Dear Difference Maker,

When the American Pediatric Association conducted research with children ages three to eighteen, they found that the top two complaints children have about the significant adults in their lives were: "not listening" and "yelling."

I want to share a story I found out on the Internet because Kirk Martin of Celebrate Calm has shared a story that I have heard from kids repeatedly as an educator, and as a school and family counselor.

What is needed in this kind of situation is the type of directive and compassionate methodology I use in Make a Difference with the Power of Acknowledgment (MDPA) UTrain® Program.

MDPA is a program that ANYONE - who can stand before a group of people and give directions - can use to reach and teach in ways that WILL make a sustainable positive difference.

Suicide: A personal story

We've worked with three kids--two boys and a girl--who tried to commit suicide. These three kids do not have clinical depression--it isn't biological or chemical. They come from what most would consider "good homes." When you listen to them tell their stories, you realize that they sound just like your own kids.

=> My parents are always yelling and accusing me. I feel like I'm on the defensive.
=> I don't remember the last time my parents listened to me without lecturing me.
=> No one has really believed in me. I don't believe in myself.
=> Since I've been little, I've been the bad kid, the one always in trouble.
=> I know my own relatives and grandparents don't like me being around.
=> Life has always been about fixing me. I'm just plain tired of that.
=> What do you do when you don't fit in, when you don't see any positives?
=> I feel like I am the cause of all the trouble in our house.
=> School's hard. Sports aren't my thing. I don't quite fit in and I know it.
=> My parents say things will change, but this is all I've known since I was a kid. It hasn't changed in 15 years, what's going to make the future any better?

And this is what got me most.

This is what one boy told me with a blank look on his face and no self-pity in his voice. "I don't feel sorry for myself and I'm not looking for you to care. I'm glad I tried it [killing himself] and glad it didn't work because it showed me one thing: that I had a side to me that gave a s*** about myself and that there is something good in there."

So what do you do with this?

With school well under way now, I am receiving calls from people almost daily, feeling a sense of urgency about helping their community's schools. I hear even more often from school administrators and teachers that, as much as they want this program, they have not been able to find the financial resources.

If you are at a place in your life where you are, or know someone who is, in a position to give back and help the schools in your community with the social emotional issues facing today's children, then NOW is the time to get on board with bringing my field tested program for Making A Difference with the Power of Acknowledgment UTrain® Program to your local schools.

I am asking for your help to bring the transforming impact of the "Who I am Makes a Difference" Acknowledgment Story into Your Community's classrooms THIS FALL, along with other momentum building stories / movies: The Teddy Stallard Story, The Simple Gesture and more...

The Make a Difference with the Power of Acknowledgment UTrain® Program is designed to inspire and equip educators with a revitalized educational philosophy and practical techniques that will give life to academic performance and requirements.

It is a program that can - at long last - resolve intense issues troubling today's youth; from bullying to self victimization to suicide prevention.

Acknowledgment gets to the heart of what's really going on - giving faculty, staff and kids the skill set they need to step more fully into their best selves.

Each Lesson in the program comes with discussions and activities to bridge the gap between social emotional issues and their often dramatic, life-altering effects.

MDPA UTrain® Program is specifically designed to:

==> create social connectedness
==> provide concrete support in times of need
==> teach social and emotional competence

How YOU Can Help Schools, Make A Sustainable Difference

If you'd really rather not get directly involved with schools but would very much like to give a donation then please know that we have a growing list of Persistently Low Performing Schools on our WAITING LIST to receive our Make A Difference with the Power of Acknowledgement UTrain® Program.

For a school of 500 students/faculty and staff would be $1,500 for the UTrain® Program which include 4 "I Make A Difference" Wristbands and 10 Stickers per individual at our current 85% fall savings.

For a school of 1000 students with faculty and staff the investment would be $2,680 for UTrain® Program plus 4 "I Make A Difference" Wristbands and 10 Stickers per individual at our current 85% fall savings.

You make the donation and I'll work directly with the school's leaders to get this program successfully under way.

I will personally see to it that you will also receive confirmation of the results achieved from the school(s) that received your Make A Difference Gift.

JOIN ME IN MY 2013 MOVEMENT and let's Make A Positive Difference NOW!

Please click here to participate:

Our very First school to receive the full program from donations is:

Pueblo City School District 60, Somerlid Elementary/Freed Middle
Their Kick-Off date was this Fall. Congratulations to Nadine Garcia'Montoya, Literacy Coach/Specialist for stepping up to make this happen for her school.

"Wow what a fast paced year this has already been! I have been meaning to inform you of our awesome "Make a Difference" kickoff which was held on Friday, September 13. We rolled it out with Kinder-1st, 2nd-3rd, 4th-5th and 6th, 7th and 8th assemblies. The students and staff loved the messages! It is so amazing to see blue wristbands throughout the building! Please call anytime so that I may share more with you! Sincerest thanks to you and your program!" -Nadine Garcia' Montoya

CLICK HERE to listen to what Nadine had to say about how straightforward and flexible Make a Difference with the Power of Acknowledgment UTrain® Program was to deliver, to get teachers K-8 on board with and the community it has created with the students.

Here are just a few of the schools who are NEXT IN LINE waiting and ready to commit to doing the entire program THIS FALL ...with your help:

Parkview Elementary, Wyoming, MI
Warren E. Bow Elementary / Middle School, Detroit, MI
St. Stephen Elementary School, St, Stephen, SC
Bosco Home, Jhajjar District Headquarters, Northern India

Applications are coming in every day. Thank you in advance for your help.

Reaching out ...

Mary Robinson Reynolds
Author & Founder, Heart Productions & Publishing
MakeADifference.com/Acknowledge
UTrain® Program for Business, Churches, Organizations and Schools

PS ... Persistently Low Performing Schools Apply HERE.

Heart Productions & Publishing, Greater Boston Area, 800-639-8191