Jacob Young is an Emmy award-winning actor best known for his roles in feature films and daytime soap operas. Jacob recently began partnering with Boys Town to increase awareness of the great need for our services and how they are saving children and healing families across the country. Boys Town is extremely grateful for Jacob's time and talents, and for his passion in sharing our mission.
How did you first become involved with Boys Town?
I became fully aware of Boys Town and the good works they have been doing for many years about two years ago. As a parent, I was drawn to the helpful tips they offered on their website, BoysTown.org/parenting. Their character-building skills as well as positive reinforcement activities and games helped me grow even closer to my own children.
What did you know about Boys Town prior to that?
Honestly, my only awareness was from the 1938 feature film, “Boys Town," with Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. I thought Boys Town was something that was fabricated by Hollywood. Could you imagine my excitement when I realized it was a real place doing real work to make children's futures better.
Why do you feel you are such a great fit with Boys Town's mission and the work Boys Town does?
As a child who spent several years in foster care, I felt a lot of uncertainty about my future. I didn't really know how to even begin to feel good about myself. I was very fortunate to have such a loving and supportive foster family. Unfortunately, for a lot of kids, that's not always the case. This is why I naturally gravitated to Boys Town's mission. Their continual support to make a difference in young lives has been going on for over 100 years. This is a true testimony of their good works!
From what you've recently learned about Boys Town, what do you wish more people knew about the organization?
The one thing I wish more people knew is just how much care, thought and love Boys Town's team – house parents, teachers, counselors and many others – put into every child and every family they work with. It's now my mission to spread the word about what they've been doing so we can keep this mission going for the next 100 years.
What message do you have for parents about how Boys Town can help them and their children cope with the COVID-19 crisis?
In these uncertain times, we all need to find inventive ways to help our children understand what's happening and keep the weight and reality of the situation off their young minds. I would encourage parents to navigate through the website, BoysTown.org, to see what Boys Town has to offer families when it comes to dealing with the current crisis, as well as everyday family issues. Let's face it. There is no manual for something like this. That's why Boys Town is here for you and your children.
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