For over 10 years, Kitty and John Resor have graciously hosted the City Kids Summer Celebration at their home in Jackson Hole, WY. This yearโs event was in celebration of our 25th anniversary and a reunion after a missed summer out west last year. Around 100 supporters gathered in the Resorโs backyard to reconnect around the City Kidsโ mission and the +500 youth that the organization has impacted over the last 25 years.
To kick off the program, City Kids Board Chair, Mary Speyer, highlighted the importance of being back in Jackson this year and our appreciation of the Jackson community. City Kids Executive Director, Sarah Cryder, then spoke about the challenges weโve faced in the last year and, as a result, the strength and resilience both the organization and our youth have demonstrated. Sarah shared a quote from Jewell Parker Rhodesโ new book, Paradise on Fire, that was inspired by a group of City Kids that she met a few years ago. And finally, DโAnthony Jamison, 2020 City Kids Alumnus, spoke about his seven years in the program and the life skills he learned along the way. He closed by reading his Letter to a Ranger that he wrote just before graduating, which you can watch here.
The event coincided with the kick-off of Old Billโs, one of City Kids and the Jackson communitiesโ largest annual fundraisers. Between now and September 17th, all gifts made through Old Bills will be matched, and because it is also the 25th anniversary of Old Bills, Old Bill himself has doubled his commitment this year from $500K to $1M. We are hoping this will motivate the City Kids community to donate as well, and beat last yearโs total of over $150,000, double what we raised in 2019!
As City Kids embarks upon our next 25 years of continued commitment to our youth, Broken Arrow Ranch, and our community, we ask you to take this opportunity to consider making a donation to City Kids through Old Billโs to have your gift matched by the Community Foundation. Email Dan Ebert, Development Manager, at dan@citykidsdc.org with questions and to learn more about how you can get involved and support City Kids.
