HAWS will use a $5,000 SPARK grant from Diversified Insurance Solutions to fund a new program targeted to area youth ordered by the court system to complete community service. HAWS will implement the Citizen Project in January, 2014, to teach responsibility and concern for others.
“We’ve wanted to offer the Citizen Project for the past few years but our budget has never been able to cover it,” notes HAWS Executive Director Lynn Olenik. “Now, thanks to the SPARK money, we can ensure teens are learning from interaction with and care of animals.”
The Citizen Project is patterned after successful programs around the country that pair juvenile offenders with animals in order to teach them a variety of skills – effective communication, responsibility, empathy, nurturing and confidence. In addition to caring for the animals, the youth will learn how to interact with animals, read their nonverbal cues and change the animals’ behavior using positive reinforcement. The teens are referred to HAWS by the Waukesha County court system and will spend 3-5 hours each week at HAWS.
Find out what's happening in Waukeshafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“We’re excited that our funds will be used to help teach area teens valuable life skills that we hope will put them on the right track for the future,” says James McCormack, founder and chairman of Diversified Insurance Solutions. “We’re always looking for ways our company and associates can get involved with the community and provide support and help. We’ve developed a culture of outreach that’s embedded in our company’s personality.” A year-long Giveback community program was developed as part of Diversified Insurance Solutions’ 30th anniversary.
Diversified Insurance Solutions is one of Wisconsin's largest, full-service insurance brokers, providing employee benefits, risk management and business insurance to area companies. The company looks to fund new or existing programs that use fresh ideas to address a community need or problem.
By the way - 'Tis the season - NACHOS NAVIDAD is here! Enjoy a yummy way to help the paws and claws at HAWS!
