CHOICES    
September 2009

CHOICES Champion

The CHOICES Champion brings you news and information about the CHOICES program, management tips, case studies and more. We welcome your suggestions, submissions and comments, which can be sent to info@choices.org or to your primary CHOICES contact.

CHOICES NEWS:

Welcome to New CHOICES Partners

We are delighted to welcome the following brand new CHOICES program sites as we begin this new school year:

  • Bank of America, New York, NY (Long Island)

  • Bank of America, Seattle, WA (various locations in Washington)

  • Herrick Consulting Group, Ponchatoula, LA (Tangipahoa Parish)

  • North Coast Builders Exchange, Santa Rosa, CA (Santa Rosa School District)

  • Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln, RI (Woonsocket)

  • Rotary Club of Lebanon, Lebanon, MO (Lebanon, Conway, Stoutland)

  • Rotary Club of Sapulpa, Sapulpa, OK (Sapulpa Public Schools)

Between them these new sites will reach nearly 5,000 more students this year. Congratulations and greetings to all of you!


CHOICES MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE MONTH

New Presenter Kits for New Presenters

Every year new volunteer presenters join the CHOICES family. If you have recruited new presenters for this year and your recycled Presenter Kits are showing their age, you can purchase new Presenter Kits for only $125 each, plus S&H. To order your new PK’s now, or for more ideas on how to prepare for the new year, please contact your CHOICES representative or email us at info@choices.org.


CHOICES FIELD REPORT

A Voluntary Verdict for Student Success

A Delaware Judiciary Member who wishes to remain anonymous but is a longtime CHOICES Volunteer Presenter, was recently given the opportunity, because of her position, to waive a 2.5% statewide pay cut that had been implemented to help balance the state budget. She decided to waive the pay cut, but then made a significant contribution from this amount to support the continued delivery of CHOICES by the Delaware Business Industry Education Alliance. What an example this is of personal sacrifice for the sake of others…thank you, Your Honor!

The Dropout Epidemic

  • 7,000 teens become high school dropouts every school day
  • High correlation with being jobless, homeless & in prison
  • Earn $260,000 less than H.S. graduates over lifetime
  • Cost nation $209,000 each for healthcare, welfare and crime
  • We incur $1.5 billion in future losses every school day

The CHOICES Response

  • Personal empowerment & personal responsibility
  • Connect school to the future
  • Nearly 1,000 teens served every school day
  • 1,800 community volunteers in 46 states
  • Cost of less than $5 per teen

The CHOICES Impact

  • Over 5 million served since 1985
  • 88% approval rating from students
  • 97% approval rating from teachers
  • 9% increase in positive engagement coincident with CHOICES
  • 9% decrease in negative or non-engagement

CHOICES Education Group + www.choices.org + info@choices.org