Young Life celebrates 40 years in Cleveland

Bay High guys on Team Avatar compete in the volleyball tournament at Young Life’s Saranac Village in June 2010.
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Young Life, an international non-denominational outreach organization, will celebrate its 40th birthday on Saturday, August 21 from 7:00–10:00 p.m. at the Westlake Performing Arts Center. Since 1970, Young Life staff and leaders have reached out to teen-aged kids in our West Shore communities—being available to kids, providing fun, safe and comfortable gatherings, giving kids the right to be heard and communicating God's love in terms they can understand and relate to. 

Young Life arrived in Cleveland in 1970 at the invitation of five Bay Village churches that were eager to share the message of God’s unconditional love to a changing culture of teen-aged kids who might never enter a church building. Since that time, thousands of kids have been impacted by Young Life. A young woman named Cynthia was there in the early days. Forty years later she says, “Young Life changed me, and gave me a hope I never knew existed. I owe Young Life everything.”

Young Life Cleveland West Shore invites teen-aged kids, alumni, parents, donors and friends from every decade to join the celebration. The evening will include hors d’oeuvres and desserts; a band performing Young Life favorites; a silent auction featuring get–aways, autographed items, photography packages, art and other treasures; and a program with a few surprises and reflections by Tom Hammon, Young Life’s area director from 1973–1979, now serving as the Senior Regional Director of Young Life in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Norway.

Andy Reid, area director since 2003, says, “The anniversary celebration will be everything folks expect of Young Life—a lot a laughs, great food, music, and controlled chaos—Young Life style. We hope anyone who has ever been involved with Young Life in Cleveland comes out to accept our gratitude for the last 40 years and to share our excitement for the next 40.”

The suggested donation for tickets is $10. Guests may register online at clevelandwestshore.younglife.org or through the Young Life office 440-808-9888. All proceeds will support Young Life and WyldLife (Young Life's program for middle school kids) in the Cleveland West Shore area. The evening is being sponsored by Smart Business Network and Highland Consulting Associates, Inc.

Stacy Windahl lives in Bay Village.