• Berrien County Health Department
• Whirlpool Foundation
• Consumers Investments
• Berrien Community Foundation
• Kellogg Foundation
• State of Michigan
• The Salvation Army
• The City of Benton Harbor
• Andrews University

ISM has received contractual funds and grants to work with the Berrien County Health Department, School Based Clinic at Benton Harbor High School, Citizens for Progressive Change’s Leaders of Tomorrow a local after-school program, Benton Harbor Pastors Alliance – 11 churches in the Benton Harbor Area and the Salvation Army.

TESTIMONIES: Click Name Below.....

• Stevie Wonder

  "Kids need a place of visualization and the "I'm Saving Myself" program has worked diligently and successfully to teach the meaning of self love. The final product of self love is then reflected and celebrated in the performing arts of music, dance and drama." This program lives up to its motto in providing solutions and empowering youth to make healthy choices.
  --Stevie Wonder, Grammy & Oscar Winning Recording Artist--
  
  
• Jack Holloway – Salvation Army

  "The Benton Harbor Salvation Army has had the privilege of being associated with the Thread of Hope, "I'm Saving Myself" program for a number of months. The impact can easily be seen through positive changes in behavior, improvement in grades, a marked decrease in risky behavior through its promotion of abstinence and in even less tangible ways, such as treating other youth and adults with "common courtesy.". Some of the children have gained a new confidence in themselves. Others have attempted things they would have thought impossible only weeks ago such as singing on stage in public."
  --Major Jack L. Holloway, The Salvation Army--

The success of the program can be seen through the eyes of the students and Artist.

• Chris Karn

  "Three Years ago, I was thinking about committing suicide. I had drawn away from my family and friends and took no big interest in sports. The main activity that I was involved in was sitting in my room and reading books. There is not only a blue and calm ocean in every woman's heart but there is one in a guy's as well. My heart turned black and stormy and I began to plot my own death. I had the date, death notice and the time I was going to kill myself.
  
  I attended the Celebrate Life Pursue Your Dreams show at my school and heard Katie Giguere sing a song called, "I'm Saving Myself," it was a song about virginity and keeping it but I adapted it to fit my life situation. That song hit my heart like a bolt of lightening and I recommitted myself to living a new life. I am now involved in so many extra curricular activities such as Yellow Ribbon and the Boy Scouts. I have also had the privilege to work on the "Celebrate Life" productions. If it were not for the people who founded this program like Bonita McAfee Mitchell, I would not be her today to tell you all about my story."
  
  Parents: If your child is losing interests in family, friends and school, keep the lines of communication open and when they want to talk, listen. Dennis Waitley once said,'The greatest achievements are those who benefit others.''
  -- Chris Carn,-Student, Eau Claire, Michigan --
• John Collard

  "My parents were having problems and eventually got a divorce. Writing music was a way to get away from the problems in my life, and write what I thought or felt on paper. Thread Of Hope has given me more confidence in my music and in myself. It has given me something to stay in school for. "
  -- John Collard - 8"' Grade student --
• Michelle Brooks

  "Overwhelming childhood pressures and disadvantages, I never thought I would see my 15th Birthday. Music became my salvation, the one place I could escape my reality and just be me. In my experience God spoke to my heart and told me "God Ain't Forgot About You."………"
  -- Michelle Brooks, student, Benton Harbor, Michigan --
• Katie Giguere

  Dear Friend:
  
  Thank you so much for considering my new single "Bringin' Me Hope".
  When I first heard this song, I immediately started to cry. Not only did I love the message and the melody, it touched my heart so deeply because it truly reflects how I feet about God. I consider it a sort of theme song for my life because I know all too well how hopelessness can destroy a person.
  
  As a young teen, I struggled to find hope for my dreams of singing because I had grown up overweight. It was partly the teasing that got to me, and partly my fear that nobody would really accept me as a singer. Entertainers tend to be "perfect" in appearance, so I automatically assumed l could never be worthy enough to live my dream, even if I was doing it for God. i had a very poor self image, low self-esteem, and felt hopeless. But then a miracle happened...
  When I was 15, I experienced a life-changing revelation of hope through an incredible woman from, ironically, a company called Thread of Hope Music. Bonita Mitchell didn't just help me to see my true value, she brought me to Los Angeles to record my first demo, and then walked me over to meet Stevie Wonder to get his feedback on my song!! He was so kind to me and truly encouraged me to use my God given talent and pursue my dreams. He couldn't see what I looked like, all that mattered to him was my heart. i knew then that God could use me for His work if I was willing to just take a chance and trust Him.
  
  Soon I was asked joined the Thread of Hope/I'm Saving Myself Program, traveling around singing and talking to kids. My job was to help raise their self-esteem so they could see themselves as God sees them and ultimately, make good choices for their future. I saw lives change, (including my own), and I knew this was my true destiny. Now, four years later, my very own CD has been released. What I once thought impossible is today a reality. Our God is awesome!
  
  Thanks again for considering my song. My prayer is that God will use "Bringin' Me Hope" to do what the title says, bring hope to the listener's life and give wings to their dreams.

  Love,
  
  Katie
  www.katiegiguere.com

Our Cheerleaders
I’m Saving Myself continues to garner attention and frequently receives letters and calls from administrators, parents and school teachers expressing gratitude for the impact the “I’m Saving Myself” Healthy Body Healthy Mind Curricula has had in the lifes of their students.  In every instance we have exceeded their expectations.

• Letters of Support

  
  St. Cloud Minnesota
  The Salvation Army
  Benton Harbor Area Schools
  Berrien County Health Department
  Upton Foundation