What a fun end to the summer we had at the Summer’s End Bash on August 5! The Summer’s End Bash is an annual event for participants, volunteers, and families to come together with YC at the end of the summer season. As always, there was delicious food and a variety of activities, including basketball, volleyball, spike ball, cornhole, chalk, and bubbles.

YC WOOthies, our alumni entrepreneurship program, was at the Summer’s End Bash serving banana blueberry and strawberry mango smoothies. New this year, Differently Delicious, Medicore Transport & Achievement Centers’ business venture, came to the event to sell freeze-dried candy! Medicore serves Cuyahoga and Medina Counties with transportation, Homemaker-personal care, adult day supports, and vocational habilitation.

Participants and volunteers had the opportunity to get three staff members messy by turning them into Human Sundaes. Each person had the opportunity to pour an ingredient on a staff member, such as chocolate syrup, caramel, whipped cream, sprinkles, and others!

At the end of the program, we recognized the Senior Volunteer class of 2023. Abbie, our Volunteer Coordinator, gave several gifts to the seniors who attended the Bash: a YC frame, a keychain made by the YC Crew, and cookies for being a “smart cookie” and graduating. Altogether, we have 38 seniors that volunteered at Youth Challenge. Graduating volunteers Kristina Telban and Sean Wilson shared how volunteering at YC and being a part of the YC community shaped them.

Last but not least, we drew the winners of the Summer Raffle. Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket! Nearly $11,000 was raised to support young people with physical disabilities and their teen volunteers.

Congratulations to the winners:

First Prize: Suzanne Sullivan

Second Prize: Katy Woodbridge

All-in-all, the Summer’s End Bash was a VANtastic celebration of many people who make YC unique: staff, volunteers, and participants!