Welcome to IYN - Fulton County! Helping others especially teens has always been a passion of mine. It is a very awesome feeling to help people in a desperate time of need! After helping the Cherry Street Mission in Toledo over Christmas, I decided at the beginning of this year (2010) that I was going to help 35 local charities/non-profit organizations in some way or another this year. I started my search online just looking for ideas on where to start. Little did I know that I would soon come across what I feel was the ultimate opportunity!  It would encompass both my passion to help others and my desire to work with youths locally. What I found was a non-profit organization called The Invisible Youth Network. It was founded in March of 2007 by Founder and Chairman Russel Hartsaw in San Diego. His purpose was to provide support and resources to an estimated 1.5 million homeless at risk youth walking our streets and cities. To read more about our parent site or Russell and his endeavors with his San Diego Chapter check out:  www.invisibleyouthnetwork.net. While the San Diego chapter focuses on homeless youth, IYN - Fulton County is committed to bettering Fulton County as a whole. Some areas of local focus may include: Supporting our “homeless” shelters here in Fulton County by helping plant a garden, providing a birthday committee to ensure children are able to have a party, Helping provide items the house(s) need, Supporting our local animal shelter, Food & Clothing drives for those in need in Fulton County, Sending support/encouragement to our soldiers, School supply drive for schools in Fulton County, Adopting local families in need during the holidays and much more

There may be times the group may choose to help outside of Fulton County but it would be in ways other than financial contributions. For example, IYN – Fulton County has collected over 150 used holiday cards to send to St. Jude’s Ranch in Nevada. St. Jude’s Ranch is a home for children rescued from abused, abandoned and neglected homes. They are rescued from the vicious cycle of child abuse and given a healing and nurturing safe home-like environment where these children can learn life skills to start new lives with new chances, new choices and new hope. The cards collected are used for St. Jude’s Recycled Card Program. The children participate in making the new cards by removing the front and attaching a new back. The result is a beautiful new card made by the children and volunteers. The benefits are two-fold: customers receive "green" holiday cards for use and the children receive payment for their work and learn the benefits and importance of "going green".  For more information on this program please check out: www.stjudesranch.org.

To learn more about us or to find out how you can become a member come to our official kick off meeting Feb. 08, 2010 at 5:30 pm!!!! We would love to have your help! Our goal is to reach out and welcome all youth representing every school district in Fulton County.