Our Impact
Voice2Youth™ is Thank You Darlin’ Foundation’s core program for developing confident writers, readers, speakers, and leaders. This award-winning program offers opportunities for under-served youth to take part in literary, visual, and performing arts.
- Since 2006, the participating youth in our programs have blossomed by more than 100%.
- Of the original five participants from 2006, three have gone onto college and received their degrees. Another has become a mother of three and is teaching her children what she learned.
- 90% of our participants are under-served youth who attend schools in districts with the highest rate of poverty.
- These amazing kids may not have the additional support, experiences, or exposure that’s crucial for nurturing academic and personal success. The Thank You Darlin’ Foundation helps fill that need.
- Through our exceptional programs, we’ve partnered with local universities (TWU, UTA, and TCU) to give college students experiential-learning opportunities as well as bring higher education campus exposure to under-served youth.
Carolyn West (center) with TCU Honors College students who volunteered at our 2019 Arts and Literacy Celebration
To date, we’ve brought literacy-focused educational arts programs to 30 public schools in the Fort Worth, Texas area.
- 7,500 students gained 3,500 additional educational instruction hours during in-school and after-school times.
- Vibrant writing opportunities – We’ve published 8 anthology books of original poems written by children in 3rd through 12th
- Creative Expression and Performance Opportunities – giving ‘voice to youth’ is more than a slogan, it is our commitment to assisting young students in gaining confidence and giving them the tools to express themselves verbally and through the written word.
- 95% of our program participants improve their vocabulary, reading comprehension, creative writing skills and knowledge about literary devices, including simile, alliteration, and metaphor.
