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Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps

For Sam Brush, Harless Oscislawski and other members of the Arizona Roofing Contractors Association, the construction business is more than putting roofs over people's heads — it extends to building better lives for homeless and unaccompanied youth by raising funds for Youth On Their Own.

"These kids have nobody else. They are basically homeless: Maybe they have no parents, or their parents are incarcerated or have alcohol or drug problems, and many of the kids are living on the streets," said Brush, co-chair with Oscislawski of the fundraiser "Raising the Roof for YOTO" 5th Annual Charity Bowling Tournament on June 28 at Golden Pin Lanes, 1010 W. Miracle Mile.

"Youth On Their Own subsidizes them with $125 per month and finds a place for them to live and finds them a job, but they have to go to school to stay in the program."

Youth On Their Own is on a mission to provide financial assistance, basic needs and guidance that will enable young people ages 13 to 21 who lack stable homes to graduate from high school and lead productive lives.

The non-profit organization aids students enrolled in public, alternative and charter schools. The list of free services the kids get is lengthy and includes a monthly stipend program, a Basic Needs Bank that provides food, clothing, personal items, school supplies and other items, bus passes for transportation, emergency financial assistance with rent, utilities, sports fees and equipment. Each enrolled student gets a one-on-one "success coach" to help them with problem solving and referrals to other social-support agencies.

Since its inception in 1986, the non-profit organization has helped 9,000 students in the Tucson metro area.

The vision is to empower the students for long-term success, said Gina Babunovic, Youth On Their Own's communication and development director.

"It is the old adage, 'You don't give them fish; you teach them how to fish.' Just as a parent in a healthy, functioning household would slowly empower the child to be self-sufficient as they develop, that is our goal," Babunovic said.

Oscislawski, a senior sales representative for Elastek, has a personal interest in seeing these children become self-sufficient: He would like them to avoid the struggles he endured when forced out on his own at the age of 16.

"There was no such program when I was growing up, but I managed to graduate from school and moved on. These kids are displaced and become homeless through no fault of their own, but they want to succeed and graduate from high school and move on to college and make something of themselves. I think it is important to help them," he said.

Eligible students are often identified by teachers or counselors alerted by sliding grades or erratic attendance, Babunovic said. She also emphasized that these are not cases of rebellious children refusing to follow parental rules, but children who lack stable homes and/or involvement of a parent or legal guardian, many due to step-parent situations or parents who abuse alcohol or drugs.

"They exist under the radar and are usually very motivated, but it is difficult to keep their grades up. They might be 'couch surfing' — going from friend's house to friend's house or from relative to relative — which is not conducive to studying and performing in school," she said.

Ultimately, Brush, who works in outside sales for Allied Building Products, said the Arizona Roofing Contractor's Association recognizes that supporting Youth On Their Own is an investment in Tucson's future since it helps build an educated, intelligent work force and a vital, healthy community.

That recognition is backed by four years of effort in the annual bowling tournament that has raised almost $75,000; Brush said the goal this year is to net $35,000.

"It is important for an organization to be there to say, 'We can help.' We have organizations to help people addicted to alcohol and drugs and gambling, and we need one to help kids to hopefully make better lives," Brush said.