded inapropriately in a variety of ways.Some have run away, abused drugs, attempted suicide, and have all transformed into successful young people. Their resilience is astounding and demonstrates hope to our young people.

We have had Freedom Village USA speak to our 7th and 8th Grade students every year for the past 5 years. Our students learn from other young people who have battled the same pressures and obstacles and survived. I encourage other schools to take advantage of this performing group to inspire their young people . You will not regret their visit. Feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions.

NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE
(New Castle Baptist Academy)

Thanks so much fo being with us today. I really appreciate your love and passon for God!. I pray that He will use you all to help reach some young pople for the kingdom! God keep youall safe in His will as you journey to eternity.

COLD SPRING, NY
(Halden Central School District)

E MAIL
(Halden Central School District)

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