On Thursday, October 1, community members, partners, Friends, youth, families, and staff gathered at Fort Hall Elementary School to celebrate the opening of our new clubhouse. It was a joyful and meaningful evening, celebrating the deepening of our impact in the Fort Hall community.

Shoshone Tribal Elder Leon Anthony and his grandson, Tanner, opened the celebration by sharing context and education about the significance of the blessing. Leon then offered a prayer of gratitude, asked for divine support and guidance, and blessed the Clubhouse, our youth, families, Friends, and everyone in attendance. It was very moving.

The Pocatello Chamber of Commerce Trailblazers facilitated the ribbon-cutting. Guests then shared soup, salad, and breadsticks donated in part by Olive Garden, along with fruit donated by Pat Warjack, our cultural consultant. Many stayed to visit long afterward, especially with our Friends.

We were delighted to welcome special guests, including Fort Hall Elementary Principal Debbie Steele; Eneesa Teton, Fort Hall Law Enforcement Community Relations; Officer Rivas of the DARE Program; Leela Abrahamson of Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Planning; and CASA Executive Director Leslie Schei. We were also joined by so many friends from the Chamber, community members, and program youth and families.

We pair each child with a full-time, salaried professional mentor, called a Friend, who walks alongside them from early childhood through high school graduation. Fort Hall is our first expansion beyond American Falls, and the new Clubhouse, located inside Fort Hall Elementary, gives our Friends a dedicated place to meet with youth, build trust, and offer unconditional support year after year.

We're grateful to local media for helping to share this milestone:

• Idaho State Journal: Friends of the Children-Eastern Idaho to open program in Fort Hall
• Local News 8 (KIFI): Friends of the Children-Eastern Idaho opens new clubhouse in Fort Hall

Thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible, and to the Fort Hall families who have trusted us to support them and their children. We're honored to be here.