Russ Dalbey's Blog

Last week, I stood in front of a sea of the brightest, most beautiful faces I have ever seen. These eager, young faces belonged to some of the kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. I was there to launch a new educational curriculum, an education and career development center, and an after-school program that the Dalbey Education Institute is sponsoring.

When I learned that one in four American youths – 14.3 million children! – are alone and unsupervised after school, I just had to do something.

After-school programs like the ones the Boys & Girls Clubs provide keep kids safe, help working families and inspire learning. The families and mentors at the Boys & Girls Club provide invaluable opportunities to help young people develop into successful adults. I’m all for that!

The 50-odd kids that I met ranged in age from eight to fourteen. What touched me the most was the hope I saw in their eyes. These are kids who haven’t had the easiest go of it; most come from lower-income families and from disadvantaged neighborhoods.

But, despite it all, they still have hope. And because this charitable organization has refused to let these kids slip through the cracks, they have been given a helping hand, and are on their way to a brighter future.

I know what it’s like to be that age – to not have any idea of how to get to where I wanted to be, and to be at a critical crossroads in life. I remember that when I was around 12 or 13, I had a vivid realization that life could be so much more than what I knew. The problem was that I just didn’t know how to go about getting there.

Like these kids, I was lucky: just in the nick of time, I was given a chance. I found the support and the guidance I needed. I found a mentor and I began to understand the power of goals and having self-worth.

That’s what makes organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs so very important and worthy of support, and why I’m thrilled to be helping them out.

During my visit to the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver, I spoke to the kids about my own experiences, and about setting goals and finding a mentor. I talked to them about the importance of working hard for what you want out of life, and about the choices we all face, and the power each of us has to make good ones.

I am excited to follow the progress of these kids and of the programs the Dalbey Education Institute is sponsoring. I’ll keep you posted as well!

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business