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The Beginning

The KLD Youth Foundation was founded in 2002, conceived from a vision to effectively equip a generation in need. The founder, Kevin Deaton, was merely 20 years old when he, his wife, and his foster mother formed the not-for-profit organization. The foundation's vision is simple: to EQUIP, ENHANCE and EMPOWER this generation, one life at a time. Why would a young man feel so compelled to accept such a task? When Kevin was eight years old, he found himself moving from one home to the next, in an attempt to run from the life that he faced. He had no sense of belonging or guidance.

Left unnoticed and unsupervised after school, Kevin was placed at great risk. Like so many young people today, he was slipping through the cracks headed for destructive behavior. At age 15, he met a family that would become his foster family - filling the gap that he credits for empowering his life. This family provided more than security, they provided the love and teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Ezekiel 22:30, God said he was looking among them for someone who would stand in the gap for Him…. Kevin saw the reality of someone standing in "the gap" for his own life and that is why he feels led to "fill the gap for others….one life at a time." He feels that the struggles and choices our young people face on a daily basis continue to worsen and demand a solution. The answer was to form an organization committed to providing love and the tools to equip, enhance and empower the young to reach their fullest potential. This is the vision of The KLD Youth Foundation.
The Foundation's vision is a very challenging yet exciting one. The need is real and can't be overlooked. Growing concerns about the status of adolescents range from concerns about physical safety to concerns about their impact on society, both immediately and over the long term.

We must understand that the lack of supervision during the out-of-school hours has left a dangerous void for our adolescents; the number of youths left without some kind of out-of-school-time (OST) programming exceeds 13 million. On school days, the prime time for violent juvenile crime is from 3PM to 6PM. The crimes that occur at this time are serious and include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. In these immediate hours after the school bell rings, violent juvenile crime suddenly triples.

There is clear evidence that teenagers who spend their OST hours without adult supervision are more likely to engage in sexual intercourse, alcohol or drug abuse, smoking, violence, and gang-related behavior. As more children go unsupervised after school and researchers probe more deeply into the effects, it's clear that the risks to teens are numerous. Now - what is the solution?
Adults and youth in big and small ways-can help young people develop the inner resources and skills they need to cope with pressures that might lead them into unhealthy behavior. What's needed is supervised settings and activities for youth during non-school hours. Because adolescence is a time of increased peer orientation, supports and services that seek to shape group norms about behaviors and attitudes can be effective in promoting healthy decision-making.
All this and more is the way the KLD Youth Foundation is committed to providing a safe, loud and fun environment where teens can experience and learn along with a complete array of out-of-school-time activities and programs.

The KLD Youth Foundation's mission is simple and clear: To impact this generation of youth with the most effective and lasting impression that will equip them as they begin to inherit our future. There are several facets the KLD Youth Foundation now embodies to most effectively administer this mission, including, Pillar Institute, tutoring, mentoring, primary prevention, crisis intervention and the NEXT Youth Center, which offers a wide array of events and daily activities focusing towards today's generation of youth.

Each of these daily operations are catered to the most prevalent needs that have been proven to, when properly articulated, make the most positive and lasting impact on youth.
Pillar Institute is an accelerated private school center open to both at-risk and high achievers in grades 6th-9th. Using rigorous, applied and contextual college prep curricula, we provide a solid academic foundation.

The Tutoring and Mentoring service is a daily operation that has been steadily growing because of its affordability and effectiveness. Tutoring is offered to grades K-12. Professional adult tutoring is offered to those seeking specific individual career advancement.

Primary Prevention and Crisis Intervention is a constant effort that presents itself daily and is met with precision and delicacy by all education and counseling professionals on staff. Success story after success story has encouraged our team to pay special attention to our youth to search for the "real" problems behind specific behavior.

Next Youth Center houses small concerts and events that occupy out-of-school-time for high school students. With the flashy, cool appearance and perfect location behind Merritt Square Mall, it offers all of the elements that are necessary to grab the attention of young minds. Next provides a safe place for them to gather and learn positive and healthy decision making.

All of these elements are just the beginning of the vision that is embodied within the KLD Youth Foundation. With the support and partnership of the community, we will continue to celebrate every day as a success in impacting and equipping today's generation ...one life at a time.