KidsMatter

Back to School Season is Here! 🎒

As classes resume this month, we’re thrilled for all the amazing opportunities ahead—new memories to be made, lessons to be learned, and goals to be achieved. Best of luck to all of our DuPage County, Will County, and Kane County students on this exciting journey!

Stay connected with KidsMatter for resources to help you succeed academically and maintain mental well-being: kidsmatter2us.org

Join us for the KidsMatter EMPOWER Gala on October 18th—one of the year's premier events for our attendees and the business community! 🌟 This year's "Field of Dreams" theme represents our commitment to encouraging youth to pursue their dreams with confidence and resilience.

By becoming a gala sponsor, your business or organization will gain valuable exposure and build lasting relationships with key leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs within the KidsMatter network. It’s a unique opportunity to promote your business while supporting a stronger community that empowers kids and families.

All proceeds will champion the work of KidsMatter toward empowering kids to realize their purpose, know their value, and find their pathway.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4fA9MUJ

Tickets are also available for purchase—don’t miss out on this unforgettable evening! 🎟️

Congratulations to our Springboard Series students! Both healthcare career and construction management and trades students graduated yesterday. All of these students worked so hard this summer, and we are very proud of them!

We are grateful for the generous support of our SpringBoard Series Partners that make this program possible. Thank you for supporting students interested in exploring healthcare and construction management & trades careers!

🏥 Survey of Healthcare Careers – Funded by Endeavor Health Community Investment Fund, Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation, and other generous partners. The program is a collaboration between KidsMatter, KidsMatter Senior High Board, College of DuPage, Naperville Community Unit School District 203, Indian Prairie School District , Elmhurst CUSD 205, Endeavor Health, Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, and other key partners.

🛠️ Construction Management & Trades – Funded by Bosch USA Community Fund, Nicor Gas, Bulley & Andrews, Sunbelt Rentals, Inc, PowerForward DuPage, and other generous partners. The program is a collaboration between KidsMatter, College of DuPage, Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Team B2B, Naperville School District 203, Indian Prairie School District 204, and key partners in the construction and trades industry.

We are incredibly grateful to AIANA Leads for inviting our CEO & Executive Director, Nina Menis, to speak at this past weekend's AIANA 2nd Annual Career Expo! 🙌

The event at the 95th Street Naperville Public Library was a tremendous success, providing middle and high school students and their parents with a fantastic opportunity to explore diverse career paths and the essential skills needed for future success. 🏫✨

A big thank you to AIANA, a nonprofit organization powered by dedicated volunteers, for their unwavering support of educational and career development initiatives. Your efforts are making a lasting difference in our community! 🌟

📸 Photos courtesy of A3N Media

July is Make A Difference to Children Month, where we can reflect on our childhoods and think about those who made a positive difference in our lives. Now, consider how you can be that positive influence for today's children!

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training at KidsMatter gives adults who work with youth the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to children and adolescents (age 6-18) who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them with the appropriate care. Check out more details and sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gUbu98Up.

We are so grateful for the support provided for this important program by the DuPage County Transformation Partnership, a collaboration between DuPage County Board and DuPage Foundation. Additional support is also provided by Endeavor Health Community Investment Fund, Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, and other key partners.

From lemonade to fortunes made, support 150+ young entrepreneurs at the 4th annual Naperville Children's Business Fair! The event, hosted by local high school students, features a unique opportunity for children ages 5-14 to test the waters of entrepreneurship. Over 80 kid-owned businesses will be exhibiting at Naperville Central High School from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm on Saturday, 8/3. KidsMatter is thrilled to support these amazing entrepreneurs, and we hope to see you there!

Learn more at https://www.childrensbusinessfair.org/naperville-chen and RSVP on the Facebook Event: https://bit.ly/464jxGi

www.facebook.com

Curious about how what your teen eats can affect their mental well-being? Check out this insightful article from Positively Naperville by Nina Menis, where she explores the vital connection between diet and mental health in teenagers. Learn how nutritious choices can boost mood, enhance focus, and support overall mental health.

Read the full article here: https://www.positivelynaperville.com/2024/07/12/kidsmatter-2-us-the-brain-body-connection-how-diet-impacts-teen-mental-health/144312

KidsMatter 2 Us – The brain-body connection: How diet impacts teen mental health - Positively Naperville You already know “You are what you eat,” but did you know that you also “feel what you eat?” When helping adolescents deal with anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders, a first step toward positive change is improved nutrition. Here are some well-sourced ways diet physiological...

Our partners, the City of Naperville, Illinois, Government and the Naperville Public Library invite you to join the Embracing Community Book Read, featuring “Community: The Structure of Belonging” (2018 edition; Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.), authored by Peter Block. This book describes how in a true community every person is a citizen, relationships are key, and focusing on what is possible is transformative, writing “possibility is a declaration of what we create in the world each time we show up.”

The Book Read kicks off with a talk by Peter Block (who will be present via Zoom) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31. Participants may attend in person at the Naperville Municipal Center, or remotely via Zoom. To sign up, visit naperville.il.us/embrace-community.

The Book Read event will run from Aug. 1 to Oct. 5 and is free and open to all, but registration is required; please visit naperville.il.us/embrace-community for registration information. For those attending online, the Zoom link will be shared via email with registrants before the event.

The Book Read is part of several inclusive community conversations hosted by the City, in partnership with other organizations, in 2024 as part of its “Embracing Community: Expanding Our Dialogue, Deepening Our Understanding” series. The conversations include storytelling and opportunities for the community to participate in intentional, respectful, and ongoing dialogue to deepen understanding while fostering inclusion among generations, cultures, and those with different experiences.

Embracing Community Embracing Community: Expanding Our Dialogue, Deepening Our Understanding is a series of events to advance the City’s mission of creating an inclusive community that values diversity.

As college freshmen prepare for their move-in day, the Naperville Police Department is hosting an essential seminar to ensure students and parents are equipped with crucial safety knowledge.

Join them on Thursday, July 18 at 7 p.m. at the 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr., for “Safety for the College-Bound Student.” This informative session will cover:

🚬 Drug and Alcohol Education: Understanding the potential legal, personal, and academic consequences.
🚨 Personal Safety: Learning key strategies to safeguard yourself and your belongings while on campus.

Don’t miss this opportunity to prepare for a safe and successful college experience! Visit https://bit.ly/4eWV0qN for more information.

Congratulations are in order for KidsMatter Senior High Board member, Kendall Klimek on her recent graduation from Neuqua Valley High School - Indian Prairie School District !

Kendall is excited to attend The University of Texas at Austin's Radio-Television-Film program. Of her time with KidsMatter, Kendall has fond memories, reflecting, "My favorite KidsMatter memory is attending and ushering at the EMPOWER Gala. Not only was this an exciting bonding experience for the Senior High Board, but it was also a special opportunity to greet attendees and witness the joy of philanthropy firsthand. At this event, I had the privilege to meet and shake hands with many amazing leaders and role models in our community, whom I look up to!"

We wish you so much success in your new chapter, Kendall, and we're so proud of you!

We are so grateful to the Naperville Professional Firefighters for a Cause for selecting KidsMatter as the recipient of funds raised at this year’s Chari-Tee Time Golf Outing!! Your support allows KidsMatter to continue our important work around youth mental health programs and outreach.

You are making such a big difference in our community! Thank you so much!

It's Minority Mental Health Awareness Month! Did you know KidsMatter offers Youth Mental Health First Aid Training in English and Spanish? Visit https://kidsmatter2us.org/ymhfa-training/ for more information!

We are so grateful for the support provided for this important program by the DuPage County Transformation Partnership, a collaboration between DuPage County Board and DuPage Foundation. Additional support is also provided by Endeavor Health Community Investment Fund and Linden Oaks Behavioral Health.

Happy Graduation to KidsMatter Senior High Board member, Samika Karumuri!

Samika is a Naperville North High School - Naperville Community Unit School District 203 graduate and is excited to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to study computer science.

Of her time with KidsMatter, Samika has fond memories, reflecting, "My favorite KidsMatter memory is doing the Lou Malnati’s event every year!"

We wish you so much success in your new chapter, Samika, and we're so proud of you!

Happy Independence Day from KidsMatter! We hope you all have a safe and happy holiday with your friends and family. 🇺🇸

Last week, we celebrated the inaugural year of the Teen Philanthropy Initiative (TPI) for high school juniors! This program, established under the National Three Pillars Initiative and sponsored by KidsMatter, represents the volunteer spirit at the heart of Naperville. TPI is Co-Chaired by Nina Menis and Mark Trembacki, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Busey Bank, and Janet Sommerville serves as Coordinator. Many thanks to Mayor Scott Wehrli and to North Central College Provost, Dr. Abiodun Goke-Pariola for speaking at the event and to Busey Bank for sponsoring the reception. Pictures were taken by Hailey Nicole Photography.

A heartfelt thank you to our hardworking TPI students, their supportive parents, and our amazing mentors: Lauren DeSimone, CFRE, Amanda Kunzer, Dawn Portner, Marion Ruthig, and Yashica Weeks.

We are also very grateful to our first-year partners and supporters: North Central College, City of Naperville, Illinois, Government, Busey Bank, Naperville Bank & Trust, Naperville Rotary Charities, The Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise, and individual donors Peter and Colleen Fissinger, Jim and Nancy Hansen, Mark C. Menis, Tom and Pati Miers, Brien and Carolyn Nagel, and Mark and Debbie Trembacki.

We also want to extend our congratulations to the nonprofit recipients of the student’s TPI grant awards: Alive Center, Inside Out Club, Mays Music Centre of Excellence, ALMAS - Alliance of Latinos Motivating Action in the Suburbs, KidsMatter Senior High Board, NAMI DuPage, Almost_Home_Kids, Maker’s Lab, Naperville Neighbors United, Fry Family Y, Max's Mission, and SCARCE. Your incredible work and dedication to our community are truly inspiring.

Congratulations to all our TPI students! We look forward to your return next year and welcoming the new junior cohort. 🌟

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=KidsMatter2us&set=a.875192067978158

🎓 Congratulations to Avery Belgio, a Senior High Board Member of KidsMatter, on her recent graduation from Naperville North High School! Avery is planning to attend Purdue University in the fall with a double major in Nutrition and Dietetics/Fitness, Health, and Nutrition.

When asked about her favorite KidsMatter memory, Avery says, "Every Lou Malnati’s fundraiser I’ve been to over (pretty much) the last decade. I love the energy of the event, talking with families from all over Naperville, helping raise money for the KidsMatter cause, and of course the live music! It’s also always been a great bonding activity for the senior board and I always look forward to it!"

We are incredibly proud of you, Avery, and we can't wait to see all of the amazing things you will achieve in the future!

360 Youth Services, a member of our Collaborative Youth Team (CYT), is excited to offer their second set of transformative workshops on Self Image and Mindfulness this July! The Self Image 3-part series, led by the experienced counseling staff at 360 Youth Services, will explore Defining Self Image & Developing Self Tolerance, Working Toward Self Acceptance, and Practicing Self Compassion. The 3-part series on Mindfulness, also hosted by 360 Youth Services’ counseling staff, covers the topics of Distress Tolerance, DBT Coping Skills, and Mindful Yoga.

All youth ages 12-18 are welcome for both!

Cost: $15/person and includes all three sessions for both workshops

Location: 360 Youth Services’ Office | 1323 Bond Street, #119, Naperville, IL 60563

Workshop Dates can be seen below:

Self Image Workshop
Wednesday | July 10, 17 and 24 | 5-6 pm.

Mindfulness Workshop
Tuesday | July 9, 16 and 23 | 5-6 pm.

Register today at https://360youthservices.org/counseling/workshops/. For more information on our Collaborative Youth Team, visit https://kidsmatter2us.org/programs/collaborative-youth-team/

Mark your calendars for KidsMatter's 2024 EMPOWER Gala! 🤩

This year's Gala will take place on Friday, October 18, 2024! More details are coming soon.

We hope you can join us in supporting our mission to build resilient kids who say “No” to destructive choices and “Yes” to their endless possibilities.

Subscribe to our newsletter and keep in touch on social media for updates!
💌 https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/XdsBNLo

Happy Graduation to KidsMatter Senior High Board member, Anna Buchenauer!

Anna is a Waubonsie Valley High School - Indian Prairie School District graduate and is excited to attend Indiana University Kelley School of Business to study accounting.

Of her time with KidsMatter, Anna has fond memories, reflecting, "My favorite KidsMatter memory is volunteering at the Lou Malnati’s event each year and meeting so many new people in our community while listening to the fantastic musical performances!!!"

We wish you so much success in your new chapter, Anna, and we're so proud of you!

KidsMatter loves to help out the Naperville Woman's Club as they continue to support our community! Stop by the Fine Art & Artisan Fair on Saturday, June 29th, and Sunday, June 30th, between 10:00 am – 5:00 pm to experience art in all forms for all ages!

🎨 https://www.nwcfineartfair.org/activities 🎨

Please join KidsMatter in welcoming our two summer interns, Maya and Amelia!

Maya, an Interpersonal Communication major, is excited for her final semester at Wheaton College (this fall!), graduating this December. Mental health has been a passion of hers since high school, and she's thankful to have the opportunity to contribute to the amazing work that KidsMatter does in empowering youth and providing them and their families with resources and opportunities.

Amelia is a sophomore at Purdue University studying Media & Mass Communication. Amelia is excited to raise awareness and improve the well-being of the next generation of our community!

Maya and Amelia have already greatly helped with our Springboard Series classes, our Youth Mental Health First Aid preparations, and (of course) our KidsMatters communications!

This past Saturday, we had the privilege of cohosting a Blended Youth Mental Health First Aid training with Chinese American Women in Actions (CAWA), in partnership with AIANA Leads and the Midwest Asian Health Association!

This training, "CPR for the Brain", gives adults who work with youth the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to children and adolescents (ages 6-18) who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care. Congratulations to our new Youth Mental Health First Aid graduates!

Interested in hosting a training? Please visit https://kidsmatter2us.org/ymhfa-training/ to learn how!

KidsMatter is grateful to support this training through a grant provided by the DuPage County Transformation Partnership, a collaboration between DuPage County Board and DuPage Foundation. Additional support through KidsMatter is also provided by Endeavor Health Community Investment Fund, Endeavor Health Linden Oaks.

We are so grateful for the recent grants we have received supporting youth mental health programs and youth mental health first aid from The Rotary Club of Naperville and Naperville Sunrise Rotary. Thank you for your continued commitment to youth and families in our community!