Kelly Izzard Wins LIFT Logo Design Contest; Organization To Host Dinner, Dance at Snowsfest

Lucas Izzard Foundation for Teens member Olivia Huffman (left) presents Cedarville High School freshman Kelly Izzard with a $100 prize for winning the organization's logo contest at the January 10 meeting. His design features two hands reaching out to each other.

The Lucas Izzard Foundation for Teens (LIFT) will host a spaghetti dinner with dessert contest and a dance at Snowsfest this winter, dedicating efforts to helping teenagers stay healthy and out of trouble.

The organization will host a spaghetti dinner and dessert bakeoff contest Saturday night, February 16, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center on M-134 in Cedarville. Admission to the dinner is $6 for adults, and $4 for seniors and youth.

Anyone who wants to enter a dessert in the contest should bring desserts between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. for judging at 3 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to the top three desserts chosen by the judges. Contestants should make at least one batch or recipe of their dessert, and they should plan to leave the desserts at the Community Center. Non-competitive dessert donations for the dinner are also welcome.

The first place prize is a twonight stay at Kewadin Casino Hotel and dinner in Sault Ste. Marie. The second place prize is a vase donated by Rick Shapero of Windblown Glass. Third place will be awarded a gift basket from Creekside Herbs and Art in Cedarville, and fourth place will be awarded a Bath and Body Works products gift basket.

Later that night, LIFT will host the Izzard Blizzard teen dance, named in memory of Lucas Izzard, a Cedarville High School graduate, who passed away in 2007. The dance will be from 9 p.m. to midnight, and is for youth in ninth grade and older. Music will be provided by a disc jockey. Proceeds from the $5 admission charge will help the organization's mission to help young people and deter juvenile delinquency.

LIFT last month awarded $100 to Kelly Izzard, a Cedarville High School freshman, for his logo design of two hands reaching out to each other. The organization hosted a contest to design a logo that will be printed on clothing, correspondence, and promotional items. The group hopes to have clothing items available for sale at the Izzard Blizzard dance, and at future events.

Members will also volunteer to assist with the Snowsfest children's games Saturday afternoon.

LIFT was formed last year in response to emerging needs of Mackinac County's young people, and seeks to provide guidance and support, especially for pre-teens, teenagers, and young adults. The organization is comprised of adults and teens, and meets monthly to identify needs, plan activities and fundraisers, and assemble information and resources to be available when young people need them.

Prompted by growing concern for teenagers and ignited by Mr. Izzard's untimely death in June 2007, local teens and concerned adults rallied around the formation of the organization. They have assembled educational information about drug and alcohol use prevention, suicide prevention, preserving families, mental health support services, therapy options, educational opportunities, and places to refer young people for help. A resource guide in the latest LIFT brochure gives contact numbers for domestic violence and suicide hotlines, a runaway help line, several medical centers and clinics, two shelters in Sault Ste. Marie, and mental health and human services.

"We're trying to help kids stay out of trouble," said member Amy Izzard. "But if they do get into trouble, we want to try to provide resources to help bring them out of that and get them to turn their lives around."

Concerned about the isolation and fear experienced by many incarcerated teens and young adults, the group is working with Sheriff Scott Strait on establishing a modest account at the Mackinac County Jail for telephone cards if young people in jail need to stay in contact with their families. LIFT is working with the Mr. Strait on a policy for using the account.

The group wants to work to connect young offenders with community services, and is also seeking professional training to help members learn to help teens cope with depression, and, ultimately prevent suicides.

More information can be obtained by calling Lana Causley at 484-2954, John Causley at 484- 2921, or Shirley Sorrels at 643- 9161. The next meeting will be Monday, February 18, at 7 p.m. at the Les Cheneaux Community Library on Hodeck Street in Cedarville. Meetings are open to the public.