Media Advisory
For immediate release: Oct. 23, 2018
Contact: Bobbie Jo Kelso
(619) 221-8600 x1227 / (858) 735-7275 (cell)
bkelso@sdyouthservices.org
San Diego Youth Services to Run 30+ Miles for Homeless Youth
What: San Diego Youth Services (SDYS) leaders and staff will run more than 30 miles (50K) across San Diego to help homeless youth on Nov. 1. The event, SDYS Runs for Homeless Youth, will kick off National Homeless Youth Awareness Month in San Diego County, where nearly 1,000 youth are known to be homeless.
When: Thursday, Nov. 1 starting at 8 am and ending approx. 4 pm
Where:
Participants will run from SDYS’ Spring Valley and East Communities Campus to its Point Loma Campus and pass each of the organization’s 15 office locations.
Starting Line: SDYS Spring Valley and East Communities Campus, 3845 Spring Drive, Spring Valley, CA 91977
Finish Line: SDYS Point Loma Campus, 3255 Wing Street, San Diego, CA 92110
Who:
SDYS CEO Walter Philips and Associate Executive Director Steven Jella will run the full 30+ miles, joined by SDYS staff along the route. Philips and Jella completed the first of the runs across the county for Homeless Youth Awareness Month in 2017, helping raise awareness of youth homelessness and $28,000 during the month in support of SDYS’ vital services for youth.
Why:
Nearly 1,000 youth are known to be homeless here in America’s finest city and that number is likely an undercount. The number of homeless youth under 18 jumped 35 percent last year.
“We started our agency to get kids off the street and 48 years later, we still have homeless youth in our community,” SDYS CEO Walter Philips said. “We need to really help our fellow citizens understand the magnitude of the problem.”
Community members can learn how to get involved and donate at https://sdyouthservices.org.
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About San Diego Youth Services:
San Diego Youth Services (SDYS) helps at-risk youth and their families become self-sufficient and reach their highest potential. The non-profit organization has helped improve the lives of more than 797,000 homeless, runaway, abused and at-risk youth and their families. Founded in 1970, SDYS now provides services to more than 17,000 children and their families each year. https://sdyouthservices.org