Fifteenth annual meeting of Kids Are People Inc. set for Sept. 18

MAT-SU -- The annual community membership meeting of Kids Are People Inc. (KAP) is set for Thursday morning.

Annually, KAP provides service to about 4,000 youth, gets help from 200 volunteers, employs 25 people and provides 24-hour youth emergency shelter services. The agency's annual budget is about $1 million most of which comes from a dozen grants and is spent primarily in Mat-Su.

The nonprofit youth-services charity was incorporated in 1988 to provide in-school student support groups. The charity has since added the Dorothy Saxton Youth Shelter, Family Mediation, Juvenile Assessment Center, Youth Transitional Living Center, Suicide Prevention Training, Abstinence Education Training, BreatheFREE Mat-Su Tobacco Prevention, Special Santa Gifts and KAP-PAK School Supplies programs.

Active public membership assures that KAP's no- or low-cost youth services receive other local, state and federal aid. Individual memberships begin at $5 per year.

The nine-member volunteer board of directors includes President Deborah Price and Anne Drago, Marie Brown, Margaret May, Una Kernodle, Jill Eblin and three vacant seats. The agency is managed by John Stein and Naomi Childers. Licensed clinical staff include Rich McGill, Jim Holen and Robert Wallis.

KAP's annual meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at the KAP administrative office, Suite 104 Lakeview Building, 851 East Westpoint Drive in Wasilla. The public is invited to join and attend.

For further information contact John Stein, executive director, at 376-6016.