Thank you for taking part in our 3rd Annual Fallen to Freedom Ride to benefit Friends for Youth. Your participation helps generate awareness about the need for mentors for at-risk youth and provides essential financial support in order to carry out our mission. In Colorado, there are an estimated 8,500 youth on probation, over 13,000 youth in out-of-home placement for some portion of the year, and over 12,000 youth in Denver alone whose parents are incarcerated.

The need for mentors is great, and community support is vital! Since our inception in 1998, we have been a support to hundreds of young people who have “fallen”. Some have fallen into the juvenile justice system, fallen behind in school, fallen through the cracks of the child welfare system, fallen due to neglect and abuse, and some have fallen captive to addiction.

Our hope is in knowing that there is freedom for them to overcome obstacles, pick up the broken pieces, and break through the struggles that hold them captive. At Friends for Youth, we believe that a little help from a “friend” goes a long way on this journey from “fallen …to freedom”.

On Saturday, July 19, 2008 you will ride for thousands of youth who have fallen. Our hope is to see each one of them regain their freedom, realize their dreams, and become the wonderful and unique person they were created to be. The mission of Friends for Youth is to mentor at-risk youth through friendship in the Spirit of Christ. It is in this spirit that we believe the fallen can be free.

THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF THE RIDE!