This week, Friends of Youth announced two valuable additions to the youth service agency’s board of directors, Steve Olsen and Greg Allen.
Steve Olsen is a former resident of the organization’s Griffin Home who graduated in the 1960s and went on to lead a successful career and raise a wonderful family. Now retired, he is a community volunteer and he returns to Friends of Youth with many years of business development experience.
Greg Allen is the vice president of Evergreen Medical Group at EvergreenHealth. He brings more than 20 years of business experience to his new board role with the agency, as well as experience as a foster parent. He has served on many non-profit boards and is a dedicated volunteer.
The two new members replace retiring board members Phil Crocker, who served for more than six years, and John Benson, who completed a two-year term on the board in June.
“We are thrilled to benefit from the extensive experience of these community leaders,” said Friends of Youth CEO Terry Pottmeyer. “Their talents and personal insights will be valuable assets in our work to prevent and end youth homelessness in the community.”
Friends of Youth’s diverse programs meet the needs of troubled and at-risk youth and young adults in three ways:
• Homeless youth services, providing street outreach, overnight shelter, individual case management, employment and transitional housing programs for homeless youth and young adults throughout east and north King County and south Snohomish County;
• Youth and family services, providing mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, school-based prevention education and parenting programs in geographic areas covering the Issaquah, Snoqualmie and Riverview school districts;
• Residential services, providing therapeutic residential services, including foster care and emergency shelter, to youth under 18.
The Kirkland organization is available to respond to all of these needs, operating the only overnight shelters for homeless young adults on the Eastside, providing therapeutic foster care homes, offering residential services to youth in crisis and providing mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment.
Friends of Youth continues its dedication to providing a comprehensive range of therapeutic services for youth, young adults and families on the road to self-sufficiency. With 62 years of experience, national accreditation, 20 sites, and programs serving 17 cities, the agency provides safe places to live and emotional support for youth and families in challenging circumstances. For more information, visit www.friendsofyouth.org.
