Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development has received a $40,000 grant from Phoenix-based PetSmart Corporation, launching a collaboration to support at-risk youth. Grant money will be divided between the Casa de Sueños “House of Dreams” program and the Greenhouse Project.
Casa de Sueños is a program fully devoted to unaccompanied minors who have come into the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. With the support of PetSmart, a therapeutic garden will be added to this safe and secure shelter, which also provides family reunification services.
“The donation provided by PetSmart will supply a beautiful environment for the youth in the program, some of whom have suffered trauma and abuse,” said Jacquelin Hawley, Casa de Sueños Program Director. “The garden will also provide therapeutic opportunities for the youth through planting, growing and caring for the vegetables.”
Greenhouse Project provides transitional housing and independent living skill development programs for homeless youth ages 18-25, who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and/or Questioning (GLBTQ).
“PetSmart’s generous donation is allowing us to work with clients up to age 25 and that support is much needed,” said Debbie Kayatt, Greenhouse Program Director. “Very limited resources are available to those over 21 years of age in our community.”
“We know that young adults are our future- as a company and a community,” said David Lenhardt, President and Chief Operating Officer for PetSmart. “Diversity among our youth should be nurtured, and we are committed to partnering with organizations like the Tumbleweed Center to support and celebrate the diversity of the young people in our community.”
For more information about Tumbleweed programs and services, visit www.tumbleweed.org.
