YAC C.A.R.E. Award
Posted on May 26, 2011
Members of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) surprised two St. Clair County educators at their respective schools recently. Ms. Julie Jowett-Lee was chosen as the 2011 YAC C.A.R.E. (Community Awareness Reflected in Education) Award recipient. As the recipient of this award, Ms. Jowett-Lee has received a $3,000 grant for Yale Public Schools. They can use the money to benefit their schools facility, classroom, students, programming, or any other special projects.
The goal of this award is to honor a St. Clair County educator who contributes to their community by incorporating community involvement and/or charitable action into the daily lives of their students. The YAC received over ten nominations this year.
Ms. Jowett-Lee has been the driving force behind “Julie’s Kids”. 
This is an organization that provides coats, clothing, Christmas presents and other items for families in need. Ms. Jowett-Lee runs the organization through students and volunteers, instilling a sense of community awareness in Yale students. The organization has raised over $100,000 through fundraisers and other local businesses and philanthropic organizations. Students at all Yale Public schools organize and hold a number of fundraisers to help raise money for Julie’s Kids.
Mr. Jason Stier was selected as the runner up. 
Mr. Stier was awarded the $2,000 runner up award because of the impact he has had on his students at Riverview East High School. Mr. Stier is highly involved in the arts in our area and has used this passion to motivate his students to not only give back through art, but to realize their importance in our communities. Under his lead, his students have held fundraisers to support the arts and participate in numerous community art projects- including St. Clair’s Winter White Out, the redesign on the St. Clair Library’s Children’s Wing, and involvement with the St. Clair Public Art Committee.
