Things did not go as planned for Lady Torres when she moved to the United States to live with her father when she was 10. By the time she was 16, Torres had entered the foster-care system in Philadelphia.
It was at the Achieving Independence Center at Valley Youth House in North Philadelphia that Torres was able to open up to someone about struggling with depression. Now 19, Torres is a student at Temple University. She plans to earn her master’s degree and become a teacher.
Torres will receive a Youth Achiever award at the sixth-annual Always Bet on Youth Casino Night event to benefit Valley Youth House, an Allentown-based organization with offices in Philadelphia to help young people with housing and life skills. The group includes a Pride program aimed at LGBT homeless youth.
The other honorees include Liberty Property Trust, a real-estate investment firm in Philadelphia, as the Corporate Achiever; and Mark Aitken, co-founder of Horizon Services, a Delaware-based plumbing, heating and air-conditioning company, as the Individual Achiever.
Casino Night takes place from 6-10 p.m. March 11 at the Crystal Tea Room, 100 Penn Square East. The honorees will be presented with their awards from 7-7:30 p.m. It costs $120 for a ticket or $220 for a pair.
In the fundraiser’s first five years, Valley Youth House raised $285,000 to support its programs.
This year’s theme is carnival masquerade. Valerie Johnson, development officer with Valley Youth House, said the theme fits nicely on the tail of Mardi Gras and looking ahead to the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Guests are encouraged to come in costume.
The event will include a performance by Philly Bloco, a Brazilian dance group. People can also play small games of chance and enjoy hors d’oeuvres.
“It’s very cool to see people start to recognize us and the work we do in the community,” Johnson said, adding the Valley Youth House fundraiser represents a great platform for young people to share their experiences. “Our youth get a chance to speak to a crowd of people they normally wouldn’t get the chance to.”
