Wyman

Basic Information

Address: 600 Kiwanis Dr. Eureka, MO 63025

Phone Number: 6365495245

Fax Number: 6369385289

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Email: volunteer@wymancenter.org

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Additional Information

Causes Served: Youth Development for Disadvantaged Teens

Clearances Required: Yes

Background Check: Yes

Population Served: Teens from Disadvantaged Circumstances

Ages for Volunteer: 18 and up

Hours of Service: Flexible

Minimum Hours Required: Flexible

Days of Service: Flexible

Mission Statement:

Wyman inspires and prepares teens, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to develop the skills and confidence they will need to achieve a lifetime of success.

Program History:

In 1897, Wyman was founded by a concerned group of St. Louis civic, business and faith group leaders to develop the character and improve the health of St. Louis children living in the tenements of turn-of-the-century St. Louis. The agency is named for Frank Wyman, a prominent business leader of the time who championed the cause of improving children’s lives. Wyman was general manager of Simmons Hardware Company and founder of the Scott Drill Company and the Silverine Polish Company. In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him Postmaster of St. Louis. Since its founding 110 years ago, Wyman has never waivered in its focus on addressing the needs and developing the potential of less fortunate youth. Historic Camp Wyman on its campus in the Eureka/Wildwood area of the St. Louis Region is among the 10 oldest continually operating camps in the world today. Over 600,000 youth have participated in Wyman programs through the years.

Additional Information:

Through a system of school and neighborhood-based programs and a historic summer program on its main campus, 8,000 young St. Louisians participate annually in Wyman’s local signature programs;

· The Teen Leadership Program

· The Teen Outreach Program

· Wyman/MDC Conservation Ambassadors

· Wyman Field Science Academies

These programs bridge the gap between theory and practice with creative strategies designed to implement the latest and most effective youth research while getting results for young people. Wyman intentionally seeks to provide comprehensive youth development programs for youth from disadvantaged circumstances — or those facing economic or societal circumstances that may restrict their ability to develop their full potential.

Another Wyman youth development enterprise, The Wyman Institute for Youth Development, designs and brings best practice programs, training and technical assistance to national and international youth work practitioners. Signature efforts include replication of the Teen Outreach Program, which is today reaching over 13,000 young people in 42 cities and 400 high schools throughout the U.S. and its territories, and The Peak Performance Predictor, which is a human resource tool used to enhance the selection, supervision and development of quality youth staff.

RESULTS FOCUS: All of Wyman’s programs are world class quality and are designed based on what research and experience have shown to be most effective in helping youth develop their positive potential. There are six outcomes for youth against which Wyman evaluates and reports:

1. Youth will establish and maintain healthy relationships with peers and adults.

2. Youth will respect and value living, working and playing in a diverse society.

3. Youth will value learning and will succeed academically.

4. Youth will give service to their community.

5. Youth will value and explore many wholesome learning and recreational interests.

6. Youth will be responsible stewards of the environment and our natural resources.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Wyman enjoys a reputation for managing its mission work and its business practices with the rigor and accountability of a successful business.

It maintains a diverse income stream in which 40% of its $4,000,000 annual revenue comes from private, corporate and foundation contributions, 40% is earned from fees and 20% comes from the United Way and various government sources.

REPUTATION: The President of the United Way of Greater St. Louis, Gary Dollar, consistently identifies Wyman as one of the best managed and most effective of the 200+ St. Louis United Way agencies.

After an exhaustive national search, Coca-Cola Enterprises of Atlanta, GA selected Wyman from over 12,000 camps to develop the theme and operating plan for its proposed national system of long-term youth leadership camps.

Recent recognition of Wyman has come from the American Camping Association, the national accrediting association of American youth camps; The Search Institute of Minneapolis and the Forum for Youth Investment of Washington, DC, the latter two being leading international institutions in the areas of youth development research and youth public policy advocacy. Wyman has received numerous local, regional and national awards and recognition for the excellence of its youth work.

STAFF LEADERSHIP: Under the leadership of David Hilliard, a forty-year veteran of the agency, Wyman’s dedicated, professional and nationally recognized staff of 30 fulltime and 150 part-time and seasonal staff provide Wyman’s services and management.

GOVERNANCE: Wyman is a Missouri Not for Profit Corporation with IRS 501-(C)(3) designation.

Wyman is fortunate to have a board of 41 St. Louis regional leaders who are motivated by its passion for children and youth: to be personally generous; to lead the work of expanding our circle of support through the Frank Wyman Society; and to expect, demand and encourage the best results of our programs and administrative practices. Building on its past solid work, the board plans future strategy, sets policy, evaluates program results, monitors financial and business results and promotes the agency.