Communities in Schools of Kent breakfast raises more than $42K
Published 2:01 pm Friday, May 20, 2016
For the Reporter
Communities In Schools of Kent (CIS Kent) celebrated its 25th anniversary serving students in the Kent School District as part of its annual fundraising breakfast on Thursday.
More than 200 community members attended the breakfast at Kent Phoenix Academy, helping to raise more than $42,000 to help students succeed in school.
During the event students and parents shared about impact of the services provided by CIS Kent.
Angelica Alvarado Barro, a seventh grade student at Mill Creek Middle Schoolalong with her mother, Kelly Barro, shared that Angelica had attended many schools prior to entering Mill Creek last fall. The family had been homeless and Angelica missed a lot of school. The family connected with Marit Murry, a CIS Kent site coordinator. Kelly Barro has a job, Angelica is attending school regularly, but, most importantly, they said they feel supported by the community they have found at Mill Creek and they credit Murry.
Jonathan Rubio, a junior from Kent-Meridian High School , shared that during his first few years of high school he made some bad choices. Since being matched with his mentor, Jason, he has been able to make some better choices, get his grades up and is now on track to graduate on time.
Jamoni Owens, a senior from Kentlake High, told the audience that the support from Aaron Benson, a CIS Kent site coordinator, helped him overcome challenges, including some time in juvenile detention. He is on track to graduate this year.
Tyrone “Tre” Tucker, a junior at Kent Phoenix Academy talked about some of the ways the site coordinators Karen Hauck and TeyAnjulee Leon, have helped him, including providing paper, pens, folders and a backpack. He was matched with a mentor, and completed a job shadow and a four-week finance workshop. All of these things are helping him prepare to graduate, but also to be ready for life after graduation.
Through site coordinators at eight school in Kent and Covington , thousands of students in the Kent School District are impacted by the connections and services that CIS Kent brings to these schools. To make a donation or to get involved, visit the Communities In Schools Kent web site at kent.ciswa.org.
