True Perspectives: GRIP Outreach for Youth
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“Today for the first time in America’s history, the average expected experience of childhood now includes living in the absence of one’s natural father.” -US Department of Health and Human Services
The amount of fatherless children in this world is staggering. Many of the problems in our city stem from the fact that more and more kids are growing up without a father, in a broken home environment.
GRIP Outreach for Youth is trying to break the cycle of fatherlessness through life-on-life relationships. Anthony and I went to observe their youth program, called SLAM, one Monday evening and saw firsthand the difference that this organization is making in the lives of kids. We left that evening incredibly affected by the reality of the problem, but hopeful in that there are people out there willing to dedicate a big chuck of their lives to become life long mentors for these kids. There is no one foot in the door. They are ALL IN. And because of that, the cycle is beginning to break in kids' lives.
We interviewed Scott Grzesiak, executive director and co-founder of GRIP Outreach for Youth, to tell us his perspective from working with the fatherless children. Check out the video below to hear what he had to say.
- 71% of highschool dropouts come from fatherless homes.
- 71% of teen moms come from fatherless homes.
- Children who come from fatherless homes are 2x as likely to end up in jail, abuse alcohol, or have emotional or behavioral problems.
- 90% of teens in gangs come from fatherless homes.
GRIP Outreach for Youth is trying to break the cycle of fatherlessness through life-on-life relationships. Anthony and I went to observe their youth program, called SLAM, one Monday evening and saw firsthand the difference that this organization is making in the lives of kids. We left that evening incredibly affected by the reality of the problem, but hopeful in that there are people out there willing to dedicate a big chuck of their lives to become life long mentors for these kids. There is no one foot in the door. They are ALL IN. And because of that, the cycle is beginning to break in kids' lives.
We interviewed Scott Grzesiak, executive director and co-founder of GRIP Outreach for Youth, to tell us his perspective from working with the fatherless children. Check out the video below to hear what he had to say.
Do you want to get involved? There are many ways to help:
1. Give. Financial support is a huge way to support GRIP. It allows them to invest in more resources to change even more lives.
2. Pray. Prayer is a fundamental part of GRIP's ministry.
3. Volunteer. Life on Life mentorship is obviously the greatest need with the biggest time commitment, but there are many other ways to chip in!
If you want to help but not sure how, contact them! Someone will be more then happy to help you figure out a volunteer opportunity that can work for you.
Contact GRIP: Call 312-563-5630 or email info@gripyouth.com
Interested to see what a Life-on-Life relationship looks like? Take a look at this video GRIP put together:
1. Give. Financial support is a huge way to support GRIP. It allows them to invest in more resources to change even more lives.
2. Pray. Prayer is a fundamental part of GRIP's ministry.
3. Volunteer. Life on Life mentorship is obviously the greatest need with the biggest time commitment, but there are many other ways to chip in!
If you want to help but not sure how, contact them! Someone will be more then happy to help you figure out a volunteer opportunity that can work for you.
Contact GRIP: Call 312-563-5630 or email info@gripyouth.com
Interested to see what a Life-on-Life relationship looks like? Take a look at this video GRIP put together:
