2012 Youth First Holiday Campaign Kicks Off in November

The act of giving is important throughout the year, but giving peaks in significance during the holiday season. To help create happy holiday memories for hundreds of less fortunate Birmingham youth, the City of Birmingham’s Division of Youth Services (DYS) created the Youth First Holiday Campaign.

 Kicking off in November 2012, the campaign consists of three major components:

 YOUTH FIRST CBS42 HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE

November 1, 2012 – December 14, 2012

8:30am – 4:30pm (Monday – Friday)

You can help us serve Birmingham youth this holiday season. Public donations of new, unwrapped gifts will be accepted at the DYS office located at 1608 7^th Avenue North throughout the donation drive.  Donations can also be made at any America’s First Credit Union location.

HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY APPLICATION DATE

November 8, 2012

**9:00am until capacity is reached**

Applications will be accepted at the DYS office located at 1608 – 7^th Avenue North in downtown Birmingham.

(Special Note: DYS collaborates with other local organizations that provide holiday assistance. We do this to avoid duplication of service. If your child(ren) will be receiving assistance through another program, please leave the DYS application process open for other youth who have not yet received help for the holidays)

 “STEP IN THE NAME OF LOVE” EXTRAVAGANZA

Sunday, November 18, 2012 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

FREE ADMISSION! One nonperishable food item or one new, unwrapped gift will get you in to see some of the most dynamic step teams in our region!

For more information about the 2012 Youth First Holiday Campaign, call DYS at 205-320-0879.

UAB Football Ticket Giveaway for Youth Service Organizations

Local youth service organizations may call the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services (DYS) to reserve your FREE tickets to the UAB football game against Tulsa. The game takes place on Saturday, September 29, 2012 at Legion Field.  Kick-off is at 2:00 AM.

Beginning today, organization leaders (Executive Directors, Pastors, Coaches, etc.) may call DYS at 205-320-0879 between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to reserve up to 10 tickets for the youth they serve. Tickets will be dispersed on a first-come, first-served basis until all tickets have been disseminated.

Organizations must call DYS to request tickets.  No email requests will be accepted.

 For more information about UAB Football Ticket Giveaway, call DYS at 205-320-0879.

Birmingham Youth Service Providers are Invited to Apply for TECHaway, a Computer Giveaway Program to Revamp Computer Labs

The City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services (DYS) has partnered with the University of Phoenix to revamp computer labs of Birmingham youth service providers. Organizations selected will receive four (4) desktop computers and/or a projector.

Birmingham youth service providers will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1)     Must have a secured location for the computers to be housed;

2)     Must have a dedicated IT professional to ensure that computers will be functional for your organization;

3)     Must explain in detail how the computers will be integrated into your curriculum;

4)     Organization must have a minimum of 1 year of experience providing services to youth in the City of Birmingham; and

5)     Organization must have at least three (3) letters of references for whom the organization has provided similar services during the past twelve (12) months preceding July 2012.

Organizations must meet these minimum qualifications to be considered.

Interested in submitting your organization? Submit a written proposal request (minimum of 4 pages) and return by Friday, July 27, 2012 to

City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services
1608 7^th Avenue North
Birmingham, AL 35203

Responses will be mailed to all applicants by Friday, August 10, 2012.  Faxed and emailed applications will not be accepted.

For more information about the Youth First TECHaway Computer Giveaway,

contact DYS at (205) 320-0879.

2012 ALL-STAR FOOTBALL CAMPS for Birmingham Youth Concludes with the Joe Webb Youth Football Camp

The City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services’ (DYS) Youth First Summer Sports Series, ALL-STAR FOOTBALL CAMPS concludes with the JOE WEBB FOOTBALL CAMP. Birmingham youth that attend this camp will receive instruction from professional football player, Joe Webb of the Minnesota Vikings and other special guests.

Youth ages 7 – 17 years old can participate in the final skills & drills camps for this summer. On-site check-in and registration begins at 8:00 AM.

Friday, July 13^th

Joe Webb Football Camp

9 AM – 1 PM
Legion Field
for ages 7 – 17

Registration has begun and slots are filling up fast. Parents and guardians can register their child to participate in the All-Star Football Camp by submitting a completed registration form to DYS between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM daily.  Slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until all spaces have been filled.

For more information about 2012 All-Star Football Camps, call DYS at 205-320-0879.

Join the Mentor/Mentee Battle This Saturday at the Youth First He’s First / She’s First Fun Fair

On Saturday, January 28, 2012, The City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services (DYS) will host the 2012 He’s First / She’s First Fun Fair.  This FREE event for mentors and their mentees will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Birmingham YMCA Youth Center.

The Fun Fair continues DYS’ Mentorpalooza for National Mentoring Month, showing youth that Birmingham CARES.

Activities and games are designed for two (2) people to encourage mentor/mentee interaction

All youth must be accompanied by an adult.

Youth and their adult mentor can participate in the Mentor/Mentee Battle for a special Grand Prize!

The first 100 people to attend will receive a FREE PERSONAL PAN PIZZA from Hungry Howie’s located on UAB’s campus.

Beginning today, mentors and organization leaders (Executive Directors, Pastors, Coaches, etc.) can call DYS at 205-320-0879 between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to register their mentees.  No more than five (5) mentees will be allowed per adult mentor. On-site registration is also available.

For more information about the 2012 He’s First/She’s First Fun Fair, call DYS at (205) 320-0879.