The Services to Youth Facet is dedicated to providing a range of innovative, substantive and sustainable Pre-K-16 programming which contribute proven results to key educational or social/community issues. Our Mission is “Links seizing the opportunity to help our youth achieve.” The Services to Youth Facet is dedicated to improving the lives of under-privileged children by exposing them to the arts, focusing on the importance of education and helping them to become well-rounded and successful citizens. Each year, the West Palm Beach Chapter awards college scholarships to students dedicated to pursuing a career in the arts.  The West Palm Beach Chapter’s 2009-2011 programming includes:

AREA I: PRE K–3
The “Boys Book Club” has been established to encourage reading in this age group, in light of the statistics demonstrating that boys are lagging behind their female counterparts.  Through partnerships with Cub Scout Troop 116, the committee will provide books and meet with the boys every other month.  The troop meets at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.

AREA II: GRADES 4-8
This area’s program is collaborative effort with the National Trends & Services Facet’s Childhood Obesity Initiative.  Beacon Center students will produce an exercise video designed to “Stamp Out Childhood Obesity.”

AREA III: GRADES 9-12
Through a partnership with the Children’s Home Society, The Links have adopted to young ladies of the “Nelle Smith Residence.”  The residence is a foster care program in a home setting.  The Links intend to serve as mentors, and to expose the young ladies to the arts and to the programming of the other facets.

AREA IV: Post-Secondary
This area will focus upon producing a scholarship resource guide for students preparing to attend college.

Past programming for this facet includes:

• The Links Young Ladies (LYL): Links to Success- Children Achieving Excellence
• Scholarships: for students pursuing a career in the Arts funded by the Annual White Rose Luncheon Scholarship Benefit
• Borders Bookstore’s Black History Month Day: featuring readings and presentations by the Links Young Ladies on African-American trailblazers
• Financial assistance for local students of the Arts to visit and perform in London, England
• Sponsored 5 students for the two-week Theatre Arts Camp at the Middle School of the Arts