Youth ChalleNGe Graduates 100,000 Youths
In January of 2011, the National Guard Youth Foundation and National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program celebrated the 100,000th cadet graduating from the Youth ChalleNGe Program. U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, joined in commemorating this significant milestone. During the graduation ceremony in Shreveport, LA, Tori Walston, the designated ambassador for the 100,000 graduates of the Youth ChalleNGe Program, walked across the stage to receive her diploma.
To watch a video on Tori's story, click here.
Measurable Outcomes
Independent studies on the Youth ChalleNGe Program show it is the most successful and cost-effective dropout recovery program for 16-18 year-olds.
The MDRC study finds Youth ChalleNGe Program positively impacts educational attainment, employability and income-earning potential. The study also found the program profoundly affects participants' attitudes about themselves and progress to adulthood. Read the multi-year evaluation here: http://www.mdrc.org/project_32_80.html
A cost-benefit analysis by the RAND Corporation found the Youth ChalleNGe Program yields $2.66 in benefits for every dollar expended on the program - a return on investment of 166%. Read RAND's analysis here: http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR1193.html
Growing the Youth ChalleNGe Program
To impact the lives of many more young people in need, the Youth ChalleNGe Program recently developed a comprehensive business plan with assistance from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. The new business plan enables the Program to serve 11,500 young people annually by 2014 - an increase of over 30% from its capacity today - and pursue initiatives that will further strengthen the quality and impact of the program.
To achieve these goals, the Youth ChalleNGe Program - with the support of the National Guard Bureau, the National Guard Youth Foundation and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation - is engaging in new public/private partnerships to scale ChalleNGe across the country.
