On Nov. 15-16, the Dekko Foundation hosted 160 teens and adults for a youth philanthropy retreat in Athens, Aalabama. Citizen Phil of Generation YP (Youth Philanthropy) was an enormous success, and it would not have been possible without the help and support of so many nonprofit organizations, local businesses, friends and neighbors in Limestone County.

We, the board and staff members of the Dekko Foundation, send our sincere thanks to the people and organizations that helped us make our event even better than we had planned. It’s risky, we know, to make a list of people we want to thank, but there are so many who deserve a standing ovation from us that we’re going for it!

Our sincere thanks to:

Mrs. Tere Richardson and Mr. Gary Van Wagnen of Athens Main Street.

Mayor Ronnie Marks, Ms. Holly Hollman, and the Mayor’s Youth Commission.

Ms. Sandy Thompson and her crew at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives.

Ms. Julie Martin and her team at Athens State University.

Mr. Austin Lewter with Extension.

Mr. Larry Burlingame and the Athens Honor Guard.

Mrs. Laura Lou Smith and Mrs. Monica Hobson and the entire TRAIL team.

Mrs. Sharon Grissom and Mrs. Gayle Black.

Mr. John Carter of Noah Basketball.

Mrs. Amy Golden and the Athens Activity Center.

Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Clark at Athens State University.

Commander and Mrs. Michael Stacy, U.S. Navy.

Captain and Mrs. Guy Stacy, U.S. Air Force.

Ms. Leah Oakley.

Ms. Brooke Burns and Mr. Russ Mitchell.

Ms. Pammie Jimmar and the team at the Athens-Limestone Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Andrew Dollar.

Dr. Elizabeth Bowden at Athens State University.

Ms. Kim Dunnavant, Mr. Tyler Jones, and Ms. Dana Waldrop at The LaunchBox.

Ms. Leah Thompson and Mr. Brant Adamson.

Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association.

Houston Memorial Library and Museum.

Ms. Cara Jane Brister.

Mr. Matthew Osborne.

Ms. Maggie Gant and Mr. Blake Williams.

Athens High School Marching Band and Dance Team.

Athens First Methodist Church.

Athens Arts League.

And the numerous local businesses that provided meals, coffee, gifts, activities, lodging and hospitality, and transportation that helped make all of our guests feel so welcome.

Finally, to anyone we may have missed, we thank you. Thank you all for your time, connections, and efforts to help us make our celebration of 30 years of youth philanthropy a wonderful success.

The Dekko Foundation

Kendallville, Indiana