Pearl Rotary Presents: THRU Project with Violet Santikos and Alexis Lara

THRU Project's mission is to help youth and young adults overcome the challenges of growing up in the foster care system by providing guidance, support, and advocacy in order to prepare them for life after foster care. We began in 2011 as a mentoring program, and since then have expanded to provide housing, life skills workshops, transportation, cell phone plans, along with other resources. Our programs serve the most vulnerable foster youth, who are at least 14 years old and at-risk for leaving the system without permanency, and young adults who have already been emancipated and need extra support to achieve self-sufficiency. Since inception, we have provided services to over 850 current and former foster youth! Learn more at thruproject.org

Speakers:

Violet Santikos - Director of Development

Violet brings a diverse background of over twenty years of marketing, public relations, brand management, retail and event planning experience to contribute to the THRU Project team. After working in the marketing industry in Chicago for ten years, and becoming a retail entrepreneur in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Violet is excited to pivot to the nonprofit world to work for a worthy cause, make a positive impact and be a part of the solution. Violet graduated from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Minors in Business and French. She then went on to earn a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University. Violet was born in San Antonio, grew up in Chicago, and returned to San Antonio in 2017. She is an active member of the Alamo Kiwanis Club.

Alexis Lara - Community Outreach and Development Manager

Alexis graduated from Texas A&M University- College Station with a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and Minor in Latino and Mexican American Studies. While in school she interned with a domestic violence shelter, and with the community development department. She moved to San Antonio, where she had the opportunity to teach kindergarten. Her experiences with the kids led her to become aware of the social needs of youth in the San Antonio community. Her passion of helping others has led her to THRU Project. At THRU Project she manages all community outreach and special events, tracks program outcomes, and works closely with both volunteers and donors to ensure the success and growth of our mission.

Pearl Rotary Members and Guests: PLEASE REGISTER! This gives Botika staff an estimated headcount of how much food to prepare.

Come early and stay late! Lunch provided is your own responsibility. You can pay via QR code if you must leave early.

Host or Publisher Rotary Club of San Antonio Pearl