Active in the Suncoast area since 1953,
Youth for Christ has a distinctive history of
reaching out to young people. YFC strives to
demonstrate and communicate a message
of hope, grace, and love in a variety of
different settings by building authentic
relationships with students.
The YFC vision is to serve every high school,
middle school, and juvenile detention facility on
as far south as Venice. They currently have
breakfast meetups and other programs that
are active at 22 school campuses in Manatee
and Sarasota Counties.
In addition to the school-based programs,
Suncoast YFC has also opened “The 180
House” in downtown Venice. Featuring a
skateboard ramp in the backyard and an
art room, this youth hangout is designed to
be a place where young people can come
to connect with their peers, engage in intergenerational
relationships, and learn the tools
to navigate through the challenges of life.
Additionally, Suncoast YFC programs have
been active at juvenile detention facilities
since 1969. YFC is the only faith-based
campuses in Manatee County. Rebekah
Ober, Community Engagement Director
for Suncoast YFC said of their juvenile
detention program: “These kids are the most
at-risk. Their lives are literally teetering on
the edge of going in a very bad direction and
they are pulled back into being productive
members of society.”
Students who par ticipate in the YFC
programs are invited to attend camp as part
of the ministry during the summer months.
For many campers, the one-week camp is
state – or even their hometown. Financial
need is not a barrier to attending, students
are given opportunities to actively raise
funds to pay for camp and scholarships are
offered to all campers.
David Underhill, Principal of Manatee High
School explained that he participated in
the Over The Edge fundraiser because:
program that has helped many students in our
schools. Their dedication to just being an adult
in the schools who is willing to listen and not
judge has given students an outlet that is so
• To learn more about Suncoast Youth for Christ, visit www.suncoastyfc.org.
Sarasota City Commissioner Shelli Freeland Eddie
David Jones
Doug Fernandes
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/www.suncoastyfc.org