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Chiefs spare some time bowling with youth

By Staff Sgt. Carlos Trevino, 433 AW Publc Affairs / Published December 13, 2007

Chief Master Sgt. Laverne Vick (right), from LRS, sizes up the pins before scoring a Strike. Mentors, like Chief Vick, are needed and serve as role models for TYC youths who are rejoining thier local community
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Chief Master Sgt. Laverne Vick (right), from LRS, sizes up the pins before scoring a Strike. Mentors, like Chief Vick, are needed and serve as role models for TYC youths who are rejoining thier local community

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LACKLAND AFB -- The Volunteer Council for Texas Youth in San Antonio, a non-profit organization dedicated to youth in the San Antonio area, held the 14th Annual "Spare Some Time for Texas Youth Bowl-A-Thon". The event was October 27th and ran from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Bandera Bowl on Huebner Road. The proceeds benefit San Antonio area TYC programs, i.e. Family Activities, Christmas Cheer, Independent Living Needs, etc. The Volunteer Council hopes to get more organizations from around the city to assist in sponsoring bowling teams for future events. 

The 433rd Chiefs have been supporters of this annual event for the past seven years and participated in the 14th Annual Bowl-A-Thon event. Besides all they do in the community, their motivation is always to help at-risk youth make a turn-around in their lives and become law abiding citizens of the future. 

Chief Master Sgt. Laverne Vick, grandmother to six boys ages 2 to 13, knows it is important to be a role model for today's youth.. "I am out here having fun, this helps me be an example," she said. 

The 433rd Chiefs, as they call their bowling team, are Gold Sponsors and provide two bowling teams and often times insist that TYC youth make-up part of their team. Thus, the 433rd Chiefs not only financially support the event, but ask TYC youth to actively participate in order to teach and mentor at-risk youth. 

Often this is the first time ever TYC youth have ever touched a bowling ball. As a group, they have had a positive impact on TYC youth and are very important figures in this annual event. 

The 433rd Chiefs Group is a longstanding asset to the TYC youth event and annually support the Volunteer Council. In June 2007, the 433rd was recognized by receiving the TYC Outstanding Group Award for their contributions to TYC youth. 

Master Sgt. Abel Gonzales, who is employed as a civilian locally with the TYC, says the money raised goes to support the youths in a variety of ways. 

"We raise money for the youths to use for General Education Diploma certification programs, money for movies as a reward since we don't get any money from the state for these programs," Gonzales said. 

"The community is the best one to welcome them back. It lets the youths know they are a part of us, we don't want them to end up in the adult system" he said.
For more information, contact TYC Community Relations Office at 210.242.7852 or 210.264.77276.