This year Project Bridge is celebrating 10 years of changing young people’s lives. The project started with the goal of helping young people achieve success while avoiding re-entry into the criminal justice system. And since its inception, over 10,000 kids have received help from the program. Project Bridge is a part of Eckerd Connects, a youth services organization dedicated to helping kids succeed.
What is Project Bridge?
Success Award for technical school mechanic training.
Project Bridge was created in partnership with the State of Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. The program works with children that have experienced time in the juvenile justice system and helps these kids reintegrate into their communities in a positive way. Launched in 2013, Project Bridge has had a 86 percent success rate of youth not re-offending within 12 months of program completion. Some ways it helps promote a brighter future include:
- Mentoring services
- Collaborating with local organizations
- Vocational guidance
- Transportation services
- Educational classes
Check out Lucan’s success story from 2019
“It can be hard for young people to find employment opportunities that offer a pathway to job security and financial stability. Changing their life trajectory. The mentors working with our youth go above and beyond. They provide wraparound services to clients in need of food, clothing, court support and much more for our clients to overcome barriers to their success,” said Rebecca Bryan, Community Engagement Supervisor.
Related: Florida 4-H Camps: Helping Kids Learn by Doing
The program provides services to boys and girls ages 11 to 21. Since it’s beginning in 2013, it has served 10,401 young people.
What is Eckerd Connects?
Project Bridge is one program offered by a larger organization — Eckerd Connects. Jack and Ruth Eckerd founded the program in 1968. The program began as a boys’ wilderness therapy program in Florida. Since then, it has grown into a national nonprofit organization that connects about 316,000 people to programs that fit their needs. Although the organization has changed in the past 50 years, one thing remains constant — one thing remains constant — their commitment to their vision that every child should have the opportunity to succeed.
