Roanoke, Va. – Program participants of Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. Roanoke received holiday toys and essential items, thanks to the generosity of the Eta Lambda Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. at Virginia Tech University.
About 10 members of the fraternity brought gifts and other needed items and donated them to YAP Roanoke youth on Dec. 15 ahead of the holiday season.
“On behalf of YAP Roanoke I just want to thank the members of the Eta Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi for collaborating with our program,” said YAP Roanoke Program Director Breyon Fraction. “We are grateful for the support and dedication of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity members and look forward to future collaborations that will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of those we serve. We are blessed to have young men in our community making an impact and building relationships with organizations like YAP.”
A national nonprofit in 35 states and the District of Columbia, YAP partners with youth justice, child welfare, education, behavioral health, and other systems to provide community-based services as more effective and equitable alternatives to youth incarceration and residential care. YAP also partners with public safety systems to implement neighborhood anti-violence initiatives.
YAP Roanoke’s youth justice program participants are provided with neighborhood-based Advocates who support their families with economic, emotional and education wraparound support. The Roanoke program also has a behavioral health program where youth are supported with intensive-therapy.
“The collaboration not only reflects our shared commitment to uplifting the youth and families in Roanoke, but also signifies the power of community partnerships,” said Fraction, who has been a member of Omega Psi Phi for 25 years. “Each Omega chapter administers internationally mandated programs annually, aligning seamlessly with the work Roanoke YAP does in the community. These programs, which include voter registration, illiteracy programs, mentoring programs, and support for charitable organizations, mirror the YAP mission of advocating for and actively serving the community.”
The students worked alongside Fraction, YAP Roanoke Assistant Director Tasha Saul, and YAP Advocate Jamie Tarnacki to ensure that program participants received basic needs items.
“By partnering with Youth Advocate Programs this winter, we were able to fellowship and bring joy to the children of the New River Valley area,” said Eta Lambda Chapter President Michael Roberts.
For more information, visit yapinc.org or follow the agency on X, formerly Twitter, at YAPInc.
