Years ago, the homework assignment would have stumped Kendrick Steusloff: “Write a list of all the important people in your life.”
His father’s incarceration and his mother’s constant struggle to provide for her son often left Kendrick feeling abandoned. But the names come more easily now to the 11-year-old sixth-grader who realizes he is not alone. There is his mother, both of his grandmothers, and finally his school counselor, Curt Spykstra, and his mentor, Tyler Carner.
“We worked on creating that list together because I wanted him to remember that he has positive people in his life to turn to,” says Spykstra, a Centennial Middle School counselor who has partnered with Kendrick for nearly four years through Denver Kids Inc.
Denver Kids, a preventative counseling and mentoring program for at-risk students in Denver Public Schools, has applied for funding through this year’s Post/News Season to Share campaign.
“We served over 800 this past year, but we know there are probably thousands more we could serve,” says Vickie Puchi, the program’s development director.
The program’s web of support ushers students through high-school graduation and into postsecondary education. Annually, more than 85 percent of students graduate.
Each student is paired with a counselor, sometimes for eight to 12 years, who acts as a resource and advocate. A third of the program’s students also are matched with a mentor — a number that could be greater if the organization had more volunteers.
At school, Spykstra helps Kendrick learn how to stay organized and encourages his success in math. At least once every two weeks, Carner, Kendrick’s mentor, entertains the boy with their shared love of eating at restaurants, adventures such as bocce ball matches, and a sympathetic ear.
Kendrick hangs on Carner’s every word, staring intently into his face.
“This process has taught me how to educate someone else, when to speak and when it’s best to listen,” says Carner. “The key is trust.”
“I used to get bad grades, and I was bored at home alone with no one to talk to and nothing to do,” says Kendrick.
Now laughter and a great sense of purpose brighten his face. Kendrick, a once-quiet boy, speaks with confidence about a future where he sees himself being a mentor.
Post-News Season to Share, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, gave $1.79 million to 62 agencies last year serving children, the hungry, homeless and those in need of medical care. Donations are matched at 50 cents for each dollar; 100 percent goes directly to the agencies. To make a donation, see the coupon in today’s paper, call 1-888-683-4483 or visit .
Denver Kids Inc.
Address: 1330 Fox St., second floor south
In operation since: 1946
Number served last year: More than 800
Staff: 26 members
Yearly budget: $860,000 last year
Percentage of funds going directly to clients: 83 percent
Sheba R. Wheeler: 303-954-1283 or swheeler@ .
