A Message from Our Executive Director: We’re selling our building, but our work is just starting.

St. Mark Youth Enrichment is and will always be much more than these buildings on the corner of 12th and Locust St. Our mission is bigger than this space, so this organization is proceeding with the difficult choice to sell our original buildings. This decision will allow our mission to continue to grow in bigger ways and better serve the children and families of this amazing community. As a cherished member of our St. Mark family, we want you to hear this news from us first. This team and this organization owe so much to the former members of St. Mark Lutheran Church, who also made a difficult decision in the late 80s to disband their congregation, sell nearly all of their beloved stained glass windows, and use that seed money to grow the roots of what would become St. Mark Youth Enrichment. More than 30 years later, that unimaginably difficult decision has long outgrown these walls to now annually impact the lives of hundreds of young people in our school year and summer programs and over 3,000 youth through our community outreach efforts like Apples for Students, which provides new supplies for kids at nearly every school in our immediate area. Like those amazing congregation members before us, we are again making the right choice to sell something important to all of us so that we can continue to grow and provide more opportunities for our community’s kids. This includes expanding our existing after-school & summer programs as well as starting an early childhood center that will provide a space for children from birth to age five. This next big step means we can direct more resources towards helping our kids and less towards holding on to this historic building. We can use more resources towards a future St. Mark that embraces our founding principles to help our children see and realize all of their potential. This building is beautiful, but it comes with all the costs associated with maintaining a historic church building. Every dollar we continue to spend holding on to these walls is another dollar we could use to help more kids. Every dollar spent on this space is another we could use to open more opportunities for working families who desperately need a reliable option for their kids after school and during the summer. Every dollar we spend on repairs, maintenance, heating, and more is another dollar we can use to create spaces that embrace nature and allow kids to feel grass beneath their tiny toes. The journey ahead will not be immediate, but our existing afterschool & summer programs will continue in their current locations for the time being thanks to partnerships with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dubuque, St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Western Dubuque School District, & others. As we move forward with selling our original buildings (now used only for administration), we will expand new partnerships with Sedona Staffing, which will serve as a base for our admin staff, and Area Residential Care, which will house our pilot early childhood center.  Our work is just starting as we continue planning for our future space. Along the way, we will still rely on support from incredible people like you.   Thank you for supporting our kids and providing love, safety, belonging, and learning to the kids and families of the Greater Dubuque area. With Gratitude,  Dawn Cogan, Executive Director P.S. If you want to learn more about the journey ahead or our next steps into early childhood, please fill out the form on this page www.stmarkyouthenrichment.org/build. Thanks! 

Despite warm weather, the 2024 St. Mark Ice Golf Classic is set to continue off the ice

Members of the press are invited to attend with a signed waiver. Digital waivers are available at stmarkyouthenrichment.org/icegolf or upon request. EAST DUBUQUE, Illinois – On February 10, St. Mark Youth Enrichment will again welcome teams in wacky costumes at Midtown Marina. This year’s event will take place off the ice, with teams competing in games for points around the Marina instead. “The ice is not safe enough, so we have moved the golf outing off the ice, and are adding games with prizes for our teams,” shares Beth McGorry, Director of Donor Relations. “The last time we weren’t allowed on the ice due to safety concerns was more than 15 years ago.” Despite the shift, golfers can still anticipate the same “zaniness, wackiness, and silliness” as in previous years but can leave their sleds at home. Registered teams will continue to participate in a course of mini games that will prove to be challenging and fun for a chance at a first place prize. Teams will compete for prizes and will have the opportunity to win awards for the best sled and best dressed. New this year for competing teams is a prize wheel, which will take the place of the coveted 18th hole, sponsored by HODGE Company. Teams will have a chance to spin at the end of their match for a chance to win bonus points, St. Mark gear, exclusive prizes, and more. Only registered teams will be able to win prizes. In addition to the event, St. Mark will hold a 50/50 raffle drawing and a public online silent auction. Prizes include 5 tickets to the Iowa Women’s Basketball that the Associate Press predicts she will break the NCAA scoring record, Disney Park Hopper Tickets, a boat ride on the Mississippi, Charlie Berens tickets and gear, and so much more. Bidders need not be present to win. Bidding is now open at www.stmarkyouthenrichment.org/icegolf or by texting ICEGOLF2024 to 243725. The event is set to take place on February 10, 2024. Team check-in will begin at 9 a.m., and the event will start at 10 a.m. Team registration is closed. To learn more, visit www.stmarkyouthenrichment.org/icegolf or by calling 563.582.6211 ext. 110. All proceeds benefit the kids in St. Mark Youth Enrichment programs. The event is hosted by Mid-Town Marina and local sponsors. A complete list of current sponsors is available at stmarkyouthenrichment.org/icegolf. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For event questions or to learn more about volunteer opportunities, sponsorship, or donating prizes, please contact Beth McGorry at (563) 582-6211 Ext. 110 or bmcgorry@stmarkyouthenrichment.org. All proceeds from the event will go to benefit kids at St. Mark Youth Enrichment. # # # St. Mark Youth Enrichment (formerly St. Mark Community Center) is a non-profit organization that has served the Dubuque Community for more than 30 years. St. Mark provides after-school programming in Title 1 elementary schools in the Dubuque Community School District, as well as programs in Dyersville and Peosta. To learn more, visit www.stmarkyouthenrichment.org.

St. Mark Applying for 21st Century Grant Funding

St. Mark is excited for the opportunity to be applying for the the upcoming 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant this winter. The organization is in the last year of a 5 year funding cycle and are hoping to secure another grant to support our program being held at the Boys and Girls Club. About Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC)The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers is a U.S. Department of Education program, administered by the states, supporting out-of-school time learning opportunities for students in high-poverty, low-performing areas. The Iowa Department of Education administers 21CCLC funding in Iowa through grant competitions. 21CCLC programs focus on:  Academic Support: Helping students meet state and local standards in core academic subjectsAcademic Enrichment: Providing activities that complement learning from the school dayParent Engagement: Offering literacy and educational services to the families of participating students