I am the oldest of 5 children born to Elvin and Mary McFarlin. My passion for youth development was motivated by watching my mother's joy from helping seniors in her church ministry. My parents were happily married for 43 years until Dad died from cancer at age 59.  When teenagers, they moved to St. Louis from Arkansas, and they both worked hard to achieve success.  From an early age we were taught the love of God, Family and our responsibility for helping others.  I was pushed into a space of care giving when my brother was born - I was 2 years old; I enjoyed helping keep him safe and making him happy.   A good education was a mandate in our home.  Dad would say, "No one can take your knowledge from you."  And growing up in the 50's and 60's this lesson took on real meaning. I was educated in the St. Louis public school system and was a part of the desegregation experience.  I graduated high school, served in the United States Navy, earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Washington University St. Louis, attended law school for one year at the University of Missouri Columbia, developed a legal application utilized by Microsoft, worked in and owned a variety of businesses.  My love for our children has resulted in a better understanding of Dad's urgency to get a good education. In order to share the love and needs of our children, it is imperative to be able to express them in writing and other forms of communication.  For the past 45 years I have devoted substantial time and resources to developing and supporting youth programs.  In 1992 I founded the "Gift of Time Foundation", a nonprfit with the mission to provide children with safe places to learn and play.  Take a moment and visit our websites, www.giftoftime.org and recently a new endeavor on www.bridginggenerations.org.  Initially we raised money through traditional fund raisers and similar activities. However, 911 revealed the need to develop other revenue sources. In response I introduced a financial model that includes starting profitable businesses to generate program funds. We have enjoyed moderate success from the several companies that we owned, but none that generated the amount of funds required to really address the needs of youth development programs on a national basis.  Through my journey in working with children I began to write about their trials and tribulations and other issues.  I chose poetry to express these ideas. Over the course of the last 5 years or so, I compiled over 150 poems.  My wife, my best friend, read these poems and expressed their impact on her.  I allowed other friends to read them and they expressed the same appreciation for my work.  Well, I woke up one morning a long time ago and thought, I'll just publish this "Best Seller" and will be able to build youth facilities all across America.  The poems are currently being edited and will be ready for publication real soon.  I have limited knowledge about the next step for publishing my work so if any of you have suggestions, please contact me on douglasmcfarlin@gmail.com , (Publication Help) in email Subject or by cell at 314-458-7585.  I pray success for all of you, and especially those of you that share my passion for helping our children, please visit our site. Thank you for your time to share my story.  God bless!!  Doug