FLY to Showcase End-of-Year Achievements in San Mateo County.

MILPITAS, Calif. -- Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY), an award-winning program that works to reduce juvenile crime and incarceration through legal education, mentoring and leadership training, today announced it will hold an event to highlight its achievements in San Mateo County over the past year. FLY's April 23 fund-raising breakfast will feature a community speaker, youth sharing their stories, and opportunities to support the organization.

"We were asked to expand FLY's intensive case management services to San Mateo County by the Probation Department, schools, and other system partners last year and it has been a successful year for all of us," said Aila Malik, associate director of FLY. "Our youth have delivered nearly 200 hours of volunteer service to the community, we have been able to serve more youth, and the Probation Department has been delighted to watch young people turn their lives in positive directions."

Since last May, FLY has expanded the program to locations in East Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Carlos, and South San Francisco. Out of 4000 youth in all of FLY's programs, 680 are served in San Mateo County. In addition, FLY's founder Christa Gannon received recognition from Jefferson Awards, a prestigious national recognition system honoring community and public service in America. CBS Channel 5 television awarded Gannon a local Jefferson Award, which recognizes ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition or reward.

FLY operates law programs for juvenile offenders on probation, high-risk youth in local alternative high schools, and as prevention courses in middle schools. The organization also offers a Leadership Training Program for youth who attend the law course and need additional help to develop their positive leadership skills and graduate from high school. Funding is provided through the Hewlett Foundation, the Franklin and Catherine Johnson Foundation, the Palo Alto Community Fund, Redwood City Middle School Violence Prevention Grant, Redwood City Health and Human Services Grant, the South San Francisco Police Department, and a San Mateo County Probation Grant.

FLY has achieved unparalleled success in its programs. In its year-long case management program, approximately 70 percent of youth do not re-offend. The organization expects to implement a formalized leadership program in San Mateo County next year.

FLY's breakfast will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on April 23 at the San Mateo Marriott, 1770 S. Amphlett Boulevard, San Mateo, Calif., 94402. For additional information, contact Taylor Fields at [phone] or by email at [e-mail]

About FLY

Founded in 1998, FLY provides at-risk and disadvantaged youth with vital information regarding the decisions they make in their lives. The organization offers mentoring, leadership skills development, and legal education to reduce juvenile crime and incarceration. FLY has helped thousands of youth learn important life skills and avoid becoming inmates of the criminal justice system. For more information, please visit www.flyprogram.org.