By the time Justin Webb finished his speech at the Friends of Youth luncheon in Downtown Bellevue, he was shaky but grateful for the opportunity to speak.
And thee wasn’t a dry eye in the ballroom.
Webb was a resident for two years in a Friends of Youth home, and he said that experience with the organization kept him off the street and out of trouble — something people have been able to say for 65 years now.
Friends of Youth, a nonprofit organization based in Kirkland, offers services to children and teens including foster care, homeless outreach, and counseling. It first opened a home in Seattle in 1951 and now has 25 sites in 18 cities serving thousands of youths every year.
So when Webb got on stage in the Hyatt Regency ballroom at the Celebration of Youth luncheon, he was unequivocal in his praise.
“I was facing two years in juvie when a bed opened up in Griffin Home,” he said of a residential program in Renton. “For the first time in my life I had structure and people around me who cared.”
“I owe my life to Griffin Home, and the lives of my children.”
At this, photos of Webb’s 8- and 9-year old children flashed on screen and drew loud applause.
For 65 years, youth in trouble have been able to receive help from Friends of Youth. Youth like Melisha Talley, who brought her two children on stage to thank the organization and potential donors for all the assistance she had received to keep her sons happy and healthy.
Suzan Delbene, the Representative from Washington’s 1st Congressional District, said the nonprofit had left lasting impressions on the community.
“Friends of Youth has an incredible presence in my district,” she said. “We have a collective goal to ensure every young person in our country has the opportunity to achieve their dreams.”
More than 500 people gathered in the ballroom, with children volunteers permeating through the crowd with airplanes on their heads. The strange head wear was to draw attention to the raffle tickets they were selling, and the prize from sponsors Expedia and Alaskan Airlines.
Mayors from Snoqualmie, Issaquah, Duvall and Sammamish, the police chiefs from Redmond and other cities, multiple city council, school board, and King County Council members turned out to support the group.
Terry Pottmeyer, president and chief executive officer for Friends of Youth, reminded these influential elected officials and business people of their own pasts.
“None of us achieved our dreams alone,” she said. “We all needed help along the way. Over the years, the growth in services has been profound. Every day, every hour, someone at Friends of Youth is on the job.”
With 824 young people found in King County to be homeless of have unstable housing, Friends of Youth admits there is more work to do, but Pottmeyer said the tireless effort of the organization and its volunteers were making strides.
