GIVING BACK
IDC HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE SET GOALS AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT PATH IN LIFE
T
he Fifth C Foundation is IDC’s way of giving back to all the communities that IDC’s stores serve, and in the process, create an intimate expression of the Leclerc’s family values. Family and faith are the foundation of those values, and that’s why IDC is proud to support New Life Solutions, a charitable organization whose mission is to protect the unborn, share the Gospel, and transform our communities — one life at a time. The organization is involved in youth development and education, women’s health issues, abortion recovery and counseling, and supporting single mothers and children. Women receive free medical services at the many locations run by New Life Solutions, where it works to empower every woman to make informed, educated decisions about pregnancy, health, and the future. Charles DiMarco, president and CEO of New Life Solutions, remembers purchasing his wedding and engagement rings from IDC when he got married in 1997. “I think of what
a memorable event that was and what the ring represents, and I thank IDC for being a part of it,” he says. “IDC’s partnership with New Life Solutions represents that same level of commitment and support, because for 30 years, it has stood side by side with us, helping and impacting thousands of lives and helping them walk through their journeys.” Childhood education is a strong focus of the New Life Solutions philosophy, and IDC is very proud to sponsor a program called More2Life, a youth development initiative that partners with educators, parents, and the community to empower youth to build healthy relationships and confidently stand against risky behavior. More2Life is an outreach within New Life Solutions’ family of ministries. With the help of educators, parents and the community, the teens who encounter this program learn to properly navigate harmful relationships, sexual pressures, drugs and alcohol, bullying, and cancel culture. Many go on
to attend college and establish healthy lives. More2Life gives free presentations in schools, youth organizations, churches, and camps. It has even conducted counseling sessions in juvenile justice facilities, alternative schools, and at after-school sites. Since 1999, it has brought its positive message to nearly 200,000 students across the Tampa Bay area. And now, IDC is helping to make a new initiative possible: More to Life University, an online education program that takes the initiative beyond its current in-person program in order to reach hundreds more young people. The most important takeaway from More2Life is that it is geared to positive action: it teaches young people not just to reject the choices that can hurt them but to set and achieve goals. One participant, Rachel, went from leading a life of self-harm and isolation to helping others find hope. “The More2Life presentation really made me start to think about what I wanted to get out of life,” she says.
54 | IDC MAGAZINE
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