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CURA HOSPITALITY CHEFS PREPARE, DONATE FOOD FOR LEHIGH COUNTY CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES, "TOGETHER WE CAN" FUNDRAISER DINNER TO SUPPORT AT-RISK YOUTH

The Together We Can 2009 fundraising dinner of the Lehigh County Conference of Churches will be held on Wednesday, October 14, at 5:30 pm at Asbury United Methodist Church. Every year, 250 community leaders and friends of the Conference of Churches attended this special event.

This year the focus of Together We Can will be the programs of the LCCC that serve at-risk youth, particularly the Aspires Mentoring Program. The always enthusiastic Ken Matthews of will emcee. John Antinoro, Senior Investigator in the Gang Intelligence Section of the New Jersey Department of Corrections, will be the featured speaker.

Aspires Mentoring helps at-risk students succeed academically, graduate high school, and be productive citizens. Aspires is three programs:

Partners In Progress: This after school program at Dieruff High School focuses on tutoring students in Math and English and encourages students to become self aware through one-on-one mentoring.

Very Important Parents: This site-based program at Pinebrook Services for Children and Youth focuses on teens who are parents. The weekly meetings consist of educational programs, a peer support group, and one-on-one mentoring. Childcare is provided.

ASPIRES Year Round: In this community-based program, youth are matched with a caring adult mentor for a multi-year mentoring relationship, walking together to high school graduation, choosing their own activities and schedule.       

Each year, Aspires honors Mentors of the Year, men and women who have given of their time to provide a caring adult role model for Aspires students. The LCCC Is pleased to announce the following:

ASPIRES MENTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Magda Abou-Saif—Aspires Year Round
George Schermerhorn—Partners In Progress
Colleen Haycock—Very Important Parents

The success of our Together We Can fundraiser, both financially and as a fellowship opportunity, is due in no small part to the good folks at CURA Hospitality. CURA donates the food, CURA chefs volunteer their time to prepare the meal, CURA even brings staff along to train the volunteers who wait on tables. This year, Together We Can will be a dinner instead of the customary luncheon and CURA has compiled a menu fit for a night out at the best of fine dining establishments.

For information and dinner reservations, contact the Conference at 610.433.6421.