A 17-year-old high school senior inspired an audience of nearly 800 people March 19 at the annual YES Invest in Youth Breakfast. The student told of living with three foster families between the ages of six and seven, then with an abusive relative for more than nine years before thriving with a fourth foster parent and the programs at Youth Eastside Services.

“Without counseling, BGLAD, Camp Mariposa (all through YES), and (the YES) Prevention Group at my school, I don’t know where I would be or

even who I would be today,” she told the audience.

She was recently named a “Youth of the Year” by a local organization, will graduate in June and has plans to attend college and become a forensics expert.

The YES event, at Meydenbauer Center, included keynote speaker Christopher Kennedy Lawford, actor, author and advocate for recovery, who shared details of a childhood surrounded by Hollywood stars (Marilyn Monroe taught him the twist when he was only six). He openly shared other highs and lows of his childhood, including the tragic assassinations of his uncles, Jack and Bobby, and the death of his best friend and cousin.

Lawford is 27 years sober as of last month, and his latest NY Times bestseller, Recover to Live, offers research and resources for a variety of addictions.

Guests also heard from a local family who described the difficulties of having a son who became addicted to drugs in ninth grade.

“As our family life began to spiral out of control, all our attempts to control his life seemed futile,” said Dianne Spiro. “Our job as his parents was to keep our child safe and healthy, and we could no longer do that. Our son was screaming for help without saying a word.”

The Spiros sought help at YES for assessment and outpatient treatment. They received much more.

“YES provides hope, advocacy and a loving and safe environment for families in crisis,” said Bob Spiro. “We are a very different family than when we first walked through the doors in December 2010. We are healthier; we have joy and happiness back in our life.”

YES Director Patti Skelton-McGougan told the audience that “we live in an amazing community that stood up and showed they care for youth. With tragedies of the past year, like at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, and the increase in local suicides, it’s gratifying to see this level of support for our young people.”

Mental health issues affect one in every five young people at any given time. An estimated two-thirds of all young people with mental health problems nationwide are not receiving the help they need.

YES specializes in treating youth suffering with issues like substance abuse, depression, physical or sexual abuse, suicidal thinking and more. No one is turned away for inability to pay. In the past five years, the agency has provided $1.33 million in uncompensated care.