Prepare Our Youth

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X

Prepare Our Youth, organized in 1981, is headed by Stevan Vanderhorst, Co-Founder and Executive Director, and Ronnie Vanderhorst, Co-Founder. POY provides a comprehensive response to the educational, social, emotional, cultural, and spiritual needs of children, youth and families and communities. POY's impact on young people is designed to:

Combat the causes of juvenile delinquency and violence.
Instill respect and responsibility for themselves, their families and their communities.
Encourage academic and vocational excellence.
Emphasize the importance of maintaining good health through proper care of their body, mind and spirit.

In twenty-eight years, Prepare Our Youth has reached over 100,000 people through its Outreach Services, tutored over 5000 children in our Educational (Tutorial) Services, counseled over 5,000 families through our Counseling Services and responded to over 10,000 calls for assistance of some kind. More than one thousand children and their families have been helped during our annual food and needs distributions.

As a publicly supported agency, Prepare Our Youth has received over 70% of its funding from individual donors and fees from services rendered and products sold. As more people hear about POY, our support increases.

It is important to emphasize that the services Prepare Our Youth, Inc. has provided to the community could not have been possible without the volunteer and financial support of the public and private sectors, specifically the business community and the churches. We solicit your ideas, suggestions, and financial support to ensure the continuation of our services to needy children, youth and families.

All contributions to POY are deductible in accordance with Internal Revenue Service rules and regulations.

Help us strengthen the family through your support of Prepare Our Youth, Inc. by your:

Monthly-Quarterly financial contributions
Year-end contributions (Tax write-offs)
Trusts, wills, memorial gifts.
Donating a decent automobile
United Way Combined Federal Campaign (See Federal Campaign page for an update)

Your generous contributions to the United Way Combined Federal Campaign, assist grassroots organizations such as, Prepare Our Youth, to continue to assist children, youth and families in need. And if, by chance you don't see POY listed in the CFC literature, you can write in our name on the space provided on your contribution pledge card as follows:

Prepare Our Youth, Inc
6856 Eastern Avenue, N.W. Suite 207
Washington, D.C. 20012

Call: (202) 291-5040 for more information.