Our Programs
Participation Opportunities
C.H.O.I.C.E. Louisville, Inc. Programming Areas
C.H.O.I.C.E. Louisville, Inc. 28-Week Mentor Training
Dare to Dream Sports Leadership & Mentoring
Gloria Moorman Scholarship Fund
Annual Conference Graduation
C.H.O.I.C.E. Louisville, Inc. General Giving Fund
C.H.O.I.C.E. Louisville, Inc. Events & Activities
C.H.O.I.C.E Advanced Mentoring Training
The Advance Mentoring Training (AMT) is a two-phase comprehensive development training program that teaches skills that assist mentors to be successful with their mentee-matches. C.H.O.I.C.E. partners with other Local Organizations (e.g., University of Louisville-Kent School Social Work and Life For YOuth, LLC) to offer training to our HIGH School Mentors which help guide their experiences as “Dare to Dream” MEntors. All Mentors are required to participate within THE ADVANCED mentoring training before being matched with an elementary mentee. The High School Mentors gain understanding on how to sharpen their skills and talents to be an effective Mentor.
AMT focuses primarily on building support and developing opportunities for mentors to learn the skills to respond to the needs of the mentees. Areas of training include, but are not limited to, positive youth development, crisis procedure and response, role modeling, culture diversity, community services, relationship building skills, improving communication techniques and leadership training.
C.H.O.I.C.E. offers our Advanced Mentoring Training to any organizations with High School or Adult Mentors. If you are interested in scheduling a training, please contact our Program Coordinator, Dr. Dawn K. Shannon, choiceinc.dawn@gmail.com
DARE TO DREAM SPORTS LEADERSHIP & MENTORING
In 1994, C.H.O.I.C.E. created a non-traditional mentoring program through the “Dare to Dream” Sports Leadership and Mentoring program by adding cross-age peer mentoring to the agency’s existing selfhelp educational group counseling format.
The “Dare to Dream” program encompasses high school athletes from Fern Creek Traditional and Iroquois High School who mentor students (4th and 5th grade) from Watterson and Whitney Young Elementary. Mentors receive eight weeks of group sessions before participating in Advanced Mentoring Training: Phase I and then are paired mentees per gender specifics upon completing the training. The overall goal of all C.H.O.I.C.E. programming is to aid youth and adolescents in navigating issues at home, school, and the community by bolstering resilience levels, coping skills, and problem-solving skills to make positive choices. C.H.O.I.C.E. offers group counseling settings and one-on-one cross-age mentoring.
C.H.O.I.C.E. Staff meet with Mentors and Mentees for will meet one class period per week for 28 weeks during school hours. The mentoring process is both one-on-one and group oriented. Once a month, mentors and mentees visit each other’s’ school or a place in the community to participate in Mentoring Experiences for various skill building activities. The “Dare to Dream: program allows students to see that they have control over their behavioral responses. Students gain wisdom via an empowered sense of self-worth by developing positive skills in dealing with life stressors. All participants build competencies to positively progress toward adulthood.
GLORIA MOORMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Gloria Moorman served on the C.H.O.I.C.E. Board for over 20 years, while leading as chairwoman for the 6 years. Gloria was a woman of great resilience as she has battled many tragedies with a smile on her face and hope in her heart. On January 24, 2020, Gloria courageously pushed through her battle with pancreatic cancer to become a heavenly angel. She spent most of her life working with young people tom reach their maximum potential via positive and healthy lifestyle. Gloria’s mission was to serve in a challenging position that will allow her to use her years of experience in community outreach and service. The recipient of this award must have completed at least one school year of the Dare to Dream Sports Leadership and Mentoring Program. Applicants will be reviewed based on their academic performance and/or shown ability to be resilient in challenging times. This scholarship supports C.H.O.I.C.E. Dare to Dream High School Mentors post-graduation dreams. Students may apply for funds to be used at 2- or 4-year college or university to pursue their academic dreams. In addition, students may present a business plan and received seed money for their entrepreneurial dreams.
C.H.O.I.C.E. ANNUAL CONFERENCE GRADUATION
Each year, C.H.O.I.C.E. hosts its Conference Graduation for all participants who have completed our 28- week program. This evening event contains reflections from C.H.O.I.C.E. participants on the program’s impact and sharing their personal growth. We allow students to share with family and friends their stories and talents. Students volunteer to sing, dance, play instruments, or read poems to express themselves. Additionally, we offer families information on various community resources and education on timely topics concerning young people, During this event, C.H.O.I.C.E. gives incentives (e.g. gift cards) to recognize students who have displayed exemplary leadership during the school-year and our Parent volunteers.
All graduating students along with family members, C.H.O.I.C.E. sponsors, public officials, community leaders and guests are encouraged to attend the Conference Graduation. We invite all guests to a catered dinner and a graduation ceremony. At the end of the event, C.H.O.I.C.E. gives each student participant a community gift bag to show our appreciation for their commitment to make a choice to strive for a better tomorrow.
Year round we seek donations of small items; sensory toys, pencils, pens, coupons, key chains, caps, gift cards, sports equipment/bikes, water bottles, backpacks, and t-shirts to be placed in the graduates “gift bag”. In addition to, seeking gift certificates and/or small items for parent attendees. C.H.O.I.C.E. starts accepting items in January through April. All donations are tax-deductible. If you are interested in donating items or funds from your company to assist with filling our gift bags, PLEASE CONTACT OUR PROGRAM COORDINATOR, DR. DAWN K. SHANNON, CHOICEINC.DAWN@GMAIL.COM.
C.H.O.I.C.E. LOUISVILLE, INC. EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
ANNUAL FUNDRASIER:
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2023 @ 21 C Museum Hotel Louisville
Stay Tuned for More Details
Restaurant Fundraisers:
We invite you to have dinner with C.H.O.I.C.E.!C.H.O.I.C.E. partners with local restaurants to host bi-monthly fundraisers. Follow our social media site to stay up to date on details and locations. February 2023 TBA April 2023 TBA June 2023 TBA August 2023 TBA October 2023 TBA
SPECIAL PROJECTS
C.H.O.I.C.E. helps to guide young people to a more positive outlook on themselves and their community by teaching them valuable lessons to thrive into adulthood.
Celebrate C.H.O.I.C.E.’s impact in Louisville by showing your love and support with a donation. Donors are now able to make monthly donations to C.H.O.I.C.E. in any desired amount.
Please consider making your donation for 3, 9, or 12 months!
All services are provided at no cost to the participants and their families. The annual cost per student is $2,000.
Get a C.H.O.I.C.E, T-shirt to show your support! All funds help us to maintain our service at no cost to the low-middle income families we serve.
Workplace Giving
C.H.O.I.C.E. INC. has been serving the community for 30 years primarily through the generous support of the local community, each year securing funding for our program has become more challenging. In effort to minimize this strain we partner with companies for workplace giving and volunteers partners. We would love to make a presentation at your company to inspire more p
INTERNSHIP
C.H.O.I.C.E. Intern will work closely with the Program Coordinator to implement program services
and sustainability strategies for the agency, but specifically for youth in Metro Louisville area. The
objectives of the C.H.O.I.C.E. Intern will:
1) complete tasks assigned to their area of interest in a timely manner
2) build relationships and skills to aid in future career planning
3) to give ideas followed by work ethic that helps the agency fulfil its mission.
As C.H.O.I.C.E. Intern, times will be spent in the fields and in the office to learn varying aspects of a nonprofit focused on the wellbeing of youth and adolescents as they transition into adulthood.
For more information, please contact Program Coordinator, Dr. Dawn K. Shannon, choiceinc.dawn@gmail.com or 502.456.5137
1) complete tasks assigned to their area of interest in a timely manner
2) build relationships and skills to aid in future career planning
3) to give ideas followed by work ethic that helps the agency fulfil its mission.
As C.H.O.I.C.E. Intern, times will be spent in the fields and in the office to learn varying aspects of a nonprofit focused on the wellbeing of youth and adolescents as they transition into adulthood.
For more information, please contact Program Coordinator, Dr. Dawn K. Shannon, choiceinc.dawn@gmail.com or 502.456.5137
Get Involved
Now, it’s your turn.
Assist in the reduction of use and abuse problems that develop into chemical dependency. Intervene with “at-risk/high-risk” youth and their families in crisis situations. Encourage youth toward the freedom of making choices for a purposeful and meaningful life, through education and the use of constructive activities.
