Grace Youth Initiative Program

GCF's Grace Youth Initiative works with groups of children, teens, college students and young professionals across America to raise awareness and funds to support the Academic and Vocational Education Programs.

To achieve its mission TGCF's Grace Youth Initiative has three primary goals: awareness, development and compassion.

Grace Youth Initiative Goals:

• Awareness: to create awareness among children, teens, college students and young professionals across America about what is indisputable today in our society -- that we have much and that many in the world do not.
• Development: to encourage participants to develop their gifts, skills and imagination in consideration of others. The Grace Youth Initiative helps participants explore creative ways to use their talents that lead to an invaluable sense of accomplishment that they will carry into their adult lives.
• Compassion: to nourish compassionate instincts and channel participants towards responsible action for social change.

On June 17, 2007 Grace's Eagles embarked on a seven-day, 150-mile journey that took them through 1,000 foot sand dunes, 100-degree temperature swings and harrowing traverses with only the equipment and food on their backs.

During this arduous race through the Gobi desert in the Kashgar region of China they not only pushed the limits of their bodies and minds but also experienced the raw beauty of China's countryside and embraced its rich culture and traditions. Through this trek they hoped to test their determination, develop their character and positively influence the lives of their friends, families and communities. They dedicated their journey to The Grace Children's Foundation. Through this gesture they made their race and the importance of the Foundation's goals well known to the world and launched the Grace Youth Initiative.

A few smiles can provide a world
of energy, Kashgar Region, China