YOUNG FAMILY FOUNDATION, INC.
DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA

The Young Family Foundation Story formerly Ganado Telephone Company ) has been locally owned and operated by the Young family in Ganado, Texas. In that time, the company has grown from a small telephone service provider to a full-scale communications company. In the late 1990’s, company owners Raymond Young, Royce Young, and Paula Young Kacer felt that, due to their business venture successes, they wanted to share that success with the communities they serve. On October 24, 2000, The Young Family Foundation was established as a means to do just that. The main focus of The Young Family Foundation has been to foster the benefits of higher education by awarding academic and vocational college scholarships to worthy graduates of Ganado High School, Louise High School, and Tidehaven High School who reside in the YK Communications voice and broadband internet service area. Since 2001, there have been 55 scholarship recipients. The 2012 scholarship recipients will be selected at the May 2012 board meeting and announced at their respective graduation ceremonies. Each year the Directors review the scholarship applications and, through an established evaluation process, select one vocational and four academic scholarship recipients. Each of the four academic scholarship recipients are eligible for $1,500 per semester for as many as eight semesters provided they meet established requirements. The vocational scholarship recipient is eligible for $1,000 per semester for as many as six semesters provided they meet the same criteria. These students must be enrolled in an accredited college or university located in the state of Texas and complete the degree plan within a specified period of time. Of the 70 scholarship recipients to date, 40 have received college degrees and 15 more are currently enrolled in a college or vocational program. These students have pursued a variety of degree plans including nursing, education, agricultural economics, biology, pilot training, pre-med, computer networking, business/finance, communications, instrumentation/electronics, and psychology. It is the hope of The Young Family Foundation that these fine young people will, in turn, become contributing assets to their communities. The Young Family Foundation is a tax-exempt organization whose purpose is to: Promote goodwill in the community by awarding funds for community projects through Local Government and organizations such as Volunteer Firemen, Emergency Medical Services, Helping Hands, Churches, and other charitable organizations located in the YK Communications voice and broadband internet service area, and, Provide funds to other charitable organizations such as the National MPS Society, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, and other nationally recognized charitable organizations. The Young Family Foundation shall be governed by a seven-member Board of Directors from the community. The community includes Ganado, Texas; Jackson County, Texas; and the YK Communications voice and broadband internet service area. Russell Kacer – Vice President The Young Family Foundation scholarship has been a blessing to me, my college career, and my life so many ways. There are not enough words to express my gratitude for this amazing opportunity. My first and second year of college, I am attending Wharton County Junior College. I am planning to transfer to Texas A&M University for two years where I plan to graduate with a Psychology degree with a Pre-Med background. After I graduate from Texas A&M my goal is to get accepted into a Medical School and earn a Psychiatry degree. This scholarship helps me make my dreams and goals possible. I am truly grateful to be honored with this wonderful and unbelievable opportunity. – The Young Family Foundation scholarship has really helped my family and me financially with my past two semesters at Victoria College. The foundation has also helped me set goals for maintaining good grades. It’s a big relief to know that they are there to help me accomplish my dream of graduating college. – Being awarded the Young Family Foundation scholarship was such an honor. This scholarship has made the financial burden of college so much easier on my family and myself. I honestly don’t know if I could be attending my dream college of Texas A&M without it. I will always be so grateful for this scholarship and the way it has helped me achieve my dreams. – Helping Hands of Jackson County Young Family Foundation Fosters Ganado Boy Scout Activities The Ganado Boy Scouts, under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America, “provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.” (Mission Statement of the BSA) The Young Family Foundation has helped foster the activities of the Ganado Boy Scouts for numerous years. The foundation’s most recent contribution has been a grant given to the scouts for the purpose of remodeling the Scout Hut in Ganado, Texas. The Scout Hut provides a site for the scouts to hold weekly troop meetings as well as an area to store troop equipment and materials used throughout the year. Over 1,000 youth and several hundred adult leaders have benefited from contributions of time and donations from the Young Family Foundation throughout the years. The Young Family Foundation has played an integral part in the continued success of the troop’s activities through sponsorships of summer camps, High Adventure Treks, and Eagle Scout projects. Mr. Raymond Young, President of the Young Family Foundation and an Eagle Scout from the Refugio Boy Scouts, has continued a legacy of scouting throughout the South Texas Council. He was recognized for his contributions to the community and scouting by receiving the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. This award acknowledges Eagle Scouts who distinguish themselves on a national level, receive recognition within their field, and have a strong record of voluntary service to their community.