Banquet Speech: Luke Cunning

Welcome! The communications committee decided to dust off the YMSL Fort Collins blog, and for our first post of the 2018-2019 year, we're sharing Rocky Mountain High School senior Luke Cunning's speech from the banquet in May:

I would like to start by saying that when my mom first signed me up for YMSL I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had no idea how far it would take me or how much I would grow from it. After my first year I considered quitting because I kept telling myself “This is too much work” or “I don't have time to do this.” But despite this I decided to stay to make my mom proud. Needless to say I am grateful that I am still here standing in front of all of you today.

Since then I have realized that YMSL is more than just something I can do to make my mom proud, or even to have something to be proud about. It’s not about having something extra to put on a resume or college application. It’s not about spending time with friends, though I have enjoyed working with all of you these last three years. YMSL is about the people you help along the way and the connections you make with those people.

My fondest memory I have from YMSL is working on the ultimate gift project for the learning house. I was working on the stairs and the decks to the front and back of the house all day and not working on much else. By the end of the day I looked around and realized how much work had been done. In the span of only a few short hours of hard work we had managed to help the owners of the learning house with renovations that would last years to come. This also leaves an impact on all the kids who attend the learning house so they have a nicer place to learn and be kids. What I learned from this experience was that we can achieve great things when we work together.

YMSL has given me opportunities that I never would have thought possible without it. I would like to finish by thanking everyone here for working hard and making this year amazing. I would also like to thank all of the moms for supporting your sons and for always being someone to look up to.

YMSL: A Teen's View

YMSL is truly a unique experience. As a teenager in today’s world it feels like everyone is out for themselves, doing what benefits them. When I put on the shirt that says "Service Crew" on the back I feel like I get to step outside of myself and serve a community that needs my attention more than I do.

Just last month I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer with maintaining the Learning House, an organization that gives children an opportunity to get education at a young age who wouldn’t normally receive it. My contribution was repainting a fence that stretched around the outside area. Although my part seemed small in everything that was going on that weekend, I felt proud of the work I did. Whenever we drive by the Learning House I see the fence and can’t help thinking that I helped make that happen. There is really no other feeling like that. While most of my other friends were watching T.V or sleeping in, I was helping the community and gaining an experience that I will remember forever.

I think my favorite part of YMSL has got to be how it has brought my mother and I together. Near the end of middle school my mom and I had grown apart, it seemed like we had nothing in common and never did anything together anymore. She wanted me to do this thing she heard about from a friend called YMSL and my reaction was hostile at first, but she stuck with her gut and insisted we do it. I'm glad she did because it feels like every volunteer opportunity we take, we grow closer.  

Tyler Kimbell

Class of 2020 ~ Communications

YMSL Moms and Sons:

Our Ultimate Gift 2016 - THE LEARNING HOUSE was successfully completed last weekend!  The preschool children, parents, and teachers at this non-profit preschool for children of all abilities appreciate our efforts in positively transforming their backyard and updating their entranceways.  Please look to our YMSL Website and click on the UG tab for before and after photos.

In summary:  A front entry porch was constructed and a back porch was rebuilt.  The fence around the entire property was power-washed and stained with 18 gallons of stain.  Additionally, a 12 foot portion of the fence was rebuilt and reinforced.   Grandma's Garden was replenished with new soil, new plants, a new sign, and a new border.  Batson's Farm was created for growing future pumpkins and sunflowers.  A basketball headboard was replaced and new toys, complete with a new toy chest, were purchased.  The landscape around the entire property was attended to including trimming bushes, trees, and adding rock and recycled concrete.  Our volunteers lined up for a photo with a new sign added to the property, as we celebrated the completion of our project with a cook-out hosted by The Learning House.

THANK YOU YMSL!  Our volunteers signed up for 306 hours, but we estimate the total number of volunteer hours to be closer to 497 hours because many volunteers stayed longer and we had several dads show up for many hours of work.  We also thank you for your donation of gift cards to Home Depot, Lowe's, and Walmart adding up to $1005.

The following businesses and organizations in Fort Collins have donated so much to make our project possible.  With our wish list gift cards, it is a Grand Total of $7,995.  Please remember these businesses when you need them in the future.  

NOCOUnify - $2000 grant

Owl Mountain Investments (Paul Brown - General Contractor  970-231-8100) - a gift of time, knowledge, labor, and equipment totaling an estimated amount of $1500

Heaberlin Lawn Care (Chris Heaberlin- Owner/Operator 970-988-0823) - a gift of time, knowledge, labor, and equipment estimated at $400

United Rentals (970-482-9999) - equipment rentals estimated at $500

The Home Depot  on JFK - Trex Deck estimated at $550

Pioneer Sand Company - railroad ties and soil estimated at $400

Hageman Earth Cycle, Inc. - 5 tons of glacier rock and free dumping estimated at $300

Lowe's Home Improvement - landscape edging and pins estimated at $150

Lindgren Landscape and Irrigation, Inc. - landscape fabric estimated at $140

Crystal Landscape Supplies Inc. - 5 tons recycled concrete estimated at $120

Gulley Greenhouse and Garden Center - flowering plants estimated at $75

Laura Torrisi - rain barrel estimated at $100

Lamar's Donuts and Coffee - most delicious donuts anywhere $300

Jimmy Johns - best Sub Sandwiches in Fort Collins $150

Pizza Casbah - best thin pizza in Fort Collins $150

Sprouts - healthy boxes of apples and bananas $75

Albertson's - $25 gift card

King Soopers - $20 gift card

Target - $20 gift card

Safeway - $15 gift card

If you have the time, ask for a manager, and mention how much we at YMSL appreciate their contributions.  We could not have done it without them.

Ernie and Mary Batson, Directors of Education at The Learning House, provided us with a constant supply of delicious food and snacks during the project.  They have thanked us for all of our hard work, but the best thank you was to see the preschool kids run out to play in their new yard at the LEARNING HOUSE!

~Annie Yeh, Ultimate Gift Chairman

Congratulations YMSL on Ultimate Gift 2016

Join the Ultimate Gift Project at The Learning House

Join us this Saturday as we begin the prep work at The Learning House. Don't forget the heavy-lifting will happen next weekend, Sept. 24-25. Please sign up via SignUp Genius or just drop by ... we'd love to see everyone there.