One of the driving tenets in the founding of the Thomas Toy Community Center was for it to serve as a way to connect teens with the community as well as develop life skills, and the ability to gather in a safe haven with their peers.
It is why the highlight of the initial Tommy Awards presentation and dinner Nov. 21 at the Calvary Community Church is The TOMMYS social impact award going to teens who’ve shown kindness, leadership, activism, service, or creative problem solving.
The deadline for nominating a teen for the honor is this Thursday.
Thursday is also the deadline for teens to enter the TOMMY awards talent categories.
The talent categories teens can enter in are:
*Visual arts: Painting, drawing, photography, etc.
*Performing arts: Music, dance, acting, etc.
*Literacy arts: Poetry, stories, spoken word, etc.
*Media arts Film, animation, digital creations, etc.
To submit applications visit thomastoycc.org and click on events. Choose the TOMMYS application. Fill out the form and upload a photo or a one to four minute video of your talent.
Team entries such as up to five people in a skit, dance performance, or band are welcome to enter. There is no charge to enter.
There is a $100 prize and custom TOMMYS trophy that will be presented at the dinner for the winner in each of the four talent categories.
The website is also where you can nominate teens for the social impact award.
Thomas Toy Community Center Executive Director Amber Butler noted the non-profit at Yosemite and Fremont is a drop-in center for teens to study or converse in the cafe, enjoy the “teen cave”, have new doors opened for them through various programs, or to just hang out with their peers in a safe environment.
Donations are crucial to the center’s success
And so is volunteering to share one’s passions.
Those volunteer possibilities go way beyond serving as support staff or mentoring teens in various life skills and interests.
The center serves 7th through 12th graders.
It is open Monday through Friday during the school year. Hours may vary during school breaks.
If you would like to volunteer, share a skill, take a tour, or partner with the center, contact Butler at (209) 373-6821 or email amber@thomastoycc.org
