Gary Thrapp: Our Friend In Deed

Gary Thrapp, local business owner of G. Thrapp Jewelers and longtime friend to the Simon Youth Foundation, was shot during a robbery at home just after midnight on Sunday, September 16, 2012. All of us at Simon Youth Foundation are keeping Gary in our thoughts as he moves toward recovery.

Gary and his wife invited friends to make donations to the Foundation in lieu of sending flowers to the family. This generous gesture is indicative of the friendship and support the Thrapp family has shared with SYF for many years. Even in his own time of need, Gary is igniting hope for students once at risk of dropping out of high school.

The philanthropic relationships we share with our donors are unique to each person. At SYF, we are often humbled and surprised at the many ways in which our donors connect with us. We are so grateful to the Thrapp family now and always.

G. Thrapp Jewelers is posting regular updates regarding Gary’s recovery on the G. Thrapp Jewelers' facebook page. Please join us in sharing best wishes with the Thrapp family for Gary’s swift and full recovery.

UPDATED: After Year Fore Comes Five

UPDATE ON WEDNESDAY, SEP. AUG. 26
This year's Annual Tees for Education raised nearly $27,000. Thanks to each and every one of you who made this possible!




ORIGINAL POST ON FRIDAY, SEP. 14
September 14, 2012, marks the Simon Youth Foundation’s 5th Annual Tees for Education golf scramble. Despite chilly, damp conditions on the 18-hole course at The Legends of Indiana Golf Club, a nearly full field of dedicated foursomes teed up in support of the Foundation’s two key program initiatives, Simon Youth Scholarships and Simon Youth Academies.

In the time it took this year’s Tees for Education golfers to play their round, more than 450 high school students dropped out of high school. Simon Youth Foundation answers this epidemic each and every day through its programs that help youth—who are at risk of dropping out of high school—graduate, develop life skills, and pursue post-secondary education career paths.

Special thanks to the many corporate and individual sponsors who kept The 5th Annual Tees for Education swinging smooth, including Eagle Sponsors TES Engineering and GES.

We look forward to posting updates regarding total amounts raised during the scramble. In the meantime, please check out the Simon Youth Foundation Flicker page to catch up with today's highlights. Who knows … you might even learn who won longest putt!

It's Never to Late to Say Thanks

Scholarship essay winner Jackson O. at the re-opening
of The Academy at Opry Mills in Nashville, TN.
August 2012

Even as fall academic terms are well underway, thank you letters are still trickling in from student recipients who received Simon Youth Scholarships this summer.

Simon Youth Foundation is so pleased to share these communications as a gesture of our own thanks to our supporters, without whom we wouldn’t be able to help students at risk of dropping out of high school to develop life skills, achieve high school graduation and pursue post-secondary education career paths.

Here are some excerpts from the latest batch of thank you letters.

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your financial contribution toward my college education. I look forward to pursuing a degree in Sociology and Ethnic Studies at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland this fall. Your generosity continues to inspire me to help others and give back to the community. Thanks to you, I am one step closer to that goal.
Evelyn C.
Baltimore, MD

As a recipient of the Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarship, please accept my profound thanks for helping me realize my life's dream of a college education. Not only is the financial help appreciated, but being recognized as a scholarship winner is even more of an honor. I am inspired by the confidence you have placed in me and I intend to work diligently to deserve that investment. I cannot thank you enough.

Rachel C.
Rising Sun, Indiana

I am planning on attending the University of Maine in the field of Mechanical Engineering Technology and plan on staying at home to cut back on expenses. I really appreciate receiving this scholarship because it, along with my summer job, has paid for my first semester of classes. By receiving your scholarship … I don't have to take out a loan to pay for my expenses. I really appreciate that you picked me for this scholarship because it will most definitely help me to continue in further education.

Travis C.
Old Town, ME

I am honored to have been chosen as one of your scholarship winners. Your gift is certainly appreciated and will allow me to focus on my studies rather than worrying about finances as I head off to Thiel College. I am truly thankful and blessed because of your generosity. Thank you again for this award.

Cassie G.
Sharpsville, PA

I would like to thank the Foundation for helping me pursue my dreams and goals of attaining a BA, or maybe ever a Master's degree in Business Management Economics as I attend the University of California Santa Cruz. Thank you so very much; this scholarship will help my family and I a great deal as tuition bills start coming in.

Gregory L.
San Jose, CA

Thank you so much for awarding me with a generous scholarship. It is such a big help in my transition into college, and I am honored that I was selected to get it. The award will lessen the financial burden for myself and particularly my Mom & Dad.

I am starting as a Freshman at Immaculata University in just a couple weeks, where I will be studying Fashion Merchandising. I would not have made it this far if it weren't for the Foundation and the absolutely amazing teachers at my school [Simon Youth Rose Tree Media Academy at Granite Run Mall]. I am so grateful of the help I got in high school and the preparation I got for college at the [Academy]. Again, thank you so much for my scholarship and I will keep in touch through my college years.

Olivia M.
Media, PA

I plan to be a mechanical engineering major and want to work with renewable energy … By awarding me the SYF Community Scholarship, I can focus less on my financial need and more on the importance of school and my education. Thank you for your generosity, and I hope someday I will be able to help students in financial need as you have for me.

Macklin W.
South Yarmouth, MA



Finally, we’d like to share the thank you we received from a student who participated in an essay contest held in conjunction with the recent re-grand opening of The Academy at Opry Mills.

I would like to thank you and the Simon Youth Foundation for awarding me this generous scholarship opportunity. Thank you for giving me the chance to share my story and recognizing my achievements. I have been through a lot throughout my life, and plan on putting my scholarship to good use. With this award I can go to the college I want and try to utilize my college experience to further educate myself and succeed in the job world. I will keep my grades up and keep you updated on my grades. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity.

Jackson O.
Nashville, TN