Press Releases 2008

Wendy Keighley, Doug Parker and Quacky the Duck play "Cover the Quacky" at Fiesta Brevard.

CROSSWINDS YOUTH SERVICES RECEIVES $25,000 DONATION FROM NATIONAL CITY BANK
Cocoa, Fla. - February 5, 2008 - Crosswinds Youth Services announced today that it received a $25,000 donation from the National City-Harbor Foundation, which will be paid over five years. The donation will help complete funding of a Youth Learning and Assessment Center on its campus in Cocoa to better serve thousands of Brevard County youths each year.
“The donation from National City will better enable Crosswinds to offer the support, service linkages, and concrete assistance to build the competencies and connections young people need to become self-sufficient adult citizens,” said Crosswinds President and CEO, Jan Lokay. “Ultimately, this gift will bring exciting learning resources to youth, ages 10 – 21, who may not normally have access to the individualized support services they need to achieve success.”
“With a focus on shared resources, the Youth Learning and Assessment Center has been designed to meet both current and future needs. The Center will house key Crosswinds learning and assessment programs, such as the Rainwater Center for Girls, the Robert E. Lehton Children’s Center classroom, the Juvenile Assessment Center, and case management services for the Transitional Living program and Intensive Delinquency Diversion Services. It also allows Crosswinds to provide expanded services to many other young people the organization has not yet reached.”
Crosswinds has been providing services to young people since 1974 each year through a range of programs including emergency shelter, transitional and independent living, juvenile justice prevention and intervention, and workforce development. The Center is instrumental in fulfilling Crosswinds’ mission: Creating Opportunities for Young People to Succeed.
Mike Brown Sr. of National City stated “Our decision to support this program is a direct result of National City’s commitment to be a good corporate citizen by assisting worthy organizations like Crosswinds Youth Services.”
The donation is part of National City’s ongoing efforts to be a contributing member of the community. National City has designated a charitable fund of $2 million to be used and administered exclusively in Central and Northeast Florida.
About National City: National City Corporation (NYSE: NCC), headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the nation's largest financial holding companies. The company operates through an extensive banking network primarily in Ohio, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and also serves customers in selected markets nationally. Its core businesses include commercial and retail banking, mortgage financing and servicing, consumer finance, and asset management.


Special counselors at Crosswinds have been extensively trained to target interaction patterns that are directly related to the youth's behavior problems and establishes a practical plan to help the family develop more effective patterns of interaction, where the family is viewed as a whole organism.
CROSSWINDS YOUTH SERVICES PRESIDENT WINS LEADERSHIP AWARD
Jan Lokay, President and CEO of Crosswinds Youth Services, Inc. is the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Mary Jane Dewey Leadership Award given by the Southeastern Network of Youth and Family Services at their Annual Regional Conference held in Nashville, Tennessee. The award recognizes a Southeastern Network Board member who has demonstrated exemplary leadership to the Board, the Southeastern Network staff, the organization and its members.
The mission of the Southeastern Network of Youth and Family Services is to strengthen organizations as they strengthen youth, families and communities. Since 1977, it has provided training, technical assistance, advocacy support and information sharing to youth servicing agencies throughout eight southeastern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
In announcing the award, it was noted that, "Jan’s leadership while on the Board epitomizes the award…" Lokay’s accomplishments that led to the award included being the first agency partner to co-host the Southeastern Network annual conference, facilitating the implementation of the Carver Governance Model for Southeastern Network Board leadership, updating Southeastern Network’s By-laws, and facilitating resolution to challenging issues facing the organization.
Under Lokay’s leadership, Crosswinds has steadily and successfully served over 4,000 youth last year always making use of recognized standards of best practice from organizations such as Southeastern Network of Youth and Family Services. Since 1974, Crosswinds Youth Services, a not-for-profit organization, has provided support, safety, and opportunity for young people and their families throughout Brevard County. For more information about Crosswinds, please call 452-0800.

Jan Lokay, President and CEO of Crosswinds Youth Services, Inc., is the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Mary Jane Dewey Leadership Award
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CROSSWINDS YOUTH SERVICES PRESENTS YEAR-END AWARDS TO STAFF
Several awards were presented at the Annual Holiday Awards Luncheon to recognize outstanding service to youth and to acknowledge years of service to Crosswinds. Jan Lokay, President and CEO of Crosswinds Youth Services, Inc. presented the awards after the luncheon, which was themed as a celebration of holiday, heritage, and happiness around the world to honor the rich diversity of the Crosswinds community.
Six were recognized for their length of service at Crosswinds. For five years of service, Titilope O. Aina and Joseph R. Dodi were acknowledged with a special pen and pencil set. For ten years of service, Tammy Bousquet, Lynn Cowart, and Patricia Dunbar were called forward to receive their tributes. And finally, Florence Riddick was honored for her fifteen years of dedicated service to Crosswinds.
After thanking the entire staff for giving 100% of themselves for the year, there were also awards presented for exceptional service to the youth at Crosswinds. Transitional Living Program Case Manager Erica Jackson was selected as the Employee of the Year and was presented with a commemoratively inscribed plaque. The Dale Carnegie Award for Professionalism & Positive Thinking went to Rainwater Center for Girls Youth Care Worker Hector Juarbe. The Tortoise Award for Perseverance and Commitment was presented to Robert E. Lehton Children’s Shelter Cook Titilope Aina. For her hard work and commitment to Crosswinds, the Special Achievement Award plaque was given to Clevenger Center Administrative Assistant Ilene Giangreco. For his devoted service to Crosswinds, Director of Business Operations Tom Miesmer was selected as the Manager of the Year. The final award, the President’s Award for Excellence, which is given in recognition of exceptional commitment and professionalism, was presented this year to Senior Counselor Julia Watson.
Since 1974, Crosswinds Youth Services, a not-for-profit organization, has provided opportunities for young people to succeed. For more information about Crosswinds, please call 452-0800.

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CHURCH LENDS A HAND FOR CROSSWINDS YOUTH SERVICES ON THANKSGIVING
For the second consecutive year, members of the Titusville Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints provided a Thanksgiving turkey dinner with all the fixings for the boys and girls at Crosswinds Youth Services. This was a continuation of a similar longstanding program at Crosswinds by the Church led by Chef Patrice.
"It was incredible," said Karen Locke, the Director of Programs at Crosswinds. "They did a fabulous job for our kids. The meal was just delicious!"
"The members of our Church deserve the credit. They donated the turkeys, and the desserts, and everything else," said the leader of the culinary crew, Rocky Raby.
Several members of the Titusville Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints arrived as early as 7:00 AM to begin the cooking, and by noon the preparation and serving team of Raby, Gwen and Mike Butler, Elder Hulon and Elder Crystal were saying ‘goodbye’ to Jason Hays whose work was finished by then. The early meal not only satisfied the children and staff at the Robert E. Lehton Children’s Center, but there was plenty left over for many more snacks and meals over the weekend.
"It was a wonderful gift," Jan Lokay, Crosswinds President/CEO noted, "and we are always delighted to receive such fantastic support from the community."
Since 1974, Crosswinds Youth Services, an accredited not-for-profit organization, has provided support, safety, and opportunity for young people and their families throughout Brevard County. Last year, Crosswinds provided services for over 4,000 boys and girls. For more information about Crosswinds, please call 452-0800.
Gwen Butler and Rocky Raby prepare Thanksgiving desserts at Crosswinds
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For more information on any of these or other stories, please contact: Douglas Parker, Director of Development at Crosswinds: 321-452-0800, ext. 207, or DouglasParker@crosswindsyouthservices.org