On March 18, 2011 Redmond-based  Friends of Youth will celebrate its 60th year of service at its annual Celebration of Youth Luncheon. The event will be held at the Bellevue Hyatt Hotel from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and features master of ceremonies Dave Ross of KIRO radio.

Keynoting the event this year will be several Friends of Youth clients, both current clients as well as program graduates. Graduates of Friends of Youth first foster home for boys, Griffin Home, are in their 70s today, a testament to the number of young lives that have been transformed through Friends of Youth’s work over the years.

From its beginnings over 60 years ago Friends of Youth has grown to include:

• Homeless Youth Services, providing street outreach, overnight shelter, individual case management, employment and transitional housing programs for homeless youth and young adults throughout East and North King County and South Snohomish County;

• Youth and Family Services, providing mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, school-based prevention education and parenting programs in a geographic area defined by the Issaquah, Snoqualmie and Riverview school districts;

• Residential Services, providing therapeutic residential services, including foster care and emergency shelter, to youth under 18; and

Healthy Start, a collaboration of five agencies  providing home visiting services to young parents and their babies from birth to age three.

Friends of Youth delivers a comprehensive range of therapeutic services for youth, young adults and families.  With 60 years of experience, national accreditation and 20 program sites, the agency provides safe places to live and emotional support for youth and families in challenging circumstances.

Friends of Youth is located at Family Resource Center Campus, 16225 NE 87th Street, Suite A-6. For more information, visit www.friendsofyouth.org.