In June and July 2011 the Game of Real Life was played at the George R. Brown Convention Center with record breaking results!

• More than 550 volunteers served as instructors, career mentors, interviewers, trainers and managers in the reality simulation, experiential Game.
• 252 underserved high school students "Played the Game to Win!"
• Students from 40 high schools attended the Game classes and the experiential game at the GRB,
• 36 businesses, universities, government and non-profit organizations participated and supported the Game.  These sponsors offered students an opportunity to "step into the future" and understand the careers available by working hard, graduating from high school and college.
• The George R. Brown Convention Center was generously sponsored by the Greater Houston Visitors  & Convention Bureau with support of Houston City Council Members

In addition to helping underserved teens, S4L provided free workshops, comprehensive courses and coaching to more than 1,400 families.  Adults receive objective financial education, career counseling and life skills planning training.. Through our collaboration with United Way THRIVE we provided classes to refugees, teachers, parents, college students, foster grandparents, City of Houston downsized employees, the chronic unemployed, and families wanting to buy a new car or home.  Although families come to S4L for different reasons, our goal is to help each family to earn more, save more, become financially educated and live a financially secure and productive life.

To learn more about S4L come to our 2012 Annual Meeting, January 27 at United Way.  If you would like an invitation, please email S4L President & Co-Founder Lorraind Decker, CLU, ChFC, MSFS at  Lorraine@Skills4Living.org.

Finally, many donors want results.   In an analysis by United Way of S4L's  7/10 to 6/11 results, our clients increased their incomes by more than $4 million for a Social Return on Investment of $25.64 for each dollar of program cost. Please consider investing in S4L..  With your support we can help more families and underserved teens achieve a successful, fiscally responsible future..

Instructors- Jessica Davis, Amanda Ton, Ana Fernandez Frank, and Mirella Sales

Team Leaders – Joshua Bristol, Valeria Chu, Emmanuel De Leon, Chris DeBenedetto, Zach Dorsett, Hugo Estrada, Keshawn George, Gregory Gibson, Jackson Kajander, Nicole Marraoui, Azucena Mares, Stephanie Martinez, Rodrigo Martinez, Brittnie McKenzie, Eleazar Palomo, Amanda Reyes, Chiara Rivera, Kyla Rodriguez, Xavier Roman, LaTesia Thibodeaux, Ana Umana, Pablo Vera, Nicole Vinson, and Noe Zubieta

Businesses & Supporters – American General, Barrett Station Council, Baxter Trust, Capital One Bank, Comp-U-Dopt, Controller Ron Green, Corvette Owners Club of Houston, Councilman Oliver Pennington, Crosby – Huffman Chamber of Commerce, DeMontrond Auto Group, ExxonMobil, FPA Association of Houston, Halliburton, Harris County Department of Education, Harris County Sports Authority, Houston Food Bank, IBC International Bank, InsurTexas, KPMG, Mayor Annise Parker, Panorama Construction, Project Grad, Re/Max, Rice University, Robertson – Finley Foundation, Rockwell Fund, SER Jobs for Progress, Shell Oil Company, Skills For Living, University of Houston – Bauer College of Business, College of Education, College of Optometry, and Xerox.

Business Strategic Alliance – The Game task force met in September and formed subcommittees to address School Participation, Scholar Intern Program and Business Engagement to scale the Game to 2000 students in 2011. If you would like to make this a reality or serve on this task force, please email lorraine[at]skills4living.org.

Saying Goodbye- Cate Rugano will be leaving S4L to advance her career. Cate has been with S4L for three years and has served as the Katrina project assistant, volunteer coordinator, community outreach and Game Administrator. Cate will be successful and we look forward to her returning to S4L as a volunteer.

Career Opportunity- S4L is interviewing for a Game Program Manager to scale the program from 200 to 2000 students. Obviously this position requires vision, energy, enthusiasm, persistence, organization and character. Additionally, the candidate should have experience in training, program development, fundraising. Additional experience in working with high school students, faculty, businesses and universities is a plus. Know of a professional looking for an opportunity to make a real difference? Email lorraine[at]skills4living or call 713-782-9974.

EVERYONE - Facebook – sign in on Skills For Living group; Game of Real Life – student and Game of Real Life Volunteer for events

First Friday - Jason’s Deli, Westheimer & Fountainview from 5:30pm to 7:30pm each month. To learn more, please complete this short survey http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CTCMQZ6 and call 713-782-9974.