Partnership Power Makes 2012 Holiday Celebration Happen

Jan. 2, 2013 - PRLog -- For the third year, it was a “sell out” crowd as more than 300 caregiving youth and their families along with about 50 volunteers who gathered for a Holiday Celebration Dinner at Benvenuto’s in Boynton Beach on December 17th.

The Caregiving Youth Project (CYP) of the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) is the only organization in the United States solely dedicated to recognizing and supporting children who care for ill, injured, elderly and/or disabled family members.  In the caregiving role children sacrifice their education, health, well-being and childhood.

Mark Hansen, former member of the Palm Beach County Board of Education and AACY Board Chair welcomed the families, followed by an invocation led by Abbi Bentz, Board Director.

“It ‘takes a community’ to support caregiving families and especially caregiving youth” says Dr. Connie Siskowski, the nonprofit organization’s president.  “This event would not be possible without the active support of many partners.” Activities of the evening included piano music as families entered, card crafts for the little ones, the Holiday Shoppe for caregiving youth to select and wrap gifts for family members, professionally taken family portraits, dinner, singing, door prizes and listening to some words of wisdom and encouragement from Izzy Parrado, Guidance Counselor at Okeeheelee Middle School and AACY Board member.

Among those who contributed to the success of the event include: Benvenuto Restaurant, Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Broken Sound Club, D’Best Sandwich Shop, First United Methodist Church Men's Group, Freytag Photography, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, Spirit of Giving Network, St. Paul's Lutheran Church Mom's Club, Stratis Business Systems, Toys for Tots, United Healthcare, Volunteers, and Walmart.

Since its inception in 2006, the Caregiving Youth Project has served as a prototype for the nation and has provided assistance, support and education to over 7,000 students in Palm Beach County. Currently, it is working with more than 500 youth caregivers and their families who entered the Project from eight middle schools in the County. AACY has received national attention through Dr. Siskowski’s nomination to become a CNN Hero and then her selection by CNN to be among the top ten Heroes globally. AACY is replicating its successful CYP through the development of an affiliate network. The newest affiliate is in Arkansas.

For more information, visit www.aacy.org, call Dr. Siskowski at 561-391-7401 or email connie@aacy.org.