Like A Turtle…Love A Youth

Adopt a plastic turtle to support Rogers County Youth Services and Volunteers for Youth.

Erin holds a turtle she adopted and decorated.

“Like a Turtle…Love a Youth” is this year’s version of the ­traditional Rogers County Youth Services and Volunteers for Youth turtle event. You may remember the event from ­previous years as the Rogers County Luck O’ the Turtle Race. In the revitalized version, ­participants may adopt and keep their uniquely numbered plastic turtle for a $5 donation to the two non-profit ­organizations that serve Rogers County youth.  

Area bank partners, ­including RCB Bank, will once again be helping with turtle “sales,” and locations are ­identified with yellow and green “Adopt A Turtle Here” banners. Turtles may also be obtained by contacting either agency. An optional Facebook contest gives this year’s event its social media twist and the “Like a Turtle… Love a Youth” name.  

Kindle Fire tablets will be awarded in each of three age divisions to the turtles receiving the most “likes” on the event’s Facebook page. The age ­divisions are defined as ­children up through age 12, teens age 13 through 19, and adults age 20 and up. Participants may dress or ­decorate their turtle, ­photograph it, and give it a ­“story” of up to 100 words. Once approved for submission (by emailing the entry to ­eat0@eau0eav0eaw0), the turtle photo and story may be posted by the participant on the event page and then the “race” is on for the most “likes.” The contest period runs from April 2 through April 30, with turtles available at all “turtle outlets” by opening day.

“Both Volunteers for Youth and Rogers County Youth Services offer programs that directly impact the lives of youth in our county in very ­positive ways,” said Melynda Stone, one of the event organizers. “Our partnership on this event will enable both our ­agencies to meet critical needs by fundraising in a manner that involves all ages, fosters ­creativity, and involves the ever-growing arena of social media. We’d love for all our turtle entries to ‘go viral’ right along with the message that our local youth-serving agencies are changing lives every day,” Stone added.

Area bank partners include RCB Bank, Grand Bank, BancFirst, Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, IBC Bank, Tulsa Federal Employees Credit Union, and Bank of Commerce. The event page is www.facebook.com/likeaturtleloveayouth, and more information is available by emailing eat0@eau0eav0eaw0 or by phoning (918) 343-2530. Rogers County Youth Services and Volunteers for Youth are among the 26 ­agencies supported by Rogers County United Way.

“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”
-Franklin D. Roosevelt

For more information, contact

Volunteers for Youth

(918) 343-2530