Simon malls hop to support SYF dropout-prevention mission

Spring is here and Easter is upon us. The season is a great metaphor for Simon Youth Foundation. Just as the season promises new beginnings, our 25 Simon Youth Academies offer hope for the future to hundreds of high school students at risk of dropping out of school by giving them a fresh start in the classroom. Similarly, our Simon Youth Scholarships over the last 11 years have helped nearly 3,000 students from 42 states begin college careers, many of them becoming the first person in their family to attend a university.

SYF can only extend these second-chance educational opportunities through the financial support of its amazing donor network, including our partners at Simon malls throughout the country and their generous patrons. Simon malls and their shoppers donated more than $1.7 million to benefit SYF schools and scholarships in 2010 alone.

On Saturday, April 2, 2011, the Northshore Mall in Peabody, MA, hosted a breakfast with the Easter Bunny for members of its kids club network. Around 200 parents and kids attended the event, and families donated five dollars to SYF to participate. SYF sponsors the Simon Youth Peabody Learning Academy at Northshore Mall, so the community's support of SYF is really an investment in its own future. You can read more about the event and see more photos like the one above, which is courtesy of Tara Vocino, by visiting the community's Peabody Patch website.