By Michelle Colesanti
For teens, peer pressure, in all forms, has taken place for many generations. Impact’s crucial messages of character building, healthy-decision making, goal setting and abstinence are key to helping teens make healthy decisions as they mature.
Kim McMillen said, “Impact is a great thing for [daughter] Jordin. It really brought her out of her shell and helped her blossom into the more confident young lady that we always knew she would become. She now has facts to back up her positive choices when pressured by her peers.”
Over 11,000 local students are empowered each year with a message of sexual risk avoidance and healthy relationships. Highly-trained volunteer speaker’s help students think through how to set relationship boundaries and empower them with refusal skills and exit strategies. High school clubs support and encourage students to stay accountable to healthy decisions. Selected teenage volunteers mentor their peers at YMCA camps and Boys & Girls clubs promoting healthy choices in skit format.
Kyle’s mom, Jennifer Krum, said, “I am so grateful for the positive affect it has had on his life. Impact has given him not only leadership experience, but also a group of peers that support him in his choice to abstain from sex, drugs, and alcohol. This is important being a junior in high school facing the peer pressures of today’s generation.
“As a parent we worry about the influences on our children wherever they go. Impact provides a sense of peace that my child is receiving positive guidance during the toughest time of their life,” said Heather Gray.
The first annual Impact’s Got Talent Competition will take place on Tuesday, April 28 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Bloomingdale Senior High School auditorium, located at 1700 Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico, and will feature special guest judge Miss Florida 2014, Victoria Cowen, who has formed her own charity, One Chance, One Choice, Inc, that aims to install high moral values to teens.
Ticket prices are $10 adult; $5 student, and will benefit the Impact program. Vocalists, actors, dancers (solo, small and large group), musicians, show choirs, etc. will compete against the finest talent in town for cash or gift card prizes.
According to Marketing Director for Impact Bev Harbord, “We thought that a talent show would be a great way to bring much needed awareness to our program as well as an opportunity for young people in the community to shine. This talent show fundraiser will help us continue to promote our life-giving, counter-cultural message to the young people of Hillsborough County.”
Auditions for sixth through twelfth graders will be held on Sunday, March 29 from 1-5 p.m. at Dance Quest International Studio, located at 853 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Brandon. For an audition time, contact Kim McMillen at 720-232-6927 or ckjmcmillen@yahoo.com.
For more information about the Talent Competition, contact Angie Kagey at akagey@whatisimpact.com or visit www.whatisimpact.com for more information about Impact.
