University of Kansas student volunteers work to produce the first annual Young Life film festival. The largest youth organization in Lawrence plans to raise their yearly budget with corporate sponsors and donations February 17 at Southwest Junior High School.
New area director, Rick Mumford, who moved to Lawrence last summer, gives credit to the KU student volunteers for the potential success of the film festival.
“The college leaders care for each individual kid as an individual kid year round. Without our leaders there would be no film festival,”Mumford said.
Leaders mentor youth several ways year round. They do everything from visiting schools, getting ice cream together or going to see a movie according to Mumford. Volunteer leaders are now creating short comedy films with local high school and junior high kids. Mumford believes the local appreciation for the arts will help draw over 300 people to the event.
At the end of the fiscal year Young Life was $26.000 in debt. Young Life is starting the new year debt free. Mumford, along with the leaders, have several fundraising plans for the future to aid the growth of Young Life. The next fundraising event is the film festival. Student leaders appreciate Mumford's dedication to Young Life.
“We know, as leaders, fundraising is an essential part to what we do. It has been great this year to have a fresh start with a new area director who has creative new ideas and loves the kids we work with as much as we do,” Junior Samantha Dokken said.
The money from the film festival will help pay for kids to attend summer camp, weekly materials and supplies, Young Life staff salaries, training programs and other needs that allow the organization to continue according to Mumford. Dokken describes the film festival as a great opportunity to spend time getting to know the kids involved in Young Life.
“The leaders role is easy. The kids can think of hilarious short video ideas in seconds. We are just there to record them being themselves and encourage their ideas. The final product should be really entertaining,” Dokken said.
If the film festival is a success it will become a Young Life tradition for years to come according to Mumford. He believes Young Life has great benefits for the youth in the community. The film festival begins at 6:30 p.m.